Allegri targets maximum points

AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri has stressed the importance of the game at Catania to his players as they look to start a crucial week on the right footing.

The Serie A leaders travel to the Angelo Massimino stadium to face Catania before their Champions League quarter-final second-leg meeting with Barcelona at the Nou Camp next Tuesday.

The Rossoneri held the reigning European champions to a goalless draw in Wednesday's first leg and are keen to make sure they take some momentum into it.

"The result in Barcelona will be a consequence of what will happen in Catania," Allegri said.

"It's a challenging week but we have to take it one game at a time.

"We must return home from Sicily with maximum points because it is crucial heading into our Champions League tie.

"We know that we face a difficult game at the Nou Camp, that Barca is the top team in the world.

"But we are in good form and we have to be confident."

Milan are riding a four-match winning run in the league and are four points clear of Juventus at the top of the standings with nine games remaining.

They take on a Catania team that has punched above its weight all season.

The Sicilian outfit extended its unbeaten run to seven games with a 2-2 draw at Napoli last time out.

The result lifted Vincenzo Montella's side to seventh place, 15 points clear of the relegation zone.

"Catania are a solid group," Allegri said.

"They are in great form while we head into this game having used a lot of energy in recent days.

"But we need to be confident and strong."

Montella, meanwhile, does not expect a tired Milan.

"Milan are used to playing regularly and I don't expect us to have an advantage," he said. "In order to beat Milan, we will need to play at 101% and hope they are not at their best."

AC Milan defender Alessandro Nesta and midfielder Clarence Seedorf will rest this weekend in view of next week's game at Barcelona.

The visitors will be without midfielders Djamel Mesbah and Sulley Muntari, both suspended.