Serie A pacesetters Inter and Milan facing injury problems

Inter Milan and AC Milan are setting the pace in Serie A but both teams are grappling with injuries as they balance their domestic aspirations with Champions League ambitions.

They have winnable fixtures on Saturday, with Inter hosting Bologna and Milan visiting Genoa, but may need to rest players following their recent Champions League commitments.

Inter's Marcus Thuram went off in the second half of Tuesday's 1-0 home win over Benfica in the Champions League due to discomfort, while fellow striker Marko Arnautovic is already sidelined along with midfielder Davide Frattesi.

Thuram has since been given the all-clear but Inzaghi does have the option of pairing Alexis Sanchez up front alongside captain Lautaro Martinez.

Milan's Stefano Pioli also has injury problems with Ruben Loftus-Cheek sidelined with Ismael Bennacer and Rade Krunic.

The silver lining for both clubs is that after this round of matches there is a two-week international break, providing some of the players with a much-needed opportunity to rest.

Meanwhile, Lazio are under pressure after a poor start to the season, having won one of their last four Serie A matches, as they prepare to welcome Atalanta on Sunday.

Gian Piero Gasperini's sixth-placed visitors have taken seven points from their last three league games and stand one point outside the top four.

After Lazio's last-gasp 2-1 win at Celtic in the Champions League on Wednesday, manager Maurizio Sarri said Europe's elite competition provides more motivation than Serie A.

"This is a risk that can happen; we talked about it for a long time, as some of the players who were here last season are not delivering the way they can, so unconsciously that might be sparking a sense of complacency," the 64-year-old said.

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