Milan derby may be decisive - AC Milan hopes to spoil Inter's title party

AC Milan will do all it can to spoil cross-town rival Inter's party and keep it from celebrating its division title with two matches left in the season.

Milan has more at stake than Inter, which enjoys a 6-point lead over second-placed AS Roma, because it currently sits behind Fiorentina for the last berth open to enter the Champions League preliminary round.

''They (Inter) have the title practically in their pocket, let's say 80%. But for Milan it's different because we're playing for next season, to take part in the Champions League,'' observed Georgian defender Kakhaber Kaladze, who scored the only goal in Milan's last derby win in April 2006.

Sunday's match will be a toss up, Kaladze, explained, ''because there is never a favorite in a derby. We're in good form and so are they''. ''The group is going to make the difference more than strategy and this is one of Milan's strong points,'' he added.

Roma is still in the running for the division title and should Inter lose the derby and the capital's side defeat Sampdoria there would only be a gap of three points with two matches left.

However, should Roma draw and Inter win, then the Milan side will its third title in a row on Sunday.

Inter will also take the title if it draws and Roma loses.

Sampdoria still has a mathematical chance of reaching the Champions League preliminary round, especially if it beats Roma and Inter wins the derby, which would place the Genoa side one point ahead of Milan and on the heels of Fiorentina.

Fiorentina travels to Cagliari on Sunday licking the wounds of its elimination from the UEFA cup this weak after a penalty shoot-out at home against Glasgow Rangers.

Cagliari currently sits above the relegation zone and may play for a draw, hoping that Fiorentina will be demotivated by its UEFA defeat and losing striker Christian Vieri, who tore a tendon during Thursday night's shoot-out.

Other matches on Sunday include third-placed Juventus away at Siena, Torino hosting Napoli and Lazio receiving Palermo in Rome. (ANSA.it)