Juventus Loses Zidane, Davids for Panathinaikos Match
TURIN, Italy (November 6, 2000 10:14 a.m. EST http://www.sportserver.com) - Juventus is faced with key personnel problems ahead of its final, and decisive, Group E Champions League match against Panathinaikos of Greece in Athens on Wednesday.
Midfielder Edgar Davids and the man who habitually plays in front of the Dutchman, French playmaker Zinedine Zidane, are both suspended for the away match following separate sending-offs against Hamburg.
Zidane was suspended for a total of five European matches after headbutting a Hamburg player in a Group E Champions League match, while Davids was suspended for one match after receiving two yellow cards.
Juventus coach Carlo Ancelotti will thus call in Antonio Conte as a replacement for Davids, and is likely to move Alessandro Del Piero back a few paces to take over the delicate task of emulating Zidane in the offensive midfield.
Ancelotti will bring forward Filippo Inzaghi back into the side and he should partner Yugoslav Darko Kovacevic, although Frenchman David Trezeguet, who scored twice in a 2-1 win over Reggina on Sunday, is waiting in the wings.
In Group E Juventus sit in second place, only one point over the third-placed Greek side.
A draw for Juventus would be enough from them to qualify for the second round - as long as Group leaders Deportivo La Coruna of Spain hold basement side Hamburg to at least a draw.
