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MILAN, April 1 (Reuters) - Brief news ahead of this weekend’s Serie A matches.

* Inter Milan defender Lucio is suspended for Saturday’s derby (1845 GMT) with league leaders AC Milan while fellow centre back Andrea Ranocchia faces a late fitness test along with left back Cristian Chivu.

Injury-prone striker Diego Milito may make the bench.

Inter, managed by last season’s Milan coach Leonardo and seeking a sixth straight scudetto with eight games left, will storm top with a win against their rivals in one of the biggest derbies for years.

* Milan are without suspended former Inter striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic and are in shaky form but midfielder Clarence Seedorf, another ex-Inter player, has rallied the troops after some team mates had attempted to play down the significance of the game.

“I say that this derby is decisive. On a psychological level, it counts a lot, anyone who says otherwise is a liar,” the Dutchman told a news conference.

* Inter’s buildup has been partly upset by president Massimo Moratti being called to give evidence to the soccer federation over accusations his club were also involved in the 2006 match-fixing scandal and should have that year’s scudetto stripped.

Moratti, who denies any role in the affair for which Juventus and Milan were among those punished, told reporters: “It was important I was here. You’ll have to ask them how it went but it was a calm and educated meeting. I am more than convinced of my position.”

* Third-placed Napoli, three points behind Milan, host Lazio in fifth in another big game on Sunday (1030) with doubts over the fitness of midfielder Juan Zuniga because of an ankle injury.

Lazio boss Edy Reja has hinted he may change formation for the clash as he tries to revive their Champions League hopes.

* Sixth-placed AS Roma welcome Juventus in seventh in Sunday’s late match (1845) with anticipation building over Thomas Di Benedetto’s consortium taking over of the capital club.

“Winning the scudetto as soon as possible is the aim,” the American, who denied there were problems with UEFA given he has been part of the group which owns Liverpool, told reporters.

“In reality, we hope for success this season because qualifying for the Champions League would count as a great victory.”

Juventus are injury-riddled for the game with striker Vincenzo Iaquinta possibly out for the season, defender Giorgio Chiellini missing for maybe a month and Alessandro Del Piero doubtful with a knock.

* Udinese, looking to cling on to the fourth and final Champions League qualifying spot, travel to relegation-threatened Lecce on Sunday (1300) with no new injuries following the international break.

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Labels: backline, decisive, derby, Italy, Reuters, roundupInter

Sporting 0-2 Benfica

Benfica continued their staggering run of victories with a 2-0 win at the Estadio Jose Alvalado over Sporting in the Lisbon derby. A fiesty evening saw Benfica play the second-half with only ten players after Sidnei saw red, but it only made their victory more impressive as Sporting struggled to break their visitors down.

Salvio latched on to a cross from Nicolas Gaitan to give the Eagles the lead early in the contest but Sporting valiantly came back with a good spell before half-time. Despite having their rivals down to ten for the whole second-half, the Lions couldn't force clear chances and suffered a hammer blow when Gaitan volleyed in Benfica's second to seal three points.
The game was delayed as early as the 2nd minute when a flare was thrown on to the field but it was the visitors Benfica who sparked to life first. An intricate move between Salvio and Gaitan found the later in space insdie the box, but the midfielder wrapped his foot round the ball too much and bent it harmlessly out of play.

The urgency of a derby occasion was preventing either side settling in the first ten minutes. Mistakes were creeping in, one of which almost proved costly for Benfica when Joao Pereira was bundled over in the box, however three players were offside in the move and Benfica escaped with a free-kick.

The Eagles made their bright start pay dividends in the 15th minute, a poor clearance from Rui Patricio landed at the feet Gaitan, who skipped past his marker and drifted a cross through the box Salvio for a smart low finish.

Benfica were biding their time holding out Sporting and striking them on the break, another cross from Gaitan, who was a joy to watch in the first-half, was met once more by Salvio at the far post but this time the winger could only force his header wide under pressure.

Sporting were creating their best openings themselves on the break from Benfica's corners, twice Yannick Djalo finding space to aim at goal but Roberto remained untroubled.

As the game began to swing in the home side's favour, the Lions thought they had pulled level five minutes before half-time. Helder Postiga was alert on the edge of the box to take his chance brilliantly but the referee's assistant adjudged the forward offside.

With less than a minute left to play before the break Benfica were reduced to ten men. Central defender Sidnei was the culprit in a heated affair which was inevitably going to see the referee step in. A second yellow card was shown to the Brazilian for bringing down Helder Postiga on the run and it left Benfica coach Jorge Jesus with some concern for his side for the second-half.

Sporting very nearly scrambled their way back into the game following a clash of heads between Cristiano and Jardel. Seven minutes into the second period, and while others were waiting for the referee to react to a double head injury, Matias Fernandez dribbled his way into the box only for Roberto to deny him with a super save; Djalo was then unable to follow the rebound in with the Red Devils in panic.

Benfica were making their chances count and when it mattered just after the hour mark. Gaitan's initial burst from his own-half won his side a free-kick on the edge of the area and the resulting corner was finished off by the young Argentine. A deep ball was held up by Oscar Cardozo and the cross of Maximiliano Pereira was volley home by Gaitan with the aid of a touch off Anderson Polga.

The Verde e Brancos had only scored 13 goals on home soil previously and badly struggled to find a key pass to unlock Luisao's strictly marshalled defence. Delays for injuries and substitutions allowed the hosts six minutes of additional time at the end of the game but it wasn't to be.

The victory pulls Benfica to within 8 points of Porto at the top of the table, leaving Sporting trailing top spot by 15 points.

Sporting: Rui Patricio; Pereira, Anderson Polga, Torsiglieri, Grimi (Maniche); Andre Santos; Mendes (Saleiro), Fernandez; Djalo. Cristiano (Diogo); Helder Postiga.

Benfica: Roberto; Pereira, Luisao, Sidnei, Coentrao; Javi Garcia, Salvio, Martins (Airton), Gaitan; Saviola (Jardel), Cardozo (Jara).

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Labels: Benfica, derby, Eagles, Gaitan, Goalcom, Salvio, secure, Sporting, victory

Inter coach Leonardo has defended striker Samuel Eto'o after the Nerazzurri's 1-0 defeat to Juventus on Sunday evening.

The Cameroon international missed a sitter from five yards in the 89th minute, and there have been suggestions that it was the 29-year-old who cost Inter the Derby d'Italia.

"It takes a brave man to criticise Eto'o, he's scored 27 goals," the Brazilian tactician pointed out to fifa.com.

“It can happen that in one second he doesn't find the right space or contact but talking about an Eto'o problem that doesn't exist, I can't believe someone can get knocked down for something like that.

"It seems to me as if it's an attack against Inter, as if they [the critics] were waiting for us to lose a game."

Leonardo went on to insist that Inter's Scudetto challenge is not over.

"Everything is still open, no-one can claim to have won. We're playing well and we're the best team in the world. I can't get involved in these dramas, either accept me as I am or leave me alone."

The Brazilian continued, "Often people exaggerate, I'm asking for a bit of coherence. I defend the team, talking about me won't change much.

“It makes me angry to hear people talk about this team as they have been, there's no [Diego] Milito issue or Eto'o issue or an issue with anyone, I can't accept this.

"I don't intend to hide a problem, we struggled also against Palermo but look at the numbers," he added. "I would sign on the dotted line for seven wins in our next nine matches, I'd like to see where we will be and where the others will be."

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Labels: coach, derby, DItalia, Goalcom, Inter, Leonardo, Samuel

There's more live football on Sky Sports than ever before, including the Barclays Premier League, UEFA Champions League, Clydesdale Bank Premier League, England away Euro 2012 qualifiers and La Liga. With four live Sky Sports channels, as well as Sky Sports News, you'll never miss a moment on Sky. Click here for more.

Smalling started alongside Nemanja Vidic at the heart of United's defence with first-choice Rio Ferdinand still out with a calf strain.

The former Fulham defender delivered an assured performance at Old Trafford as Sir Alex Ferguson's troops secured the points.

Smalling insisted he was not nervous beforehand as he knew for much of the week he would start in Ferdinand's absence.

"I knew I was going to be playing earlier in the week so I had a lot of time to prepare," he said.

"People have been telling me just what a massive game this is.

"Once I got my first touch it was a case of enjoying it and playing like any other game.

"It was a great occasion and I really enjoyed myself. To win it and play my part is a real joy."

The win moved United eight points clear of their neighbours, who have also played a game more, much to Smalling's delight.

The 21-year-old felt City's leveller through David Silva was lucky and that United deserved to claim the spoils, which were settled by a peach of a goal from Wayne Rooney.

"We all saw the table before the game and knew how crucial this game was," he continued.

"It had been emphasised to us all week, every time we stepped on the training field.

"In the end, we got our just desserts. Their goal was pretty jammy and it would have been a travesty if they had taken anything out of that game."

Labels: derby, relished, SkySports, Smalling