AC Milan
With the Champions League quarter-final clash with city rivals Internazionale fast approaching, Carlo Ancelotti's AC Milan are likely to take on a different look for this weekend's match with relegation strugglers Brescia. Last season's Serie A top scorer Andriy Shevchenko could return to action following his long lay-off with a facial injury. The Ukrainian - who has scored 14 goals this term - has not featured for the Rossoneri since February, after fracturing his cheekbone against Cagliari. Milan doctor Jean Pierre Meerssemann told the club's website: ``Andriy is fine, in fact, better than I thought he would be.
``The injury has healed and settled. He's fine fitness-wise, maybe he is lacking a bit but I think he can play against Brescia.'' Meanwhile, Ancelotti will have to decide who will partner Shevchenko in attack, should the striker return to the starting line-up. Hernan Crespo may be rested after his exploits on international duty earlier in the week.
The Argentinian, who scored the only goal of the game in his country's World Cup qualifying match against Colombia, may still be suffering from jet lag after the long return flight from Buenos Aires. Filippo Inzaghi's frustrating season continues after he was ruled out of the Brescia match with a slight knee injury, but he is expected to be available for selection for the Champions' League derby on Wednesday. Danish international Jon Dahl Tomasson could be in contention for a place after featuring in Milan's 2-0 win at Roma a fortnight ago, though Brazilian starlet Kaka will miss out through suspension. Ancelotti will also be forced to shuffle his defence, with Alessandro Costacurta likely to step in to replace the suspended Jaap Stam, while Alessandro Nesta misses the game with a gashed foot. Cafu could be rested after international duty with Brazil in midweek. While Milan remain the in-form team in Serie A having won their last eight games, Brescia have won just twice in their last 12. But the Rondinelli will be looking to emulate their performance against Milan earlier in the season, when they held the champions to a 0-0 draw at the Stadio Rigamonti.
Brescia coach Alberto Cavasin will have to do without striker Marco Delvecchio, who has still failed to recover from the muscular injury he sustained before his side's match with Siena at the beginning of March. Swiss teenage forwards Johan Vonlanthen and Fabrizio Zambrella could both force their way into contention, after both players returned to first-team training following international duty in midweek. Vonlanthen played the whole second-half in Switzerland's 1-0 against Cyprus, while Zambrella starred for the Swiss under-21s in their equivalent fixture. Despite only rejoining the squad on Friday, Lithuanian defender Marius Stankevicius could retain his place in the starting line-up, after his excellent performances - including a headed goal against Bosnia-Herzegovina - in his country's World Cup qualifying games. Gilberto Martinez was also on international duty with Costa Rica and will face a late fitness test. Youngster Marco Zambelli also trained this week, after overcoming a persistent knee problem.
