Lazio and AC Milan will book their places in next season's
Champions League qualifying round if they manage victories in Serie
A on Sunday.
Milan face inconsistent Catania and look to have the easier task
in securing a top four finish with third-placed Lazio visiting
recently-crowned champions Inter Milan.
Inter, who have already bagged one of the two automatic Champion
League spots along with second-placed AS Roma, are carrying a
number of injuries though and will have been shaken by their 6-2
loss to Roma in the Italian Cup final first leg on Wednesday.
Milan, who are again expected to be without injured striker
Ronaldo, looked jaded in the 0-0 draw with Fiorentina last weekend
which followed their Champions League semi-final win over
Manchester United.
Carlo Ancelotti's men would rather qualify for next season's
competition by beating Liverpool in the Athens final on May 23 but
a victory over Catania would give them a safety net.
The match will be played in Bologna as Catania are still banned
from playing matches at home following the death of a policeman in
riots after February's game with Palermo.
However, fans will be allowed in the stadium for the first time
on Sunday after a ruling by the Italian football authorities on
Tuesday.
Catania will welcome the support of their fans in their bid
against the drop, with a host of teams battling to avoid the
remaining relegation place with three rounds of matches left.
Ascoli and Messina went down last Sunday and Siena currently
occupy the third relegation spot with 34 points.
Siena host the season's surprise package Empoli, who will be
keen to exploit any slip-ups from Lazio or Milan in their unlikely
chase for a Champions League place.
Empoli, in fifth, are seven points adrift of fourth-placed Milan
but a point above Palermo and two ahead of Fiorentina, who fill the
other two UEFA Cup spots.
A stuttering Palermo visit Ascoli while Fiorentina, again set to
be without striker Luca Toni because of a foot problem, entertain
Cagliari.
(China Daily via Agencies May 11, 2007)