Inter Milan visit tough Udinese with in-form lineup

The still unbeaten title holders boast a solid seven-point lead over Roma and have long secured the symbolic title of winter champions awarded to the team topping the standings at half season.

 They moved on to 49 points from 19 games last weekend, when their lead was almost narrowed as they barely snatched a 3-2 win over lowly visitors Parma in the dying seconds.

 Udinese held Inter to a 1-1 draw in Milan in the season opener and are currently fifth after suffering a late 1-0 defeat from guests AC Milan.

 Coach Roberto Mancini rested star Zlatan Ibrahimovic and other first-team elements in a mid-week Italian Cup game, but can count on a solid line-up in Udine.

 Ibra scored a brace against Parma to draw level on 13 goals with Juve's David Trezeguet as the league's top striker. In Udine, he is likely to have support from a top-notch midfield manned by Xavier Zanetti, Esteban Cambiasso, Cristian Chivu and Dejan Stankovic.

 Fabio Quagliarella and Antonio Di Natale also promise a good showing as they boast seven goals each for Udinese, who lie just two points adrift from fourth-place Fiorentina.

 The Florence side, on 34 points, occupy the last available berth for the next Champions League ahead of a Tuscany derby with struggling Empoli.

 Roma will watch Inter's game after having played late Saturday their home affair to mid-table Palermo, hours after Sampdoria and lowly guests Siena open the weekend in Genoa.

 The race for the title has virtually been abandoned by Juventus, lying third on 37 points before visiting in-form minnows Livorno late Sunday.

 The Turin side, who played last season in the lower flight, have a Champions League berth as their goal, but certainly don't disregard the Italian Cup after drawing 2-2 Wednesday at 10-man Inter in a first-leg game of the quarter finals.

 Atalanta in mid-week got the best from a game they had in hand with Milan, beating the struggling giants 2-1 to move on to 25 points, along with Sampdoria, Genoa and Palermo.

 On Sunday, Atalanta welcome troubled Reggina, while Milan continue their attempt to clinch a Champions League berth as they host Genoa.

 Bottom-side Cagliari take on Napoli, Catania entertain Parma and Torino tackle Lazio, who sport up front new arrival Rolando Bianchi.

DPA