Juventus set to rest stars ahead of Chelsea
Reuters - Friday 14 September 2012, 12:38
Brief news from Serie A ahead of
this weekend's matches.
Italian champions Juventus could rest up to four players
for their trip to Genoa on Sunday as they plot their way
through an upcoming set of tricky fixtures, which includes a
trip to European champions Chelsea next week.
Media reports said fit-again centre-back Giorgio Chiellini
may not be risked and midfielders Arturo Vidal and Kwadwo
Asamoah will probably be rested, while up front Alessandro Matri
is set to play alongside Mirko Vucinic in place of Sebastian
Giovinco.
Juve's visit to London on Wednesday is followed by a home
game against Chievo on Saturday September 22 and then a clash at
Fiorentina the following Tuesday.
AC Milan could have Italy striker Giampaolo Pazzini added
to their list of injury woes after he pulled up with a problem
to his right leg during training on Thursday.
Massimiliano Allegri's side, who were already without
forwards Robinho and Alexandre Pato, midfielder Riccardo
Montolivo and defender Ignazio Abate, take on Atalanta at the
San Siro on Saturday, hoping to build on their 3-1 win at
Bologna two weeks ago.
Inter Milan could be without defender Cristian Chivu, who
is struggling with a toe injury, for as long as a month, Sky
Sport Italia reported.
Inter, who had their defensive flaws brutally exposed by
Zdenek Zeman's AS Roma a fortnight ago, travel to newly-promoted
Torino on Sunday, who hammered fellow new arrivals
Pescara 3-0 last time out.
Goalkeeper Samir Handanovic is set to make his league debut
having recovered from a knee injury.
Roma will be without Daniele De Rossi and Pablo Osvaldo
for their home match against Bologna on Sunday.
Midfielder De Rossi had already been ruled out for up three
weeks after suffering a thigh injury during Italy's 2-2 draw
with Bulgaria last Friday while Osvaldo, who suffered a knee
injury during Friday training, is suspended following his late
red card during his side's 3-1 win at Inter Milan two weeks ago.
Francesco Totti limped out of training on Thursday with a
problem with his right ankle but completed training on Friday
and is now almost certain to play.
Italy international Domenico Criscito has spoken of his
rage after prosecutors decided there was not enough evidence to
charge him with match-fixing.
Left-back Criscito, who plays in Russia with Zenit St
Petersburg, was dropped from Italy's Euro 2012 squad after being
accused of possible wrongdoing when at Genoa.
"The anger at having missed Euro 2012 is still there, but
now justice has been done. I always said I did nothing wrong,"
Criscito said to Sky Sports Italia.