Post by Taxigirl on Feb 11, 2006 10:33:10 GMT
www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/sa0506/int-juv.html
Serie A Week 25 - 12/2/06 (19.30 UK)
Stadio San Siro
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The biggest game of the season so far sees the Derby d’Italia turned into a Scudetto showdown that could either blow the race wide open or virtually crown Juventus.
Inter had the opportunity to close the gap when Juve were held on home turf by Parma on Wednesday evening, but their 2-1 defeat at Fiorentina only opened it out further to nine points. That result ended a 21-match unbeaten run in all competitions and dealt a heavy blow to their confidence, but it could give them the fire to pour all that anger into this crunch moment of the campaign.
Another boost is represented by Obafemi Martins, who returns to the starting line-up after Nigeria’s African Cup of Nations exit, though Giuseppe Favalli, Cesar Aparecido and Ze Maria remain sidelined. Nicolas Andre Burdisso looks set to take over at left-back, the only change to Roberto Mancini’s preferred line-up.
Few can deny that Juventus are no longer the all-conquering behemoth they were in the first half of the season, as their performances have stuttered considerably of late. Alessandro Del Piero crashed a controversial penalty against the bar in the final minutes of their 1-1 draw with Parma, the only time they’ve failed to take maximum points at the Stadio Delle Alpi this term, and both Zlatan Ibrahimovic and David Trezeguet have not looked as sharp recently.
There is a major blow to the squad with the absence of Gianluca Zambrotta, who picked up a thigh problem in Wednesday’s game, so youngsters Giorgio Chiellini and Federico Balzaretti face the pressure as full-backs. It will be a special moment for Fabio Cannavaro, who was hastily sold by Inter two years ago in exchange for flop goalkeeper Fabian Carini. Will the Nerazzurri be regretting that decision all over again this weekend?
Juventus have a relatively poor record in the Derby d’Italia in Milan, falling to 32 defeats, 24 draws and earning 17 wins here in the top flight. It has, above all, been a controversial fixture and the current climate ensures the tension will again be sky high at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza. One feels the man who will most be under the spotlight is not Fabio Capello or Mancini, but rather referee Gianluca Paparesta.
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Inter: Julio Cesar; J Zanetti, Cordoba, Samuel, Burdisso; Figo, Veron, Cambiasso, Stankovic; Martins, Adriano
Juventus: Buffon; Balzaretti, Thuram, Cannavaro, Chiellini; Camoranesi, Emerson, Vieira, Nedved; Ibrahimovic, Trezeguet
Serie A Week 25 - 12/2/06 (19.30 UK)
Stadio San Siro
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The biggest game of the season so far sees the Derby d’Italia turned into a Scudetto showdown that could either blow the race wide open or virtually crown Juventus.
Inter had the opportunity to close the gap when Juve were held on home turf by Parma on Wednesday evening, but their 2-1 defeat at Fiorentina only opened it out further to nine points. That result ended a 21-match unbeaten run in all competitions and dealt a heavy blow to their confidence, but it could give them the fire to pour all that anger into this crunch moment of the campaign.
Another boost is represented by Obafemi Martins, who returns to the starting line-up after Nigeria’s African Cup of Nations exit, though Giuseppe Favalli, Cesar Aparecido and Ze Maria remain sidelined. Nicolas Andre Burdisso looks set to take over at left-back, the only change to Roberto Mancini’s preferred line-up.
Few can deny that Juventus are no longer the all-conquering behemoth they were in the first half of the season, as their performances have stuttered considerably of late. Alessandro Del Piero crashed a controversial penalty against the bar in the final minutes of their 1-1 draw with Parma, the only time they’ve failed to take maximum points at the Stadio Delle Alpi this term, and both Zlatan Ibrahimovic and David Trezeguet have not looked as sharp recently.
There is a major blow to the squad with the absence of Gianluca Zambrotta, who picked up a thigh problem in Wednesday’s game, so youngsters Giorgio Chiellini and Federico Balzaretti face the pressure as full-backs. It will be a special moment for Fabio Cannavaro, who was hastily sold by Inter two years ago in exchange for flop goalkeeper Fabian Carini. Will the Nerazzurri be regretting that decision all over again this weekend?
Juventus have a relatively poor record in the Derby d’Italia in Milan, falling to 32 defeats, 24 draws and earning 17 wins here in the top flight. It has, above all, been a controversial fixture and the current climate ensures the tension will again be sky high at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza. One feels the man who will most be under the spotlight is not Fabio Capello or Mancini, but rather referee Gianluca Paparesta.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inter: Julio Cesar; J Zanetti, Cordoba, Samuel, Burdisso; Figo, Veron, Cambiasso, Stankovic; Martins, Adriano
Juventus: Buffon; Balzaretti, Thuram, Cannavaro, Chiellini; Camoranesi, Emerson, Vieira, Nedved; Ibrahimovic, Trezeguet