Football: Torino face torrid time from Inter

ITALIAN PREVIEW

THERE IS no respite for Torino. Following last week's 3-0 defeat by Lazio, they entertain the resurgent Internazionale in tomorrow's live Italian league game on Channel 4.

It all went wrong for Inter last term. Knocked out of the European Cup by Manchester United, their form was so moderate they failed to qualify for the Uefa Cup and declined the chance to scramble into that competition via the Intertoto Cup. That was a snub, but may turn out to have been a smart move. While Milan, Lazio and Fiorentina slug it out in the Champions' League, Inter, with a new coach, the multiple scudetto-winning Marcello Lippi, and the striker Christian Vieri recruited for a world record pounds 32m, have a great chance to seize the initiative in Serie A.

Vieri scored all three in Inter's 3-0 victory over Verona then, following a 0-0 draw at Roma, Vieri scored again as Inter annihilated Parma 5-1. The return to form after injury of Francesco Moriero, Inter's winger, has been another bonus, while Ivan "Bam Bam" Zamorano, Inter's veteran Chilean striker who scored twice against Parma, has been leaving Ronaldo in his shade. Ronaldo is unlikely to figure tomorrow, but Inter have Roberto Baggio back from injury.

FIXTURES (league positions in brackets): This afternoon: Lecce (14) v Juventus (3). Tonight: Milan (5) v Bologna (13). Tomorrow afternoon: Cagliari (18) v Venezia (17); Reggina (7) v Piacenza (15); Roma (6) v Perugia (8); Torino (10) v Internazionale (1); Udinese (9) v Fiorentina (2); Verona (11) v Bari (12). Tomorrow night: Parma (16) v Lazio (4).