2/19: Manchester United vs Juventus [R] PBP

[Dante]

This is not good....

MILAN, Feb 18 (Reuters) - Italian champions Juventus have been hit by an influenza bug before their Champions League match with Manchester United at Old Trafford on Wednesday with five players forced to pull out of the game.

Juventus said on their website that goalkeeper
Gianluigi Buffon, defender Alessandro Birindelli,
midfielder Gianluca Zambrotta and strikers Marco Di
Vaio and Marcelo Salas were all out of the match after picking up the bug.

Marcello Lippi's side were already without their key
inspiration Alessandro Del Piero due to a thigh injury
and defender Mark Iuliano who has a high temperature.

Juve are second in Champions League Group D - two points behind leaders United.

[SueB]

Well, crap. I mean, it's a deep squad - the players available are still world-class till about half-way down the list.

Davids
Nedved
Trezeguet
Montero
Thuram
Camoranesi
Pessotto
Ferrara
Tacchinardi
Conte
Fresi
Zenoni
Zalayeta
Chimenti
Bonnefoi

But even so ... not a lot of options if things start going badly.

[mr magoo]

do a boro and just not turn up for the game. i know i want Juve to loose but it just wont be the same watching them loose with only a half strength team.

[Dante]

Loose like who? Lazio? that'll never happen.

It's not like ManU will be at full strength either.

Maybe Juve are just playing mind games, and a few of those ruled out will actually play.

[Dante]

Juve appealed to UEFA to postpone the game because more players got sick.

UEFA denied the appeal.

[SueB]

Thuram is also out now :( That's a bad blow. Three primavera players have been flown in: Daniele Gastaldello, Matteo Paro and Ruben Olivera.

[SueB]

Likely formation from RAI. They have a ? by Thuram but ALSO by Ferrara and Trez, which I suppose means they are ill as well.

Chimenti
Thuram ?
Ferrara ?
Montero
Pessotto
Camoranesi
Tacchinardi
Davids
Nedved
Zalayeta
Trezeguet ?

[Dante]

Ferrara and Trezeguet have been ruled out for today. It's not looking good.

[SueB]

Juve site says they are trying to "rescue" Iuliano, who had the bug earlier than the others and might be closer to playing shape than they thought at first glance. Not sure if that means he's being flown in with the primavera guys or what. If so, actually, I sure hope they're already there.

[SueB]

Guess we're looking more like a back line of Montero, Fresi and - who? - Zenoni? Unless Iuliano gets there. I don't think any of the primaveras are forwards, so looks like Zalayeta will be all alone up front. And I'm guessing Conte will get the start. Actually, I think that's the last choice available from the above list, so it's probably a good guess.

[SueB]

UEFA.com lists Ferrara and Trezeguet in the official starting lineup (no Fresi, whew!).

[SueB]

4' in and United are already ahead on a goal by Wes Brown. WES BROWN?!?! It's going to be a long night, I'm afraid.

[Scotty]

Follow the game with this live text commentary from BBC:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport/hi/english/static/football/statistics/teams/m/man_utd/live_hi.stm

[Dante]

Conte got hurt during warm ups.

Things are not looking good!

[Dante]

19' Yellow card to Davids

[Dante]

Nedved hit the post in the 21st minute

[Dante]

It sounds like Juve are doing alright... too bad they conceded that first goal.

[fischetts]

Any truth to the handball by Silvestre?

[Dante]

From all the reports I've read, they've said that they're lucky not to have been called for it...

Silvestre seems to be fouling a lot, and mean a lot.

It's half-time and all the reports are saying Juve have been playing very well. Let's just hope they get that qualizer.

[Dante]

66' Trezeguet out and Olivera in

Word is that Trez was having a bad game, then again he was sick.