Inter and Juve Clash But Have Eyes on European Prize
By Jeffrey Donovan
ROME, Feb 26 (Reuters) - The Serie A clash between Inter Milan and Juventus on Saturday could not have come at a worse time for both teams.
At this comparatively early stage of the season the league title aspirations of both appear to be over with Inter in sixth place, 11 points behind leaders Lazio, and last season's champions Juventus seventh, a further point behind.
But both clubs are hoping to salvage something from the wreckage of their domestic league seasons by winning the European Cup.
So Saturday's encounter cuts across the preparations of both Inter, who face Manchester United in the first leg of their tough quarter-final on Wednesday, and Juventus, who face Olympiakos Piraeus of Greece at home in the opening leg of their tie.
Inter, who have lost their last three matches, will again be without injured Brazilian Ronaldo. He is unlikely to be in the team to face United at Old Trafford. Ronaldo, still suffering from a nagging knee injury, started training again this week and actually appeared to be enjoying himself after months in the doldrums, according to Inter coach Mircea Lucescu. "Ronaldo is running again and he is having fun," he said. "He has yet to work out with the team but his recovery is proceeding on schedule." "Il Fenomeno," as the Brazilian is called in Italy, will be replaced against Juve by Chile's Ivan Zamorano who is expected to line up with Roberto Baggio and Youri Djorkaeff just behind in attack.
Juve, who have won two successive games under new coach Carlo Ancelotti, may be out of running for the title but are still hoping to keep their new-found momentum going. Marksman Filippo Inzaghi is set to make his first start since a knee injury put him out on January 10. "I'll just play a half because I've got to conserve my energy. I can't play two games in four days yet," he said.
While those two giants of the Italian game sort out their priorities, a resurgent AC Milan -- just two points adrift of leaders Lazio -- could go top of the table for the first time since 1996, albeit for only 24 hours. They face AS Roma in a tough away match on Saturday and if they win that they will go a point clear of Lazio and three clear of Fiorentina. The leading pair do not play until Sunday. But Milan, who have won just three away matches all season, will need to become the first team to beat Roma at home to leap into first place.
"My teams usually do very well away from home but Milan are lagging a bit," said new coach Alberto Zaccheroni, who chalked up eight away victories last season when he guided Udinese to third place. "We have start improving." Milan go into the match missing injured striker George Weah, whose place on the right side of their three-pronged attack will be filled by either Croat Zvonimir Boban or diminutive Italian Maurizio Ganz.
Roma will be without suspended Brazilian right-back Cafu, who is likely to be replaced by Pierre Wome of Cameroon. Striker Marco Delvecchio is expected to start ahead of Fabio Junior.
Elsewhwere, Lazio, playing at Vicenza on Sunday, will field their first-choice starting pair of Christian Vieri and Marcelo Salas but will be without Argentine midfielder Mattias Almeyda. He is likely to be replaced by Yugoslav Dejan Stankovic. Parma, just four points adrift but looking for their first home victory in three matches, take on Perugia without suspended playmaker Juan Veron and Italy defender Fabio Cannavaro. Croatia's Mario Stanic and Luigi Sartor should get the call in their place.
Second-placed Fiorentina, will have to rely on Brazil's Edmundo in the absence of injured Argentine Gabriel Batistuta in a difficult match at relegation-threatened Salernitana.
