“AC Milan and Inter almost seem to be missing their old sparring partner Juventus,” writes Italian news agency ANSA after the Milanese clubs again failed to beat modest opposition. For AC Milan in particular, finding the back is now proving to be a problem, after the Rossoneri was held to its third successive 0-0 draw. Inter, on the other hand, never really looked like beating Cagliari after managing to draw level in the first half. Roma and Palermo took advantage of the opening with respective 1-0 victories to jointly take over top spot. Even without the eight-point penalty it was handed for last season’s match fixing scandal, Milan would still be below Roma and Palermo; it’s currently 12th with three points. Milan’s three strikers, Alberto Gilardino, Filippo Inzaghi and Ricardo Oliveira, have just two goals between them so far this season. “The main problem is that we are getting the ball to the strikers too slowly and, in some cases, the forwards’ movement is not right,” Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti said. Meanwhile, a leaky defense is to blame at Inter. The press is blaming Mancini for poor tactics, which seem to change each match. Against Cagliari, Mancini fielded three strikers; Inter was hopelessly out-manned in midfield as a result. In other bad news, top striker Hernan Crespo limped off with a muscle tear and is expected to be out for about a month.