Soccer-Inter host Milan at Christmas, Juve have time to settle

ROME, July 31 (Reuters) - Champions Inter will face AC Milan two days before Christmas and three games from the end of the season following the draw for the 2007/08 Serie A season on Tuesday.

Inter, who ran away with last year's championship after Juventus were demoted and Milan deducted points for match-fixing, will have "home" advantage at their shared San Siro stadium on Dec. 23 before the league has a two-week break.

Juve open their return to the top flight with a home game against Livorno on Aug. 26 and face their first real test in the fourth round of matches on Sept. 23 when they visit last year's runners-up AS Roma.

The Turin club, who stormed to promotion from Serie B last season after hanging on to prize assets such as Gianluigi Buffon, play their first derby at Torino on Sept. 30 before hosting arch-rivals Inter on Nov. 4.

"It is a battle which is important for the fans. November is a good date," Juventus chairman Giovanni Cobolli Gigli said.

Juve visit European champions Milan on Dec. 2 with the return match on April 13. Television companies have yet to decide their schedules and some fixture dates could change.

Soccer dignitaries at the lavish computer draw ceremony in Rome were united in hoping for a scandal-free season after the last campaign was wrecked by crowd violence and the fall-out from the match-fixing verdict.

Big clubs Genoa and Napoli have also joined Juventus back in the top flight, leading to some tasty encounters in the draw.

"This draw shows what a great championship it will be for all the teams," Cobolli added.