Inter Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic will have additional motivation to fire his team to victory in Sunday’s home game against rock-bottom Reggina.
Ibrahimovic struck twice in last weekend’s 2-0 win against Fiorentina to increase his league tally to 17 goals, equalling his personal record that he set at Inter last season.
“Without question, this is my best year,” admitted Ibrahimovic. “But I believe I still can improve my numbers.”
Ibrahimovic is slowly recovering from the disappointment of Inter’s exit from the Champions League at the hands of Manchester United.
The Swedish striker failed to score in both ties as the Nerazzurri’s European frustrations continued.
“The Champions League was my first priority this season,” admitted Ibrahimovic. “Unfortunately, it didn’t go our way.
“Now we have other aims to focus on like the league title and the Coppa Italia.”
With 10 games remaining Inter lead Serie A with a seven-point advantage over Juventus, who travel to the Eternal City to meet Roma on Saturday.
Ibrahimovic has urged his team-mates to maintain their focus as they attempt to take another step towards a fourth straight scudetto.
“We will win the scudetto,” Ibrahimovic declared. “The important thing is not to keep our guard down because every game will be hard.
“Everyone wants to beat the defending champions, the strongest team in the tournament.”
AC Milan will be hoping Roma do them a favour as they attempt to trim their five-point deficit on second-place Juve.
The Rossoneri, meanwhile, will travel to the San Paolo looking to clinch their third win in a row when they face a Napoli side coached by AC Milan great Roberto Donadoni.
Napoli are in desperate need of points after failing to win in their last 10 games.
Fourth-place Genoa host Udinese. The top four sides at the end of the campaign will earn tickets to the Champions League and Genoa are desperate to be among them.
Gian Piero Gasperini’s side go into the Udinese clash two points clear of both Fiorentina and Roma.
Palermo hope to maintain their good form when they make the journey to Verona to meet Chievo.
The Sicilian giants won at Fiorentina and against Lecce in the last two rounds to revive their bid to play in next year’s European competition.
Palermo are three points behind Roma, who hold the last European qualifying spot.
Lazio look to bounce back from their surprising 3-0 defeat to Chievo when they travel to Catania.
Last weekend’s setback ended a three-match winning streak for the Romans.
A home defeat against Sampdoria could have serious repercussions for the future of coach Walter Novellino at Torino. The Granata outfit have collected just one point in three league games, poor form that has seen the club drop into the relegation zone.
Toro go into this weekend’s encounter two point behind Bologna, who hold the last safety position.
Sinisa Mihajlovic’s Bologna will seek home comfort when they host Cagliari on Sunday. The Rossoblu have collected just one point in their last four outings.
Lecce will look to stop the rot when they meet Atalanta at the Via del Mare stadium. The Salentini have mustered just one point in their last six games.
