Ibrahimovic out of Juve clash

ZLATAN Ibrahimovic will miss today’s top-of-the-table Serie A clash with unbeaten top scorers Juventus

Friday, February 24, 2012
Zlatan Ibrahimovic will sit out today's Serie A clach with Juventus after losing his appeal against the third game of his suspension. Net Photo.

ZLATAN Ibrahimovic will miss today’s top-of-the-table Serie A clash with unbeaten top scorers Juventus after losing his appeal against the third game of his suspension.The striker was banned for three matches for slapping an opponent against Napoli earlier this month and has already served two games."The decision of the appeal court of the soccer federation is unjust because it has applied a sanction designed for violent acts to an act which was not violent,” A Milan statement said."It is a grave error of judgement.”Milan top Serie A with 50 points and 48 goals scored from 24 games but Juventus, who have conceded 14, are one point behind and have a game in hand.Juventus have subjected champions Milan to two of their six defeats in all competitions this season, winning 2-0 in Turin in Serie A in October and 2-1 at San Siro in the first leg of an Italian Cup semifinal earlier this month.Since then, Milan have returned to winning ways with a 2-1 win at third-placed Udinese, a 4-0 demolition of Arsenal in the Champions League and 3-1 win at Cesena.Milan have though slipped up in other big matches this season - losing to Inter Milan, Napoli, Lazio and Barcelona - while Juve’s problems have been against smaller sides, drawing with Cagliari, Parma and Siena since the start of the year.Buoyant Napoli, who beat Chelsea 3-1 in the Champions League on Tuesday, host down-at-heel Inter Milan tomorrow with Claudio Ranieri’s team having taken only one point from their last 15.Elsewhere, Udinese, third with 42 points, visit Bologna while fourth-placed Lazio complete a turbulent week at home to Fiorentina.