Conte expects excitement at Serie A summit

Juventus coach Antonio Conte has predicted a thriller when his team take on Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday in a battle for top spot. Both teams go into the encounter on 22 points but Juve, who lead the standings on goal differential, have a game in hand. "Lazio is a team that I've always included among the best this season," Conte said. "I believe they can have a starring role in the campaign just as we can. I think it's going to be a fantastic game between two teams that play attractive football." Juventus, who are not playing in Europe this season, are the only unbeaten team in Serie A. "There is great satisfaction for what we are doing," Conte said. "But I don't like excessive euphoria and we know there's a long way to go." Lazio, meanwhile, will be bolstered by the return of the team's top scorer Miroslav Klose. Klose missed last weekend's goalless draw at Napoli with a muscular problem. AC Milan are one point behind Juve and host Chievo on the back of a 3-2 midweek defeat by Barcelona in the Champions League. Milan will now look to extend their unbeaten run on the domestic front at the San Siro. Fourth-placed Udinese will look to bounce back from last weekend's defeat at Parma - their second loss of the campaign - when they take on Roma tomorrow. The Udine outfit will be at home where they has won all of their league games. Napoli visit Atalanta with their confidence sky high after a 2-1 UEFA Champions League home victory over Manchester City. The midweek result saw Napoli end City's run of nine consecutive victories in all competitions. Fiorentina coach Delio Rossi will return to La Favorita this weekend for the first time since leaving Palermo in June. Rossi made his debut last weekend as coach of Fiorentina and La Viola had a goalless draw with AC Milan. Inter Milan qualified for the knock-out stages of the Champions League as the first-placed team in Group B on Tuesday with a 1-1 draw at Trabzonspor. Inter can now focus on Serie A and the game on Sunday at Siena. I Nerazzurri are 16th in the standings - 11 points behind Juventus. Cagliari, having lost three league games on a row, take on fellow strugglers Bologna in Sardinia. Lecce will be hoping for a change in form at their Stadio Via Del Mare when hosting Catania on Saturday. I Giallorossi have claimed one point of a possible 15 at home. Novara, who have not won a game since September 20, face Parma on Saturday. Bottom side Cesena, who celebrated their first win of the campaign at Bologna last weekend, host Genoa on Sunday.