Nesta numbed while PSV prosper
Sunday, 13 March 2005
Nine European clubs still harbour hopes of winning the UEFA Champions League
this season. uefa.com brings you the latest from each of their domestic
campaigns.

FC Internazionale Milano were without Alvaro Recoba (foot) Obafemi Martins
(back) Giuseppe Favalli (muscle strain) and Christian Vieri (knee) as they
earned their 17th Serie A draw of the season, 1-1 away against S.S. Lazio.
Defender Sinisa Mihajlovic and midfield player Esteban Cambiasso were rested
ahead of Tuesday's visit of FC Porto in the second leg of their Round of 16
tie, for which Favalli, Martins and Vieri are all expected to return.

The Portuguese champions, without rested Maniche and suspended benni McCarthy
were knocked off SuperLiga's top spot after slipping to a surprise 4-0 home
defeat, their heaviest home loss since 1975, at the hands of CD Nacional on
Friday. Furthermore, Luiz Fabiano will not travel to Milan due to personal
reasons.

Of the seven sides already through to the quarter-finals, Eredivisie leaders
PSV Eindhoven had the most impressive result, waltzing to a 4-0 home win
against ADO Den Haag. Two goals from Ji-Sung Park and further strikes by Mark
van Bommel and Alex kept Guus Hiddink's side four points clear of AZ Alkmaar.
PSV had no injury worries after Phillip Cocu, Jefferson Farfán and Johann
Vogel all recovered from minor complaints to start, while Kasper B?gelund
filled in for right-back André Ooijer, who was serving a domestic suspension.

A solitary goal from Brazilian midfield player Kaká was enough for AC Milan
to defeat UC Sampdoria 1-0 at the San Siro. Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti stuck
with the side that defeated Manchester United FC on Tuesday but lost
centre-halves Alessandro Nesta and Paolo Maldini to injury during the first
half. Nesta later required seven stitches in his right foot.

Milan remain joint-top with Juventus FC, who have Ruben Oliveira to thank for
the last-gasp goal which secured them all three points against AC Chievo
Verona. Although Fabio Capello was without left winger Olivier Kapo who has a
muscular injury, he decided not to rush Pavel Nedved back to the starting
lineup. The Czech midfield player and Zlatan Ibrahimovic were both rested.

Olympique Lyonnais, who completed a 10-2 aggregate victory against Werder
Bremen on Tuesday, remain eight points clear in their bid for a fourth
consecutive Ligue 1 title following a hard-fought 2-1 win at home against FC
Istres. Juninho Pernambucano's stunning free-kick and a Sidney Govou strike
sealed the victory in a game marked by the return of Anthony Réveillère
from an ankle injury. Club captain Claudio Ca?apa remains sidelined with a
knee complaint.

Fresh from their aggregate victory against Arsenal FC, FC Bayern München
slipped to a 1-0 defeat at title rivals FC Schalke 04 which saw them drop to
second in the standings. Robert Kovac, Zé Roberto and Torsten Frings all
missed the match with flu, while both Mehmet Scholl and Roy Makaay are still
out with muscle injuries.

Chelsea FC and Liverpool FC were not in domestic action at the weekend
following their earlier elimination from the FA Cup. However, they both face
rearranged Premiership matches at home in midweek. Arjen Robben could return
to José Mourinho's lineup for Tuesday's game against relegation strugglers
West Bromwich Albion FC. Liverpool take on Blackburn Rovers FC on Wednesday,
but are likely to be without the services of Harry Kewell, who has been told
his damaged groin will only fully heal with an extended lay-off.

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