Leaders Inter aim to see out memorable 2021 in style

• Milan’s opponent Torino are no pushovers, having already beaten Juve and Napoli


Inter Milan will look to go out with a bang in the Italian top flight’s final round of fixtures before the winter break this week after a year to remember for Simone Inzaghi’s Serie A table toppers.
Inter lifted their first Scudetto in 11 years in May, finishing 12 points ahead of rivals AC Milan in second. After losing key figures in that title success during the close season — coach Antonio Conte, top goalscorer Romelu Lukaku and flying fullback Achraf Hakimi — things did not start well this term, with Inter playing catch up until recent weeks.
They have found top gear again, however, to sit top of the standings by four points. Inter were crowned winter champions, too, following their sixth successive league win, at Salernitana on Friday, and Milan’s loss to Napoli on Sunday.
Friday’s 5-0 success took Inter to 100 goals in a calendar year for the first time in their Serie A history, with Torino their final opponent of a successful 2021 today.
By their high standards, Juventus’s 2021 has been nothing short of woeful. Looking to make it 10 successive league titles last season, rookie coach Andrea Pirlo could only steer Juve to fourth position — a return that cost him his job. Massimiliano Allegri returned to save the day in the close season, taking charge of the Turin club for the second time, but he has fared even worse, with Juve languishing down in seventh ahead of clash with Cagliari.
Allegri is fully aware he has it all to do to turn things around. “We have to win tomorrow and then see where we can get,” Allegri told a news conference on Monday. “On February 28, we’ll know if we are in the race for the top four. There’s a lot of work to do over the next two months.”
Milan are again looking likely to be one of Inter’s main title challengers, but Stefano Pioli’s side, who went unbeaten in their opening 12 league matches of the season, have stuttered of late, losing three of their last six league games. Empoli are Milan’s final opponent before the winter break today and will be no pushovers, having already beaten Juve and Napoli this season.
Napoli’s 1-0 win in the San Siro on Sunday saw them climb above Milan to sit second on goal difference. They too went unbeaten in their opening 12 league games before falling away. Victory over Spezia on Wednesday will keep them in the title hunt. Fourth-placed Atalanta’s six-game Serie A winning streak was ended by AS Roma on Sunday, meaning they cannot afford more dropped points at Genoa  if they are to keep Inter in their sights.

Napoli captain Insigne tests positive for Covid-19
Napoli captain Lorenzo Insigne has tested positive for Covid-19, the Serie A club said. “The player will undergo a period of isolation at home. The team, following indications from the local health authority, has carried out a round of swab tests and the results will be announced in late afternoon,” read a club statement.
The Italy international has played a central role in Napoli’s Serie A title challenge this season, scoring four goals in 15 league appearances and helping Luciano Spalletti’s side climb to second place, four points behind leaders Inter Milan. Insigne will miss Napoli’s home clash with relegation-battling Spezia today, their final fixture before a two-week winter break.

AC Milan striker Ibrahimovic injured for Empoli match
AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is the club’s latest player to be ruled out with injury, Stefano Pioli said yesterday, as the Rossoneri look to end a recent winless run against Empoli before the winter break. The Rossoneri have lost important figures like Simon Kjaer, Ante Rebic, Olivier Giroud, Rafael Leao and Davide Calabria to injury in recent weeks, and the absences have coincided with a dip in form. “Ibra won’t be there tomorrow because of an overload on his knee,” Pioli told a news conference.
Milan have picked up one point from their last three games in all competitions. A 1-0 defeat to Napoli on Sunday saw them drop to third place in Serie A, four points behind leaders Inter, ahead of their trip to Empoli today. “The number of muscular injuries in November was too high and in the long run you can pay for that. We are overcoming the problem and will get past it after the winter break,” Pioli said. Milan began the season in flying form, going unbeaten for the first 12 games, but they have since picked up two wins in their last seven Serie A matches.
They face a tricky task against ninth-placed Empoli, who have been one of the surprises of the season since their promotion from Serie B and are unbeaten in five league games. “When the results aren’t coming, it’s right to be less calm, but even more determined,” Pioli said. “We want to get back on track after losing at home. Milan played a good game against Napoli. But we are committing some errors that you can’t afford if you want to get a result. We need more quality.”