Squads Set as Milan Prepare for Derby Against Juventus

There are a few games that get people all over the world excited when it comes to Serie A.

Many of these are local, inner-city rivalries, particularly, Torino-Juventus, Milan-Inter, Roma-Lazio and Genoa-Sampdoria.

Along with these, however, are the matches between the historically best teams in the country. Of course, Milan-Inter, is not only a city rivalry of two teams who share a stadium and who were once combined, but it is also a battle of two of the most successful Italian teams ever.

Then there is these two teams against Juventus, the all time champions of Italy. Their rivalries are intensified by the fact that they are all so close in proximity. Milan and Turin are both in the north-northwest region of Italy.

Tomorrow, a clash of champions will take place at the San Siro when AC Milan hosts Juventus in a much anticipated derby.

This is the first meeting of the season for the two clubs. Milan won both matches last year 3-0.

The two sides played twice in the preseason. In the TIM Trophy, Milan won the 45 minute match on penalties. Juventus later won the Luigi Berlusconi Trophy, on penalties in Milan.

Outside of the rivalry, this match becomes even more important for Milan, since they have the chance to go top in Serie A, at least until Sunday when Lazio travel to Palermo.

While Milan looks to build on the momentum of a win at Napoli for the first time in twelve years last Monday, Juventus is trying to get back into the top four in Serie A. Continuing their surprisingly non-Juventus form from last year, the Bianconeri have taken only 12 points from a possible 24. However, they are only seven points off Lazio, five of Milan and one off a Champions League spot. Chievo Verona currentlys hold that spot with 13 points.

Following a draw with Inter and a thrashing of Lecce, Juventus was held to a scoreless draw at Bolgona on Sunday.

Both teams will be missing key players. For Milan, Ronaldinho and Gianluca Zambrotta have both been ruled out due to injury. Thiago Silva and Massimo Ambrosini are still recovering from injuries suffered recently. Oguchi Onyewu, who has failed to receive a single call-up this season has no picked up a fever and is not available.

Milan will also be missing Monday's surprise hero Massimo Oddo. The 34-year old, who had both assists in the Napoli match off the bench, is suffering from a muscular problem in his left leg.

Luca Antonini, who Oddo replaced on Monday, is cleared to play and will return to the pitch against Juventus. The fullback went head-to-head with Napoli's Christian Maggio and was stretchered off ten minutes into the match. Maggio left the match thirteen minutes later.

Juventus will be without this summer's big signing Milos Krasic. Krasic has been handed a two-match ban for diving to try and earn a penalty in the draw with Bologna at the weekend.

Along with Krasic's absence, the 27-time champions will be without keepers Gianluigi Buffon and Alexander Manniger. As he has all season, Marco Storari, who was sold to Juventus by Milan this summer will make the start on Saturday.

Juventus will also be without Leandro Rinaudo, Zdenek Grygera, Vincenzo Iaquinta, Davide Lanzafame, and Armand Traore.

Milan is considered the favorites heading into this one. Though they only truly dominated one match this year, they have found ways to win. They have been getting results against the big teams of late and are riding the good form of Robinho, who has scored twice in two matches. It seems Massimiliano Allegri is starting to hit his stride as manager.

No matter what happens, this should be a great match.

Both clubs have announced their squads for the match. They are as follows:

AC Milan:

Christian Abbiati, Marco Amelia, Luca Antonini, Daniele Bonera, Bruno Montelongo, Alessandro Nesta, Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Mario Yepes, Ignazio Abate, Kevin-Prince Boateng, Mathieu Flamini, Gennaro Gattuso, Andrea Pirlo, Clarence Seedorf, Rodney Strasser, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Filippo Inzaghi, Pato, Robinho.

Juventus:

Marco Motta, Giorgio Chiellini, Felipe Melo, Mohamed Sissoko, Claudio Marchisio, Alessandro Del Piero, Amauri, Alberto Aquilani, Fabio Quagliarella, Leonardo Bonucci, Simone Pepe, Jorge Martinez, Paolo De Ceglie, Marco Storari, Marco Costantino, Nicola Legrottaglie, Manuel Giandonato, Nicola Giannetti, Frederick Sorensen, Mario Kirev.