Milan derby: Bologna-bruised AC Milan host leaders Inter, then Juventus face Napoli

Serie A's Matchday 10 has two big games. On Saturday night AC Milan host Inter in the first Milan derby of the season, and on Sunday Juventus play Napoli in Turin. The derby looks different from a week ago: Milan were unbeaten until Wednesday, when Bologna won 4-2 at San Siro, while Inter won at Venezia to go joint top. For fans in Malaysia, the derby starts at 3.45am on Sunday 1 November.

Where the clubs stand

Inter have 25 points from nine games (eight wins and a draw) and are level on points and goal difference with Lazio, staying top because they have scored more goals. AC Milan are fifth on 18 points after five wins, three draws and Wednesday's defeat. That puts them seven points behind their neighbours, so a Milan win on Saturday would cut the gap to four and an Inter win would stretch it to ten.

Juventus and Napoli are both on 14 points, 11 behind the leaders, so Sunday's game matters for the top four as much as for the title.

Milan's derby record against their injury list

Milan have had the better of this fixture recently. They have won the last three derbies and have not lost to Inter in seven meetings in all competitions, their best run against them since the 2002-2005 period. Winning a fourth in a row would extend that run.

The squad is the problem. Ruben Amorim had up to eight players unavailable before the Bologna game, including Adrien Rabiot, Diego Moreira and Mario Gila, and he said his team looked tired from the first minute on Wednesday. Bologna's Samuel Mbangula scored a hat-trick, and Milan threw away the 2-1 half-time lead given to them by Alphadjo Cissé's double.

Inter's form has been better, but they have not always been convincing. Cristian Chivu's side needed two late own goals to beat Venezia, and Chivu himself said the performance was unconvincing. After the game he noted that Inter go into Saturday with eight wins and a draw, adding that his players were "aware that it is a derby".

Juventus v Napoli

Luciano Spalletti's Juventus lost 2-0 at Genoa on Wednesday and have not won two league games in a row since the opening fortnight of the season. Napoli arrive in better form after a 4-1 win at Monza, in which Kevin De Bruyne scored off the bench. Napoli won that game without coach Massimiliano Allegri, who was suspended, and they lost midfielder Stanislav Lobotka, who was stretchered off.

Matchday 10 schedule in Malaysia time

Italy moved to winter time last weekend, so it is now seven hours behind Malaysia.

• Saturday 31 Oct, 10pm: Bologna v Monza
• Sunday 1 Nov, 1am: Udinese v Roma
• Sunday 1 Nov, 3.45am: AC Milan v Inter
• Sunday 1 Nov, 7.30pm: Como v Venezia
• Sunday 1 Nov, 10pm: Frosinone v Torino, Lazio v Cagliari
• Monday 2 Nov, 1am: Lecce v Genoa
• Monday 2 Nov, 3.45am: Juventus v Napoli
• Tuesday 3 Nov, 1.30am: Sassuolo v Fiorentina
• Tuesday 3 Nov, 3.45am: Atalanta v Parma

Key takeaways

• AC Milan v Inter kicks off at 8.45pm Italian time on Saturday, which is 3.45am on Sunday in Malaysia.
• Inter (25 points) lead fifth-placed Milan (18) by seven points.
• Milan have won the last three derbies and are unbeaten in seven against Inter.
• Juventus and Napoli, both on 14 points, meet at 3.45am on Monday, Malaysia time.

FAQ

Q: What time is the Milan derby in Malaysia? AC Milan v Inter kicks off at 8.45pm on Saturday 31 October in Italy, which is 3.45am on Sunday 1 November in Malaysia.

Q: Who has won the recent Milan derbies? AC Milan have won the last three and are unbeaten in their last seven against Inter in all competitions.

Q: Can Lazio go top this weekend? Yes. Lazio and Inter are level on points and goal difference, and Lazio host Cagliari on Sunday. If Lazio win and Inter fail to win the derby, Lazio will go top on their own.

Sources: AFP via Dawn, Yahoo Sports, Yardbarker, The Sports Encounter