Milan and Inter focus on derby after lengthy trips

AC Milan players celebrate their goal against Zenit during their Champions League, Group C, soccer match, between AC Milan and Zenit St. Petersburg in St.Petersburg, Russia, Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2012.

Dmitry Lovetsky, Associated Press

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Zenit’s Roman Shirokov, left, fights for the ball with AC Milan’s Riccardo Montolivo during the UEFA Champions League, group C, soccer match, between AC Milan and Zenit St. Petersburg in St.Petersburg, Russia, Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2012.

Dmitry Lovetsky, Associated Press

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Inter Milan Argentine forward Diego Milito, left, celebrates with his teammate forward Antonio Cassano after scoring during a Serie A soccer match between Inter Milan and Fiorentina, at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Sept. 30, 2012.

Luca Bruno, Associated Press

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AC Milan’s Luca Antonini, left, fights for the ball with Zenit’s Aleksandr Anyukov during their UEFA Champions League, group C, soccer match, between AC Milan and Zenit St. Petersburg in St.Petersburg, Russia, Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2012.

Dmitry Lovetsky, Associated Press

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Inter Milan forward Antonio Cassano, right, challenges for the ball with Fiorentina midfielder Borja Valero of Spain, during a Serie A soccer match between Inter Milan and Fiorentina, at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Sept. 30, 2012.

Luca Bruno, Associated Press

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ROME — AC Milan and Inter need to switch their focus to Sunday's Milan derby in a hurry following lengthy midweek trips to eastern Europe.

Milan stifled a Zenit St. Petersburg comeback for a 3-2 win in an action-packed Champions League match in Russia on Wednesday, while Inter was facing Neftchi in a Europa League game in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Thursday.

After slow starts to the season, both clubs are starting to find their form.

Milan teenager Stephen El Shaarawy has scored five goals in his last four matches, while Diego Milito and Antonio Cassano are forming a potent attack tandem for Inter.

While Inter is tied for third, four points behind co-leaders Juventus and Napoli, Milan is in the bottom half of the standings, nine points behind.

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