SPORTS SATURDAY, APRIL 9, 2016 Napoli eyes on Juventus trip to San Siro MILAN: The fall-out from Gonzalo Higuain’s four-match ban will overshadow Serie A this weekend, when the Argentine striker and his Napoli team-mates will be glued to a crucial San Siro clash between AC Milan and Juventus. Sitting three points behind Juventus before last week’s games, Napoli’s bid for a first Serie A title in 26 years looks to be in tatters following a shock 3-1 defeat at Udinese that saw Higuain lose the plot after being shown a red card. Higuain pushed and insulted referee Massimiliano Irrati and had to be restrained by teammates before being dragged off the pitch. His moment of madness led to a four-match ban and, with Juventus now six points in front, will be seen as a pivotal moment in Napoli’s title quest. Although Napoli are set to appeal what they regard as an “unfair sanction”, their best hopes now lie with Juventus slipping up along the way as they look to secure a fifth consecutive title. But the champions are on an unbeaten run of 21 games, and defender Andrea Barzagli believes Juve’s strength and belief will prevail. A win would allow coach Massimilano Allegri to walk away victorious from the club that sacked him in January 2014. “Winning at Milan would be a big step towards the title. We will have one less game to play and be even closer to our objective,” Barzagli told juventus.com. BILBAO: Athletic Bilbao’s Aritz Aduriz, second right, duels for the ball with Sevilla’s goalkeeper David Soria during the “In recent years we’ve become a stronger side thanks to quarterfinal first leg of the Europa League soccer match, between Athletic Bilbao and Sevilla, at San Mames stadium, in our belief and to the hard work we’ve put in, so we feel like we Bilbao, northern Spain, Thursday. Sevilla won the match 2-1.—AP deserve our place in the table. “But our feet are firmly on the ground.” A 21st win in 22 games would take Juve’s lead over Napoli to a morale-sapping nine points a day before Maurizio Sarri’s men host basement side Verona at the San Paolo. But Milan haven’t surrendered yet, and Napoli’s players will Suarez-less Barca seek be praying the Rossoneri cause an upset with a home win that would reignite the title race and boost Milan’s Europa League hopes. win at Real Sociedad New reality Milan are currently 24 points behind Juventus, 14 off the MADRID: Barcelona must overturn a punishment for arriving back later than Benzema doubtful last Champions League spot and six behind Inter Milan, who terrible run of results away to Real their teammates from their Christmas Real’s hopes of an 11th European occupy the last Europa League spot. The pressure on coach Sociedad in recent years to prevent los- break. Barca recovered in style from Cup also suffered a huge blow as they Sinisa Mihajlovic increased after last week’s 2-1 defeat at ing their grip on the Spanish title race that setback to land the treble six were shocked 2-0 by Wolfsburg on Atalanta, meaning Milan have taken only two points from when they visit Anoeta today. Despite months later, but their quest to become Wednesday leaving Zidane’s men need- their last four games. tasting defeat for the first time in 40 the first side to retain the Champions ing a monumental effort when the It is hardly what you expect from a club that have been games on their last La Liga outing at League could play a major role in the Germans visit the Santiago Bernabeu to European champions seven times, but struggling to qualify home to Real Madrid last weekend, coach’s selection as they hold a precari- progress to the last four. for the Champions League is now the reality for Rossoneri Barca still hold a commanding six-point ous 2-1 lead over Atletico heading into Having admitted his side suffered fans. Meanwhile, captain and midfielder Riccardo Montolivo lead over Atletico Madrid with Real a the second leg of their quarter-final tie physically after their efforts in the says the club, and the players, are fully behind the boss. further point adrift and just seven on Wednesday. Clasico last weekend, Zidane is likely to “The team is and always will be behind Mihajlovic. I know games remaining. Luis Suarez scored both Barca’s goals ring the changes for the visit of Basque him better than anyone else here, and when he’s under pres- However, the European champions against Atletico on Tuesday, but the minnows Eibar on Saturday. sure that’s when you get the best out of him,” said Montolivo. haven’t won in their last six trips to San Uruguayan will definitely miss out as he Karim Benzema is set to miss out “Together, we’re working hard to get out of a sticky situa- Sebastian, including defeats in the last is suspended. Munir El Haddadi is likely despite the knee injury that forced him tion. It will be a tough game on Saturday, but we’ll be a differ- three seasons in La Liga. “We have to replace Suarez with Sergi Roberto, off against Wolfsburg being diagnosed ent side when we go out on the pitch.” shown in recent years that we can beat Arda Turan and Rafinha-who made his as just a knock. Dani Carvajal, Isco, Milan will have one eye on Inter’s visit to Frosinone earlier Barca and we can do it again today,” first appearance after a six-month injury James Rodriguez and Jese Rodriguez are on Saturday, although Roberto Mancini’s men are expected to Real Sociedad’s former Real Madrid mid- layoff in midweek-in contention to start all set to feature, but Gareth Bale and prevail at the league strugglers having won the correspon- fielder Asier Illarramendi told the club’s in midfield. Cristiano Ronaldo are expected to start. ding fixture 4-0 earlier this season. Higuain will serve the first website. Champions League considerations At the other end of the table, Valencia match of his ban on Sunday, when Manolo Gabbiadini should “This team can beat anyone when we are likely to weigh heavily on the minds need to snap a run of four consecutive step into the centre of Sarri’s three-pronged attack alongside play well. “Until it is mathematically of Atletico and Real bosses Diego league defeats to ensure they aren’t Lorenzo Insigne and Jose Callejon. decided Barca will have to fight and I am Simeone and Zinedine Zidane. Atletico dragged into a relegation scrap when Anything less than a win against a Verona side that has sure Atletico and Real Madrid won’t give can close to within three points with vic- Sevilla visit the Mestalla seeking their been rooted to the bottom most of the campaign would likely up.” Barca have particularly bad memo- tory at Espanyol before Barca kick-off first away win of the season. spark early title celebrations in Turin. ries of their last visit to Anoeta as a 1-0 today. Fernando Torres looks certain to Villarreal and Athletic Bilbao’s Europa It would also boost Roma’s hopes of overtaking Napoli and defeat plunged the club into crisis and start as he will be suspended for the League commitments could also have clinching the league’s second automatic Champions League left coach Luis Enrique on the verge of Champions League return leg after serious consequences at the bottom as qualifying spot. Roma are third but only four points behind the sack. Luis Enrique had left Lionel being sent-off having opened the scor- they host struggling Getafe and Rayo Napoli before hosting Bologna on Monday. —AFP Messi and Neymar on the bench as a ing at the Camp Nou on Tuesday. Vallecano respectively. — AFP Borussia boss warns Bayern ahead of Stuttgart derby BERLIN: Borussia Dortmund’s CEO Hans- Frankfurt in the league. “Bayern have to go to the last three seasons. But Watzke is pleased And France winger Kingsley Coman strug- Joachim Watzke has warned Bayern Munich Stuttgart and that won’t be a friendly game,” that Dortmund still have even a remote gled in Wednesday’s training session after a that his team is ready to pounce in the said Watzke, indulging in some mind games chance of breaking the Bavarians’ monopoly. leg knock. Stuttgart will be without Ivory Bundesliga title race should Pep Guardiola’s certain to annoy Bayern’s bosses. “At this stage of the season in recent years, Coast midfielder Serey Die, who will miss the leaders slip up at Stuttgart on Saturday. “Bayern need to make sure they give noth- it’s all been decided. At least now we are forc- rest of the season with a torn groin. With only six games left, the Bavarian ing more away this season, otherwise we will ing Bayern into keep producing top perform- Guardiola is set to rotate his squad to keep giants are five points clear of second-placed certainly be there (to take advantage).” ances,” he added, with Dortmund seeking to his stars fresh for Wednesday’s Champions Dortmund but face a tricky tie at Stuttgart in Likewise, Dortmund must keep winning to keep the pressure up until the final league League quarterfinal, second leg, at Benfica as the south Germany derby. stand any chance of a first league title since weekend on May 14.