Milan will seek to end a five-game winless run in Serie A when they travel to rock-bottom Catania on Sunday.
Massimiliano Allegri's men have underachieved this season and occupy the unfamiliar territory of the Italian top flight's bottom half after claiming just three wins from 13 matches.
A midweek UEFA Champions League triumph over Celtic did help to lift some of the gloom but Allegri's charges need things to improve on the domestic front.
Away days have proven problematic for Milan this term, with their defensive frailties regularly exposed in a run of six matches without a win on the road.
A clean sheet at Chievo in their last trip was a first away from San Siro for Milan this term, with Allegri's defence having leaked 13 goals in the previous five away fixtures.
And they meet a team who, despite occupying bottom spot, are in fine form at home.
Luigi De Canio's charges are unbeaten at the Stadio Angelo Massimino since the beginning of September, a run stretching over five games.
Perhaps more impressively, they have conceded just one goal in that run, which has helped them remain in touch with the sides above them.
Milan were rocked by injuries to Robinho (shoulder) and Ignazio Abate (ankle) at Celtic Park, with both set to miss out this time.
The absence of the Brazilian will come as a relief to the hosts, even if he has only managed two goals this season.
Despite their injury setbacks and poor league form, Milan do have history on their side in this fixture.
They did the double over Catania last season and have never lost to them in 14 previous league meetings.
La Liga Preview: Athletic Bilbao v Barcelona
Barcelona will look to bounce back from their first defeat of the season when they travel to Athletic Bilbao in La Liga on Sunday.
Gerardo Martino suffered his first loss as Barcelona's head coach on Tuesday, as they went down 2-1 at Ajax in the UEFA Champions League.
The defeat came despite Ajax being reduced to 10 men for over 40 minutes as, with the exception of Xavi’s second-half penalty, Barca were unable to find a way through the resilient defence of their hosts.
And midfielder Cesc Fabregas admitted the reigning Spanish champions need to play with more intensity if they are to continue their stunning start to the league campaign, which has seen them take 40 points from a possible 42.
"We've had a team chat with the coach," Fabregas said.
"There's always self-criticism, but this was the season's first defeat and we have to react.
"We have to move the ball faster, show more motivation, attack with the ball and be intense, both in defence and attack."
Barcelona have not lost in their 14 La Liga matches this season, winning 13 and drawing once.
They are only three points ahead of Atletico Madrid, but lead fierce rivals Real Madrid by six, despite an injury crisis that has seen many of their stars sidelined.
None are more notable than Lionel Messi (thigh), with the Argentina forward - who has scored 50 and 46 goals in his last two La Liga seasons - not having played since November 10.
Messi is not expected back until the new year, while first-choice goalkeeper Victor Valdes (calf) is also sidelined.
Dani Alves has missed the club's last two matches with a calf issue of his own, while left-back Jordi Alba (hamstring) and midfielders Jonathan dos Santos and Isaac Cuenca (both knee) are long-term absentees.
Barca will welcome the in-form back Alexis Sanchez back from suspension, though. Alexis has scored eight goals in his last eight matches for club and country and Martino will be delighted by his return, especially given the continued absence of talisman Messi.
The corresponding fixture last season ended in a 2-2 draw in April, but Barcelona romped to a 5-1 success at Camp Nou.
Athletic have not beaten Barcelona since May 2006, when they posted a 3-1 home win, and they would love a repeat as they battle it out with Villarreal for fourth position on the table.
Ernesto Valverde's side sit fifth, six points clear of their nearest rival, and reaching the Champions League is their aim.
A lack of goals has stunted their progress, though, with not one player in the squad having netted more than three league goals.
However, Athletic have not lost in their last seven La Liga home games and are sure to provide Barca with a stern test.
Gerrard: United offered me a seven-year deal
Liverpool great Steven Gerrard says Sir Alex Ferguson twice offered him a long-term contract to join Manchester United.
Ferguson, who retired as United manager this year after 27 seasons in the job, has taunted Gerrard in his recently released book, entitled My Biography, claiming the 33-year-old was 'not a top, top player'.
But Gerrard, widely regarded as one of the greatest ever English Premier League players, contradicted Ferguson's sentiment by revealing Ferguson had approached him on more than one occasion.
"I had a letter off them, wanting to sign me on a seven-year deal when I was 13 years of age," Gerrard said.
"Then he tried to sign me again in early 2002/2003. I obviously refused, so I can't really take it to heart too much.
"I was genuinely a little bit gutted when I read his comments, when he said I wasn't a top, top player.
"But I won't lose sleep over it - everyone is entitled to their opinion.
"I'm a huge fan of Alex Ferguson and what he's done in the game is fantastic, that's the reason why he sold that many copies in the first week."
Gerrard, who has played 453 league games for the Merseyside giants, maintained he was never tempted to link up with Ferguson at Old Trafford.
But the Liverpool and England captain admitted he considered joining Chelsea after being sounded out by Jose Mourinho when the Portuguese manager first arrived at Stamford Bridge.
"It did turn my head, because big things were happening at Chelsea," he said.
"They were spending huge amounts of money and, at Liverpool at the time, we were struggling and my relationship with (Rafa) Benitez was a bit up and down."
Gerrard has won a Champions League title, FA Cups, League Cups and a UEFA Cup but the one glaring omission from his glittering trophy cabinet is an elusive English premiership.
But the veteran is not giving up hope on finally clinching a Premier League title with his beloved Liverpool experiencing a renaissance under Brendan Rodgers.
"There's none bigger than the Premier League and that's the one that eludes me," Gerrard said.
"But I'd love to be in the position we're in now with 10 games to play. That would be a dream for me."
Absa Premiership midweek preview: Chiefs aim to bounce back, Pirates and Stars travel to KZN
Kiazer Chiefs will be aiming to get back to winning ways when they host Polokwane City at the FNB Stadium on Wednesday night, kick off at 19:30
The Glamour Boys suffered a shock Cup exit this past weekend in the hands of Platinum Stars after Dikwena scored early in the second-half via Thabiso Semenya to send Kaizer Chiefs out crashing in the semi-final of the Telkom Knockout Cup.
Kaizer Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter has urged his players to dig deeper against Premiership debutants Polokwane City, who are rejuvenated after thrashing University of Pretoria 3-0 in their last league outing. “We must get our effectiveness and efficiency back.” Said the British born mentor
“Polokwane City will be coming to us back of a good win against AmaTuks but they will be thinking that they have a challenge against us because we want respond from a disappointing Cup exit. My players are up for the turning points and they will dig deeper to get a win this time around.”
Stuart Baxter’s men lie 6th on the log with 15 points from nine matches and have not lost a league match at FNB Stadium since March 2012 while the Rise and Shine of Polokwane sit 10th with 11 points from eleven games, the highest spot on the log they have reached since promotion.
The last time the two sides met was in October in the TKO Cup where Kaizer Chiefs easily got past the rookies by beating them 3-0 away from home.
Elsewhere on Wednesday night, Orlando Pirates will hope to continue their fine form when they visit struggling Maritzburg United who are still trying to find their feet under the guidance of former Bloemfontein Celtic coach Clinton Larsen.
The Buccaneers travel to Harry Gwala Stadium where they haven’t won in their last three visits but managed to hand United a defeat when they beat them away from in a match that was played at Port Elizabeth’s Mandela Bay Stadium last season.
The Team of Choice are 8th on the standing with 12 points from eleven matches and they only managed to collect one point from possible nine in their last three matches after they recently got beaten by their provincial rivals Golden Arrows 2-1.
Orlando Pirates will be going to into this match with their hard tackling defender Rooi Mahamutsa out injured with veteran defender and captain Lucky Lekgwathi expected to get a nod while winger Daine Klate is expected to sit out again after he was absent in their last match against Supersport United over the weekend.
The other fixture on the night sees AmaZulu welcome high riding Platinum Stars who have just set up another Cup final in Telkom Knockout with Orlando Pirates for the second time this season after both sides met this year in the MTN8 Cup where Stars won in the penalty shoot-out to be crowned Champions.
Usuthu will be aiming to produce a form they displayed in the beginning of the season when they surprised the likes of Orlando Pirates with a win over them and went on to play around to top five of the table in the few early matches.
They have a tough task on Wednesday night against Dikwena who are fourth on the log with 16 points compared to AmaZulu who are 7th on the log and have not won in six matches. The last time AmaZulu won was over a month ago when they defeated Moroka Swallows 1-0.
Villas-Boas ready for United test
Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas is ready to turn his attentions to Manchester United after a morale-boosting UEFA Europa League win.
The Portuguese has come under pressure of late after Tottenham's slump in form, which culminated in a disastrous 6-0 Premier League loss to Manchester City last weekend.
However, Tottenham responded in fine style from their European excursion to Norway on Thursday, beating Tromso 2-0 on their way to topping Group K.
An own goal from Tromso defender Adnan Causevic along with a second for Mousa Dembele gave the Londoners the win.
Tottenham will host United when they return to domestic action on Sunday, having slipped to ninth in the table after back-to-back league defeats against Newcastle United and City either side of the international break.
And Villas-Boas admits that it was important to get back to winning ways quickly ahead of that clash.
"Obviously the opponent we have on Sunday is the biggest that we can have," he said.
"But to prepare for that game, it was important to get back to winning ways here, and we did it in a fashion where we looked solid and created lots of chances.
"I am extremely happy with the performance and result."
Premier League Preview: Norwich City v Crystal Palace
Tony Pulis' first game in charge of Crystal Palace sees the relegation-threatened Londoners travel to fellow strugglers Norwich City on Saturday.
Palace come into the game having ended an eight-game winless run with a 1-0 triumph at Hull City last week, a game watched by Pulis from the stands.
That result, sealed by Barry Bannan after Yannick Bolasie had been shown a straight red card, moved Palace off the foot of the Premier League table, although they remain three points from safety.
Pulis has never been relegated as a manager, a fact that may bring confidence to the Selhurst Park faithful, and defender Dean Moxey believes the Hull win showed Palace are returning to the form that saw them promoted to the top flight last term.
He told the club's official website: "It was a massive, massive win.
"We got a point off Everton before the international break and we come to places like Hull now and think 'we should be getting three points from these teams'.
"We'll take three points however it comes. We don't need to entertain.
"Football's an entertaining game, but we knew we had to play ugly at times. That was the Palace of last year, working hard together as a whole group."
Meetings between the two sides in the previous few years will give Palace more optimism as they have won six of the last 10 encounters.
Palalce will be without the suspended Bolasie, while Adlene Guedioura (ribs), Glenn Murray (knee) and Jay Thomas (groin) are out and while Marouane Chamakh (head) and Paddy McCarthy (lacking match fitness) are doubts.
Norwich have picked up seven of their 11 points at Carrow Road this season, and won their last outing on home soil 3-1 against West Ham.
They slipped to defeat at manager Chris Hughton's old club, Newcastle United, last weekend though to leave them 16th in the table.
Hughton has fitness issues to contend with ahead of the match, with Anthony Pilkington (hamstring), Robert Snodgrass, Elliott Bennett (both knee), Alex Tettey (ankle) and Ricky van Wolfswinkel (foot) all out.
Premier League Preview: West Ham v Fulham
West Ham will hope to find some home comforts when they take on fellow strugglers Fulham at Upton Park.
Defeats last weekend have dragged both London clubs into the Premier League relegation mire, leaving their managers desperate for three points to alleviate the pressure on Saturday.
West Ham were booed off after their 3-0 defeat to Chelsea last weekend, and they have not won a home league game since their opening-day triumph against Cardiff City.
Their latest defeat was their fourth home reverse of the season and boss Sam Allardyce understands the fans' frustrations.
He said: "If they (the fans) don't see the sort of determination and passion and desire they think they should get they show their disapproval.
"It's my job to pick the players up and remind them about previous performances we've had home and away this year, make sure we get to that level and stop those fears creeping in."
West Ham were forced to start with captain Kevin Nolan up front for Saturday's game, with attacking trio Ricardo Vaz Te (shoulder), Andy Carroll (ankle) and Mladen Petric (calf) all still on the sidelines.
Romanian full-back Razvan Rat also remains out with a hamstring problem, while Winston Reid is recovering from an operation on an ankle injury.
Fulham boss Martin Jol was also on the receiving end of criticism from his own fans during the 2-1 loss at home to Swansea.
A run of four straight league defeats has consigned Jol's men to the relegation zone, leading to speculation about the 57-year old's future.
The visitors will again be without the suspended Sascha Riether, who is serving the final game of his three-match ban for stamping on Manchester United's Adnan Januzaj, while Damian Duff is a doubt with a groin injury.
Hugo Rodallega and Matthew Briggs (both groin) are both ruled out, while Brede Hangeland has been struggling with a sciatic nerve problem.
">See all Movies');
document.write('