Vieri out for at least three weeks
Wednesday, April 23, 2003
Article summary
Internazionale FC striker Christian Vieri will miss the next three weeks of action with a knee injury.
Article body
Sprained ligaments
Tests have confirmed that Vieri sprained ligaments after scoring in the fifth minute against Valencia CF last night to help his team progress from the quarter-finals. The Italian club lost 2-1 in the Mestalla stadium but went through on the away-goals rule. Vieri played on after treatment but was replaced by Alvaro Recoba in the 32nd minute.
Rest needed
A statement on the club's official website said: "The player has a first-to-second-degree sprain of the medial collateral ligaments in his right knee. Vieri will rest for three weeks, after which he will begin a specific rehabilitation programme."
Zanetti suspended
Vieri is not expected to figure in the two-legged semi-final against either city rivals AC Milan or AFC Ajax, being played on 6/7 May and 13/14 May, and faces a race against time to be fit should Inter reach the Champions League final on 28 May.
Domestic headache
Italy striker Vieri, also ruled out of next week's international friendly against Switzerland in Geneva on Wednesday, will be sorely missed by Inter in Serie A as well. The second-placed club are six points behind leaders Juventus FC with five rounds to play.
