Pato set to miss injury-hit derby
Reuters - Friday 12 November 2010, 12:01
MILAN - Brief news ahead of Serie A
matches this weekend.
Alexandre Pato of league leaders AC Milan is poised to
miss Sunday's derby against European champions Inter Milan with a thigh strain meaning Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Ronaldinho
and Robinho are likely to lead the line given Filippo Inzaghi's
season-ending knee problem.
Clarence Seedorf is the only threat to Ronaldinho's return
as playmaker.
Defenders Daniele Bonera and Gianluca Zambrotta are back in
training after knocks but are not expected to play while Andrea
Pirlo may return having been rested in Wednesday's 3-1 win over
Palermo because he risked suspension for the derby.
Inter's injury woes are easing with goalkeeper Julio Cesar
and midfielder Dejan Stankovic likely to return to the starting
lineup but right-back Maicon is around two weeks from fitness.
Wesley Sneijder, who fainted with anaemia at half-time of
last weekend's draw with Brescia, missed Wednesday's 1-1 draw at
Lecce but should return on Sunday.
Walter Samuel is probably out for the season with a cruciate
knee ligament injury so Ivan Cordoba will again deputise with
Davide Santon standing in for Maicon.
Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini, whose side host
Sicilian rivals Catania on Sunday, has threatened to sell
the club for the umpteenth time but this time sounds more
serious - and certainly more world-weary.
"I leave beaten by this pseudo-sporting world," he said in a
statement after being angered by the refereeing in Wednesday's
3-1 loss at Milan.
Palermo striker Fabrizio Miccoli could return to the
starting lineup on Sunday for the first time since suffering a
knee injury in May but playmaker Javier Pastore is doubtful with
a knock.
Juventus have trouble at right-back for Saturday's home
game against AS Roma, given Marco Motta is suspended and
will not face his former side,who are surging into form.
Fellow right-back Zdenek Grygera is still injured so winger
Hasan Salihamidzic, dropped from the first-team squad after
failing to find an August move, may be drafted in as a defender
or else wide man Simone Pepe may drop back.