Football News

Juventus v AC Milan is traditionally one of the biggest rivalries in Italian football, but this weekend's Serie A meeting between the pair is a battle for the runners-up spot, with both managers unsure of their future.

Milan lost the derby on Monday, a defeat which allowed Inter Milan to clinch the league title with five games still to play.

Now Milan, 17 points behind Inter, are left with only a fight to maintain second place to play for.

Juventus, in third and five points off Milan, do have a Coppa Italia final to look forward to, but it has proved to be a disappointing season for both clubs, and their coaches, Stefano Pioli and Massimiliano Allegri, could pay the price.

Pioli led Milan to their first Scudetto in over a decade two seasons ago.

That success gave him enough credit to overcome last season's fourth-placed finish, but his position is now very uncertain after another trophyless campaign.

Milan have lost both games with Inter this season and were beaten at home by Juventus when they met in October, and another defeat to a main rival would only put further pressure on the coach.

Pioli's side failed to make it past the Champions League group stage, and their recent exit from the Europa League at the hands of fellow Italians AS Roma has turned even more fans against the idea of sticking with the manager next season.

That defeat to Inter brought further problems for Milan's boss, with defenders Davide Calabria, Theo Hernandez and Fikayo Tomori all suspended for the trip to Juventus on Saturday.

BATTLE FOR NAPOLI

A Milan win, or even a draw, would probably be enough at this stage for Pioli to hold on to second place, but holding on to his job may prove a more difficult task.

Allegri's first spell at Juventus brought five

Massimiliano Allegri Davide Calabria Stefano Pioli Theo Hernandez Juventus Milan