Rome (AFP)

Two big disappointments of the season - Cagliari (18th) and Torino (17th) - face each other on Friday for the 23rd day of the Italian Championship, the highlight of which will be Sunday the derby at the top between AC Milan of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Romelu Lukaku's Inter Milan.

On the bench of Cagliari, unable to win a match since November 7, or fifteen unsuccessful meetings, Eusebio Di Francesco lives a first season in the form of ordeal.

Despite the support of his management, which confirmed and even extended it in January, and some reinforcements of experience in the transfer window (Nainggolan, Rugani), the ex-coach of Sassuolo and Roma cannot find the recipe.

In Torino, the new coach who arrived last summer - Marco Giampaolo - did not spend the winter, replaced in mid-January by Davide Nicola.

Since then, Torino has not lost and has shown character behind their captain Andrea Belotti (11 goals this season).

But he does not advance, with four draws - the specialty of the Garnets, who already have 11 this season.

For Cagliari like Torino, this match of fear is above all an opportunity to finally find a good dynamic.

Fiorentina, not at best either (16th), must for its part be wary of La Spezia (13th), a promoted knowing how to play who gave the lesson last weekend to AC Milan (2-0) after have already beaten Naples (2-1) in January.

For the top of the table, appointment Sunday with the shock between AC Milan and Inter.

- Opportunity for Inter -

The new leader nerazzurro (one point ahead) can try to make the hole by taking advantage of his freshness, no longer having European competitions on the menu.

The Rossoneri, already appeared little in legs last weekend, must insert this burning derby (228th of the name) between their two Europa League matches against the Red Star of Belgrade.

Beyond first place, this third Madonnina derby of the season (2-1 for Milan in the league, 2-1 for Inter in the Italian Cup) will also mark the reunion between Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Romelu Lukaku , protagonists of a monumental "clash" during the last match in the quarterfinals of the Italian Cup.

Failing to be able to open the doors of San Siro to the tifosi, AC Milan has put on sale "virtual" tickets for this derby, the revenues of which must finance social actions of its Foundation.

More than 20,000 tickets have found takers.

Also on Sunday, Atalanta Bergamo (6th) will host Naples (5th) for a duel between contenders for the Champions League, a good preparation for the "Dea" before receiving Real Madrid in the knockout stages of the Champions League.

Napoli regained morale with their victory against Juventus (1-0).

But Gennaro Gattuso's team is decimated by absences (Mertens, Manolas, Ospina, Lozano, Hysaj), while hoping for the returns of Koulibaly and Ghoulam (coronavirus).

In closing, Juventus (4th) will welcome the red lantern Crotone on Monday evening.

With also many injured and uncertain (Bonucci, Chiellini, Arthur, Cuadrado, Dybala, Morata ...).

But above all the desire to redeem himself after two consecutive defeats, against Naples then Porto (1-2) in C1, which had never happened to Andrea Pirlo as a coach.

The program for the 23rd day of the Italian championship:

Friday

(6.30 p.m.) Fiorentina - Spezia

(8:45 p.m.) Cagliari - Torino

Saturday

(3:00 p.m.) Lazio Rome - Sampdoria Genoa

(6:00 p.m.) Genoa - Hellas Verona

(8:45 p.m.) Sassuolo - Bologna

Sunday

(12:30 p.m.) Parma - Udinese

(3:00 p.m.) AC Milan - Inter Milan

(6:00 p.m.) Atalanta Bergamo - Naples

(8:45 p.m.) Benevento - AS Rome

Monday

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

© 2021 AFP