Serie A Previews: Milan fret over Kaladze
Reuters - Friday 03 October 2008, 15:14
ROME - Brief news ahead of this weekend's
matches in Italy's Serie A.
Georgia defender Kakha Kaladze is set to miss AC Milan's
visit to bottom club Cagliari on Sunday and risks a
long spell on the sidelines after the club said he injured knee
ligaments in Thursday's 1-0 UEFA Cup win at FC Zurich.
Andriy Shevchenko promised not to rest on his laurels after
netting his first goal on Thursday since returning to Milan from
two disappointing seasons at Chelsea.
"It's important for a striker to score although I'm aware
that I still have to work a lot," the Ukrainian told reporters.
Shevchenko's goal completed a 4-1 aggregate win to take the
seven-times European champions to the UEFA Cup group stage. It
also gave them their fifth consecutive victory.
Gianluigi Buffon is aiming for a start when Juventus bid
to end a run of three draws in all competitions at home to
Palermo on Sunday after the Italy goalkeeper resumed full
training following a thigh injury.
But defender Nicola Legrottaglie, who extended his contract
by a year until 2011 on Thursday, is out for 20 to 25 days
because he too has a thigh problem from Tuesday's 2-2 draw at
BATE Borisov in the Champions League.
Italy forward Vincenzo Iaquinta, who scored the goals that
earned Juve a draw in Belarus, and defender Giorgio Chiellini
are doubts because of their respective muscle and knee problems,
the club said.
If Iaquinta is fit he is likely to be in the starting
line-up, as is Sebastian Giovinco, who set up both goals on
Tuesday, in favour of Pavel Nedved and Alessandro Del Piero,
according to media.
Inter Milan's Marco Materazzi is expected to be out for 20
days with a thigh strain he suffered in Wednesday's 1-1 draw
with Werder Bremen in the Champions League.
He would not, in any case, have been able to play in
Saturday's home match against promoted Bologna, who have
lost their last four, because he is suspended along with fellow
defender Nicolas Burdisso.
Ghana midfielder Sulley Muntari is available for the Serie A
champions after serving a three-match ban but defender Cristian
Chivu and forwards Hernan Crespo and Mario Balotelli have been
left out of the squad for Saturday with fitness problems.
Coach Jose Mourinho told a news conference that centre back
Walter Samuel will be on the bench, even though he is not match
fit, after injuring knee ligaments last December.
Brazil defender Juan is tipped to return to AS Roma's
squad for Sunday's visit to Siena after a thigh problem
and Italy midfielder Daniele De Rossi is back from suspension.
But captain Francesco Totti is still struggling for fitness
after knee surgery, while defenders Marco Cassetti and Max
Tonetto and midfielder David Pizarro are expected to miss out
again though injury.
Lazio will not throw caution to the wind when the surprise
leaders welcome Lecce to Rome's Stadio Olimpico on Saturday, coach Delio Rossi said.
"I'm convinced they'll stay quite tight. We must not make
the mistake of throwing ourselves into reckless attacks," Rossi
was quoted as saying by La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Lazio have 12 points from five games, one point more than
second-placed Napoli.
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