Inter and Juve test ambitions

Champions Inter Milan and Juventus face off late on Sunday in a classic Serie A match that could shed light on each side’s potential after mixed results in the previous five games.

Juve lie three points behind Inter, who crashed 1-0 at Roma last weekend but are retained the lead with 10 points on goal difference over Lazio.

The Champions League holders, however, were back on track in mid-week, hammering Werder Bremen 4-0 with Samuel Eto’o scoring a hat-trick for a season tally of 11 goals from nine games.

Juve beat Cagliari 4-2 at the weekend and were facing a tough away game to Manchester City later on Thursday in the Europa League ahead of the Inter date.

“Two pretty tough games await us. With (coach Roberto) Mancini’s side and then with Inter,” Juve’s international defender Giorgio Chiellini said.

“The one with the Nerazzurri is the match of matches, but the Europa League is important for us and we need a positive result to achieve a self-confidence that we still miss.”

Under new coach Luigi Delneri, Juve’s defence blundered several times and with nine goals conceded is the league’s worst along with Roma and tail-enders Udinese.

Things are better upfront, with 12 goals making the Bianconeri the top scoring squad.

In earlier Sunday action, coach Edy Reja looks to keep Lazio at the top at home against Brescia.

Reja is the league’s oldest coach, turning 65 in October, and has gradually become an idol for Lazio fans since he arrived in Rome in February to avoid a looming relegation.

“With this spirit we can go a long way,” he said after a 1-0 win over in-form Chievo last weekend.

His younger colleague Massimiliano Allegri, 43, has fiddled with tactics and lineups since taking over giants AC Milan in June, and has so far relied heavily on five-time scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

The Swede got the 1-0 winner over Genoa on Saturday and was also on target in midweek at Ajax Amsterdam in the Champions League.

Brazilian Pato is due back from injury and Ibra should be available for a late Saturday tie at Parma despite muscular trouble.

Also on five goals, all in Serie A games, is Napoli’s Uruguayan newcomer Edinson Cavani, who tops the scorers’ table with Cameroon’s Eto’o.

The last-gasp win over Inter seems to have helped Roma switch gears after a poor start. The Rome side won their Champions League tie with Cluj in midweek as well but now face a tough visit to Napoli.

The weekend opens Saturday when Udinese welcome Cesena, Lecce and Catania face off at noon Sunday, before Chievo host Cagliari, Fiorentina entertain Palermo and Genoa take on Bari.