Sep 1 2007, 08:01 PM
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Serie A champions Internazionale go in search of their first win of the season against Empoli on Saturday with some key players missing.
Midfielder Patrick Vieira is ruled out with a hamstring injury while Marco Materazzi is expected to be sidelined for a further two months with his thigh injury.
Veteran keeper Francesco Toldo is expected to be handed a start after first-choice Julio Cesar was sent off last week in the 1-1 draw with Udinese.
Ricardo Cordoba's 92nd-minute own goal robbed the Nerazzurri of all three points after Dejan Stankovic had given them a ninth-minute lead at the San Siro.
Things went from bad to worse in midweek as the champions were thumped 5-0 by Barcelona in the Trofeo Gamper, but head coach Roberto Mancini does not see that result as a true reflection of his side's abilities.
"We could not have done more," he said.
"I don't like losing 5-0 but when you consider we left 12 players at home in view of Saturday's match with Empoli you can understand a two- or three-goal deficit and with youngsters you can expect more.
"It will be another game if we play them in five months."
Despite the heavy defeat, several players who featured in that match are pushing for starts on Saturday with Romanian new signing Cristian Chivu in line for a debut in place of Walter Samuel.
Hernan Crespo could also replace Julio Cruz up front while Uruguayan forward Alvaro Recoba has moved on loan to Torino for the rest of the season.
Empoli will be looking to bounce back from last week's disappointing 3-1 defeat to local rivals Fiorentina.
They only had an injury-time consolation from Luca Saudati to show for their efforts but are boosted by the return to fitness of Davide Moro to the middle of the park.
The young midfielder is set to replace Francesco Marianini while Saudati and Lino Marzoratti should also both be available after shaking off minor niggles in midweek.
Coach Luigi Cagni knows his side face will face an uphill battle on Saturday but is trying to remain positive after last season's exploits.
"We have been working on our fitness," he said.
"(Against Fiorentina) we played well in the first half and then fell off physically, we lost a goal and we folded. That can happen at the start of a championship."
If the Azzurri are to have any chance of beating their illustrious opponents, though, they will have to produce some of the form that made them one of Serie A's surprise packages last term.
A seventh-place finish gave them European football for the first time and expectations have never been higher in the Tuscan town but their record against the champions is less than favourable.
Inter were the last team to beat Empoli at home in a 3-0 win on last December but since then the side have won nine and drawn six of their matches at the Castellani.
Midfielder Patrick Vieira is ruled out with a hamstring injury while Marco Materazzi is expected to be sidelined for a further two months with his thigh injury.
Veteran keeper Francesco Toldo is expected to be handed a start after first-choice Julio Cesar was sent off last week in the 1-1 draw with Udinese.
Ricardo Cordoba's 92nd-minute own goal robbed the Nerazzurri of all three points after Dejan Stankovic had given them a ninth-minute lead at the San Siro.
Things went from bad to worse in midweek as the champions were thumped 5-0 by Barcelona in the Trofeo Gamper, but head coach Roberto Mancini does not see that result as a true reflection of his side's abilities.
"We could not have done more," he said.
"I don't like losing 5-0 but when you consider we left 12 players at home in view of Saturday's match with Empoli you can understand a two- or three-goal deficit and with youngsters you can expect more.
"It will be another game if we play them in five months."
Despite the heavy defeat, several players who featured in that match are pushing for starts on Saturday with Romanian new signing Cristian Chivu in line for a debut in place of Walter Samuel.
Hernan Crespo could also replace Julio Cruz up front while Uruguayan forward Alvaro Recoba has moved on loan to Torino for the rest of the season.
Empoli will be looking to bounce back from last week's disappointing 3-1 defeat to local rivals Fiorentina.
They only had an injury-time consolation from Luca Saudati to show for their efforts but are boosted by the return to fitness of Davide Moro to the middle of the park.
The young midfielder is set to replace Francesco Marianini while Saudati and Lino Marzoratti should also both be available after shaking off minor niggles in midweek.
Coach Luigi Cagni knows his side face will face an uphill battle on Saturday but is trying to remain positive after last season's exploits.
"We have been working on our fitness," he said.
"(Against Fiorentina) we played well in the first half and then fell off physically, we lost a goal and we folded. That can happen at the start of a championship."
If the Azzurri are to have any chance of beating their illustrious opponents, though, they will have to produce some of the form that made them one of Serie A's surprise packages last term.
A seventh-place finish gave them European football for the first time and expectations have never been higher in the Tuscan town but their record against the champions is less than favourable.
Inter were the last team to beat Empoli at home in a 3-0 win on last December but since then the side have won nine and drawn six of their matches at the Castellani.
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