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Inter take title push to Napoli as Juve, Atalanta clash for Champions League

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MILAN: Antonio Conte’s Inter Milan take their title push to Napoli on Sunday looking to extend their winning streak as Juventus travel to Champions League rivals Atalanta.

Inter are 11 points ahead of second-placed AC Milan and chasing a 12th consecutiv­e league win to push them closer to a first title since 2010.

Champions Juventus are third, a further point back, with their nine-year reign looking set to end.

“We never expected to be this far ahead with eightgames­togo,”saidinterd­efendermil­anskriniar.

“Every day Conte tells us that we must work without looking at the advantage and above all not to make calculatio­ns.”

Stefano Pioli’s second-placed Milan take on 13thplaced Genoa looking to end their home drought.

The northerner­s have not won in the San Siro in over two months and will be without suspended forward Zlatan Ibrahimovi­c.

A slip-up could allow either Juventus or Atalanta to move second with both teams going head-tohead in Bergamo.

Conte has won his last three league games against fith-placed Napoli, who are two points off the Champions League berths.

“We’re working really hard, hungry to reach our goal,” said Inter forward Romelu Lukaku who helped the team finish runners-up last season.

“Last year there were many ups and downs, but if we look at the team there are many young players and I think we have all taken a next step.”

Gennaro Gatuso’s Napoli will be without suspended Hirving Lozano with Alex Meret in goal for injured David Ospina. Napoli have won at least 19 of their opening 30 Serie A games for just the fith time.

The previous times they finished the season in the top three of the table.

In the Champions League race nine points separatese­cond-placedmila­nandromain­seventh.

In Bergamo, Atalanta and Juventus clash in a dress rehearsal for next month’s Italian Cup final.

Third-placedjuve­ntusarejus­tonepointa­headof

Atalanta, who occupy the final elite-european berth. With eight games let, both sides need to win. Atalanta travel next weekend to European rivals Roma, with their final game this season against AC Milan. Juventus come up against both Milan teams in their run to the end of the season.

Atalanta haven’t beaten Juventus in Serie A in 20 years going back to February 2001.

But in all competitio­ns Juve have have won just one of their last six meetings in November 2019.

Juve striker Cristiano Ronaldo drew a blank last time out to his frustation as the 36-year-old targets the top Serie A scorer prize this season which he currently leads with 25 goals.

Italian League fixtures (times GMT) Saturday: Crotone vs Udinese, Sampdoria vs Hellas Verona (both 1300), Sassuolo vs Fiorentina (1600), Cagliari vs Parma (1845) Sunday: AC Milan vs Genoa (1030), Atalanta vs Juventus, Bologna vs Spezia, Lazio vs Benevento (all 1300), Torino vs AS Roma (1600), Napoli vs Inter Milan (1845)

 ?? Courtesy: Juventus Twitter ?? ↑
Juventus players attend a training session ahead of their Italian League match against Atalanta.
Courtesy: Juventus Twitter ↑ Juventus players attend a training session ahead of their Italian League match against Atalanta.

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