Inter hosts Juventus in Serie A with feud brewing
Serie A leader Inter Milan hosts Juventus on Sunday with the two clubs embroiled in a dispute over the 2006 match-fixing scandal that decided the title.
Juventus president Andrea Agnelli recently asked that his club be given back the title that was stripped and awarded to Inter. The request comes after wiretaps were given to magistrates that reportedly show Inter also trying to influence referees four years ago.
"We are trying not to exaggerate the controversy because it could be really unpleasant," Inter president Massimo Moratti said.
Inter and Lazio lead the 2010 standings with 10 points, three more than Juventus.
Inter lost 1-0 to AS Roma last Sunday, but routed Werder Bremen 4-0 in the Champions League on Wednesday.
"We can't allow ourselves to be distracted by the comments of others," Inter midfielder Esteban Cambiasso said. "After today we will be phenomenal, but three days ago it was a disaster and in another three days it will be something else.
"We have to understand that work pays off and that is the only secret to winning."
Coach Rafael Benitez has a number of injury worries ahead of the game. Diego Milito missed the match with Bremen with a quadricep injury and goalkeeper Julio Cesar and defender Lucio came off with injuries.
"Julio Cesar came off as a precautionary measure, as he had a slight muscular pain in his left thigh," Benitez said. "Lucio's injury doesn't look too serious, but we need to wait and see."
Lazio moved joint top after a 1-0 victory over Chievo Verona, with Mauro Zarate scoring the only goal of the game.
Now Edy Reja's team welcomes Brescia to Rome's Olympic Stadium aiming for a fourth win in six matches.
"We have an objective and we have to think about that game by game," Zarate said. "Now we have to play Brescia and the important thing for us is to get the three points because we have to win at home.
"I couldn't say if this was the strongest Lazio team I've been involved in, I will leave the results to speak for themselves," he said.
Having beaten Inter for its first victory of the season Roma goes looking for its second, away to Napoli.
Claudio Ranieri's team continued its improving form with a 2-1 win over CFR Cluj in the Champions League. Marco Borriello scored the winning goal, his third in six games since joining on loan from AC Milan just before the transfer window closed.
"I could have happily stayed in Milan, a city where I have a house and grew up, but I feel I've made the right choice," Borriello said.
"This team has enormous potential but for us to win something we have to work extremely hard."
In other fixtures, it is; Udinese vs. Cesena; Parma vs. AC Milan; Lecce vs. Catania; Bologna vs. Sampdoria; Chievo Verona vs. Cagliari; Fiorentina vs. Palermo; Genoa vs. Bari.