Looking for a miracle
Title-chasers Napoli hope Juventus will slip at San Siro
MILAN: The fall-out from Gonzalo Higuain’s four-match ban will overshadow Serie A this weekend, when the Argentine striker and his Napoli team-mates will be glued to a crucial San Siro clash between AC Milan and Juventus.
Sitting three points behind Juventus before last week’s games, Napoli’s bid for a first Serie A title in 26 years looks to be in tatters following a shock 3-1 defeat at Udinese that saw Higuain lose the plot after being shown a red card.
Higuain pushed and insulted referee Massimiliano Irrati and had to be restrained by team-mates before being dragged off the pitch.
His moment of madness led to a four-match ban and, with Juventus now six points in front, will be seen as a pivotal moment in Napoli’s title quest.
Although Napoli are set to appeal what they regard as an “unfair sanction”, their best hopes now lie with Juventus slipping up along the way as they look to secure a fifth consecutive title.
But the champions are on an unbeaten run of 21 games, and defender Andrea Barzagli believes Juve’s strength and belief will prevail. Awinwouldallow coachMassimilano Allegri to walk away victorious from the club that sacked him in January 2014.
“Winning at Milan would be a big step towards the title. We will have one less game to play and be even closer to our objective,” Barzagli told juventus.com.
“In recent years we’ve become a stronger side thanks to our belief and to the hard work we’ve put in, so we feel like we deserve our place in the table.
“But our feet are firmly on the ground.”
A 21st win in 22 games would take Juve’s lead overNapoli to amorale-sapping nine points a day beforeMaurizio Sarri’smen host basement side Verona at the San Paolo.
But Milan haven’t surrendered yet, and Napoli players will be praying the Rossoneri cause an upset with a home win that would reignite the title race and boost Milan’s Europa League hopes.
Milan are currently 24 points behind Juventus, 14 off the last Champions League spot and six behind Inter Milan, who occupy the last Europa League spot.
The pressure on coach Sinisa Mihajlovic increased after last week’s 2-1 defeat at Atalanta, meaning Milan have taken only two points from their last four games.
It is hardly what you expect from a club that have been European champions seven times, but struggling to qualify for the Champions League is now the reality for Rossoneri fans. — AFP