Rome (AFP)

Waltz coming to the top of Serie A?

Inter, traveling to Verona, can hope to lead the dance before Christmas in the event of a misstep by AC Milan, still deprived of Ibrahimovic, for his shock against Lazio on Wednesday (8:45 p.m.).

Fragile leader, Milan, closely followed by Inter, will once again have to do without his star to keep his throne.

Injured in the left calf, after the thigh, Ibracadabra is not expected until January.

"I hope he will be back as soon as possible because we need him. We are for sure a better team when he is there", admitted Rossonero coach Stefano Pioli after the 2-1 success at Sassuolo.

Difficult to contradict him, since the return of the Swede to Milan in January, the Lombard club has bowed only twice.

Beyond the accounting result, the meeting against Lazio, eighth but contender for the scudetto, will therefore be a test for the Milanese.

Since during their first three shocks of this season against Inter, Roma and Napoli, Ibrahimovic had each time scored a double (for two wins and a draw).

- Inter in sight -

In the event of a slippage, Inter, second, will be ready to take advantage.

So far the Nerazzurri have checked all the windows of their Advent calendar and even a little more.

Antonio Conte's men have the best current series with six successes in a row.

Their faultless since the international break has allowed them to return to a small point of their Milanese rival, which they can put under pressure just before their meeting with Lazio.

For that, they will have to overcome Verona on Wednesday (6:45 p.m.), ninth, largely thanks to its performance against the big guys.

It's very simple, AS Roma (3-0), Juventus (1-1), Milan (2-2), Atalanta (2-0) and Lazio (2-1) all have broke their teeth or fell against the Veneto club.

Inter is warned.

A priori less delicate meeting for Juventus Turin, third, from Tuesday (8:45 p.m.) against Fiorentina, 16th and who has not won for two months in Serie A.

"We will now receive a team in difficulty and then direct competitors will arrive," said Gianluigi Buffon after the 4-0 success in Parma.

"To have as few regrets as possible, it's better to arrive in a good position because it will be already decisive matches," advocates the experienced 42-year-old goalkeeper before two decisive meetings against the two giants of Milan in January.

- Bergamo without Gomez -

Like Juventus, Atalanta (7th) inherits with his trip to Bologna (14th) Wednesday (8.45pm) an affordable opponent for this 14th day.

Especially since Bergamo, for lack of his little Papu Gomez, received from Santa Claus a present before the hour: the return to his best level of Josip Ilicic.

The Slovenian made forget the absence of Gomez, announced on the departure in January and not even summoned Sunday.

Rid of his personal and psychological problems, Ilicic found in addition to the grounds his brilliant form of last season against Roma (victory 4-1) with two assists and a goal.

AS Rome, fourth after this collapse similar to that seen against Naples (4-0), must revive against Cagliari on Wednesday at the Olimpico stadium (8:45 p.m.) to avoid being overtaken by Napoli.

The players of Genaro Gattuso, with only one point behind, receive in parallel the Torino, first relegation.

The program for the 14th day of the Italian Football Championship which will be played on Tuesday 22 and Wednesday 23 December (in French hours):

Tuesday 22 December

(6.30 p.m.) Crotone - Parma

(8:45 p.m.) Juventus Turin - Fiorentina

Wednesday 23 December

(6.30 p.m.) Hellas Verona - Inter Milan

(8:45 p.m.) Udinese - Benevento

AS Rome - Cagliari

AC Milan - Lazio Rome

Spezia - Genoa

Bologna - Atalanta Bergamo

Sampdoria Genoa - Sassuolo

Naples - Torino

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