Ibrahimovic vows to kick-start Milan as Conte’s Inter seek rare win at Napoli

Juventus return to action after their Italian Super Cup defeat to Lazio against a Cagliari side that had been in impressive form before back-to-back losses.

Meanwhile red-hot Lazio, six points behind in third with a game in hand, are looking increasingly dangerous.

Simone Inzaghi’s side, who have not lost since their 1-0 defeat to Inter in late September, can push their league winning streak to nine games against relegation-threatened Brescia.

The Roman side have scored two goals or more in each of their last 11 league games since that Inter defeat, the first team to achieve that feat since the legendary ‘Grande Torino’ side back in 1948.

One point behind Lazio in fourth are capital city rivals Roma, who host Torino amid takeover talks with US billionaire Dan Friedkin.

Fiorentina and Genoa start the calendar year with new coaches.

Giuseppe Iachini’s first game with 15th-placed Fiorentina will be at Bologna, a team they are unbeaten against in 10 games.

Bottom club Genoa have brought in reinforcements for Davide Nicola’s first game against Sassuolo.

Italy goalkeeper Mattia Perin returns from Juventus along with Swiss midfielder Valon Behrami and Bologna striker Mattia Destro.

One to watch:

As veteran Ibrahimovic prepares to start for AC Milan, fellow Swede Dejan Kulusevski, 19, returns to Parma on loan after signing a five-year deal with champions Juventus.

The promising teenager has had a breakthrough season since going on loan from Atalanta to Parma in June, scoring four goals and setting up another seven in 17 games. He will be up against his parent club this weekend.

“I’ve heard great things about Kulusevski,” said Ibrahimovic of the player who has more to Juve in a deal worth nearly 44 million euros ($49 million).

Key stats:

23 – Years since Inter’s last win at Napoli

17 – Ciro Immobile’s goals for title-chasing Lazio

16 – Shot-shy AC Milan’s goals so far this season as they await Ibrahimovic

11 – The points gap between Napoli and the Champions League places

8 – Lazio’s league winning streak

2 – Fiorentina’s points from their last seven games

Fixtures (all times GMT):

Sunday

Brescia v Lazio (1130), SPAL v Verona (1400), Genoa v Sassuolo (1700), AS Roma v Torino (1945)

Monday

Bologna v Fiorentina (1130), AC Milan v Sampdoria, Juventus v Cagliari, Atalanta v Parma (all 1400), Lecce v Udinese (1700), Napoli v Inter Milan (1945).