Inter wracked by injuries ahead of centenary

godtabh

Prreview

MILAN, March 6 (Reuters) - Serie A leaders Inter Milan celebrate their centenary against Reggina on Saturday although the festivities will be slightly more muted than they would have been given recent disappointments on the pitch.

Inter lost 1-0 at Napoli last Sunday, their first league defeat of the season, and are now just six points ahead of second-placed AS Roma.

Tuesday's Champions League last 16 second leg knockout round tie at home to Liverpool also looms large with Roberto Mancini's men 2-0 down from the first leg at Anfield.

Mancini will certainly have one eye on the Liverpool game when he selects his side to face Reggina at San Siro (1700 GMT), but he has few options after an injury crisis returned.

Cristian Chivu hurt his shoulder against Napoli and is almost certainly out for Saturday as medical staff desperately try to get him fit for Tuesday.

If they fail, the champions will probably have to use inexperienced Colombian Nelson Rivas alongside normal right back Nicolas Burdisso in the centre of defence against Liverpool.

Marco Materazzi will probably partner one of the pair against Reggina but he is suspended for Tuesday.

There seems little chance injured left back Maxwell can recover for either game while centre backs Walter Samuel and Ivan Cordoba are out for the season with knee ligament problems.

Roma, buoyed by knocking Real Madrid out of the Champions League on Wednesday, visit Napoli on Sunday (1400) well aware of how difficult it is to play at the imposing San Paolo.

Promoted Napoli are 11th after an inconsistent season but have beaten Inter and Juventus among others at home while they drew 4-4 at Roma in a great game in October.

Third-placed Juventus are seven points behind Roma and one above Fiorentina, who beat them 3-2 in Turin last weekend.

Juve visit Genoa in Sunday's late game (1930) without the suspended Pavel Nedved while Fiorentina will again be without injured striker Adrian Mutu for their trip to Siena.

AC Milan in fifth must forget Tuesday's Champions League elimination by Arsenal when they travel to struggling Empoli, who won 1-0 at San Siro in October.

Seventh-placed Sampdoria begin life without in-form forward Antonio Cassano with Sunday's visit to Parma. The on-loan Real Madrid player has been banned for five games for abusing the referee after being sent off last week against Torino.

Saturday, March 8, 2008
Status Home SCORE Away VENUE (ATT.)
89 min Inter Milan 2 - 0 Reggina Stadio Giuseppe Meazza
Time Home Away VENUE
19:30 UK Palermo v Udinese Renzo Barbera
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Time Home Away VENUE
14:00 UK Napoli v Roma Stadio San Paolo
14:00 UK Empoli v AC Milan Stadio Carlo Castellani
14:00 UK Catania Calcio v Cagliari Stadio Angelo Massimino
14:00 UK Lazio v Livorno Stadio Olimpico
14:00 UK Parma v Sampdoria Stadio Ennio Tardini
14:00 UK Siena v Fiorentina Artemio Franchi Montepaschi Arena
14:00 UK Torino v Atalanta Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino
19:30 UK Genoa v Juventus Comunale Luigi Ferraris

A bit late but have been studying all day.

Was meant to go the game but then I found out I had exams on Monday so will have to go to a game later in the season.

Inter 2-0 up so should be good for the win

Mr. Presentable

Jeez, kearnsr, seems I have a pop at Inter every week, don't it?

"The referee pointed to the spot on 14 minutes, but Reggina were livid as the contact on Esteban Cambiasso's ankle was outside the box. "

from
http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/sa0708/int-reg.html

Now if only they could get this kind of help in the CL..........