Ibrahimovic vows to kick-start Milan as Conte's Inter seek rare win at Napoli

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has vowed to kick-start struggling AC Milan's Serie A season as ir local rivals Inter Milan recommence a title battle with Juventus this weekend after end of winter break. Milan play host to Sampdoria on Monday, ir first game since humiliating 5-0 goal defeat to Atalanta last month which sparked Ibrahimovic's return.

"I'm ready and I really hope I can play," said 38-year-old Ibrahimovic as he returned to Milan nine years after his departure for Paris Saint-Germain."Things need to be improved on pitch and that's why I'm here. I kw what I have to do, Zlatan is still here."

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Seven-time European champions Milan are 11th in table, 14 points off Champions League places and just seven points clear of relegation zone. By contrast, Inter are challenging champions Juventus' hegemony at top of Serie A, with both sides level on 42 points after 17 games. Antonio Conte's Inter travel to Napoli, while Juve are at home against sixth-placed Cagliari, this season's surprise pack who are well in hunt for Champions League football.

Inter Milan have t won at Napoli's Stadio San Paolo since October 1997 but last season's runners-up are eighth this term, with Gennaro Gattuso replacing Carlo Ancelotti last month.

"Inter have been strong in previous years but y have improved even more under Conte," said Napoli defender Mario Rui.

"y will make us suffer, but we are ready."

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Juventus return to action after ir Italian Super Cup defeat to Lazio against a Cagliari side that had been in impressive form before back-to-back losses. Meanwhile, red-hot Lazio, six points behind in third with a game in hand, are looking increasingly dangerous. Simone Inzaghi's side, who have t lost since ir 1-0 defeat to Inter in late September, can push ir league winning streak to nine games against relegation-threatened Brescia.

Roman side have scored two goals or more in each of ir last 11 league games since that Inter defeat, first team to achieve that feat since legendary 'Grande Tori' side back in 1948. One point behind Lazio in fourth are capital city rivals Roma, who host Tori amid takeover talks with US billionaire Dan Friedkin. Fiorentina and Gea start calendar year with new coaches.

Giuseppe Iachini's first game with 15th-placed Fiorentina will be at Bologna, a team y are unbeaten against in 10 games. Bottom club Gea have brought in reinforcements for Davide Nicola's first game against Sassuolo. Italy goalkeeper Mattia Perin returns from Juventus along with Swiss midfielder Valon Behrami and Bologna striker Mattia Destro.

One to watch

As veteran Ibrahimovic prepares to start for AC Milan, fellow Swede Dejan Kulusevski, 19, returns to Parma on loan after signing a five-year deal with champions Juventus. promising teenr has had a breakthrough season since going on loan from Atalanta to Parma in June, scoring four goals and setting up ar seven in 17 games. He will be up against his parent club this weekend. "I've heard great things about Kulusevski," said Ibrahimovic of player who has more to Juve in a deal worth nearly 44 million euros ($49 million).

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Key stats

23 - Years since Inter's last win at Napoli 17 - Ciro Immobile's goals for title-chasing Lazio 16 - Shot-shy AC Milan's goals so far this season as y await Ibrahimovic 11 - points gap between Napoli and Champions League places 8 - Lazio's league winning streak

2 - Fiorentina's points from ir last seven games

Fixtures

Sunday

Brescia v Lazio (1130), SPAL v Verona (1400), Gea v Sassuolo (1700), AS Roma v Tori (1945)

Monday

Bologna v Fiorentina (1130), AC Milan v Sampdoria, Juventus v Cagliari, Atalanta v Parma (all 1400), Lecce v Udinese (1700), Napoli v Inter Milan (1945) 

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