Zlatan Ibrahimovic ready to lead AC Milan revival as Inter Milan seek rare win at Napoli: Serie A preview

Zlatan Ibrahimovic said he is ready to help AC Milan reverse their Serie A fortunes following his return to the club, while city rivals Inter Milan aim to maintain their title challenge with a tricky trip to Napoli.

Italy's top-flight resumes on Sunday after its winter break, and 11th-placed Milan will be desperate to begin climbing the table and bounce back from their humbling 5-0 defeat to Atalanta in their last game before the break. They host Sampdoria on Monday and will hope Ibrahimovic's return to the club can provide the spark to belatedly kickstart their season.

"I'm ready and I really hope I can play," said the 38-year-old Ibrahimovic as he returned to Milan nine years after his departure for Paris Saint-Germain.

"Things need to be improved on the pitch and that's why I'm here. I know what I have to do, Zlatan is still here."

Seven-time European champions Milan are 14 points off the Champions League places and just seven points clear of the relegation zone.

By contrast Inter are challenging champions Juventus' hegemony at the top of Serie A, with both sides level on 42 points after 17 games.

Antonio Conte's Inter travel to Napoli, while Juve are at home against sixth-placed Cagliari, this season's surprise package who are well in the hunt for Champions League football.

Inter have not won at Napoli's Stadio San Paolo since October 1997 but last season's runners-up are eighth this term, with Gennaro Gattuso replacing Carlo Ancelotti last month.

"Inter have been strong in previous years but they have improved even more under Conte," said Napoli defender Mario Rui. "They will make us suffer, but we are ready."

Juventus return to action after their Italian Super Cup defeat to Lazio against a Cagliari side that had been in impressive form before back-to-back losses.

Meanwhile, red-hot Lazio, six points behind in third with a game in hand, are looking increasingly dangerous.

Simone Inzaghi's side, who have not lost since their 1-0 defeat to Inter in late September, can push their league winning streak to nine games against relegation-threatened Brescia.

The capital side have scored two goals or more in each of their last 11 league games since that Inter defeat, the first team to achieve that feat since the legendary 'Grande Torino' side back in 1948.

One point behind Lazio in fourth are capital city rivals Roma, who host Torino amid takeover talks with US billionaire Dan Friedkin.

Fiorentina and Genoa start the calendar year with new managers. Giuseppe Iachini's first game with 15th-placed Fiorentina will be at Bologna, a team they are unbeaten against in 10 games.

Bottom club Genoa have brought in reinforcements for Davide Nicola's first game against Sassuolo.

Italy goalkeeper Mattia Perin returns from Juventus along with Swiss midfielder Valon Behrami and Bologna striker Mattia Destro.