The leagues throughout Europe are reaching their climax and AC Milan have the chance to sew up their first Serie A title since 2004 when they travel to Roma on Saturday night.
The Rossoneri lie eight points clear with just three games to go and it appears to be simply a matter of when and not if the Milan giants secure their 18th league title.
Massimiliano Allegri’s men need just a point to secure the title and should be able to get it at the first opportunity, given their excellent run of form and strong defensive performances of late.
Milan have not triumphed at the Stadio Olimpico since 2005 but at 9/5 in the match betting, an away win cannot be ruled as the 1-0 win over Bologna last weekend was the club’s fifth consecutive win – their best run of form for 18 months.
Allegri is also able to welcome back a clutch of stars for the Rome trip, including Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Mark van Bommel from suspension, Alexandre Pato from a thigh strain and Gennaro Gattuso from a muscle problem.
The champions-elect have also been solid at the back and kept four clean sheets in the last five games, while they have only been beaten twice on the road this term.
Roma have turned the corner with three wins in the last four games to keep alive their hopes of Champions League qualification, and they are the 7/5 favourites in the match betting to make home advantage count.
Francesco Totti is always worth considering in the goalscoring markets and is 11/2 to score First/Last and 13/8 Anytime, and is obviously in fine form having notched nine of his club’s last 12 goals to take his tally for the season to 14.
However, one might argue that there is an over-reliance from the Giallorossi on their talisman and if Milan can shackle the World Cup winner then it becomes difficult to see where Roma will profit.
Vincenzo Montella’s men managed to take the three points in the reverse fixture at the San Siro but the onus is on them to do the attacking this time as a draw for Milan will secure the the title.
Milan’s defence though should be up to the task, given the fact that Roma will also be without Daniele De Rossi and Simone Perrotta so the 9/4 available on the draw seems the sensible option.
Udinese take on Lazio on Sunday in a key game in terms of Champions League qualification and neither side will go in to the fixture in the best of nick.
The Zebrete are in their worse run of form since the start of the season and have slipped to sixth in the table, with their defence leaking 12 goals in the last five games.
By contrast, Lazio have managed to score 10 in the same period but have won only two and lost three of those games.
Both teams have selection problems ahead of the match but at 11/5 in the match betting, it is worth taking the capital outfit to cement their place in the top four.
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