Ibrahimovic back for tilt at 9th straight win - Unbeaten Serie A leaders Inter Milan are bidding to extend their winning streak to nine games at 5th-placed Udinese Sunday.
The champs, who were held 1-1 by Udinese earlier in the season, will have Zlatan Ibramihovic back after the Sweden striker was rested for Wednesday night's 2-2 Italian Cup draw against Juventus.
Ibra, who bagged a late brace to hand Inter their win over Parma last week, is set to rejoin Argentine Julio Cruz, who scored both the Cup goals against Juve.
Inter Chairman Massimo Moratti said Thursday the Juve game had ''pleased'' him.
''I'm very happy with the way the boys played. We'll have other chances to beat Juve,'' he said, praising ''a fine display'' by Portugal midfielder Maniche who looked uncertain on his debut against Parma.
AS Roma, seven points behind Inter in second, should have skipper Francesco Totti back after a bout of the flu for Saturday night's clash with 8th-placed Palermo at the Olimpico.
Roma, who drew 1-1 against Sampdoria in the Cup Wednesday, will be without banned Italy midfielder Daniele De Rossi but will have Italy defender Christian Panucci back from suspension.
Third-placed Juve, five points behind Roma, travel to 13th-placed Livorno on Sunday night with captain Alessandro Del Piero boosted by a top-notch performance against Inter.
Fiorentina, three points behind Juve in fourth, visit second-from-bottom Tuscan rivals Empoli with veteran ex-Italy striker Christian Vieri looking to continue his revival.
AC Milan, rudely halted in their bid to climb into Champions League contention by Wednesday night's surprise 2-1 defeat at Atalanta, will be hoping for no more slip-ups at home to Genoa on Sunday.
Coach Carlo Ancelotti has called for a ''more cynical'' approach from his players, who still have two games in hand but are now ten points adrift of Fiorentina.
Ancelotti may have been thinking of teenage sensation Pato, who squandered an easy chance against Atalanta when Milan were a goal to the good.
Pato, who got his first senior call-up for Brazil Wednesday for a February 6 friendly against Ireland, will again link up with Milan's two Brazilian superstars, European Footballer of the Year Kaka' and Ronaldo.
Italy striker Alberto Gilardino is expected to come off the bench.
Lazio go to fellow strugglers Torino on Sunday with Italy Under-21 striker Rolando Bianchi, having beaten the Turin club in a bidding war for the Manchester City man.
With Bianchi on board, speculation is growing Lazio may lose their star Macedonia striker Goran Pandev.
