PREVIEW: Daunting task for Lazio at leaders AC Milan

Lazio have a last chance to keep Serie A leaders AC Milan within reach when they visit them Tuesday at the Giuseppe Meazza in the opening game of a mid-week round.

   The Rome side beat Fiorentina 2-0 on the weekend and remained seven points behind the Devils, who also won 2-0, at Catania.

   After praising his Czech forward Libor Kozak for a brace that sank the Florence side, Lazio coach Edy Reja went back to his low-key style.

   "We are now on 40 points. We are safe (from relegation)," Reja said. "What we get from now on is useful for a berth in the Europa League (available for fifth and sixth place), which is our goal."

   Lazio fans dream of more, but know that tackling Milan is hard, particularly without the suspended Argentine forward Mauro Zarate and with Sergio Floccari nursing an injury.

   The Devils clinched a second straight win after two draws, with Brazilian Robinho and Swede ace Zlatan Ibrahimovic on target in what is the best attacking partnership in the league.

   The two have combined for 20 out of Milan's 39, but coach Massimiliano Allegri also has aces Antonio Cassano and Brazilian Pato available.

   Ibra, who arrived in August from Barcelona, is the undisputed number one at the Devils with 13 goals.

   "He is playing the best season in his career, considering assists, goals and grit," Allegri said. "'He has a lot of enthusiasm and he feels to be one of the leaders of the team.

   "He lends a hand in defence and this is the most important thing, because if you want to reach big goals it takes the sacrifice of everyone. If he does, all the others follow."

   There is no lack of heroes at second-place Napoli, where Edinson Cavani took command in the scorers' table with a hat-trick in a 4-0 demolition of Sampdoria.

   The Uruguayan looks to further raise his tally of 17 when Napoli, trailing Milan by four points, visit Chievo on Wednesday.

   Champions Inter Milan lag nine points behind with a game in hand. They found a new idol in ex-Sampdoria man Giampaolo Pazzini, who debuted with a brace.

   The Nerazzurri went two goals down against Palermo, but Pazzini came on to level before Samuel Eto'o completed a 3-2 rally.

   Bottom side Bari host Inter on Thursday, while Roma lie level on points with the champions when they welcome lowly Brescia on Wednesday.

   Udinese savoured a 2-1 win at Juventus before hosting Bologna, while troubled Juve are away at Palermo and Sampdoria take on Cagliari. Fiorentina welcome Genoa, Parma entertain Lecce and Cesena host Catania.