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Serie A betting: Juve and Milan to share the points

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Dan "The Betting Man" Fitch talks us through the betting as two of Italy's top sides clash with Champions League football next season up for grabs

We're now at that stage of the season, where apart from the few teams still in the race for trophies, everyone else is planning for August. This is the time when the transfer rumours start to go into overdrive again, as clubs start to circle around the players they want and arrange the P45s for those that they don't.

Two clubs in such a situation are Juventus and AC Milan, who meet on Saturday evening in Turin. Juventus have all but assured their return to the Champions League next season, but Milan really need a win at the weekend if they are to have a chance of joining them. All the will-they-or-won't-they action can be seen via Betfair Live Video.

The makeup of Milan's squad, will be very much dictated by whether they manage to crawl into the Champions League places. Paolo Maldini for one, has stated that he will probably retire if Milan fail to qualify. I don't blame him. The misery of those Thursday night UEFA Cup matches is no place for such a fine career to end.

Despite the fact that Maldini is still a capable enough performer, it would be nice if he called time on his career now. Maldini has been as majestic as Mohammad Ali and it would be a shame if his career ended with in similar embarrassment, with a team like Zenit St Petersburg substituting for Larry Holmes.

One player rumoured to be attracting the interest of the Rossonieri is Dimitar Berbatov. With Totteham seemingly resigned to losing him, but determined not to sell him to a fellow Premier League side, Milan may be well placed to steal the Bulgarian. A lack of Champions League football could be a stumbling block, but Milan are a big enough side to turn heads without it.

As someone who watches Berbatov week in week out, I think he'd be just what Milan needs. I remember a match last season against Bolton, in which Robbie Keane was sent off and Berbatov was left alone up front. His performance was absolutely majestic, but it depressed me. Because for the first time I realised just how good he was, which is too good for us. He could play for anyone and unlike most players at Milan, he's at the peak of his career.

Last week Milan stepped closer to the top four, as they beat Cagliari 3-1. But the next day, Fiorentina beat Reggina 2-0 to once more move four points clear of Milan. This weekend sees Fiorentina travel to Inter, so this could be a real chance for Ancelotti's team to cut the gap by at least a point.

Milan have been more reliable away from the San Siro this season, but meet a side in Juventus that have been very solid at home. Juve have only lost twice in Turin this season and those defeats came against Udinese at the very start of the season and then to Inter, back when everyone was losing to them.

Juventus will be very satisfied with the fruits of their season, but now find themselves with little to play for. It would take a disaster for them to not finish in the top four, but they also have no chance of winning the league.

Next season though, they may have a chance. It would take some very canny purchases from Ranieri, who will probably be in for Lampard should he become available in the summer. I think it will be asking too much for Juventus to win Serie A next year, but a closer title challenge will represent real progress.

Juventus beat Inter 2-1 at the San Siro, a couple of weeks back, but then slumped to a 3-2 loss against Parma last weekend. Like Milan, they are capable of rousing themselves to beat anyone, but currently lack consistency.

Juventus are [2.46] with Milan [3.55] and the draw [3.15]. I think the latter is the more likely, with the sides having played out a 0-0 draw earlier in the season. That will be a satisfying enough result for Juve, but with Milan adrift of Fiorentina and with Sampdoria breathing down their necks, it could be disastrous for the Rossonieri.