Ronaldinho hopes to maintain derby form

AC Milan goes into the city derby against Inter Milan as a slight underdog, but knowing that a win on Sunday could open up the championship race.

A Milan win would close the gap to leader Inter to three points, and Leonardo's side also has a game in hand, against Fiorentina. Inter tops the standings with 46 points, with Milan on 40.

Both teams are in good form; Inter has gone five games since its last loss, while Milan has won eight of its last nine matches, with only a defeat to Palermo ruining the record.

At the heart of Milan's run is a reinvigorated Ronaldinho, who has returned to the form that helped him win two FIFA world player of the year awards. So far he has scored nine goals, including a hat trick in the most recent match against Siena.

"I have a good rapport with the coach," Ronaldinho said. "It's helping me with my form as I can speak to Leonardo about anything and when I go on the field I feel the coach's trust.

"Against Inter I want to continue how I'm playing," he said, "but Inter has a strong team, with good players and a manager who knows how to win."

AS Roma will aim to cement third place away to Juventus, which has lost four of its last five games and slipped into fifth.

Italy striker Luca Toni has joined Roma on loan from Bayern Munich in a bid to win his place back in the Italy team and he has already hit two goals in two starts.

"It is great, there's a lot of enthusiasm," Toni said. "I came to Roma to play games and I know this is the right place to do that, but we are only just starting and have to continue this way.

"Marcello Lippi knows what I can do for the national team," Toni said. "I know that if I can continue to do well for Roma, I'll have a chance of getting back in."

Juventus coach Ciro Ferrara is fighting to hold on to his job. The team is out of the Champions League and slipping away from the qualification places for next season.

Furthermore striker Amauri has failed to show the form that linked him with a place in the Italy side, while midfielder Diego has struggled to replicate his impressive displays from earlier in the season.

"I am convinced that this team has quality that we aren't seeing at the moment and we have to work out why," Ferrara said. "I want the guys to feel more secure about the situation, play them in their natural roles and get them in condition to play their best."

Also this weekend; Catania vs. Parma; Bologna vs. Bari; Genoa vs. Atalanta; Lazio vs. Chievo Verona; Livorno vs. Napoli; Palermo vs. Fiorentina; Siena vs. Cagliari; Udinese vs. Sampdoria.