Injuries a major concern for Italian teams ahead of their Champions Leaue matches this week.
Mohamed Sissoko will miss the conclusion of Juventus’s UEFA Champions League last-16 tie with Chelsea after breaking his foot during Saturday’s 1-0 derby win against Torino FC.
The 24-year-old Sissoko has missed just one UEFA Champions League game for the Bianconeri en route to the last 16, and started the first leg away to Chelsea on 25 February. He will play no part in the return on Tuesday, however, as the Italian side attempt to recover their 1-0 deficit, and adding to coach Claudio Ranieri’s woes as his midfield is already shorn of Mauro Camoranesi due to a fractured rib.
FC Internazionale Milano central defenders Marco Materazzi and Nicolás Burdisso are out of their club’s UEFA Champions League first knockout round second leg at Manchester United FC on Wednesday after both were injured in Saturday’s 2-0 Serie A victory at Genoa.
Materazzi, 35, damaged a muscle in his left thigh and was replaced by Iván Córdoba after 16 minutes while the 27-year-old Burdisso was also forced off during the first half after hurting his right thigh and damaging ligaments in his left knee. The pair underwent tests on Sunday and are expected to be ruled out for several weeks. However, Inter coach José Mourinho should have Cristian Chivu and Walter Samuel back from injuries for the game at Old Trafford, having drawn the home leg 0-0.
Cicinho looks set to miss AS Roma’s UEFA Champions League encounter with Arsenal FC on Wednesday but it looks as if David Pizarro could be able to take part as the Serie A side look to overturn a 1-0 first knockout round deficit at the Stadio Olimpico.
Brazilian right-back Cicinho twisted his right knee in training on Sunday and the 28-year-old is unlikely to feature against Arsenal, although he will undergo tests tomorrow. However, there was better news about midfielder Pizarro, who was taken off just before half-time in Saturday’s 1-1 draw against his former club Udinese Calcio with what appeared a serious left thigh injury, but on further examination there was no muscle damage and he may be able to face Arsenal.
Pizarro’s fitness is good news for the Roma midfield as Simone Perrotta is out with a hip injury and Daniele De Rossi is suspended. Alberto Aquilani is also still recovering from an ankle problem but up front captain Francesco Totti could return after coming through individual training on Sunday having recovered from a knee injury.
