Which of these sides can emerge to challenge Inter for the Scudetto? That is one of the many questions waiting to be answered when Juventus and Milan collide in one of the biggest games of the season on Sunday.

On the face of it this is a fight to be the ‘anti-Inter’, but this fixture has many more layers than that.

There’s the fact that Ciro Ferrara desperately needs a result to save his own skin with Guus Hiddink reportedly ready to step into his place.

The Juve board have been the subject of protest lately, and will also face some serious scrutiny if the Bianconeri are ejected from the title race so early.
Don’t forget Milan’s hunger to assume title contender status either – they haven’t finished any higher than third since 2005.

Regardless of all this the many years of rivalry between these great clubs mean that any game at any time between the two will be fiercely competitive.

The mathematics of the situation are thus. Inter are top with 42 points, Milan second with 34 but a game in hand, Juventus third with 33.

In terms of form Milan are the clear favourites. Both teams returned from the winter break and won, but whereas the Bianconeri scraped a fortuitous three points in Parma thanks to an own goal the Rossoneri turned a tricky looking fixture against Genoa into a romp.

They were simply breathtaking at times going forward, and could even afford to miss a penalty in the 5-2 win. With Marco Borriello and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar both netting on Wednesday, David Beckham having returned on loan, Ronaldinho in form and youngsters Luca Antonini and Ignazio Abate impressing at full back, Milan have more options across the field than they have had for some time.

Juventus pulled off a resounding victory in this fixture last season. Goals from Alessandro Del Piero, Giorgio Chiellini and Amauri with a brace gave them a 4-2 win at a drenched Stadio Olimpico.

The onus will be on Amauri again in the absence of the injured Vincenzo Iaquinta and David Trezeguet. With these strikers out Ferrara is likely to rely on the 4-4-1-1 system again, meaning his job rests to a large extent on the performance of struggling trequarista Diego.

Gigi Buffon, Mauro Camoranesi and Momo Sissoko(African Cup of Nations) are also unavailable.

Milan’s Alexandre Pato, Massimo Oddo, Gianluca Zambrotta and Clarence Seedorf are struggling with injuries.

Keep an eye on: Marco Borriello (Milan) – All eyes will be on Beckham of course, although the man his crosses are most likely to find is in fine form also. Borriello was magnificent against Genoa and may have an Azzurri recall in mind.

Last five in Serie A: Juventus (L W L L W) Milan (W W W L W)

Last season: Juventus 4-2 Milan

Both Udinese and Lazio had very different plans for their seasons, but now find themselves on the edge of the relegation zone. With both sides in deep crisis there will be no time for mercy at the Friuli.

The Zebrette are really going through a tough time. Their defeat against Bari, their fourth in the last five games, meant they are now only three points away from relegation. Newly appointed Gianni De Biasi is trying to change things around but it all seems so difficult for them at the moment.

“We must be determined to change our destiny,” claimed ‘keeper Samir Handanovic.

“We have several players on loan who could be brought in to help us improve,” added President Giampaolo Pozzo suggesting the January transfer window will be a busy one in Udine.

The Biancocelesti are also struggling but collected a good win against Livorno in midweek. New boy Sergio Floccari scored a brace as they came back from one down. Still though they remain in the lower positions of the table, only one point ahead of Udinese.

“We needed Floccari, he gave us a boost,” noted Davide Ballardini. “There are many things to do though. We have to change a lot because there are players who are not needed while we could do with three or four signings.”

De Biasi recovers Antonio Di Natale for this important clash but is set to stick to his favourite 4-4-2 formation. Simone Pepe and Mauricio Isla should start wide on the flanks while Antonio Floro Flores is favourite over ex-Lazio man Bernardo Corradi up front.

Ballardini should opt for a 3-4-3. That means Mauro Zarate, Tommaso Rocchi and Floccari up front. “Rocchi and Zarate can’t really play together unless there is someone like Floccari or Cruz next to them,” explained the boss.

Keep an eye on: Sergio Floccari (Lazio) – First game for Floccari at Lazio on Wednesday and what a way to start. The former Atalanta man was forced off due to cramp, but will be 100 per cent fit for this trip to Udine.

Last five in Serie A: Udinese (L L L W L) Lazio (D L W L W)

Last season: Udinese 3-3 Lazio

Atalanta are in chaos for this tricky trip to Sicily after a blazing row with fans prompted Coach Antonio Conte to resign.

The Orobici are battling against relegation and lie in penultimate place, just one point off bottom of the table Siena, albeit with a game in hand. The tension had been brewing for some time and exploded during the 2-0 home defeat to Napoli, when Conte engaged in a verbal brawl with fans behind his bench. The Coach resigned “for the good of Atalanta” and the club pinned the blame on him.

“Conte’s rapport with Atalanta and Bergamo ended badly on the pitch and off,” slammed President Alessandro Ruggeri. “The gestures aimed at the fans should’ve been avoided, as these people are an important treasure trove for Atalanta.”

Currently youth team tactician Valter Bonacina is in charge of training, but the team has already gone through Angelo Gregucci and Conte in the opening 18 rounds. If this side needs stability right now, then it’s difficult to see where that can come from.

To make matters worse, Simone Padoin and Paolo Bianco are both suspended for this tie, while Tomas Manfredini, Edgar Barreto and Nicola Madonna are sidelined. Ernesto Javier Chevanton arrived on loan from Sevilla this week, but was left on the bench for Atalanta’s first game of 2010.

Palermo have a reputation for going through Coaches quickly, so they recognise a wounded side when they see it. President Maurizio Zamparini swears he has found “the right man for the job” this time in Delio Rossi. Since Walter Zenga’s dismissal, the Rosanero have climbed up the standings to joint seventh place alongside Fiorentina and surprise package Bari.

Edinson Cavani scored a splendid goal in the midweek 1-1 at Sampdoria, but creative force Fabrizio Miccoli sits out a ban. That suggests that Igor Budan will partner the Uruguayan, giving a very different dynamic to the front line. Chelsea transfer target Javier Pastore is another option for the midfield to bring some more quality to the side in Miccoli’s absence.

When Palermo face Atalanta it is always entertaining, as these sides have created 79 goals in 31 editions.

Keep an eye on: Edinson Cavani (Palermo) – He has found the target for the last two games running, taking his seasonal tally to five goals, but even more responsibility rests on his shoulders this weekend due to Miccoli’s ban. It’s also intriguing to see an all-Uruguayan battle of the strikers should his fellow countryman Chevanton feature for Atalanta.

Last five in Serie A: Palermo (L W W W D) Atalanta (W L L D L)

Last season: Palermo 3-2 Atalanta

Walter Mazzarri and Fabio Quagliarella welcome their former club and hope to continue their extraordinary form, as Andrea Dossena could make his debut.

Napoli remain unbeaten since Mazzarri took over from Roberto Donadoni and began 2010 by breaking into the top four. Quagliarella has rediscovered his confidence after a poor start to the season and scored a sensational strike in the midweek 2-0 victory away to Atalanta. He’ll be glad to face the side that first allowed him to find fame, but it’s a different proposition for Mazzarri.

The Coach took Sampdoria to Europe and started Antonio Cassano on the road to maturity, but was criticised for his not always exciting style of football and parted company with the Blucerchiati in the summer.

There are more layers to this fixture, as Hugo Campagnaro and Cristian Maggio are also facing their old club, while Daniele Mannini and Nicola Pozzi had some ill-fated spells at the San Paolo.

Above all this could well be the day that Dossena makes his debut for the Partenopei, as he is set to complete his loan move from Liverpool this week. He had already been close to joining in the summer, but finally brings the support on the left that Napoli have been sorely lacking. Coming into a team that has picked up 23 points in the last 11 Serie A rounds, he hasn’t lost hope of a 2010 World Cup call.

“It’s all going well for us right now, but we know what football is like. It takes a momentary distraction to ruin the hard work of weeks,” warned Mazzarri. Sampdoria know that all too well, as they were top of the table in the first couple of months only to collapse. Without a victory since the 2-1 over Chievo on November 22, in the last five games they have shipped 10 goals and scored only two, both of them from Cassano.

“I think it must be a psychological issue, as our tactics and starting XI rarely changed,” mused Del Neri. “Points in a game like this would bring a breath of fresh air and optimism to the side.”

Fabrizio Cacciatore is sidelined by injury and Marius Stankevicius has moved to Sevilla on loan, but there should be no other real fitness concerns for the visitors. Expect Fernando Tissone to be dropped after he reacted angrily to a substitution midweek. Napoli welcome back captain Paolo Cannavaro from a ban, though Mattia Contini, Fabiano Santacroce and Nicolas Amodio are out.

This will be the 62nd meeting between the clubs in Naples with 26 home wins and 25 draws. The most recent of Sampdoria’s 10 victories here was 2-0 on April 19 1998, when Pierre Laigle bagged a brace. Last season Mannini was on the scoresheet for Napoli, but this time is back on the other side of the pitch.

Keep an eye on: Fabio Quagliarella (Napoli) – It was in 2006-07 that he really exploded on to the scene with the Sampdoria jersey on his back, scoring 13 goals in 35 Serie A games. The club tried to keep hold of him, but lost out in a blind auction with Udinese for the other half of his contract. With both Samp and Napoli, Quagliarella has proved he can score from absolutely anywhere.

Last five in Serie A: Napoli (D W D W W) Sampdoria (L L D L D)

Last season: Napoli 2-0 Sampdoria

Two promoted teams are reunited having had very different seasons. Livorno finished last year’s Serie B campaign in third position, just one place behind Parma. They now find themselves 10 places behind the Ducali in the Serie A standings.

All is not doom and gloom for the Labronici though, even accounting for the 4-1 hiding they received at the home of their political rivals Lazio midweek. During Vittorio Russo and Gennaro Ruotolo’s tenure Livorno didn’t win a single game. Since Serse Cosmi’s appointment mid October that figure has gone from zero to five, and the side has climbed from 20th to 16th.

Now is no time for complacency though as they sit just three points from the relegation trapdoor, and considering that they have lost six of their eight away matches so far it’s clear they must make the most of each and every home fixture.

Meanwhile, Parma have been this season’s revelation with a string of excellent performances and shock results. One win in their last five might seem like cause for concern, but their showing in the unfortunate defeat to Juventus midweek was more than enough to prove their bubble hasn’t burst.

The Gialloblu responded brilliantly to going behind early on and deserved at least a point for their efforts – instead going away empty handed due to a calamitous Paolo Castellini own goal. Boss Francesco Guidolin will desire a quick return to winning ways though before they slip out of the European places.

These two met in Serie B last season when the promotion chase was heating up and played out an absolute thriller. The Amaranto twice led thanks to a Francesco Tavano penalty and a Tomas Danilevicius header, but Alessandro Lucarelli and Alberto Paloschi goals earned Parma a 2-2 draw.

On the fitness front, Livorno’s Fabio Moro and Leonardo Miglionico and Mirko Pieri are injured, as are Parma’s McDonald Mariga and Alessio Manzoni. Davide Marchini is suspended for the home side.

Keep an eye on: Nicola Amoruso (Parma) – Having scored a header, came close with a screamer and gave Giorgio Chiellini and Nicola Legrottaglie hell all day Wednesday, Amoruso is yet another Serie A veteran to prove age is no barrier to class.

Last five in Serie A: Livorno (L L W W L) Parma (D D W L L)

Last season: Livorno 2-2 Parma [Serie B]

Genoa need a pick me up after conceding five goals for the second time to a Milan based side this season, but Catania are unlikely to oblige.

Gian Piero Gasperini’s team took the lead against Milan on Wednesday only to lose 5-2 and make it three games without a win for the Rossoblu.

Speaking after the game, Gasperini said: “We’re not Champions League contenders. Our main objective is to get as many points as possible and see where we end up.”

Genoa’s biggest concern is their leaky defence. In fact, it’s the second leakiest in Serie A after Siena’s, letting in 32 goals in 17 games.

Enrico Preziosi is trying to address the problem while the transfer window is still open and has been linked with a move for Chelsea’s Brazilian centre-back Alex after No 1 target Rafael Marquez signed a new deal with Barcelona.

Meanwhile, Catania are starting to build a bit of momentum after a difficult start to the season and could finally get out of the drop zone with a win at Marassi.

Sinisa Mihajlovic has led his side to impressive back-to-back victories in Serie A over Juventus and relegation rivals Bologna.

Catania have unsurprisingly stiffened their resolve under the Serb, keeping a clean sheet in Wednesday’s 1-0 win, but problems lie further forward where goals are proving hard to come by.

The Elefanti focused their efforts on feeding Takayuki Morimoto, but for all his speed, the Japan international lacked substance and it wasn’t until the 80th minute that Nicolas Spolli, the summer signing from Argentina, popped up and scored a powerful header, befitting of his role as a defender just in the opposite box.

Catania have only won once away from home all season and have to change that statistic if they are to extend their stay in Serie A.

Keep an eye on: David Suazo (Genoa) – The Honduran striker scored on his debut against Milan following his move on loan from Inter and Gian Piero Gasperini will be hoping for more of the same this weekend. Renowned as a top class sprinter, Suazo should stretch the Catania defence.

Last five in Serie A: Genoa (L W D L L) Catania (L L L W W)

Last season: Genoa 1-1 Catania

Bari head into this encounter just one place behind Fiorentina and with the same amount of points as the Tuscan side. Both Bari and Parma have made a mockery of the supposed tricky transition from Serie B to Serie A during the first half of the season, as the two newly-promoted teams sandwich the Viola who sit in seventh spot.

The League seems to be taking an all too familiar shape with Inter way out in front and the other two Italian superpowers, Milan and Juventus, hanging on to Jose Mourinho’s side’s coat tails. Nonetheless, the coveted final Champions League spot that Cesare Prandelli’s side have occupied for the last two seasons seems up for grabs. Any team, from Napoli all the way down to Chievo in 13th, who can put together a decent run of results has a realistic shot at finishing in fourth.

And these are two sides seemingly in good form. Prandelli will have been delighted with his team’s European campaign so far but disappointed with their domestic inconsistency. However, they may well have turned a corner with two wins in their last three, including this week’s 5-1 hammering in the Derby di Toscana.

Giampiero Ventura’s men have taken nine points out of a possible 12 in recent weeks so are high on confidence, particularly with the 2-0 dispatching of Udinese on Wednesday. Top scorer Barreto, on loan from the Zebrette, will be hoping to add to his tally of five League goals.

Argentine midfield enforcer Sergio Almiron returns to the Artemio Franchi for the first time since his loan spell in Florence last season. The former Empoli man struggled to impose himself on the Viola last term with Felipe Melo acting as the midfield hard man, but is finding more joy this season in Biancorossi colours. He has been an almost ever-present in the Bari starting line-up since signing on loan from Juventus, scoring three goals in 16 appearances.

Injuries to Alessandro Gamberini, Cristiano Zanetti, Marco Marchionni and Stevan Jovetic has given Prandelli a selection headache, while Gianluca Comotto is ruled out through suspension. Bari’s injury list is more extensive, including Vitali Kutuzov, Daniele De Vezze and Mariano Donda.

Keep an eye on: Alberto Gilardino (Fiorentina) – After a slow start to the campaign, the Azzurri forward has found the back of net on a regular basis in recent weeks. His double in the Siena mauling took his League return to nine, just two behind leader Antonio Di Natale in the race for the Capocannoniere title. Bari have only conceded 15 League goals so far, but Gila will still be targeting this game as a good chance to lessen the gap in the scoring charts.

Last five in Serie A: Fiorentina (L L W L W) Bari (L W L W W)

Last season: Not played

Bologna may be turning to Manchester United teenager Federico Macheda to solve their scoring crisis as they have struck a paltry three goals in their last four – drawing two blanks. With only one of those coming from an out-and-out forward they certainly need to pep up their frontline.

The home side have been in wretched form recently, with just one win in their last five outings. However, on home soil their record does not shape up too badly – three wins from four, and the solitary loss coming in the visit from leaders Inter.

Cagliari, meanwhile, have also found themselves in something of a rut. After racking up four consecutive wins in October and November they now are in a system of one win in five. Worryingly they have won just once in their last four trips out on the road.

The thing that is in favour of Massimo Allegri’s side at present is their resilience late in the game. Against Roma in Week 18 two goals in the dying seconds earned a draw, while against Napoli a turnaround in the last 15 minutes saw them go from 2-0 down to 3-2 up before surrendering at 3-3.

Last time out it was Cagliari who left the victors. A half-time goal from Robert Acquafresca sealed a 1-0 win back in March 2009. Similarly to now both sides were in the doldrums and Bologna felt that they had earned a late point when Massimo Marazzina nodded home, alas it was flagged offside.

Historically this tie is finely balanced, with three wins each dating back through the six top-flight meetings since 1991. Bologna’s strongest showing was a 3-0 result in May 1997 while Cagliari fondly recall a 3-1 win recorded in May 1999.

The Renato Dall’Ara side have a few selection issues as defender Cristian Zenoni and middle man Francesco Valiani serve suspensions while midfield quartet Massimo Mutarelli, Stephen Appiah, Nicola Mingazzini and Luca Vigiani are all unavailable through injury.

The visitors also have worries as defender Michele Canini is suspended and goalkeeper Cristiano Lupatelli, defenders Diego Lopez and Francesco Pisano, plus midfielder Mario Brkljaca are all on the treatment table.

Keep an eye on: Alessandro Matri (Cagliari) – The Milan youth product has been in grand form recently. Seven goals in his last eight games make him the Isolani’s clear danger man.

Last five in Serie A: Bologna (L D W L L) Cagliari (L W L D D)

Last season: Bologna 0-1 Cagliari