Previews: Inter unlikely to risk Sneijder

Serie A leaders Inter Milan will have to do without Maicon in Saturday's big match at third-placed Juventus after their appeal to have his two-match ban reduced was rejected on Friday.

The Brazil full-back was given the suspension for being sent off for dissent in a 3-1 win at Bologna two weeks ago.

Coach Jose Mourinho will not yet risk using Dutch playmaker Wesley Sneijder, who is on the mend after injuring his thigh in training with his national team last month.

Midfielder Felipe Melo is in the match squad for faltering Juve, who dropped eight points behind Inter with last week's 2-0 defeat at Cagliari, after a throat infection.

Coach Ciro Ferrara is considering changing formation again, according to reports, and reverting to a 4-3-1-2 with captain Alessandro Del Piero and Amauri up front.

Second-placed AC Milan, who trail Inter by seven points, cannot use Filippo Inzaghi in Saturday's home match against Sampdoria, although the suspended striker has not been a regular starter of late anyway.

Sampdoria, whose strong early season form has deserted them recently, are hit even harder by bans, with defenders Fabrizio Cacciatore and Marco Rossi and midfielder Angelo Palombo out after last week's bad-tempered 3-0 defeat by city rivals Genoa.

Troubled Lazio are without suspended forward Julio Cruz for the derby against in-form AS Roma on Sunday, when they will be aiming for their first league win since August.

A car with Palermo players Edinson Cavani and Nicolas Bertolo inside was attacked while they waited at a traffic light on Thursday, the Sicilian club said before Sunday's home match against Cagliari.

Palermo lost their first game under new coach Delio Rossi 1-0 at Chievo Verona last weekend after a poor run cost Walter Zenga his job.