9 August 2008

Two steps closer to qualifier

The team are busy preparing their first official engagement of the season, next Wednesday's Champions League third qualifying round first leg game against Artmedia Bratislava at the Olimpico.

While the Slovakians have postponed the League game they were scheduled to play today (their designated opponents Spartak Trnava having been decimated by a flu epidemic), the Bianconeri worked hard in Vinovo. After the training session on Friday afternoon, Saturday saw two training sessions: Claudio Ranieri supervised the team at work both in the morning and again late in the afternoon.

There is plenty of good news for the Manager in medical terms. Only Zebina and Knezevic trained separately today; Iaquinta, Grygera and Molinaro are regularly back with the rest of the squad. Del Piero is fine too; he worked on the pitch this morning and remained in the gym in the afternoon.

Preparation for the match against the Slovakian side continues on Sunday too, when the Bianconeri will be training only in the morning.