The Malta Independent 5 September 2026, Saturday
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Inter Play Juventus with feud brewing in Serie A

Malta Independent Saturday, 2 October 2010, 00:00 Last update: about 14 years ago

Serie A leaders Inter play Juventus tomorrow 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 this season’s 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.

Inter midfielder Esteban Cambiasso said his teammates are used to being praised and criticized in equal measures.

“After today, we will be phenomenal,” Cambiasso said following the win over Bremen. “But three days ago it was a disaster, and in another three days it will be something else.

“We can’t allow ourselves to be distracted by the comments of others.”

Coach Rafael Benitez has a number of injury worries ahead of the game. Diego Milito missed the Bremen match with a thigh problem and goalkeeper Julio Cesar and defender Lucio were replaced due to ailments.

“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 Mauro Zarate scored in a 1-0 victory over Chievo Verona. Now, Edy Reja’s team aims for a fourth win in six matches in welcoming Brescia to Rome’s Olympic Stadium.

“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.”

Having beaten Inter for their first win of the season, Roma travel to Napoli after beating CFR Cluj 2-1 in the Champions League. Marco Borriello scored the winning goal, his third in six games since joining on loan from AC Milan in the transfer window.

“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.”

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