AC Milan and Roma clash after European wins

 The Devils' 4-1 hammering of visiting Shakhtar Donetsk Wednesday pushed away the word crisis, which haunted the European champions particularly after last weekend's 1-0 home defeat with lowly Empoli.

 "Evidently, ours was not a deep crisis," coach Carlo Ancelotti said. "But, at the same time, we don't think we have already recovered.

 "The truth is that in the Champions League it is easier to play because the opponents leave you more room. Anyway, I expected this reaction from my team."

   Fans, however, remain unhappy as Milan have not yet won a Serie A game at home and lie 10 points behind leaders Inter Milan.

 Roma Tuesday beat 2-1 Sporting Lisbon, but their win was marred by the sight of captain Francesco Totti leaving the pitch limping.    Totti is the league's joint top scorer on seven goals with Inter's Zlatan Ibrahimovic and David Trezeguet of Juventus, but may miss the game in Milan unless he recovers from a swollen foot.

 After a good start to the season, the Roma seem to have lost their way, with just five points clinched in their last five games, which has seen them drop fourth place, five points behind Inter.

 Serie A champions Inter, meanwhile, kept up their good pace in the Champions League with a 2-1 win at CSKA Moscow and lead the domestic standings on 20 points from eight games when they go into a delicate away game at fifth-place Palermo Sunday.

 Second-placed Juventus lie three points adrift and also face a hard task late Saturday at Napoli, a promoted side trailing on 11 points after a spectacular 4-4 draw at Roma.

 Fiorentina are fourth, just one point behind Juve, boasting an unbeaten record with Inter, but with a UEFA Cup to play Thursday at Villarreal before a tough affair late Sunday at 12-point newcomers Genoa.

 Udinese also have 12 points, lying joint-fifth with Palermo and Genoa, when they visit Lazio, the only Italian side to be beaten in the Champions League, 2-1 at Werder Bremen.

 The Rome side have the same 10-point tally as Milan and Catania, who host Sampdoria, while Empoli welcome Atalanta and Parma take on bottom side Livorno.

 Siena and Reggina face off in the lower reaches and Torino open the weekend welcoming Cagliari Saturday afternoon.

DPA