AC Milan to meet surprise co-leader Napoli

AC Milan takes a seven-game unbeaten streak into its meeting with surprise Serie A co-leader Napoli on Sunday.

After dropping its opening two games, Milan has won six and drawn one, leaving the Rossoneri only one point behind Napoli and Udinese.

"Our goal is to get to first place, and we've got a great chance on Sunday," Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti said following a 2-1 win over Siena on Wednesday.

Milan finished fifth last season for its worst finish in seven years, and the Rossoneri were fourth in 2006-07, when they carried a penalty from the Italian match-fixing scandal.

"It's been a while since we've started the season as well as this," said Kaka, who scored a penalty for the winner against Siena.

Filippo Inzaghi opened the scoring and earned the penalty that Kaka converted.

Ronaldinho sat out against Siena to nurse a bruise but should be back against Napoli, which got a hat trick from Argentina forward German Denis in a 3-0 rout of Reggina on Wednesday.

"Let's hope we can maintain this form," Napoli coach Edy Reja said. "Milan has an extraordinary attack, but if we can hold their forwards in check we can make things difficult for them."

Napoli purchased the 1.87-meter (6-foot-2) Denis from Independiente for 6.3 million euros after last season to complement the club's two other talented forwards _ Ezequiel Lavezzi and Marek Hamsik.

Lavezzi, also an Argentine, utilizes his physical strength to specialize in ball possession, while the Slovak Hamsik is quicker and more talented with the ball.

Udinese, which hosts Genoa on Sunday, also has a seven-game unbeaten streak.

Udinese and Napoli lead with 20 points. Milan is next with 19 and Inter is fourth with 18 following two successive scoreless draws.

"We'll win again soon. And we'll get back into first," Inter coach Jose Mourinho said after Wednesday's 0-0 draw at Fiorentina. "We're not scoring but we're still an offensive squad. We haven't allowed a goal in four games."

Inter visits last-place Reggina on Saturday.

Forwards Adriano and Julio Ricardo Cruz were dropped from the roster for the Fiorentina game, and rarely used Hernan Crespo came on and impressed in the final 28 minutes.

"He responded positively, and that's what I expect from players on the bench," Mourinho said.

Also Saturday, improving Juventus hosts struggling AS Roma.

Pavel Nedved scored twice in a 2-1 win over Bologna on Wednesday for Juve's second straight win after going a month without a victory.

Roma's game with Sampdoria was suspended due to heavy rain, and the Giallorossi haven't won in more than a month.

Fiorentina, fifth with 17 points, visits regional rival Siena and is still without the league's scoring leader Alberto Gilardino, who was suspended for two games for scoring with his hand against Palermo last weekend.

Also Sunday, it's: Atalanta vs. Lecce; Cagliari vs. Bologna; Lazio vs. Catania; Palermo vs. Chievo Verona; and Sampdoria vs. Torino.