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Juventus aims to keep momentum going against Inter

Juventus carries a five-game winning streak in Serie A play into its top-three showdown against Inter Milan on Saturday at the San Siro with the two sides separated by only three points.

It looked like the gap would be much wider back in early October when Juve lost consecutive 2-1 games in league play, dropping the club into the middle of the table.

However, Claudio Ranieri's men have since turned things around by twice beating Real Madrid in the Champions League as well as putting together their current run of form in Serie A.

Team president Giovanni Cobolli Gigli attributes the team's success more to its mental approach than anything else.

"In these last few matches, I don't think it's the team that changed," Gigli told the club's official website. "It simply grew stronger in spirit. The bad patch lasted only two games and then the whole squad once again found its appetite for victory in Italy and Europe."

One of the keys to Juve's success has been a defense that has yielded just two goals in the five wins, although they will be tested on Saturday against former Juve standout Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who is now scoring his goals for Inter.

The Sweden international scored two brilliant goals last weekend in Inter's 2-0 win over Palermo, and he will be hoping to find the net against his former side on Saturday, something he failed to do in two league meetings against Juve last season.

The match definitely has a different feel from a local derby, something that both sides will concede.

"This year I feel it even more because we're there, close to the top and I am living it as a special kind of derby," Juve midfielder Mohamed Sissoko told the club's official website. "I played for Liverpool and the match against Manchester was of a different kind of importance when compared to the derby against Everton. It's the same here: I am more charged for the match against Inter rather then the one against Torino."

Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti also agrees that the game is something special, even when compared to Inter's annual showdown with AC Milan.

"The rivalry with Juventus is older, traditional and linked to Scudettos," Moratti said. "Instead, with Milan it's about being in the same city."

The Scudetto is once again a factor in the game this season, with Inter owning only a slight lead on Juve, while AC Milan is nestled between the two teams, two clear of Juve and one behind Inter.

After two seasons of watching Inter hold off Roma for the Serie A title, it looks like a three-team race is shaping up between the traditional heavyweights, with Saturday's match helping to shape how things shake out in the end.

AC Milan travels to bottom-half side Torino, fourth-place Napoli entertains a Cagliari side that has won two of its last three, Lazio dropped a 1-0 match to Roma last time out and hosts Genoa while Udinese has failed to score in two games and visits Fiorentina.

Last-place Chievo has lost five straight and hosts Siena, Palermo invades Bologna, Roma travels to Lecce, Reggina hosts Atalanta and Sampdoria squares off with Catania. Sports Network


Gallas no longer captain

William Gallas has lost his Arsenal captaincy and will not play against Manchester City.

The move comes after Gallas spoke of unrest in the Arsenal camp on Thursday, including details of a bust-up during half-time in the recent 4-4 draw with Tottenham.

A number of former players have been quick to criticise Gallas for the outburst and it now appears as though Arsene Wenger has acted quickly to discipline the French defender.

It was initially understood that Gallas had been stripped of the captaincy, but reports later suggested that he may have offered to step down at a team meeting.

Gallas, who was handed the armband at the start of last season, will not travel with the rest of the squad ahead of Saturday's game at Man City.

The latest development raises doubts about Gallas' future with the club, just two years after he joined the Gunners from Chelsea.

Arsenal have yet to confirm the news but there is speculation that goalkeeper Manuel Almunia will lead out the side against City. Sky Sports


Arsenal to claim compensation from England for Walcott injury

Arsenal will demand compensation from the English Football Association for Theo Walcott's expected three-month layoff after the winger dislocated his right shoulder while on international duty.

"There should be compensation of course," manager Arsene Wenger told Arsenal TV Online on Friday. Walcott sustained the injury Tuesday while training inside Berlin's Olympic stadium on the eve of England's 2-1 friendly win over Germany.

Under the FA's insurance plan, the Premier League club would be eligible to claim up to 1.1 million pounds (C$2.1 million) to cover Walcott's wages if he was to be out for 12 weeks.


Sevilla starts brutal stretch against Valencia

Sevilla defender Fernando Navarro is proud of his club's strong start, but realizes this Saturday's match against Valencia is the first in a seven-match stretch that will decide if he's playing for a title contender.

Sevilla started the La Liga season unbeaten in seven straight (5-0-2) and after a short two-game skid, has bounced back with two more wins. The successful run has the club fifth in the standings - and even on points with Valencia and Real Madrid.

The schedule has been pretty kind to Sevilla so far, though, and Navarro knows the team has a lot to prove beginning this weekend at Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan. In the next six weeks, matches with Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Villarreal follow - four more teams in the top six.

"Now we measure ourselves up against big teams, of our category, and it is very important to play at home because the fans can help us achieve the victory," he said at a press conference Thursday. "We are within the top five ... we have a good cushion of points and know we will se if we are ready or not to compete among the great."

Navarro, who has played twice for Spain, described this weekend's clash against third-place Valencia as a "game of power versus power."

Sevilla has been impressive defensively, allowing just eight goals through 11 matches. Goalie Andres Palop has been between the posts for all of those games and the 35-year-old has seven shutouts.

Frederic Kanoute leads the club in La Liga with four goals, but Luis Fabiano is hitting his stride and seems set to help Sevilla break out of its scoring funk.

Fabiano scored three goals in Brazil's 6-2 win over Portugal this week, and has three goals in La Liga. After scoring 24 goals in league play - and seven more in the Champions League - last season, his resurgence may be coming at a great time for Sevilla.

Navarro said Valencia is a "team that is very complete in all its line-ups."

Valencia struggled last season in La Liga, eventually finishing 10th, but Unai Emery has the team back in contention for the league title. The club opened the season 6-0-2, but has struggled with two losses in its last three.

Spain striker David Villa remains Valencia's top scoring threat. He has scored 11 goals and added two assists in league play. Mata has been the playmaker with five goals and seven assists.

Although Valencia's defense has been quite as strong as Sevilla's, 23-year-old goalie Renan has allowed just 12 goals - just over one per match - and has six shutouts.

Both clubs enter the weekend five points behind first-place Barcelona, making a win even more important. Even more so for Sevilla, especially with its upcoming schedule - starting with Barca next week.

Also Saturday, Villarreal will try to remain unbeaten when it hosts Valladolid, which upset Real Madrid last week. Real Madrid will try to bounce back when it hosts Recreativo.

On Sunday, Barcelona will try to open its lead when it hosts Getafe, Numancia hosts Atletico Madrid, Racing hosts Espanyol, Mallorca hosts Malaga, Sporting Gijon hosts Real Betis, Deportivo hosts Athletic Bilbao and winless Osasuna hosts Almeria. Sports Network