Italy roundup-Vieira’s chances of Inter start boosted

ROME, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Brief news ahead of this weekend’s matches in Serie A (all times GMT):

* Patrick Vieira’s chances of returning to leaders Inter Milan’s starting line-up in Sunday’s home match against Fiorentina (1400) have been boosted by Maicon’s suspension.

Jose Mourinho is expected to play captain Javier Zanetti in defence after Maicon was banned for two matches for being sent off for dissent in last week’s 3-1 win at Bologna, which may open a space in midfield for Frenchman Vieira.

President Massimo Moratti will be looking for a reaction after accusing his side of not turning up for Tuesday’s 2-0 defeat at Barcelona in the Champions League.

* Fiorentina are upbeat despite still being without injured forward Adrian Mutu and defender Alessandro Gamberini after qualifying for the Champions League last 16 at Liverpool’s expense with Tuesday’s 1-0 win over Olympique Lyon.

“Inter will want to show they aren’t the team that lost to Barcelona while we’ll want to show we are the same side as Tuesday,” midfielder Riccardo Montolivo told reporters. “We are not afraid, although we recognize how good they are.”

Sixth-placed Fiorentina will be without suspended midfielder Marco Donadel.

* Juventus striker Amauri is expected to shake off a knock he sustained in Wednesday’s 2-0 defeat at Girondins Bordeaux in the Champions League in time for Sunday’s visit to Cagliari (1400).

The second-placed Turin side trail champions Inter by five points.

* Third-placed AC Milan will be without suspended Italy midfielder Andrea Pirlo for Sunday’s match at second-from-bottom Catania (1945).

But Alessandro Nesta is available after a ban to reinforce a defence that looked shaky without him in last weekend’s 4-3 victory over Cagliari.

* Fourth-placed Sampdoria should be at full strength for Saturday’s derby against Genoa (1945), who cannot field suspended midfielder Giandomenico Mesto.

(Reporting by Paul Virgo, Editing by Justin Palmer; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com) ((justin.palmer@thomsonreuters.com; +442075427933; Reuters Messaging: justin.palmer.reuters.com@reuters.net. For Reuters sports blog Left Field go to: http://blogs.reuters.com/sport/)

Please double click on the newslink:

[SOCC-LEN] for more soccer stories