The six-time European champions have lost four of their last five games, and defeat at Empoli on Saturday will increase the pressure on their under-fire coach Carlo Ancelotti.

Milan's slump has left them fifth from bottom on seven points, 20 adrift of joint leaders Inter Milan and Palermo.

Their demise can be put down to several factors: the psychological impact of their failed bid to overturn an eight-point penalty for match-fixing, an ageing squad, injuries to key players and the fatigue of their Italian World Cup winners, including Andrea Pirlo and Alberto Gilardino.

According to Italian media reports, Ancelotti's head will roll if they miss out on a Champions League spot for next season but the Milan coach remains calm.

"Things are not going well, but I am convinced we will snap out of it," he said. "It's not to say I'm not worried, because I am. It's a very negative period, but it hasn't happened by chance. There are reasons for these poor results.

"We have spoken a lot about our lack of preparation as a team this summer due to several of our players returning from the World Cup and needing to rest, and also about the injuries we've had.

"But now we have to put all that behind us and start working in a different way. I don't know if we are doing too little, or trying too hard. Whatever it is, it's not enough. Three consecutive home defeats, plus the loss at Atalanta, is not good and things must change."

Milan may be on the slide, but Empoli defender Antonio Busce is expecting the 17-time Italian champions to be as strong as ever.

"They are a team of winners with players capable of turning a match with one moment of skill," he said.

Roma defender Christian Chivu believes his side's historic victory at AC Milan last week has given them a massive confidence boost in the race for the title.

A first away win at Milan in Serie A for 20 years left Roma four points off the pace in third place.

"It was a massive result and has given us all the belief that we can win the Scudetto," the Romanian international said ahead of Sunday's home match against Catania.

"But we must be more consistent. We have already lost twice (to Ascoli and Reggina), and we need to eradicate the silly mistakes that have cost us in the past."

Inter host Reggina at the San Siro on Sunday while fellow pace-setters Palermo visit Cagliari the day before.

Nedo Sonetti's first game in charge of Ascoli, still looking for their first win of the season, is against Fiorentina. Sonetti took the reins on Tuesday after Atillio Tesser was sacked.
Fixtures
(1400GMT kick-off unless stated)
Saturday
Empoli v AC Milan (1700GMT), Cagliari v Palermo (1930GMT)
Sunday
Ascoli v Fiorentina, Chievo v Atalanta, Inter Milan v Reggina, Livorno v Parma, Messina v Lazio, Roma v Catania, Torino v Sampdoria (1930GMT), Udinese v Siena