The Champions League exploits of Juventus are dominating Italian headlines but an ongoing duel between Roma and Lazio for the league's second automatic spot in next season's competition lights up Serie A this weekend.

Juventus ended their 12-year wait to reach the final of Europe's premier club competition when a 1-1 draw at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday secured a 3-2 aggregate win over record 10-time champions Real Madrid.

Having already secured their fourth consecutive Serie A title, Massimiliano Allegri's men -- who face Lazio in the Italian Cup final on Wednesday -- are already assured of their place in next season's competition.

But with only a point separating Roma, in second, and third-placed Lazio, the capital rivals remain neck and neck for the coveted runners-up spot.

A third place finish is synonymous with a potentially dangerous qualifying playoff, a situation both are desperate to avoid given Napoli's experience last summer when they were denied by Athletic Bilbao, who won 4-2 on aggregate.

Lazio are arguably the league's in-form team this second half of the season but face the tougher fixture this weekend with an away trip to Sampdoria on Saturday while Roma host Udinese late on Sunday.

Samp coach Sinisa Mihajlovic embellished his reputation as one of the best free kick-taking midfielders of all time with Sven-Goran Eriksson's Lazio in the late 1990s.

But with Sampdoria on the verge of qualifying for next season's Europa League, any love the Serbian feels for his former club has been pushed to one side.

"I want us to win our last three games and take as many points as possible," Mihajlovic said after a 4-1 away drubbing of Udinese last weekend.

"What we're doing this season is miraculous, but we have to keep plugging away. Qualification for the Europa League is within our grasp."

Lazio's bid to overtake Roma was kept in check by an away draw at Atalanta as well as last week's stunning 2-1 home defeat to Inter Milan.

Stefano Pioli's men travel to Genoa without influential Argentinian midfielder Lucas Biglia, who is sidelined for the coming weeks with a right knee injury.

Although Dutch defender Stefan De Vrij should be involved for the Biancocelesti at some point after his recent recovery from injury, Lazio will have to do without goalkeeper Federico Marchetti as well as Brazilian defender Mauricio, both suspended.

A Lazio loss would be a huge blow given their tougher run-in to the end of the season.

After Roma host Udinese, the Giallorossi face Lazio next weekend and close the season at home to Palermo. Lazio, meanwhile, close the season with a tough away trip to Napoli, who, currently three points adrift in fourth, are still clinging to hopes of qualifying for the Champions League.

Roma's title aspirations sunk during a sorry run of consecutive draws, and Rudi Garcia's misfiring side -- stung 2-1 by AC Milan at the San Siro last week -- are under huge pressure to avoid suffering another catastrophe.

But given Udinese's poor away form -- the northeners have won only four of their 17 away games so far -- the smart money is on a Roma win.

Garcia is expected to be without Bosnian midfielder Miralem Pjanic due to a tendon problem in his right ankle, although Roma should welcome Seydou Keita back following a recent knock.

Victory at the Stadio Olimpico would make it win number 50 for Garcia from 90 games, in all competitions, since joining the club -- an impressive success rate that will mean little if he fails to qualify his side for the Champions League.

Elsewhere, Inter Milan host Juventus on Saturday looking for a rare win against the champions, something 10-time European champions Real Madrid failed to do over two legs in the past week.