Milan face duel with Donadoni

By Paolo Menicucci

After his winning debut as AS Livorno Calcio coach last weekend, Roberto Donadoni faces AC Milan next, the club where he spent ten years of his playing career, winning five league titles and three European Champion Clubs' Cups.

Severe test
Donadoni's arrival inspired Livorno to a 3-1 victory against FC Messina Peloro but he will know only too well that a more severe test awaits at home to his old team today. The Rossoneri have won six of their last eight games and are unbeaten since their home defeat by Messina in September.

'Very excited'
"Without a doubt, I'm very excited ahead of this game," Donadoni said. "It cannot be a normal game for me after all the great years I spent at Milan. They are in great form now and obviously it will be a very difficult match for us. However, I've found a very united group [at Livorno] and I'm confident we can do well on Sunday."

Juventus face Brescia
Milan are two points behind leaders Juventus FC who take on Brescia Calcio. Coach Fabio Capello should rest Zlatan Ibrahimovic and start with Alessandro Del Piero and David Trezeguet in attack against opponents who have not won in 20 previous visits to the Stadio Delle Alpi, scoring only eight goals and conceding 40.

Capello warning
However, Capello stressed that his players could not afford to underestimate anyone after recent draws with Parma FC and Cagliari Calcio. "We have already dropped too many points, I don't want to see those mistakes any longer," he said.

Loan strikers meet
In Sunday's other matches, third-placed Udinese Calcio hope to bounce back from last week's defeat by Milan when they play host to Reggina Calcio, while US Città di Palermo visit AC Siena without suspended striker Luca Toni. Two other forwards, Simone Inzaghi and Fabio Bazzani, will face the clubs that own them when S.S. Lazio and UC Sampdoria meet just two weeks after exchanging the pair in a loan deal until the summer.

Adriano absent
Elsewhere, Parma travel to Messina seeking the third straight win which could take them out of the relegation zone for the first time this season and US Lecce entertain rock-bottom Atalanta BC. Fourth-placed FC Internazionale Milano drew 1-1 with AC Chievo Verona on Saturday, while Bologna FC beat Cagliari Calcio 1-0.