ROME: Carlos Tevez will be expected to provide the difference when two-time defending champion Juventus meets Inter Milan on Saturday in the first big clash of the Serie A season. Also this weekend, Kaka will mark his return to AC Milan at Torino after his transfer from Real Madrid on the final day of the transfer window. There is also the Genoa derby Sunday night but the weekend's highlight should come a day earlier at the San Siro for Inter-Juve, a match known as the derby d'Italia — Italy's derby. With fellow forward Mirko Vucinic likely out with a bruised left knee, Tevez should be the focus of Juventus' attack as he aims to extend his perfect start with the club following his transfer from Manchester City. Tevez has scored in each of his first three matches. In his Juventus debut, Tevez scored the fourth goal in a 4-0 rout of lazio in the Italian Super Cup last month. He then scored the decisive goal when Juve opened Serie A by beating Sampdoria 1-0, and also found the target in a 4-1 win over lazio in the second round. AP
Back to Bundesliga for Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich
BERlIN: Borussia Dortmund is hoping a frustrating international break for some of its players has no effect on its winning start in the Bundesliga. Robert lewandowski is struggling to be fit for Saturday's game at home against Hamburger SV after returning early from Poland's World Cup qualifiers with a tendon problem in his left knee. There are also question marks over Dortmund's central defensive pairing of Mats Hummels and Neven Subotic. Hummels was an unused substitute for Germany after losing his place for the qualifiers against Austria and the Faeroe Islands, while Subotic put his international career on hold after Serbia failed to secure qualification. Hummels, in particular, is cause for concern. Dortmund coach Juergen Klopp substituted the defender in the side's previous league game because he was "in danger of a red card" and Hummels was heavily criticized for his performance in the Germany's 3-3 draw with Paraguay in a friendly last month. "Mats had one or two problematic situations but a player has to learn how to deal with them," Klopp said. Germany coach Joachim loew suggested the 24-year-old was merely going through a bad patch. "In comparison to last year, he's lacking a little assurance," loew said. "But I'm a huge fan of his. He's a great player and of course we'll continue to rely on him."
Cyprus coach quits after loss to Slovenia in world Cup qualifiers
NICOSIA (Cyprus): Cyprus coach Nikos Nioplias has resigned in the wake of the country's poor showing in World Cup qualifying. A statement posted on the Cyprus Football Association's website says Nioplias offered his resignation after the country's 2-0 loss to Slovenia on Tuesday. An interim coaching staff will lead the team in its final two qualifying matches against Albania and Iceland next month before the search for a new coach begins. Cyprus has only one victory and a draw in six qualifying games and is last in Group E with four points. Nioplias, a Greek national who assumed coaching duties in June 2011, said after the loss to Slovenia that he's pessimistic about Cyprus' future because of a lack of good players. AP