Materazzi lengthens casualty list
Monday, March 10, 2003
Article summary
A thigh injury has ruled Marco Materazzi out of Internazionale FC's two remaining Group A games.
Article body
Internazionale FC defender Marco Materazzi will miss the final two matches of the UEFA Champions League second group stage after suffering a recurrence of a thigh injury during Saturday's 2-1 Serie A win against Bologna FC.
Limped off
Materazzi limped off during the first half at the Dall'Ara Stadium, when he was replaced by Paraguayan defender Carlos Gamarra. The former Everton FC and Perugia Calcio player suffered a similar injury in February but returned to action for his side's 3-0 loss against Juventus FC last week.
Two or three-week absence
The 30-year-old defender will be out of action for two to three weeks and will therefore miss tomorrow's match against Newcastle United FC and next week's encounter with Bayer 04 Leverkusen.
Lengthy injury list
Materazzi joins Daniele Adani, Matías Almeyda, Domenico Morfeo, Stéphane Dalmat, Mohamed Kallon, Hernán Crespo and Nicola Beati on the Nerazzurri's lengthy injury list. Meanwhile, Alvaro Recoba has served only one game of a three-match Champions League suspension and Gabriel Batistuta is ineligible to appear in the competition.
Quarter-final ambition
Inter have seven points from their four Group A games and are in second place, one point ahead of Newcastle and three behind leaders FC Barcelona as they chase a quarter-final place.
