Stefano Pioli called for his AC Milan side to be more “cynical” in front of goal ahead of their Serie A trip to Lazio as they look to turn the heat up on second-placed Juventus.

Milan were held to a 1-1 home draw by Atalanta in their last fixture – having lost to Monza and Rennes in their previous two matches – leaving them four points behind Juve in the Serie A standings and just five ahead of in-form Bologna in fourth pace.

The Rossoneri will now be eager to get back to winning ways against Lazio on Friday and coach Pioli wants his side’s performance to be consistent, calling for additional cutting edge up front.

“We want to produce the same performance as last week whilst aiming for a different result,” Pioli said on his club’s website.

“We analysed the positives after Atalanta but also tried to understand why we couldn’t score one more than them because we had the chance to. We need to be more cynical”.

Lazio have lost three of their last five Serie A matches, winning the other two, and will also be keen to get back on track after surrendering a half-time lead to lose 2-1 at Fiorentina last time out.

That was the second time in three matches Lazio have ended up empty-handing after taking the lead, and left them eighth in the table, eight points off the top four.

Pioli believes Maurizio Sarri’s “motivated” team will bring the fight to them at the Stadio Olimpico, where Lazio are playing only their second home match in six league outings.

Pioli also ruled out resting any of his players ahead of next week’s Europa League last-16 first leg at home to Sparta Prague.

“They (Lazio) are a team with great quality that comes off the back of an unsatisfactory performance,” said Pioli.

“They will be motivated but can also be thrown off by playing with intensity. The game against Slavia Prague will be very important, we are studying them but are fully focused on Lazio.

“Then we will have an almost full week, there won’t be changes in Rome in order to rest players. I believe that both sides will try to play with different ideas. The midfield battles will be very important”.

While Milan will still hold hope of overhauling Juve in second spot, Pioli concedes that city rivals Inter are unlikely to be caught by any team.

Runaway leaders Inter sit 12 points at the top of the table having won 22 of their 26 matches this season, losing just once and conceding only 12 goals.

Pioli said: “I think that the top spot in the league is decided, Inter are recording incredible numbers as Napoli did last year.

“April 21 (Milan derby) is too far away. We have a big game ahead of us and there are various goals to meet before we think about the derby.”

Juventus and France midfielder Paul Pogba said he was “sad, shocked and heartbroken” after being banned from football for a doping offence.

The former Manchester United player was on Thursday handed a four-year ban, according to reports in Italy.

The 30-year-old was provisionally suspended by Italy’s national anti-doping tribunal in September after testing positive for testosterone following Juve’s Serie A match with Udinese on August 20, where he was an unused substitute.

And, after the failed test was confirmed by Italian anti-doping body Nado in a second sample in October, the four-year suspension requested by the prosecutor’s office has now reportedly been granted.

Pogba has responded by issuing a statement on social media saying he has “never knowingly or deliberately taken any supplements that violate anti-doping regulations”.

He also said he will be lodging an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport against the ban.

He said on Instagram: “I have today been informed of the Tribunale Nazionale Antidoping’s decision and believe that the verdict is incorrect.

“I am sad, shocked and heartbroken that everything I have built in my professional playing career has been taken away from me.

“When I am free of legal restrictions the full story will become clear, but I have never knowingly or deliberately taken any supplements that violate anti-doping regulations.

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“As a professional athlete I would never do anything to enhance my performance by using banned substances and have never disrespected or cheated fellow athletes and supporters of any of the teams I have played for, or against.

“As a consequence of the decision announced today I will appeal this before the Court of Arbitration for Sport.”

Pogba became the world’s most expensive footballer when he moved to Manchester United from Juve for £89million in 2016, before rejoining the Italian giants on a free transfer in the summer of 2022.

The 2018 World Cup-winner has featured only sparingly since returning to Turin after a number of injury setbacks, making six Serie A appearances last season and two this term.

Inter Milan opened up a 12-point lead at the top of Serie A by thumping Atalanta 4-0 at San Siro.

Matteo Darmian, Lautaro Martinez, Federico Dimarco and Davide Frattesi were on target as Inter extended their unbeaten league record to 20 games.

Simone Inzaghi’s side appear in an increasingly unassailable position with 12 games left to play.

Atalanta were left to rue the presence of VAR after Charles De Ketelaere found the net with a blistering half-volley after 10 minutes.

Benjamin Pavard’s poor pass put Inter in trouble and Mario Pasalic’s shot was pushed out by Yann Sommer.

The ball fell to De Ketelaere who buried it in emphatic fashion, but not before Alessandro Bastoni’s attempted clearance had brushed the arm of Aleksey Miranchuk.

By the letter of the law it was handball, but the faintest of touches did not deviate the ball and Atalanta had reason to feel aggrieved.

Miranchuk was off target from Dimarco’s weak clearance before Inter had their own goal chalked off.

Nicolo Barella was clearly in an offside position before advancing to round Marco Carnesecchi and finish confidently.

Martinez had a first sighting of goal – wasted in uncustomary fashion – but Inter hit the front after 26 minutes.

Carnesecchi stopped Henrikh Mkhitaryan from reaching Martinez’s defence-splitting pass, but the ball fell straight at the feet of Darmian, who rolled it in to an unguarded net.

It was Darmian’s first Inter goal since January 2023, a Coppa Italia winner against Atalanta, and the full-back would have had a second almost instantly but for Carnesecchi’s legs.

Martinez smashed the crossbar after Dimarco dispossessed Pasalic on the edge of the area, but the Argentinian did not have to wait long for his 26th goal of the season.

Carnesecchi held up Dimarco but the ball was recycled and Martinez unleashed from the edge of the box, setting his swerving effort outside the post before nestling just inside it.

Dimarco was denied at the start of the second period and the contest was effectively ended in bizarre fashion after 54 minutes.

An assistant referee flagged that the ball was out of play before Denzel Dumfries’ cut-back clipped the arm of Hans Hateboer.

Again it was the lightest of touches but, after it was ruled that the ball had stayed in, a penalty was awarded.

Carnesecchi parried Martinez’s spot-kick but Dimarco, who had possibly just encroached into the area, swept home the rebound.

Two substitutes combined for Inter’s fourth after 71 minutes as Alexis Sanchez’s quickly-taken free-kick found the head of Frattesi at the near post.

Atalanta remain in fifth place, two points from a Champions League spot.

Inter midfielder Davide Frattesi has hailed the man-management skills of Simone Inzaghi as the Nerazurri boss prepares to shuffle his pack once again against Atalanta.

The Serie A leaders boast a nine-point lead over Juventus and could stretch it to 12 with the right result against Gian Piero Gasperini’s side on Wednesday night.

Inter are set to be without key men Marcus Thuram, Francesco Acerbi and Hakan Canhanoglu, but are ready to bolster the starting XI by recalling some of the players who were rested for Sunday’s 4-0 walkover against Lecce.

Nicolo Barella is expected to reclaim his leading role in the centre of the park, with Benjamin Pavard and Alessandro Bastoni poised to return to the backline after sitting out at the weekend. Striker Marko Arnautovic is also eyeing a promotion from the bench.

And Frattesi, who scored Inter’s second goal against Lecce, believes Inzaghi’s ability to keep the whole squad ready to compete at the highest level is a huge strength.

“It’s best to see a team where everyone is involved. Credit to Inzaghi for not leaving anyone behind,” he told Gazzetta dello Sport.

“Even when they were always playing the same ones, he came to talk to us and motivate us, making us feel important. I didn’t think I’d be a starter here straight away, it would have been stupid to even think so – but the bench is an opportunity for growth.

“Inzaghi knows how to manage us and when you have a bad day, he tells you the right words.”

Atalanta will return to the San Siro just three days after their most recent visit, which ended in a hard-fought 1-1 draw with AC Milan.

They will run out lying in fifth place, but just two points adrift of Bologna in fourth and with a game in hand.

On Sunday, La Dea trailed to Rafael Leao’s superb third-minute strike, but got themselves back into it before the break courtesy of Teun Koopmeiners’ penalty, controversially awarded for a high challenge by Olivier Giroud on defender Emil Holm.

Gasperini saw his side lose the reverse fixture against Inter 2-1 in November despite a performance with which he was largely satisfied, and he knows they will need to play at least as well to return with some reward for their efforts.

Gasperini told a press conference: “Inter are a complete team in all respects. Inzaghi has done a great job. Inter have quality players in every department. They play as a team, both in domestic and European competitions.

“We played a good game in the reverse fixture. It was a pretty even match. We aim to repeat that performance.”

Luka Modric scored the only goal of the game as Real Madrid beat Sevilla 1-0 in LaLiga.

The Croatia international fired home from the edge of the box in the 81st minute to maintain Real’s five-point lead over Barcelona at the summit.

Sixth-placed Real Betis are now seven points behind fifth-placed Athletic Bilbao in the table after beating the 10-man Lions 3-1.

Ezequiel Avila’s strike and Yuri Berchiche’s own goal sent Betis ahead before Nico Williams was sent off in the 40th minute.

Gorka Guruzeta pulled one back for the Basque side, but Johnny Cardoso wrapped up victory for Betis in the 67th minute.

Strugglers Cadiz and Celta Vigo drew 2-2, while Las Palmas and Osasuna settled for a 1-1 draw.

Inter Milan continued their unbeaten start to 2024 with a 4-0 triumph over Lecce in Serie A.

Lautaro Martinez scored twice alongside goals from Davide Frattesi and Stefan De Vrij for Inter to extend their winning run to 10 games in all competitions.

They remain nine points ahead of Juventus, who were rescued by Daniele Rugani’s late stoppage-time goal to beat Frosinone 3-2 after initially taking the lead through Dusan Vlahovic’s double.

A late goal also denied Napoli victory as Zito Luvumbo cancelled out Victor Osimhen’s second-half goal for the reigning Serie A champions in a 1-1 draw with Cagliari.

Teun Koopmeiners’ penalty kept Atalanta in the race for Serie A’s top four as he cancelled out Rafael Leao’s opener in a 1-1 draw with AC Milan.

Paris St Germain needed a late penalty from Goncalo Ramos to rescue a point as they drew 1-1 with Rennes in Ligue 1.

A stunning effort from Amine Gouiri fired the visitors in front and the hosts looked destined for a second league defeat this season before Ramos scored from the spot deep into stoppage time, ensuring PSG sit 11 points clear at the top of the table.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored twice as Marseille beat struggling Montpellier 4-1 at the Orange Velodrome.

The visitors had gone in front five minutes in through Mousa Al-Tamari but Iliman Ndiaye equalised before former Arsenal striker Aubameyang netted either side of the break, with Falaye Sacko’s own goal piling more misery on Montpellier.

Nice’s goalless draw with bottom-of-the-table Clemont saw Monaco move into third, but they also needed a late goal to beat Lens 3-2.

They took the lead through Folarin Balogun and Brice Samba’s own goal, but Lens fought back with goals from Elye Wahi and Wesley Said before former Liverpool forward Takumi Minamino found the winner in added time.

Lille were handed a shock after being beaten 3-1 by Toulouse, while 10-man Reims earned their first win in five league games by beating Le Havre 2-1.

Maximilian Beier’s quick double helped Hoffenheim move up into seventh in the Bundesliga table after beating Borussia Dortmund 3-2.

Hoffenheim got off to the perfect start when Ihlas Bebou put them ahead just two minutes into the game, but Donyell Malen and Nico Schlotterbeck scored within four minutes of each other to hand Dortmund the lead going into half-time.

Beier then struck in the 61st and 64th minute to snatch victory for Hoffenheim, who are now four points behind Eintracht Frankfurt after they drew 2-2 with Wolfsburg.

Philipp Max cancelled out Maxence Lacroix’s opener before Kevin Behrens restored Wolfsburg’s lead, but Omar Marmoush levelled against his former club two minutes into stoppage time.

Augsburg ended their four-game winless run after second-half goals from Felix Uduokhai and Arne Engels handed them a 2-1 win against SC Freiburg.

Teun Koopmeiners’ disputed penalty kept Atalanta in the race for Serie A’s top four and AC Milan saw two points wrenched from their grasp.

Koopmeiners cancelled out Rafael Leao’s brilliant opener from the spot three minutes before the break with his 10th goal of the season after Olivier Giroud had been penalised for a high challenge on defender Emil Holm to secure a 1-1 draw at the San Siro.

That left his side two points adrift of fourth-placed Bologna with a game in hand at the end of a frustrating evening for Stefano Pioli’s men, who remain third, but are now 13 points adrift of leaders and city rivals Inter.

Milan could hardly have got off to a better start when Leao picked up possession wide on the left, skipped past Holm and them evaded Giorgio Scalvini’s challenge before curling a delicious shot across keeper Marco Carnesecchi and inside the far post with less than three minutes played.

However, it took a last-ditch 17th-minute challenge from Yacine Adli to prevent Koopmeiners from making meaningful contact with Charles De Ketelaere’s pull-back and defender Berat Djimsiti back-heeled an audacious attempt wide from the resulting corner.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek headed wide and Theo Hernandez saw a long-range strike deflected behind as the hosts responded, but the visitors were handed a way back into the game in controversial circumstances as the whistle approached.

Holm went to ground clutching his face after tangling with Giroud inside the Milan box and although replays showed the striker’s boot had connected with the defender’s armpit, referee Daniele Orsato was advised to review the incident and eventually awarded a penalty, which Koopmeiners converted with the minimum of fuss.

Ademola Lookman joined the fray as a replacement for De Ketelaere before the restart and Atalanta had a better balance about them, although the game became bogged down in midfield.

Loftus-Cheek whipped a 59th-minute shot straight at Carnesecchi after exchanging passes with Christian Pulisic, and the keeper had to make an instinctive save with his foot two minutes later after substitute Davide Calabria cut inside and drilled the ball towards goal.

Loftus-Cheek scuffed an attempt well wide after Leao and Adli had carved a path through the white shirts and Pulisic stabbed past the post after controlling Leao’s pass over the top superbly with the Rossoneri pushing for a winner.

Carnesecchi had to beat away Loftus-Cheek’s 77th-minute drive and then clawed out Leao’s toe-poke three minutes later with substitute Davide Zappacosta clearing Giroud’s follow-up off the line.

But Atalanta, who had won their previous five Serie A games and beaten Milan in both the league and the Coppa Italia this season, held firm to emerge with a point.

Inter Milan maintained their stunning start to 2024 with a 4-0 triumph at struggling Lecce.

Lautaro Martinez (two), Davide Frattesi and Stefan De Vrij scored as Simone Inzaghi’s in-form team extended their winning run to 10 games in all competitions.

The result saw the Nerazzurri re-establish their nine-point cushion over second-placed Juventus, who earlier edged Frosinone 3-2, with a game in hand. In contrast, Lecce were left just four points above the drop zone having collected only five wins from 26 games.

Martinez was first to threaten for the visitors with an off-target header, before an Pontus Almqvist fired over for the Salentini at the other end after a free-kick had not been cleared.

Inter broke the deadlock in the 15th minute. Kristjan Asllani found Martinez with a neat pass and the Argentinian brought the ball under control before holding off Ahmed Touba and beating goalkeeper Wladimiro Falcone with a low right-foot finish.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan dragged a left-foot shot wide as Inter sought to increase their advantage, before Antonio Gallo lashed wastefully wide for the hosts just past the half-hour mark.

Alexis Blin headed over three minutes after the restart as Roberto D’Aversa’s team sought an equaliser. However, their hopes of a comeback were ended by two goals in the space of three minutes.

Firstly, Martinez found Alexis Sanchez and the Chile international squared for Frattesi to convert from close range.

Inzaghi brought on Marco Barella for Asllani immediately after the goal and it was 3-0 soon after, Frattesi turning provider with a square pass for Martinez, who tucked away his 22nd goal of the Serie A season.

Roberto Piccoli fired over from distance for the hosts but substitute Lameck Banda had their best chance in the 66th minute, firing a left-foot shot just wide of the far post.

Inter went up the other end and made it 4-0 when De Vrij headed in Federico Dimarco’s corner unchallenged in the 67th minute.

A dismal night for the hosts was summed up when Piccoli fired weakly at Inter keeper Emil Audero, making his Serie A debut because of illness to regular number one Yann Sommer.

Denzel Dumfries wasted a chance to make it 5-0 with a minute remaining when he headed wide from close range.

However, it was a great night for Inzaghi, who was able to rest players and also made five substitutions, with an eye on Wednesday’s rescheduled San Siro clash against Atalanta.

Juventus registered a first win in five Serie A games as Daniele Rugani’s stoppage-time finish secured a 3-2 victory over strugglers Frosinone at the Allianz Stadium.

In an eventful first half, Juve took an early lead through Dusan Vlahovic before the visitors made a stunning reply, going in front themselves via Walid Cheddira’s header and a Marco Brescianini strike.

Vlahovic then brought things back level in the 32nd minute to take him to nine Serie A goals in seven appearances since the turn of the year, and 15 for the season.

It subsequently looked set to be another frustrating outing for Massimiliano Allegri’s men as they failed to add to that through the second half until Rugani popped up with a winner in the fifth minute of time added on at the end.

The result kept the pressure on leaders Inter Milan.

Juve, eager to get back to winning ways, were swiftly in front when Weston McKennie laid the ball to Vlahovic from the right in the third minute and the Serbian’s deflected shot found the bottom corner.

But Frosinone, who had lost each of their last three games, hit back 11 minutes later with Cheddira heading in from Nadir Zortea’s cross.

And after Vlahovic and Bremer missed with efforts on the away side’s goal, Eusebio Di Francesco’s side grabbed a second in the 27th minute as Brescianini received the ball from Abdou Harroui, took it into the area and fired past Wojciech Szczesny.

That shock lead lasted five minutes before Juve – having been forced into a substitution, withdrawing Adrien Rabiot for Charly Alacaraz – restored parity via another McKennie-Vlahovic combination, the latter collecting the former’s pass in the box and bending a shot beyond Michele Cerofolini.

Frosinone threatened again moments later with Brescianini fizzing a shot just over Szczesny’s bar.

Juve pressure in the opening stages of the second half saw Vlahovic head wide from close range, a Rugani strike diverted over off Alcaraz and Federico Chiesa’s shot deflect wide.

Vlahovic shot inches wide in the 74th minute, although the flag went up for offside, and when he fired over from a good position in the 90th minute, it seemed as if victory would elude the team once again.

However, Vlahovic then turned provider as Juve claimed all three points late on, with his header from a corner sending the ball to the far post, where Rugani put the ball through Cerofolini’s legs from a tight angle.

Juventus registered a first win in five Serie A games as Daniele Rugani’s stoppage-time finish secured a 3-2 victory over strugglers Frosinone at the Allianz Stadium.

In an eventful first half, Juve took an early lead through Dusan Vlahovic before the visitors made a stunning reply, going in front themselves via Walid Cheddira’s header and a Marco Brescianini strike.

Vlahovic then brought things back level in the 32nd minute to take him to nine Serie A goals in seven appearances since the turn of the year, and 15 for the season.

It subsequently looked set to be another frustrating outing for Massimiliano Allegri’s men as they failed to add to that through the second half until Rugani popped up with a winner in the fifth minute of time added on at the end.

The result kept the pressure on leaders Inter Milan.

Juve, eager to get back to winning ways, were swiftly in front when Weston McKennie laid the ball to Vlahovic from the right in the third minute and the Serbian’s deflected shot found the bottom corner.

But Frosinone, who had lost each of their last three games, hit back 11 minutes later with Cheddira heading in from Nadir Zortea’s cross.

And after Vlahovic and Bremer missed with efforts on the away side’s goal, Eusebio Di Francesco’s side grabbed a second in the 27th minute as Brescianini received the ball from Abdou Harroui, took it into the area and fired past Wojciech Szczesny.

That shock lead lasted five minutes before Juve – having been forced into a substitution, withdrawing Adrien Rabiot for Charly Alacaraz – restored parity via another McKennie-Vlahovic combination, the latter collecting the former’s pass in the box and bending a shot beyond Michele Cerofolini.

Frosinone threatened again moments later with Brescianini fizzing a shot just over Szczesny’s bar.

Juve pressure in the opening stages of the second half saw Vlahovic head wide from close range, a Rugani strike diverted over off Alcaraz and Federico Chiesa’s shot deflect wide.

Vlahovic shot inches wide in the 74th minute, although the flag went up for offside, and when he fired over from a good position in the 90th minute, it seemed as if victory would elude the team once again.

However, Vlahovic then turned provider as Juve claimed all three points late on, with his header from a corner sending the ball to the far post, where Rugani put the ball through Cerofolini’s legs from a tight angle.

Lecce coach Roberto D’Aversa will have his team ready to tackle their own Mission Impossible when they host Serie A leaders Inter Milan on Sunday.

The Nerazzurri have won all of their games so far in 2024 and head south with a nine-point advantage over second-placed Juventus, who have played a game more.

Lecce may have won just twice in 20 league matches as they battle to stay clear of the relegation scrap, but D’Aversa insisted they would aim to meet Inter head on at the Stadio Via del Mare.

“Inter are coming off nine consecutive victories, their statistics in 2024 are impressive, so it might seem impossible for us to get a result – but I believe nothing is impossible in football,” D’Aversa said at a press conference.

“There are a few positive aspects, for example that we are on home turf. We need to cause problems for a team who played in the Champions League midweek (against Atletico Madrid).

“I don’t believe the idea we have nothing to lose, as there is always something to lose. We just have to give our best and see how it goes.”

Lecce will be without defenders Patrick Dorgu and Marin Pongracic through suspension, while Federico Brancolini, Jeppe Corfitzen and Kastriot Dermaku are all still injured.

D’Aversa said: “Federico Baschirotto is fit and should start tomorrow (in defence), I have two possibilities to choose from on who will be next to him.

“(Santiago) Pierotti is improving and needs time to settle, while (forward) Lameck Banda has recovered and we’ll see if he can start tomorrow.”

Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer is set to miss Sunday’s game after being laid low by a flu virus, so Emil Audero is in line to make his Serie A debut, having playing only twice in the Champions League and Coppa Italia.

French forward Marcus Thuram is injured, along with Francesco Acerbi and Juan Cuadrado.

Inter coach Simone Inzaghi could look to rotate the team, with a rescheduled league game at home to Atalanta – who are chasing a top-four place – coming up on Wednesday.

Defender Alessandro Bastoni could be rested, as one more yellow card would see him serve a suspension.

Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri has emphasised the need for calm and focus as the Old Lady look to end their winless run this weekend.

Having been held 1-1 by Empoli while down to 10 men and then beaten 1-0 by Serie A leaders Inter Milan and Udinese, Juve went a fourth successive game without victory last Saturday with a 2-2 draw at Hellas Verona.

Allegri’s side are second in the table, nine points adrift of Inter having played a game more, ahead of Sunday’s game at home to Frosinone.

Allegri told a press conference: “We have worked well, as always, and tomorrow we have only one goal – to return to winning ways.

“Periods like these in football happen, I’ve been through them before and the boys know it too. We have to stay calm and focused and think about the months ahead, with two big goals to achieve – qualification for the Champions League and trying to win the Coppa Italia.

“There are some matches, like last Saturday’s in Verona, where we struggle. It is precisely in these kinds of matches that we have to maintain greater compactness and great concentration.

“If I think back to our last performances, with Inter and Udinese I saw good things, with Verona less so. However, I am convinced that this period will do us good.”

Since Allegri returned to Juventus in 2021 for a second spell in charge, he has overseen the team finishing fourth and then seventh.

He previously had five years in the job from 2014 to 2019, which saw Juve crowned league champions in all five campaigns, part of a sequence of nine consecutive titles for the club.

Allegri added: “Winning at Juve is something that is always demanded and criticism is the order of the day – if you win 3-2 you have conceded too many goals, if you win 1-0 you have scored too few.

“But if I analyse our history, I see that Juve has gone through only two cycles of great and consecutive victories, winning five Scudetti in the 1930s and nine in the last period.

“This means that winning is not something normal and taken for granted. We have the goal of getting back to winning ways and for this the club has started a path and a project that is going forward, also aiming to grow our own players.

“For this, qualifying for the Champions League is fundamental, as it is a competition that we have not missed since 2011, which is also something that cannot be taken for granted.”

Frosinone, Serie B champions last term, are three points above the relegation zone with 23 from 25 games.

Boss Eusebio Di Francesco said at his pre-match press conference: “We deserved the points we got, we probably also demonstrated something more.

“And we have to go and get those points back. Starting from the next one and not being a sacrificial victim of a team like Juventus because we go to play with them. Knowing that sooner or later something has to come back to us.”

Stefano Pioli believes the outcome of AC Milan’s home clash with Serie A rivals Atalanta could determine the trajectory of the rest of their season with the title not yet out of their reach and a chasing pack turning up the European heat.

The Rossoneri head into Sunday’s match 11 points behind city foes Inter Milan in the Scudetto race while fourth-placed Bologna and Gian Piero Gasperini’s Atalanta are both in excellent form and pushing hard for Champions League football.

Defeat at San Siro and Milan could lose the initiative in that battle, especially considering the fact Atalanta – in fifth – have a game in hand and are riding a five-game winning streak.

Pioli said at Saturday morning’s press conference: “Tomorrow’s match is very important in terms of the league standings.

“Various teams below us continue to pick up points, and we want to get back to winning ways.

“It’ll be difficult, as we’ll be up against a side who are doing well, but we are also doing well. They’ve beaten us twice this season, so we’re preparing for the game with the aim of doing better.”

Milan celebrated reaching the Europa League last 16 this week with an aggregate victory over play-off opponents Rennes, and next up will be two legs against Slavia Prague in March.

This offers the Rossoneri further incentive to up their game and fight for honours on multiple fronts across the run-in.

“We progressed through our tie in the Europa League, and we’re in the competition to give it a go and fight to win it,” said Pioli. “Our destiny depends on ourselves, not on our opponents and the draw.

“In Europe, easy opponents don’t exist; Slavia Prague won their group ahead of Roma and are fighting to win their league domestically.”

Striker Luka Jovic is suspended but the boss hopes to have Pierre Kalulu back in the squad, with the French defender completing a full week of training following an injury lay-off.

England international Fikayo Tomori is “also doing better but slightly behind in the recovery process” and Pioli is optimistic that their returns will give Milan more bite in the backline as both players are “aggressive and fast and contribute well to our build-up play”.

Defender Isak Hien and Jose Luis Palomino are sidelined for Atalanta, who triumphed 3-2 in a wild December meeting with Milan before going to San Siro and knocking them out of the Coppa Italia last month.

AC Milan have expressed support for winger Rafael Leao after a supporter told him to leave the club in a racist social media post.

The Portugal international was targeted following his side’s 4-2 Serie A loss at Monza on Sunday.

An Instagram message allegedly directed at Leao read: “I can’t see you anymore, I can’t stand you on the pitch anymore, I’m becoming racist, you really p*** me off, leave as soon as possible, you and whoever follows you.”

Leao came on as a half-time substitute during the weekend defeat, which ended Milan’s nine-match unbeaten run in the league.

He shared the abuse, along with the words: “Unfortunately the world continues to have this type of people with small minds.”

The 24-year-old player later received support from his club.

A post on AC Milan’s X account read: “@RafaeLeao7 we stand with you. In our fanbase and in football, there’s no room for racism.”

Leao, who has won 23 caps for his country, joined Milan from French side Lille in 2019.

He has scored seven goals in 30 appearances for the Italian club this season.

Napoli have dismissed Walter Mazzarri and made former coach Francesco Calzona their third boss of the season.

Calzona is currently Slovakia manager and will combine the role alongside taking charge of the current Serie A champions until the end of the season.

Mazzarri returned to Naples in November after Rudi Garcia was sacked after five months, but ex-Watford chief Mazzarri has now left his post after eight defeats in 17 matches.

“I thank Walter Mazzarri, a friend of the De Laurentiis family and of Napoli, for supporting the team in a complex moment,” Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

“(He) will remain in the hearts of Neapolitans and our family.

“Welcome back to Francesco Calzona, who has already worked with us with both (Maurizio) Sarri and (Luciano) Spalletti.”

Calzona spent three years at Napoli working under Sarri before a solitary campaign as part of Spalletti’s staff for the 2021-22 season.

The 55-year-old left the Serie A outfit that summer and took over as manager of Slovakia, leading them to Euro 2024 qualification in November, which resulted in him signing new terms with the nation last week.

No details of Calzona’s contract were revealed by Napoli, but the Slovak Football Association confirmed it was a short-term deal and he will lead the Naples club for the first time against Barcelona on Wednesday.

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“It was only on Sunday, February 18 that an official request came from SSC Napoli that Francesco Calzona could perform the function of head coach of the Slovak national football team at the same time as the head coach of the club,” a statement from the Slovak Football Association read.

“The Slovak Football Association is aware that this is a non-standard decision that may cause concern among the public.

“However, it also understands the exceptional relationship of F. Calzona to the club where he worked for a long time and wants to help him in the current difficult situation.

“Coach F. Calzona has repeatedly declared that the main priority of his activity remains the Slovak national football team and its preparation for the final tournament EURO 2024.”

AC Milan missed the chance to go second in Serie A as they slumped to a 4-2 defeat at neighbours Monza, finishing with 10 men after Luka Jovic was sent off.

Stefano Pioli’s side had made the short trip north full of confidence, having lost just once in all competitions since early December.

Milan produced a bright start, with Jovic sending a header from a free-kick straight at the Monza goalkeeper before Theo Hernandez saw his shot deflected wide.

At the other end, Monza forward Milan Djuric flicked a header onto the frame of the goal.

There was a lengthy stoppage from the 36th minute when Monza goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio came to punch out a corner and clashed heads with team-mate Andrea Carboni.

Both players needed treatment for cuts and were bandaged up, before it was decided Di Gregorio could not continue and Alessandro Sorrentino came on in goal.

When the action resumed, Monza were awarded a penalty after a poorly-timed challenge from Milan defender Malick Thiaw on Dany Mota. Matteo Pessina rolled the spot-kick into the bottom-right corner.

Milan immediately went on the offensive, with Ruben Loftus-Cheek nodding down a cross into the path of Jovic, whose volley was charged down by Pablo Mari before Hernandez fired the rebound over.

Monza, though, doubled their lead in first-half stoppage time.

Andrea Colpani snatched the ball off Ismael Bennacer and darted away down the right before playing in Mota on the overlap, with the midfielder cutting back inside to clip a deflected finish into the far corner.

Milan’s night got even worse just six minutes into the second half when Jovic was sent off for lashing out at Armando Izzo as the pair jostled near the centre circle. Having initially been cautioned, the striker was shown a red card by the referee following a VAR review.

Rossoneri boss Pioli made an attacking change as Olivier Giroud replaced Bennacer in the 55th minute.

The French striker pulled a goal back after 64 minutes when he volleyed in Christian Pulisic’s flicked header in the six-yard box.

Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan made a smart save to push over an angled shot from Samuele Birindelli before at the other end, Loftus-Cheek’s towering header dropped straight at Sorrentino.

Pulisic, who had been sent on at the start of the second half, fired Milan level with two minutes left after cutting inside onto his left foot and rifling an angled drive into the far corner.

Monza, though, snatched the lead once again when Warren Bondo whipped a fine 18-yard strike into the top-right corner – the goal allowed to stand following a VAR check for possible offside in the build-up.

In stoppage time, on-loan forward Lorenzo Colombo added a fourth following a breakaway, drilling a low shot into the bottom corner against his parent club.