11.   Atletico, however, will be without its ace Italian striker Christian Vieri because of internatonal commitments.

12.   At Verona, Inter struggled against a restless home team as it missed the scoring skills of injured Italian striker Christian Vieri and key defender Marco Materazzi.

13.   Baggio will team in front with Christian Vieri, the Italian striker of Atletico Madrid who has recovered from stomach problems.

14.   Atletico is without Brazilian star Juninho, laid up for months due to a leg injury, but Italian striker Christian Vieri is on full form.

15.   Betis closed to within nine points of the leader with a rout of first-division newcomer Compostela on two goals from Italian striker Pier Luigi Cherubini.

16.   Both Jason Lee and Italian striker Andrea Silenzi appeared to have lost possession on the edge of the Villa area.

17.   Chelsea will be without injured Italian striker Gianluca Vialli at Sunderland.

18.   Dutch player-manager Ruud Gullit stunned English soccer Thursday with an announcement that he was leaving Chelsea immediatley with Italian striker Gianluca Vialli named to coach the team.

19.   Dutch player-manager Ruud Gullit stunned English soccer Thursday, leaving Chelsea after contract talks broke down with Italian striker Gianluca Vialli named to replace him.

20.   Earlier, the club was rocked by comments by star Italian striker Fabrizio Ravanelli.