Rome (AFP)

After crossing paths on the pitch, Pippo and Simone Inzaghi will look at each other on Tuesday from their benches during Benevento - Lazio Rome.

A first for the two brothers, coaches in Serie A.

As a player, Filippo the elder eclipsed Simone, not always attacking, but as a coach, the balance of power is reversed.

And it is as a candidate for maintenance that Pippo's Benevento receives Simone's Lazio on Tuesday, announced as a title contender at the start of the season and qualified for the 8th finals of the Champions League.

The Romans (9th, 17 pts), beaten by Verona (2-1) on Saturday, must revive before two complicated days, against Naples and then at AC Milan.

Andrea Pirlo's Juventus (4th, 23 pts), with a more lenient schedule before the truce, has a last obstacle on the Christmas road, Atalanta Bergamo on Wednesday, before a trip to Parma (14th) then the reception of the Fiorentina (17th) for his last of the year.

La Dea (8th, 17 pts) crosses a zone of turbulence despite its qualification for the knockout stages of C1 where it will meet Real Madrid.

Tensions between the Bergamasques maestro, Papu Gomez, and his trainer Gian Piero Gasperini, relayed for several weeks in the Italian media, erupted in broad daylight on Monday.

"When I leave, we'll know the truth about everything," the Argentinian wrote in an Instagram post.

The break seems consumed between Gasperini and his captain, left on the bench on Sunday against Fiorentina (3-0 victory), to the point that the local press announced a possible departure in January.

Just ahead of Juventus, Inter (2nd, 24 pts) receives Napoli (3rd, 23 pts) in a shock for second place.

The Milanese, 3-1 winners in Cagliari, appear to have recovered from their failure in the Champions League, where their inability to beat Shakhtar Donetsk on the final day deprived them of the next round.

Antonio Conte, target of criticism after two consecutive failed campaigns and appeared very annoyed Wednesday, has the opportunity at San Siro to relegate Napoli, contender in the title race, to four points.

A title race still led by AC Milan (1st, 27 pts) despite its draw against Parma (2-2).

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, co-top scorer in the Championship with Cristiano Ronaldo (10 goals), is still uncertain for the game at Genoa on Wednesday due to a thigh injury.

A priori, the Rossoneri do not necessarily need their Swedish star, absent for three Serie A matches, to overcome the Genoese (19th).

Still, Genoa is the last team to beat Milan in the Championship.

It was nine months ago.

The program for the 12th day (in GMT hours):

Tuesday December 15

(5.30 p.m.) Udinese - Crotone

(7:45 p.m.) Benevento - Lazio Rome

Wednesday December 16

(5.30 p.m.) Juventus Turin - Atalanta Bergamo

(7.45 p.m.) Inter Milan - Naples

Genoa - AC Milan

Fiorentina - Sassuolo

Hellas Verona - Sampdoria Genoa

Parma - Cagliari

Spezia - Bologna

Thursday 17th December

(19:45) AS Rome - Torino

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