Frontrunners Juventus look to resume winning against buoyant AC Milan

Juventus host a Serie A classic tomorrow against a recovered AC Milan, who chase a Champions League place with new mid-season coach Gennaro Gattuso at the helm.

Juve sit two points clear of Napoli and look at clinching a seventh successive title, while the Devils are currently sixth in the Europa League zone, five points behind fourth place, which qualifies for the elite tournament they won seven times.

Gattuso won the Champions League twice as Milan midfielder, lifting as many Scudetti, between 2003 and 2011. He is also a 2006 world champion with Italy.

The Rossoneri called him up from their youth team to replace Vincenzo Montella in late November and are now set to extend his one-season contract.

“Opening the (Easter) egg, we will certainly find Gattuso’s renewal,” sporting director Massimiliano Mirabelli said referring to the use of celebrating the Catholic festivity with chocolate eggs containing a surprise gift.

“I do not think there will be problems. I have said it for a while, Gattuso will be one of the most important coaches of the next years.” Juve, meanwhile, cheered their coach Massimiliano Allegri as he this week received the annual Panchina d’oro, or Golden bench, award for the fourth time in his career. He earlier got the prize while at Sassuolo and twice at Cagliari.

The Bianconeri, however, ground to a scoreless draw at lowly Spal in their latest outing, ending a run of 12 wins before the break for international games. They have defenders Giorgio Chiellini and Alex Sandro out for the Turin game that wraps up matchday 30, which is entirely played Saturday, ahead of Easter Sunday.

Juve then face a gruelling quarterfinal of the Champions League Tuesday at home to Real Madrid, who beat them 4-1 in last year’s final, while Roma visit Barcelona on Wednesday.

Milan are now on a five-win run and have a city derby against fourth-placed Inter Milan on Wednesday, when six other Serie A games are played after being postponed for the death of Fiorentina captain Davide Astori on March 4.

Chasers Napoli visit struggling Sassuolo and are free from mid-week duty along with Lazio, Bologna and Spal. Third-place Roma open action at Bologna ahead of Inter’s home game to Verona. Lazio, who are fifth one point behind Inter, host tailenders Benevento. Atalanta vs Udinese, Fiorentina vs Crotone, Genoa vs Spal, Cagliari vs Torino and Chievo vs Sampdoria complete the round. – dpa