Milan facing tough test in derby

MILAN, Italy -- AC Milan, the most successful club side in international tournaments, visit their city rivals Inter this weekend, trailing them by 22 points in the Serie A table.

Milan, champions of both Europe and the world having beaten Boca Juniors in the Club World Cup last Sunday, have not distinguished themselves in domestic competition this season.

Whilst Inter sit at the top of the table, seven points clear of closest rivals Roma, Milan head the bottom half of the 20-team league and have yet to win at home. Inter have not tasted defeat in the league this season.

Inter center-back Marco Materazzi is not entirely convincing when he claims that Milan are favorites for the game. "They're the world champions and we need to play at their level," he told Sky Sport.

"It's really motivating to play the best team and to try to prove we are as good as them. We can be their equals."

Materazzi was being surprisingly generous towards Milan given how dominant Inter have been over the last two years in the league.

Last season they were 22 points clear and 36 ahead of Milan. That would have been 28 points had Milan not been deducted eight points for match-fixing.

Despite Milan's success around the world -- they have won 18 international titles, one more than Boca Juniors and three more than both Real Madrid and Independiente -- there is no doubt that domestically over the last two seasons Inter have been head and shoulders above all the opposition.

They beat Milan home and away last season with Materazzi scoring the winner in a thrilling 4-3 victory.

Materazzi still has fond memories of that game, when he gestured to his son after scoring his winner. "That was special because my son had asked me to dedicate a goal to him and I think it is really difficult for a defender to score in any match, never mind a derby," added the World Cup winner.

Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti is optimistic that his side's recent Club World Cup success in Japan will help carry them to victory on Sunday.

"Coming to the derby off the back of a bad defeat would certainly have been a big blow for us, but instead we are arriving with confidence, optimism and serenity," he told Sky.

Ancelotti even says that Milan's title chances are not dead yet.

Despite their huge deficit Milan have three games in hand and were they to win all three and defeat their city rivals, that would fall to just 10 points. They will have to acquire the knack of winning at home though.

"I think our victory in Tokyo can act as the impetus for us to work our way back into the title race and reduce the gap to Inter," he added.

In other matches this weekend, Roma host Sampdoria on Saturday and third-placed Juventus entertain Siena a day later. E-mail to a friend