Juve felled by flu epidemic

Juve felled by flu epidemic
Tuesday 20 January, 2009

Juventus have a crisis on their hands after Gianluigi Buffon's flu spread to both substitute goalkeepers, Tiago Mendes and Olof Mellberg.

The World Cup winning goalkeeper was meant to make his Serie A comeback last Sunday against Lazio, but was ruled out on Saturday evening by a bout of flu.

Now Buffon's illness has spread throughout the team and Coach Claudio Ranieri has very limited options for next week's crunch match with Fiorentina.

Worryingly, substitute goalkeeper Alex Manninger is one of those hit by the virus and third choice Antonio Chimenti has preliminary symptoms, so Juve could well be without all three shot-stoppers.

The only alternative would be to throw in youth team goalkeeper Timothy Nocchi for his Serie A debut from the start. Nocchi will not turn 19 until July.

Mellberg has also come down with the flu, increasing an injury crisis in defence that has Giorgio Chiellini a major doubt along with Hasan Salihamidzic, Jonathan Zebina, Dario Knezevic, Vincenzo Iaquinta, David Trezeguet and Mauro Camoranesi.

Momo Sissoko and Cristian Molinaro are suspended, so the Bianconeri are in dire straits just as they have closed the gap at the top of the table to three points.

channel4