Milan seek fifth straight win in showdown with Juventus

An early clash of Serie A heavyweights sees leaders AC Milan visit a fourth-placed Juventus side who are wrestling with injuries and inconsistency ahead of Sunday's showdown.

Former Juve boss Max Allegri's Milan have bounced back from an opening-day home defeat by Cremonese, piecing together four straight league wins that suggest a team finding their rhythm.

That streak, capped by a resilient victory over champions Napoli, has been driven by a tighter defence and improved balance in midfield, allowing Milan to grind out a 2-1 win despite being reduced to 10 men for over half an hour.

Milan's situation mirrors what Napoli experienced last year. Free from the demands of a European campaign, the Rossoneri can keep their best players fresh for Serie A - a luxury many believed was crucial to Napoli's title run.

In Turin, Milan will again face a test of how far they have adapted with a new midfield-centric lineup as they face unbeaten Juventus, who trail the leaders by one point after five games.

Allegri may be forced into defensive adjustments after Fikayo Tomori came off towards the end of the Napoli game with what looked like a groin injury but the coach otherwise has the bulk of his squad available for the meeting with his old club.

Igor Tudor's Juve side might find themselves at a potential crossroads after back-to-back Serie A draws, with their situation complicated by mounting fitness concerns.

Left-back Juan Cabal is unlikely to feature after being forced off in Wednesday's 2-2 draw at Villarreal in the Champions League, while midfielder Khephren Thuram and centre-back Gleison Bremer missed the Spanish trip and remain doubtful.

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