Rome: After exiting the Champions League with their pride still intact, AC Milan need to stay positive to hold off a still-unbeaten Juventus team and defend their Italian league title.
While Milan lost 3-1 in the second leg at Barcelona on Tuesday, the team came away from the Camp Nou mildly content. Milan were upset only about one of two penalties the Catalan side was awarded.
"We're exiting the Champions League without any major regrets," Milan captain Massimo Ambrosini said. "We could have done more but we held our heads high against Barcelona, who confirmed themselves as the best squad around."
In the first leg, Milan held holders Barcelona to a 0-0 draw at the San Siro.
"The two matches showed some differences (between the two clubs) but not much," Ambrosini added. "Now we've got to focus on the league with enthusiasm, and with the knowledge that we did our best. So that should let us return home not entirely distraught."
In the middle of their series with Barcelona, Milan slumped to a 1-1 draw at Catania last weekend, allowing Juventus to draw within two points with eight rounds remaining in Serie A. This weekend, Milan host a Fiorentina side just one spot above the relegation zone, while Juventus visit mid-table Palermo.
All of the weekend's matches are scheduled for Saturday due to the Easter holiday.
Antonio Cassano has been cleared to play for Milan again following minor heart surgery in November. He could be a crucial addition for the end of the season, especially since fellow forward Alexandre Pato picked up yet another muscle injury in just 14 minutes of second-half action against Barcelona, likely ruling him out for the rest of the season.
Of their eight matches remaining, Milan play six of them at the San Siro, with five home matches scheduled plus a derby with Inter Milan in the penultimate round.
However, Juventus need only to draw level, since they hold the tie-breaker over Milan with a win and a draw head-to-head. The Turin club, which has undergone a renaissance after finishing seventh in the past two seasons, has looked especially impressive in their last three matches — a 5-0 rout of Fiorentina, a 2-0 win over Inter Milan and a 3-0 victory over Napoli.
"(Milan) are going to have to spit blood right down to the last match," Juventus coach Antonio Conte was overheard saying in a speech to his squad this week. "But I'm worried about a loss of concentration. We've got to remember that we haven't done anything yet, we haven't achieved any goal. So I want to see you foaming at the mouth, starting with Palermo."
Meanwhile, there is also a battle for third place and the final Champions League berth. Lazio are currently third with 51 points, followed by Napoli and Udinese with 48 each, Roma (47) and Inter (44).
Lazio, who host Napoli, are mourning the death of Giorgio Chinaglia, one of their all-time leading scorers, and could be without their topscorer this campaign, Miroslav Klose, for the rest of the season due to a torn left thigh muscle.
Udinese host Parma, Roma visit Lecce and Inter play Cagliari in their second match under 36-year-old manager Andrea Stramaccioni. The Inter match was moved from Cagliari to Trieste because of a dispute between the Sardinian club and their city council over renovating the Sant'Elia stadium.
Also on Saturday, it's - Chievo Verona vs. Catania; Atalanta vs. Siena; Cesena vs. Bologna; and Novara vs. Genoa.
Alberto Malesani will make his return as Genoa manager after Pasquale Marino was fired on Monday to mark the 17th coaching change in the 20-team Serie A since the pre-season, matching the record from 1947-48 - the only season with 21 clubs.
Genoa lost 5-4 at Inter last weekend to slip to 16th place. The Ligurian club has the worst defence in the league with 56 goals allowed in 30 matches. Malesani was fired in December after a 6-1 thrashing by Napoli, but Genoa were equal on points with the ninth-placed team at the time.
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