Juventus eye Milan revenge
Milan, March 9: Leaders Juventus host AC Milan looking to avenge a shock Serie A reverse, and hoping the fallout from allegations linking the club to an organised crime figure does not spill on to the pitch.
AC Milan stunned Juventus 1-0 in October to hand the 32-times champions their second San Siro defeat of the season after a 1-0 reverse to Inter weeks earlier.
But while the odds are stacked against the Rossoneri, 17 points off the pace and seven behind Napoli in the third and last Champions League qualifying spot, Juve, at least off the pitch, have gone on the defensive.
Juventus president Andrea Agnelli last month was forced to deny reports club officials were providing match tickets to a hardline ‘ultra’ fan with alleged links to Italy’s feared ‘Ndrangheta crime syndicate.
The ‘Ndrangheta is an organised crime syndicate with origins in Calabria, but which has spread to the north of Italy. Prosecutors are investigating its reach in the Piedmont region, whose capital is Turin, and Dominello is alleged to have had privileged relations with Juventus club officials in connection with the acquisition and distribution of match and season tickets. But the affair should hardly affect Massimiliano Allegri’s men on the pitch. At home, they haven’t conceded defeat or a draw all season in Serie A.
Milan coach Vincenzo Montella, meanwhile, has concerns over influential Spanish forward Suso, although he is expected to recover from a thigh muscle problem to start alongside Carlos Bacca and Gerard Defoleu. Suso has played 27 out of 27 games, only once coming off the bench, in Serie A so far. If unavailable, Lucas Ocampos will step in. — AFP