Sneijder set to start against Roma
Reuters - Friday 04 February 2011, 10:47
MILAN - Brief news ahead of this weekend's
Serie A matches.
Inter Milan playmaker Wesley Sneijder is in line to start
Sunday's big home game with AS Roma after making his
comeback from a month out injured as a substitute in Thursday's
3-0 win at Bari.
The Dutchman's introduction helped changed the course of the
game, allowing Leonardo to switch back to his preferred two-man
attack rather than three, while Sneijder also netted the third
in injury time.
Inter left-back Cristian Chivu will miss the clash
with his former club, however, after lashing out at Bari's Marco
Rossi on Thursday without the officials seeing.
AS Roma defender Philippe Mexes will also be absent after
Serie A said in a statement he had been suspended for two games
for insulting the officials after Wednesday's 1-1 draw with
Brescia.
The Inter game is likely to be the last time Roma president
Rosella Sensi is in charge against the champions after the
indebted club said an offer by U.S.-based consortium Di
Benedetto was the most competitive bid in its sale process.
Any deal in the coming weeks will see yet another American
owner of a European soccer club with Manchester United,
Liverpool and Aston Villa all controlled by U.S. interests.
Leaders AC Milan travel to Genoa on Sunday trying
to protect or increase their five-point lead following Tuesday's
0-0 draw with Lazio.
A plethora of injuries continue to dog the Rossoneri but
Mark van Bommel returns from suspension.
Coach Massimiliano Allegri is spoilt for choice upfront and
must choose whether to play Antonio Cassano or Alexandre Pato
alongside Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Robinho.
Genoa's Eduardo, the Portugal World Cup goalkeeper, must
hope the closure of the transfer window takes some pressure off
him after a series of howlers this season sparked speculation
the club would quickly look for a new No.1 having only signed
the 28-year-old from Braga in July.
His capers, including storming out of goal and missing the
ball completely, have become big hits on the Internet in Italy.
Juventus head to Cagliari on Saturday hoping their
season is not on the verge of falling apart like last term
having not won in four games in all competitions.
The Turin side are down in eighth, unthinkable during their
years dominating Serie A, and their main hope of a resurgence
comes from new striker Alessandro Matri against his ex-side.
Sampdoria are enduring an even worse spell than Juve since
letting top strikers Cassano and new Inter recruit Giampaolo
Pazzini leave in January.
Anger among fans has reached such levels that local media
reported several 'ultra' fans broke into a Genoa TV station on
Thursday and accosted three journalists because of their
negative comments.
In a rare bit of good news for the club - who visit in-form
Udinese on Saturday - Italy midfielder and Samp captain
Angelo Palombo has extended his contract until 2015, a statement
said.