Serie A Matchday 17: Milan face key clash against Mourinho's Roma

AC Milan will be hoping to continue to close the gap on Serie A leaders Napoli when they host a Roma side looking to leapfrog city rivals Lazio.

The Partenopei suffered their first league defeat of the campaign last time out and travel to relegation-threatened Sampdoria in search of a return to winning ways.

In-form Juventus host stubborn Udinese, while Inter Milan visit Monza with an eye on solidifying their place in the top four.

Elsewhere, Lazio have a chance to bounce back from their loss at Lecce when they take on Empoli.

Game of the weekend: AC Milan vs Roma (Sunday, 7.45pm)

AC Milan come into this game unbeaten in their last four league outings (three wins, one draw) — with their most recent 2-1 win at Salernitana cutting the gap between themselves and Napoli to five points.

Ahead of Matchday 17, the Rossoneri have created more big chances (43) and completed more take-ons (127) than any other team in Serie A.

Roma will certainly have their hands full against such a potent attack, though no team in the division have conceded fewer shots from inside the box than Jose Mourinho's men (80). 

The Giallorossi are sixth, three points off the top four and snapped a three-game winless run with a 1-0 victory over Bologna on Wednesday — they will be hoping to carry that momentum into their clash at the San Siro.

Sampdoria vs Napoli (Sunday, 5pm)

Napoli’s unbeaten Serie A run finally came to an end last time out at Inter Milan — but they still boast an impressive 13 wins from 16 outings this term.

Luciano Spalletti's side are the division’s top scorers with 37 strikes, while Sampdoria are the lowest scorers with just eight. 

Additionally, the hosts have accrued the most yellow cards in the league (49), while the Partenopei have picked up the fewest (22). 

Sampdoria’s 2-1 win at Sassuolo last time out — just their second league victory of the season — snapped a four-game losing streak but still leaves them on only nine points, five from safety.

Juventus vs Udinese (Saturday, 5pm)

Juventus suffered an inconsistent start to the season but have sprung back into third following a terrific run of form in which they have won six successive Serie A games. 

The foundation of the Bianconeri’s resurgence has been their defensive solidity, keeping a league-high 11 clean sheets and conceding a league-low seven goals. 

However, they have not been quite as potent going forward and have scored as many goals (25) as upcoming opponents Udinese. 

The visitors have recorded the joint-most draws of any team in the division (seven) and will hope to frustrate Max Allegri’s men in Turin.

Monza vs Inter Milan (Saturday, 7.45pm)

Inter sit fourth in the table but must keep up the pace to avoid being overtaken by the chasing pack.

Intriguingly, the Nerazzurri are the only side in the Italian top flight yet to draw this term, with 11 wins and five defeats. 

Monza have won each of their last two home games but may struggle to make it three on the bounce, given Inter have won on each of their last three outings.

Edin Dzeko was the hero for Simone Inzaghi's men last time out, heading home their winner in the 1-0 home victory over Napoli.

Lazio vs Empoli (Sunday, 2pm)

Lazio have lost their last two games and will be keen to get back on track before too much distance opens up between them and the top four. 

That gap currently stands at three points but a victory over Empoli coupled with an Inter Milan defeat would move the Biancocelesti back into the Champions League places.

Empoli sit 13th, nine points clear of the relegation zone and look set for a comfortable season.

They could improve up front, however, with their record of just 13 goals in 16 games the worst of any Serie A side outside the bottom three.

The weekend's other games

Fiorentina vs Sassuolo (Saturday, 2pm)

Salernitana vs Torino (Sunday, 11.30am) 

Spezia vs Lecce (Sunday, 2pm) 

Verona vs Cremonese (Monday, 5.30pm) 

Bologna vs Atalanta (Monday, 7.45pm)

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