Leaders Juventus host second-placed Roma as Serie A resumes following its winter break with a crunch title clash tomorrow.
The Bianconeri won nine straight Serie A matches, conceding just one goal, prior to the Christmas hiatus and will bid to continue the remarkable run at home to the Giallorossi, who are unbeaten this season.
Carlos Tevez returned to Turin to train with his team-mates on New Year’s Day after being granted extended leave in his native Argentina due to personal issues, while Andrea Pirlo has recovered from a knee injury, giving Juventus a full squad.
Roma, who have midfielders Daniele De Rossi and Kevin Strootman available following suspension, have drawn five times in their last seven matches and are five points behind entering the weekend’s fixtures.
The round-18 summit clash is the highlight of three fixtures tomorrow, which also see Fiorentina take on Livorno and Chievo play Cagliari.
Fourth-placed Fiorentina, who beat Juve in October, could move level on points with third-placed Napoli, who play on Monday.
Mario Gomez (knee) is out for Fiorentina, but Gonzalo Rodri-guez is fit to feature against a Livorno side who have one point from their last six games.
Chievo, who won three in a row before losses to Sampdoria and Torino, will aim to put further distance between themselves and the relegation zone against a Cagliari side unbeaten in six matches.
Rafael Benitez’s Napoli host Sampdoria in Monday’s early kick-off, with a difficult test in prospect.
The Blucerchiati are unbeaten in five since losing to Fiorentina, while Napoli have won only two of their last six. Marek Hamsik could return from injury for Napoli.
Verona play at Udinese seeking a win which, for a few hours at least, would take them above Inter.
Fifth-placed Inter play at Lazio on Monday evening bidding to continue the momentum from the derby win, when they followed up a loss at Napoli with victory over Milan.
Zdravko Kuzmanovic told Sky Italia: “We need to push on from our derby victory because they were three big points for us and we want to keep going now.
“Can we hope to finish third? Sure we can hope for that – it’s what we want.”
Milan, 12 points behind city rivals Inter in 13th place, will bid to end a four-match winless run against an Atalanta side winless in five.
Massimiliano Allegri has already confirmed his departure from the San Siro at the end of a season in which the Rossoneri have struggled in mid-table.
Bottom club Catania, whose most recent win was on November 9 against Udinese, play Bologna, who are five points better off than their hosts in a precarious position in 17th place.
Genoa, beaten at Bologna in their last match, face a Sassuolo side who have lost their last three, conceding six goals in the process.
Draw specialists Parma – they have drawn five of their last six games – host Torino.
The Maroons are aiming to extend their three-match winning run following defeats of Lazio, Udinese and Chievo.
Fixtures
Playing Tomorrow
Chievo vs Cagliari 15.00
Fiorentina vs Livorno 18.00
Juventus vs Roma 20.45
Monday– 15.00
Catania vs Bologna
Genoa vs Sassuolo
Lazio vs Inter 18.30
Milan vs Atalanta
Napoli vs Sampdoria 12.30
Parma vs Torino
Udinese vs Verona