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MILAN, Dec 9 (Reuters) - AC Milan midfielder Mathieu Flamini has been ruled out for up to four weeks with a knee injury while defender Thiago Silva has a similar injury, the Serie A leaders said on Thursday.
"The prognosis is three to four weeks," a club statement said about Frenchman Flamini. A separate statement said Brazil's Thiago Silva had undergone a scan and it had been agreed he visit the Brazil national team doctor in Rio de Janeiro for a consultation.
The pair injured their knees in Wednesday's 2-0 Champions League defeat by Ajax Amsterdam, a dead game for already-qualified Milan in which coach Massimiliano Allegri rested several first teamers.
Juventus´s lawyer, who is representing the Italian Football League in negotiations with the Players´ Union, claimed on Thursday that this weekend´s proposed Serie A player strike is unlikely to go ahead.
ROME (AFP) - Juventus's lawyer, who is representing the Italian Football League in negotiations with the Players' Union, claimed on Thursday that this weekend's proposed Serie A player strike is unlikely to go ahead.
The different parties have been meeting this week to try to find common ground in a collective contract deal to stave off the possibility of a player strike.
Speaking after a meeting in Rome on Thursday, Michele Briamonte said that the strike was as good as off. "The text of the new collective agreement is practically written, there only remain a few details," he said.
"Agreement between the parties had already been reached on Tuesday." Asked directly by reporters if the strike was off, he said: "Yes, definitely. I'd be stunned if it wasn't the case."
That was backed up by the Football League's lawyer, Ruggero Stincardini, who added: "We've practically written everything, all that remains is little questions on federal limits."
Italian Football Federation president Giancarlo Abete had called a meeting on Tuesday between the Football League and Players' Union representatives to try to find a solution to the ongoing impasse.
Serie A players and clubs were at odds over a proposed collective agreement that would give clubs the power to force players to accept a transfer in the final year of their contracts.
Last week the Players' Union announced that Serie A footballers would strike this weekend as no consensus had been reached.
Serie A preview: Milan juggernaut heads to Bologna
Serie A preview: Milan juggernaut heads to Bologna
10 December 2010
With a players' strike once again averted, AC Milan will look to maintain their lead at the top of Serie A when they meet Bologna on Sunday.
Milan top the Italian league by three points from Lazio following a comprehensive 3-0 win away to Brescia last week. They did, however, suffer a surprise 2-0 loss at home to Ajax in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Qualification from Group G had already been confirmed prior to the defeat, but coach Massimiliano Allegri will be keen to ensure the result was a one-off by making a winning return to league action in the last week of matches before Italy's winter break.
They will arrive at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara to find their opponents in good form - Bologna have won three in a row and will be eyeing the scalp of the league leaders. In the late kick-off on Saturday, second plays third when Lazio travel to face Juventus at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino.
Edy Reja's Lazio side piled further pressure on beleaguered Inter Milan boss Rafael Benitez with a 3-1 win over the defending champions last Friday. The next test of Lazio's title credentials comes in the form of Gigi Del Neri's rapidly improving Turin outfit, who inflicted Catania's first defeat at home with a 3-1 win at the Stadio Angelo Massimino last Sunday.
Roma played out a 1-1 draw away to Cluj on Wednesday to secure passage from Group E of the Champions League, but the stalemate leaves Claudio Ranieri's side without a win in four matches in all competitions. They have the perfect opportunity to get back on track with a home match against bottom side Bari on Sunday.
Struggling Brescia, clear of the relegation zone on goal difference only, are in action at home to sixth-place Sampdoria, while Catania travel to Cagliari. Second-bottom Lecce are at home to Chievo.
On Saturday, Parma are in Sicily to meet Palmero, Udinese play host to Fiorentina and Genoa are away to Napoli.
Inter and Cesena do not play in this round, with the struggling champions contesting the FIFA Club World Cup in the United Arab Emirates.
The tournament will provide little respite for Benitez, with club president Massimo Moratti rumoured to be set to replace the Spaniard if he does not deliver the trophy.
MILAN, Dec 11 (Reuters) - Marek Hamsik's superb first-half header gave Napoli a 1-0 win at Genoa on Saturday which sent Walter Mazzarri's side up to joint second in Serie A.
The Slovakia midfielder converted Walter Gargano's freekick after 25 minutes to put his team level on points with Lazio, who visit Juventus in Sunday's main programme of matches.
Fifth-placed Palermo, who lost 1-0 to Napoli on Monday after a goal deep in stoppage time, picked themselves up with a 3-1 comeback home win over Parma as coach Delio Rossi's bold decision to haul off playmaker Javier Pastore paid dividends.
The visitors, with coach Pasquale Marino absent after his mother's death, took an early lead when the unmarked Alessandro Lucarelli headed in a corner and they were fairly comfortable by halftime with the usually dynamic Pastore having an off day.
The Argentine was replaced by Mauricio Pinilla at the break and the Chilean soon equalised on the rebound. Fabrizio Miccoli then benefited from Palermo's new shape to score before Pajtim Kasami's late header went in off Cristian Zaccardo.
Udinese's Pablo Armero and Antonio Di Natale struck in the second half as their side came from behind to earn a 2-1 home win over Fiorentina. The visitors had gone ahead after 31 minutes when Mario Santana embarrassed goalkeeper Samir Handanovic from distance.
This weekend's matches were due to be hit by a players' strike after a row over a collective contract with the league but a deal was struck on Thursday to avert industrial action.
AC Milan went six points clear at the top of the Serie A with a 3-0 away win over Bologna in Sunday's early game.
Goals to Kevin-Prince Boateng, Robinho and Zlatan Ibrahimovic wrapped up the three points for Milan as they increased their buffer over second-placed Napoli and third-placed Lazio, who play Juventus in Sunday's late game.
Boateng put the visitors in front after nine minutes when he found himself on the end of an Ibrahimovic cross to fire home from close range and notch up his second goal for Milan since his off-season transfer from Portsmouth.
Brazilian striker Robinho doubled their advantage after 35 minutes, when he latched on to a Boateng through ball and powered a right-foot shot past Emiliano Viviano in the Bologna goal.
Ibrahimovic sealed the win on the hour mark when he collected a pass from Andrea Pirlo and rifled a shot past Viviano to score his ninth Serie A goal of the season.
MILAN, Dec 12 (Reuters) - Rampant AC Milan surged six points points clear after the Serie A leaders triumphed 3-0 at troubled Bologna and rivals Lazio conceded at the death in a 2-1 defeat at Juventus on Sunday.
Juve moved second and level on points with Lazio after Milos Krasic's effort from a narrow angle went in off goalkeeper Fernando Muslera deep into stoppage time.
The hosts took an early lead when Giorgio Chiellini headed in a corner but Lazio, who beat champions Inter Milan last time, soon levelled through Mauro Zarate after another corner.
"This is a big step forward," Chiellini, whose coach Luigi Del Neri played for veteran Lazio boss Edy Reja way back in 1984 with Gorizia, told Sky. "We know how to suffer and then strike. To score right at the end was great."
Sixth-placed AS Roma are 10 points behind Milan after a 1-0 win over rock-bottom Bari where Francesco Totti missed a penalty before his chip set up a slightly offside Juan to score.
Sampdoria, who will find out at a hearing on Monday if banished striker Antonio Cassano can be sacked, missed the chance to keep pace with Roma when new Brescia coach Mario Beretta oversaw a 1-0 success for the strugglers against Samp.
Fellow promoted side Lecce also picked up a 3-2 victory over Chievo but stayed third-from-bottom while Brazilian striker Nene netted a hat-trick in Cagliari's 3-0 win over nine-man Catania.
INTER ADRIFT
Milan's easy victory meant they moved 13 points ahead of faltering rivals Inter in seventh, who are not playing this weekend because of their involvement in the Club World Cup.
The Rossoneri, who had already qualified for the last 16, suffered a wobble in Wednesday's home Champions League defeat by Ajax Amsterdam but Zlatan Ibrahimovic returned to the team in place of Ronaldinho at Bologna and his extra spark was key.
The Swede crossed for midfielder Kevin Prince Boateng to grab the opener on nine minutes before the Ghanaian produced a wonderful flick to release Robinho to score after 35 minutes.
Ibrahimovic then chested down and finished off Andrea Pirlo's pass in the second half, meaning Milan's three main close-season signings all scored again for the second straight league game following last weekend's 3-0 win over Brescia.
Marco di Vaio missed a penalty for Bologna late on. Bologna's players have not been paid for weeks and the club has been put up for sale with the first team able to walk out for free in January if wages are still not forthcoming.
A group of local businessmen including the owner of coffee company Segafredo are interested and a deal could come soon.
On Saturday, Napoli moved third with a 1-0 win at Genoa.
Players threatened to strike for this weekend's games in a row over contracts but a deal was struck on Thursday.
(GSM) - Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi does not believe that Antonio Cassano is as good as Ronaldinho, despite that the former is close to signing for the Serie A leaders.
Sampdoria forward Cassano, who fall out with the club after a spat with president Riccardo Garrone, has been told to remain at the club by a Serie A arbitration ruling.
However, it has emerged that Cassano's club are now prepared to let the Italy international move to Milan on a free transfer, although Real Madrid will have to be paid €5m as part of a sell-on clause.
Despite the excitement of Milan fans, Berlusconi was played down the potential deal, insisting that Ronaldinho is better than Cassano. When asked about the prospect of Cassano's arrival at San Siro, the Milan president said: "So, so. Ronaldinho is better.”
But Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani has denied that Cassano's arrival could signal the end of Ronaldinho's career at the club, saying: "If Cassano arrives then he will replace Pippo Inzaghi, not Ronaldinho.”
AC Milan´s Zlatan Ibrahimovic, seen here during a Serie A match against FC Bologna in Renato Dall´Ara Stadium, on December 12. Roma are the only team standing between AC Milan and a winter escape as Serie A gets ready to shut down for the Christmas holiday period.
ROME (AFP) - Roma are the only team standing between AC Milan and a winter escape as Serie A gets ready to shut down for the Christmas holiday period. Milan already lead the table by six points with Juventus, Napoli and Lazio all level in the chase to rejoin the leaders.
And those teams, as well as Roma themselves, champions Inter Milan and even Palermo, will all be hoping that Roma can knock over the rossoneri and re-ignite the title race. However, to do so they will have to find a way of stopping the current in-form striker in the league, Milan's Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
The big Swede, who has previously played for Juventus and Inter, is aiming at big things with his team-mates. "We want to win everything, that's normal. We have three objectives - the league, the Champions League and the Italian Cup," he said. "We have to concentrate and work hard and then we'll be rewarded.
Ibrahimovic already won the Serie A title five times in a row before moving to Barcelona last season and winning the Spanish crown there as well. Before moving to Italy he also won the Dutch league with Ajax, making that seven titles in a row. However, his first two in Italy with Juventus were rescinded due to the calciopoli match-fixing scandal.
Even so, this is a man who knows inside out the atmosphere at a successful trophy-winning club, but Ibrahimovic claims he's never felt better than at Milan. "In these last few months I've seen the great tradition here. I have a great relationship with my team-mates, we help each help each other," he said. "I've never breathed such an atmosphere before."
Not only do Milan have Ibrahimovic and his strike partner Robinho, who has also been in fine goalscoring form recently, but according to the big Swede, the return of midfield general Gennaro Gattuso from injury this weekend will be crucial.
"He's a great player, a motivator, he's pure adrenaline. He pushes the group forwards," said Ibrahimovic. "On the pitch he's an animal, without him it's tough."
However, Roma are the team who finished runners-up in four of the last five seasons behind Inter and their president Rosella Sensi insists they should not feel belittled by Milan.
They also boast striker Marco Borriello, the man sold by Milan to make way for Ibrahimovic at the start of the season. And Sensi admitted he is likely to be chomping at the bit ahead of this game. "He's a great professional but he'll probably be eagerly expecting this occasion," she said.
"We're extremely competitive. Last year was a feat, no-one expected us to come back the way we did (from a 14-point deficit to Inter they breifly went top), especially against Inter with all their great players. "But our squad this year is extremely competitive, I can't predict anything but I can say that we have the potential to go all the way."
Roma can't afford to lose if they are to harbour hopes of winning the title this season, though, as they are already 10 points behind Milan. And if they do managed to get a result, Juve will be looking to take advantage as they travel to inconsistent Chievo.
Lazio will also be expecting to win at home to Udinese while Napoli, buoyed by their qualification to the Europa League knock-out phase, will hope they can beat lowly Lecce and close the gap.
As for Inter, they run the risk of dropping to 16 points off the pace (albeit with two games in hand) if Milan do win.
MILAN, Dec 18 (Reuters) - Serie A leaders AC Milan lost 1-0 to AS Roma after striker Marco Borriello burst his former club's bubble and put his new side back in the title picture at a freezing San Siro on Saturday.
The Rossoneri had surged six points clear at the top last weekend but Juventus, Lazio and Napoli could all cut the gap back to three points if they win in Sunday's matches with last term's runners-up Roma now just seven points away in fifth.
Borriello, who joined Roma from Milan in August to make room for Zlatan Ibrahimovic, was fortunate to score on 68 minutes when home defender Ignazio Abate kicked a Jeremy Menez cross against his ex-team mate and the ball rolled into the goal.
He was later substituted and boos rang out from Milan fans as he applauded the small cheering Roma contingent, who were witnessing Milan's first Serie A defeat since Oct. 30.
Milan started brightly with the same urgency and direct play which has been the hallmark of their good form under Massimiliano Allegri, in stark contrast to the slow, patient build-up seen under previous bosses Leonardo and Carlo Ancelotti.
Robinho, preferred to substitute Ronaldinho for the ninth straight Serie A game, shot wide early on after showing off some trickery before Ibrahimovic, among other Milan chances, missed a glorious opportunity when one-on-one with goalkeeper Doni.
Former Barcelona and Inter Milan frontman Ibrahimovic has been the catalyst for Milan's resurgence this term as they bid for a first scudetto since 2004 but the giant Swede was slightly off the pace after a busy few months spearheading the side.
THREE-WEEK BREAK
He will be glad of a near three-week break now to recharge his batteries before Serie A resumes on Jan. 6, by which time Milan may have bought Sampdoria forward Antonio Cassano if former owners Real Madrid negotiate over a sell-on clause.
Midfielder Andrea Pirlo will also need the recovery time after limping off with a thigh injury midway through the first period which led to Milan dropping their intensity slightly against Claudio Ranieri's solid defence. Roma threatened little until the goal with Francesco Totti left on the bench and the little-used Adriano brought in.
"It's a great emotion to return to the San Siro," former Inter forward Adriano, who has complained about his lack of match action since arriving from Flamengo in June, told Sky. "I'm happy but it's been a difficult match."
Milan's defeat meant stuttering champions Inter, who won the World Club Cup on Saturday but are down in seventh in Serie A, stay 13 points adrift of the leaders but with two games in hand.
In Serie A's other Saturday clash, Chile's ex-Inter midfielder Luis Jimenez struck on 17 minutes to give third-bottom Cesena a 1-0 win over Roberto Donadoni's Cagliari.
Better latte than never, Bologna saved by coffee magnate
Better latte than never, Bologna saved by coffee magnate
17:30 GMT, Sun 19 Dec 2010
MILAN, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Bologna's beleaguered owners reached a deal to sell the club to a consortium run by the head of Italian coffee firm Segafredo on Sunday, saving the Serie A side's immediate future.
"After long and complicated talks aimed at saving and relaunching Bologna, a deal has been reached," a club statement said. "The contract will be formalised in the coming days."
Players have gone unpaid for two months and had threatened to use labour laws to all walk out for free in January if wages were not forthcoming.
The club, which drew 0-0 at Parma on Sunday to stay 14th, have been deducted one point for unpaid taxes and the Italian soccer federation was investigating whether to punish them further for other financial irregularities.
A late Edinson Cavani goal gave Napoli a 1-0 win at home to Lecce on Sunday to pull to within three points of Serie A league leader AC Milan. AC Milan leads with 36 points, three ahead of Napoli and Lazio. Napoli is second on goal difference.
Lazio beat Udinese 3-2 after Udinese defender Cristian Zapata headed into his own net after the visitors had twice equalized. Hernanes gave Lazio an early lead, but Alexis Sanchez pulled Udinese level soon after halftime. Giuseppe Biava then put Lazio back in front, but German Denis headed Udinese level again.
Juventus missed the chance to move level with Napoli and Lazio though by drawing 1-1 with Chievo Verona after Sergio Pellissier scored a late equalizer.
For Napoli's Cavani it was his second injury time winner in two matches. On Thursday his goal just before the final whistle secured a 1-0 win over Steaua Bucharest to put Napoli into the Europa League knockout rounds. Napoli's players appeared fatigued by their efforts and created few clear chances. Eventually the team required Cavani's inspiration and he fired home a long range shot that left Lecce goalkeeper Antonio Rosato stranded.
“It was a tough match, but after last week we were desperate to play,” Lazio captain Stefano Mauri said. “It was a difficult game, but we deserved to win it.” Lazio took the lead two minutes in. Tommaso Rocchi intercepted a weak pass and set up Hernanes to open the scoring.
Udinese came back strongly and Antonio Di Natale and Mauricio Isla both shot wide from close range. Hernanes came close to doubling his tally in the 25th, but his shot from outside the area rattled off the bar.
The home side should have doubled its lead in the 42nd. Rocchi led a Lazio counter attack and squared for Stephan Lichtsteiner, but Samir Handanovic saved his low shot and then held on to the follow up from Hernanes. Udinese drew level early in the second half when Sanchez was left unmarked to head in,
Biava scored Lazio's second three minutes later with a volley after Dias headed a corner back across the goal. Denis' first goal for Udinese brought the visitors back to level terms, but with three minutes remaining Zapata sent Cristian Ledesma's corner into his own goal while under pressure from Libor Kozak.
“We have to improve every game,” Mauri said. “We deserve to be where we are but we have to keep looking forward. For now we'll enjoy the winter break and go again in 2011.”
Chievo's Michele Marcolini had a chance to open the scoring in the 14th. Giorgio Chiellini brought down Davide Moscardelli, but the Chievo midfielder hit a weak spotkick that Marco Storari pushed wide for a corner. Juventus fullback Frederick Sorensen hit the post in 28th, but three minutes later Juventus scored.
Vincenzo Iaquinta flicked on a corner and Quagliarella scored with a bicycle kick. Seven minutes into the second half Manuel Giandonato was sent off, but Juventus should have doubled its lead. Ten minutes from fulltime Milos Krasic hit the bar after rounding Sorrentino. With the match almost over Pellissier swept a low shot past Storari for a share of the points.
AC Milan will announce Sampdoria striker Antonio Cassano as their newest signing on Tuesday, according to reports.
Milan President and Italy Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi confirmed the club had targeted the goal scorer.
"Yes. We will be signing Cassano. I am also very happy with how the side are playing," Berlusconi was quoted as saying in Adnkronos.
Milan sporting director Doriano Tosi said a deal with the 28-year-old was set to be finalised, although Cassano is expected to officially sign once the January transfer window opens.
"We have been working on this deal for some time and we are very close to a conclusion," Tori said. "All you have to do is listen to the rumours that are being circulated."
A clause in Cassano's contract at Sampdoria will also mean La Liga club Real Madrid is owed five million euros, as the Serie A outfit promised Cassano's old club a fee should he be sold.
The fee, however, is expected to be split three ways between Sampdoria, Milan and Cassano himself.
(GSM) - Rafael Benítez has been sacked as manager of Internazionale after just six months in charge at the European champions, according to Sky Sports.
The sacking comes as no surprise after the former Liverpool boss criticized the Italian club's president Massimo Moratti for his lack of investment in the squad this season.
Despite having two games in hand, the 50-year-old's team has struggled in Serie A as they currently sit in seventh place, 13 points behind leaders Milan.
Inter have also stuttered in the Champions League, finishing behind Tottenham Hotspur, with a meeting against Bayern München on the cards next for the reigning European champions.
And despite winning the Club World Cup just last Saturday, Benítez issued an ultimatum to the club's board to back him in the transfer market if they want him to remain at Giuseppe Meazza.
Moratti has rejected to finance Benítez's transfer plans, and after criticizing the Spaniard's team management, Italian tycoon has apparently run out of patience.
<cite class="source">By Press Association Sport staff
</cite> Newly appointed Inter Milan coach Leonardo is looking forward to the challenge of reviving the European champions.
<cite></cite>
Leonardo has been handed a one-and-a-half year contract at Inter Milan
The Brazilian, who managed city rivals AC Milan last season and spent much of his playing career with the Rossoneri, was unveiled by Inter today, following the departure of Rafael Benitez.
Leonardo, who was confirmed as the Nerazzurri's new manager on Christmas Eve, told a press conference: "Inter is a powerful, fascinating and unexpected challenge.
"I arrive here at one of the biggest clubs in the world, in the most important year of its history, the year in which the team won everything (Serie A, the Coppa Italia and the Club World Cup, in addition to the Champions League).
"Inter is now a reality, the most important reality. I was looking for a dream, a big motivation, a great challenge. At the moment there is no challenge greater than Inter.''
President Massimo Moratti appeared pleased with his choice of replacement for Benitez, saying: £Leonardo forced me to be here today - to be honest it is the first time someone has asked me to be here. You can see that I'm very pleased with the choice.
"It is a choice that developed from the sense of respect I have always had for him, and the sense of respect everyone who has ever known him has for his ability to learn quickly, and to transmit affection and efficiency.
I think he will be able to employ those abilities at our club, which, with the Club World Cup, has shown itself to still be ambitious.
"That doesn't mean we will rush the new coach or put pressure on him; it means we will follow our instincts and the affection we have towards our fans, and that should be useful in working towards some important targets.''
Inter are currently seventh in Serie A, 13 points behind pacesetters Milan - and Moratti has promised new faces in a bid to revive their quest for trophies.
"Now Benitez has gone we will buy five players," Moratti said. "I am convinced ours is a very strong group, and they have showed that recently.
Even if some think they failed to show it some days ago in Abu Dhabi, they comfortably showed it just a few months ago, not thousands of years ago.
"Whether a signing will be actioned or not remains to be seen, but we will certainly be careful, and with the help of (director) Marco Branca we will make sure that those transfers happen, be it players joining or leaving.
"Undoubtedly Leonardo has had valuable experience, of managing a coach and understanding the club system, the team system, and therefore he has had a idea of the economics at a club, and what is best, objectively, for the club.
"We will do very well from a footballing perspective, but we must try to do very well from the economic perspective as well.
I do not want to take away any enthusiasm with this, because enthusiasm is what a club thrives on and what I thrive on too."
MILAN, Jan 1 (Reuters) - AC Milan forward Ronaldinho is on the verge of leaving the Serie A leaders after media reports on Saturday said he had left the club's training base in Dubai to return to Brazil.
The former world player of the year, who joined the Rossoneri in 2008 but has failed to recapture his former glory, is wanted by old Brazilian club Gremio and Milan finally broke their silence about the impending move late on Friday.
"We await his departure becoming official," Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri, who has left the 30-year-old Ronaldinho on the bench for much of the season, told Sky Italia.
"Maybe there was a lack of willingness on his part. I was convinced that Ronaldinho could have a great season.
He started well, with a balanced side, but then everyone has to take their own responsibility."
Ronaldinho wowed crowds with his brilliance while at Barcelona from 2003 to 2008, also helping Brazil to World Cup victory in 2002.
However, fitness and form problems have dogged him since 2007 and he looks a completely different player, with his superb sidesteps and mesmeric skills now just a memory.
Milan are signing Sampdoria forward Antonio Cassano now the January transfer window has opened, making Ronaldinho's exit more inevitable with his contract up in June.
MILAN, Jan 3 (Reuters) - Sampdoria boosted their scant striking options on Monday by signing Italy under-21 forward Federico Macheda on loan from Manchester United for the rest of the season.
Samp have been badly short of firepower since Antonio Cassano, whose move to AC Milan was officially registered with Serie A on Monday, was suspended in October for verbally abusing club president Riccardo Garrone.
"Macheda has easily filled the void left by Cassano, he will definitely do well," Garrone told reporters. "In these five months we will try to treat him well. With him here, the enthusiasm has increased tenfold."
United manager Alex Ferguson, who has seen fellow forward Danny Welbeck enjoy a successful loan spell at Sunderland, said he wanted Macheda to gain the same first-team experience having been on the periphery of the squad this term.
Several clubs in England and Italy were interested in the former Lazio trainee but the chance of fighting for an immediate first-team place alongside Samp's Giampaolo Pazzini is likely to have swayed the 19-year-old's decision.
Roundup - Ranocchia set for Inter debut, Buffon fit
08:37 GMT, Wed 5 Jan 2011
Jan 5 (Reuters) - MILAN, Jan 5 (Reuters) - Brief news ahead of Thursday's Serie A matches.
* New Inter Milan centre back Andrea Ranocchia could make his debut when the champions host second-placed Napoli (1945 GMT) as Serie A gets back under way after the mid-season break.
The Italy defender has been brought in from Genoa on a contract until 2015 and could slip straight into the team alongside Lucio with Walter Samuel out for the season and Ivan Cordoba and Marco Materazzi failing to convince.
New coach Leonardo is set to be without goalkeeper Julio Cesar for his first match in charge after the fellow Brazilian suffered a thigh strain so Luca Castellazzi will again deputise.
* Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon is fit for the first time since injuring his back at the World Cup but is unlikely to be risked in the home game with his ex-side Parma (1130).
Stand-in Marco Storari has been in such good form between the sticks that coach Luigi Del Neri has said Buffon faces a battle to regain his first team place, sparking speculation fourth-placed Juve could listen to offers.
Centre back Leonardo Bonucci misses out though suspension while striker Vincenzo Iaquinta has a thigh problem so Alessandro Del Piero may come into the team given Amauri is only just back in training after a long layoff.
* Leaders AC Milan are struggling for numbers for the trip to coach Massimiliano Allegri's old side Cagliari (1400).
Forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic is suspended, Ronaldinho is in Brazil trying to find a new club, Gianluca Zambrotta needs minor knee surgery while Kevin Prince Boateng is a doubt with an adductor injury.
Robinho looks set to be fit despite needing stitches in his leg after colliding with a television camera in this week's friendly in Dubai.
Alexandre Pato is back after a two-month layoff and new signing Antonio Cassano may feature despite not having played since October when former side Sampdoria suspended him for abusive behaviour.
* Cagliari and Italy goalkeeper Federico Marchetti, dropped at the start of the season for asking for a transfer, remains third-choice after a hearing into his discrimination case again the Sardinians was again postponed.
* Lazio in third travel to Genoa (1400) with wily coach Edy Reja, credited by club president Claudio Lotito for their rejuvenation, banned from the dugout after being sent to stands for arguing with officials in the 3-2 win over Udinese before Christmas.
* Sampdoria face a race against time to fully register loan signing Federico Macheda from Manchester United so the striker can play at Palermo (1400).
Serie A wrap : Juventus thumped, Leonardo´s Inter wins
7 January 2011
Juventus began 2011 on a sour note with a loss to Parma, while new Inter boss Leonardo saw his side storm to victory over Napoli.
Leonardo, who replaced Rafa Benitez at the San Siro a fortnight ago, got his reign off to the perfect start with a comprehensive 3-1 home victory over Napoli.
Inter came into the match without the suspended Samuel Eto'o and injured duo Julio Cesar and Wesley Sneijder, but secured victory via Thiago Motta's brace and an Esteban Cambiasso header. Michele Pazienza nodded home the visitors' only goal.
Juve immediately lost pace in the title race after receiving a sound 4-1 beating at the hands of Parma at home, with Brazilian midfielder Felipe Melo's straight red card in the 17th minute the catalyst.
Melo was dismissed for lashing out with his boot and catching Massimo Paci in the face while the duo tangled on the ground. It was a familiar face who put Parma in front, with diminutive attacker Sebastian Giovinco - on-loan at the vistors from Juve - putting his side ahead after 41 minutes.
Giovinco rubbed salt in the wound of his parent club by doubling Parma's advantage just seven minutes later, having been set up by experienced striker Francesco Valiani.
Veteran defender Nicola Legrottaglie pulled a goal back for Juve on 60 minutes, but further strikes to Hernan Crespo and substitute Raffaele Palladino completed Parma's rout.
Juventus slip to fifth on the table, with Roma overtaking them courtesy of a 4-2 win over Catania. Marco Borriello and Mirko Vucinic both claimed doubles for the victors.
League leaders Milan chalked up a 1-0 win away to Cagliari thanks to an 85th-minute strike from 20-year-old substitute Rodney Strasser, while title rivals Lazio were held 0-0 away to Genoa.
Brescia lost 2-1 at home to Cesena, ensuring the winners jumped out of the relegation zone at the losers' expense.
Udinese triumphed over Chievo 2-0, while Palermo chalked a 3-0 win over Sampdoria.
Bologna and Fiorentina could not be split at 1-1, while bottom-placed Bari breathed hope into their bid to escape relegation when Stefano Okaka's 77th-minute strike handed them a crucial 1-0 away win at fellow strugglers Lecce.
