Diego Milito has claimed that Inter have a good chance to win at the Nou Camp when they travel to face Barcelona in the Champions League.
The Argentine is hoping the Nerazzurri will end the group stages at the top of the table and book their place in the next round.
“We come here to Spain following a good run,” noted the former Real Zaragoza man.
“We are hoping to win this and qualify for the next stage. Our victory over Dynamo Kiev gave us confidence and spirit to approach this match.
“If we will beat Barca it will be a further boost to our morale.”
After a not so perfect start Inter are now flying high and Milito has been one of their key men this season.
Their first leg against the Catalan side was far from impressive though, as the Blaugrana left San Siro with a point after a 0-0 draw.
“I believe we played a great game against Barcelona in the first half. We must remember that on the night we faced the Champions of Europe and managed to cause them troubles.”[www.football-italia.net]
Francesco Totti used his hat-trick to take revenge on critics. “Go on, say I'm finished as a player!”
The Roma captain was out for over a month following knee surgery and some claimed he did not deserve a planned contract extension until 2014.
“Now I hope they keep on saying I'm past it, as it brings me luck. Go on, say I'm finished as a player!” he grinned after the 3-1 win over Bari.
“That is all I'm saying today, as it would be too easy for me to give interviews after a hat-trick. I'd rather go home.”
Totti hadn't played since the victory over Napoli on October 4, when he also scored a brace.
In all he has netted nine Serie A goals in eight games and has caught Antonio Di Natale at the top of the Capocannoniere charts.
Di Natale cannot add to his tally this weekend, as the Udinese striker is suspended for the trip to Juventus this evening.[www.football-italia.net]
Bianconeri + All Blacks = All Blacks & White. This is how the charity initiative wanted by Iveco which united Juventus and the New Zealand rugby national team, was called.
While taking advantage of the All Blacks Italian tour (On Saturday there is the friendly match against Italy in Milan), Iveco – a company which forms part of the FIAT group and which is the sponsor of the team from Oceania – wanted to represent the project by means of a press conference held at the Juventus Center in Vinovo which saw the participation of the two captains, Alessandro Del Piero and Ritchie McCaw, Marco Fassone (Juventus commercial director), Dario Destefanis (FIAT Group sponsoring manager), Franco Miniero (Iveco sales and marketing vice-president) and Daniele Farina, the person responsible for the “Crescere Insieme al Sant’Anna” project which is the co-protagonist of the initiative.
The Foundation will receive the funds generated from a charity auction on “ebay” which will have as a prize the jerseys of Juventus and the All Blacks autographed by Del Piero and McCaw.
This is the not the only initiative. During the training session held this morning, Ciro Ferrara’s team entered the field wearing technical gear sponsored by Iveco instead of the usual New Holland.
The same will apply to the next match, that on Sunday 22nd November against Udinese. The bianconeri will play on this special and unique occasion sporting a grey jersey sponsored by Iveco. The jersey was presented during today’s meeting. [www.juventus.com]
Juventus this season appear good enough. That is why the Bianconeri striker David Trezeguet has a very big confidence his team will be reaching the Champions League title this season.
Since 1996 Juve have never tasted the most prestigious titles in Europe. Although there are still opportunities scudetto in the grip of Juve, Trezeguet instead prioritize the Champions League title.
Trezeguet had just scored 167 to match the record of the legendary Omar SÃvori time goal scoring to Atalanta last weekend. He sure can add to his goal coffers until the season ends.
"We're hunting scudetto. But according to my observations, we were very likely to embrace the Champions League title. This may be the right season for us," said Trezeguet told La Gazzetta Dello Sport.
"Last season I did not look old because of injury. But, this season is a chance for me to achieve personal goals."
"I will continue scoring goals, and I want to win a lot of things."
Juventus defender Fabio Cannavaro is aware that Inter have a significant lead in the Scudetto race at this early point of the season, but he is not about to give up hope of winning the title.
The Bianconeri lost crucial points last weekend, squandering a two-goal lead at home to Napoli, a match that finished 3-2 in favour of the visitors.
"It's true there are seven points [between us and Inter], but we must look at ourselves and be confident we can do well," the veteran explained to Il Corriere dello Sport.
"We want to do well in all competitions.
"In the second-half [of the Napoli game] our spark was extinguished. Against Maccabi Haifa we had a good match."
This weekend, Cannavaro will come up against former team-mate Antonio Conte, who is now coach of Atalanta.
"In Bergamo, we must play a great match, though it will be difficult. Conte is a good friend and is very charismatic," the centre-back revealed.
"He is not going through a great time right now. I'm sure he will bounce back soon because he has done so in the past."[www.goal.com]
Roma kept their hopes of progressing from the group stages alive, with a hard fought 2-1 victory over Fulham at the Stadio Olimpico.
Despite going behind to a first half penalty, a red card to their English opposition early in the second half opened the door for the Giallorossi, who made the most of their opportunity by scoring twice within the space of seven minutes in the latter stages of the encounter.
“The victory was the best thing that the team could have asked for tonight,” Julio Baptista was quoted as saying to Roma Channel after the match.
“It took us a while to adapt, as they were very fast and difficult to play against.
“I am happy with my game, and although I didn’t play the best, I was happy to at least contribute in some way. For a player it’s very important when a coach gives you confidence, and you always want to do better when this is the case.”
Irrespective of their crucial result though, the Brazilian concluded by warning his team-mates that this weekend’s league clash against Inter will be a whole lot more significant.
He added, “I am a bit tired, but we must now think about Sunday. This will be a very important game for us, and we know that we can go to Milan and do well.”[www.goal.com]
Lazio have announced they will lodge an appeal to UEFA against Villarreal. “They locked us out of the stadium.”
The Biancocelesti were defeated 4-1 at the Madrigal this evening in a game that saw two players sent off and Pasquale Foggia miss a penalty.
“We will not speak after this scandal,” slammed Lazio Press Officer Stefano De Martino when Davide Ballardini refused to meet with the media.
“We are staying silent and are currently locked in a room with the UEFA representatives to write an official appeal.
“From the moment we arrived in Spain we have been stopped from doing our job. Personally, as Press Officer, I was barred from working and even entering the stadium.
“The Spanish security services left me and the kit staff outside. Seeing as we have not been allowed to work, we will lodge an appeal to UEFA.”[www.football-italia.net]
Real Madrid failed to respond to the defeat in Santiago Barnebeu after a 1-1 draw with AC Milan in the European derby rematch at the San Siro on Wednesday (4 / 10) in the morning. Karim Benzema had a chance with Madrid winning it before equated Rossoneri through Ronaldinho penalty.
Manuel Pellegrini could not reduce the injury Cristiano Ronaldo Gonzalo Higuain playing again since the first minute, while AC Milan to host full strength with lower tridente Pato, Ronaldinho, and Marco Boriello.
Karim Benzema threatened Dida's goal in minute 19 but kicks from the penalty box only a few inches wide to the left of goalkeeper Milan.
Counterattack through Clarence Seedorf, Rossoneri almost opened the scoring in the 24th minute when Alexandre Pato failed to score a goal despite living dealing with Iker Casillas.
Karim Benzema took advantage of Los blancos in minute 29. Kick the ball rebound failed Kaka is well captured by Dida could be maximized for Benzema scored his first goal in the Champions League this season.
Milan managed to equalize six minutes later thanks to Ronaldinho's penalty goal. The referee awarded a penalty after Pepe did handsball when Gianluca Zambrotta blocked the bait in the penalty box.
Two minutes later, Pato could make the San Siro to rumble with the goal to goal and Casillas the referee annulled because the first offense on Alvaro Arbeloa. 1-1 score was not changed until the first half ended.
Entering the second half, both AC Milan and Real Madrid continue demonstrating the game to attack. Los Galacticos had opened up opportunities through long-distance kicks Kaka and Marcelo.
To sharpen the attack, both teams made substitutions to include senior players, Raul and Ruud van Nistelrooy at Real Madrid and Filippo Inzaghi of AC Milan.
At minute 88, Dida did brilliantly when thwart rescue Raul kick in the penalty box from Milan who became the last chance Los Merengues and does not change the position of a 1-1 game until the end.
With this result AC Milan and Real Madrid still be ranked one and two championship Group C followed by Marseille a 6-1 win over the Swiss representative, FC Zurich
Results painted imperfect rivals Inter Milan to 2-0 win over Livorno host increasingly overtaken at the top Italian league Serie A.
Slow first half and both teams are equally unable to create dangerous opportunities opponent's goal. Strategy Livorno players piled in the middle sector of the field making plays Inter difficulties of their attack patterns.
In fact, in the 28th minute Inter have lost Sulley Muntari was injured when a duel with Marcus Diniz and had to be replaced by Esteban Cambiasso. The first round match was closed with the score 0-0.
Entering the second half, Inter tried to appear more aggressive. The result they were breaking the deadlock on 49 minutes through Diego Milito kick from the edge of the penalty box Livorno, using feedback from Dejan Stankovic.
After the goal Milito, Inter looked more comfortable in playing with more control of the ball in play a slow tempo.
Yet they are able to increase the advantage in the 80th minute when he passed a quick counter-attack Patrick Vieira off Maicon bait to a successful finish to the Inter goal.
Inter are now practically flew alone with 28 points, 7 points ahead of Juventus and Sampdoria in the second and third rank equally collecting 21 points
