Defensive worries cloud AC Milan's trip to Juve

godtabh · 11-04-2008 1:38pm #1

MILAN, April 10 (Reuters) - AC Milan look set to face old rivals Juventus (1830 GMT) with a second-string defence in their Serie A match on Saturday.

Kakha Kaladze is suspended while Alessandro Nesta is appealing a two-game ban for his dismissal in the 2-1 defeat by Atalanta two weeks ago. A decision is expected on Friday.

If Nesta loses the appeal, fifth-placed Milan may have to rely on back-up defenders Giuseppe Favalli, Daniele Bonera and Cafu alongside Paolo Maldini. Right back Massimo Oddo recently had knee surgery and left back Marek Jankulovski is injured.

Carlo Ancelotti's side, four points behind fourth-placed Fiorentina, have just six games left to clamber into the final Champions League qualifying spot.

Juventus, two above Fiorentina in third, had their outside hopes of a title challenge ended by a 3-2 defeat at Palermo last weekend.

Czech midfielder Pavel Nedved had to spend the night in a Palermo hospital following a nasty clash of heads, and while he has returned to training he is not a certain starter in Turin.

'I feel better. I'm a little weak, but that's normal,' Nedved told Juventus Channel.

'I'll try to make Saturday's game, even though I'll have to be 100 percent fit to play, otherwise it'll be better if a fitter team mate takes my place.'

In the weekend's other big match, leaders Inter Milan host Fiorentina on Sunday (1830) with top scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic again doubtful after recently returning to training after knee trouble.

Champions Inter have a four-point advantage over second-placed AS Roma, who visit Udinese on Sunday (1300).

Roma coach Luciano Spalletti, who previously managed Udinese, is hopeful striker Francesco Totti can recover from a thigh injury.

In the standout game at the bottom, Cagliari visit relegation rivals Livorno with the winner set to leap clear of the drop zone.

Saturday, April 12, 2008
Time Home Away VENUE
17:00 UK Palermo v Catania Calcio Renzo Barbera
19:30 UK Juventus v AC Milan Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Time Home Away VENUE
14:00 UK Napoli v Atalanta Stadio San Paolo
14:00 UK Livorno v Cagliari Armando Picchi
14:00 UK Udinese v Roma Stadio Friuli
14:00 UK Reggina v Sampdoria Stadio Oreste Granillo
14:00 UK Empoli v Parma Stadio Carlo Castellani
14:00 UK Lazio v Siena Stadio Olimpico
14:00 UK Genoa v Torino Comunale Luigi Ferraris
19:30 UK Inter Milan v Fiorentina Stadio Giuseppe Meazza

Big game for Inter this week. Its at home so thats good. Dont think Inter will do AC any favours and should be a home win.

Juve and AC have the outstanding game of the week for me. I can see Juve making a show of AC.AC dont have the defence, Kaka is off form so it doesnt look good for them.

Sampdoria could leap frog AC and depending if Roma have a good reaction AC could be een further off the pace if Udinese win

DerekD Goldfish · 11-04-2008 2:05pm

Not to mention Pato is out for milan
Im worried they wont qualify for the CL as they have been hopeless lately

godtabh · 11-04-2008 2:48pm

I'd be more worried about them getting into europe full stop let along CL

prendy · 11-04-2008 2:52pm

do bravo still show these games?

godtabh · 11-04-2008 3:09pm

dont think any tv stations in ireland have them. I watch them on bet 365

DerekD Goldfish · 11-04-2008 3:17pm

prendy wrote: »

do bravo still show these games?

C5 are the only english speaking tv station that shows game and you cant get it in ROI
I watch via bet 365 but its akward not having a highlights package to watch
as it means 90% of the games ive seen are milan games if it was on TV id watch other ones but I hate having to watch on a monitor so I dont tend to suffer through it for non milan games.