INTER MILAN will take a slender one-goal advantage into the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final clash with CSKA Moscow next week after Diego Milito earned them a 1-0 win at the San Siro last night.

Inter Milan 1 CSKA Moscow 0

Inter Milan boss Jose Mourinho has picked three forwards on his return to Stamford Bridge to face his former club Chelsea in the Champions League last 16.

FRANCE legend Zinedine Zidane “would rather die” than apologise to Marco Materazzi, who he headbutted during the 2006 World Cup final.

FORMER France midfielder Zinedine Zidane has re-ignited the row over Thierry Henry’s controversial handball in the World Cup play-off against Ireland by claiming that FIFA was right not to arrange a replay of the game.

Inter Milan are set to travel to Manchester on Tuesday with just two fit central defenders after losing Marco Materazzi and and Nicolas Burdisso to injury.

Inter Milan have denied receiving an offer from Tottenham or any other Barclays Premier League side for their Italy World Cup-winning defender Marco Materazzi.

Anorthosis Famagusta 3 Internazionale 3

ITALY defender Marco Materazzi has won damages from the Daily Mail over claims he racially abused Zinedine Zidane in the 2006 World Cup final.

Italian soccer star Marco Materazzi today accepted substantial undisclosed damages over 'Daily Mail' articles which said that he has used vile racist abuse to French captain Zinedine Zidane.

Holland 3 Italy 0

LIKE a good thriller, the battle for the title in Italy has produced half a dozen twists with one episode left. Those left dangling over the cliff edge after yesterday’s games include both Milan clubs, after Inter could only draw 2-2 at home to Siena and Milan suffered a 3-1 defeat away to Napoli.

Inter Milan 0 Liverpool 1 (Agg: 0-3)

ITALIAN footballer Marco Materazzi has won an apology and undisclosed damages from the English Daily Star over claims he racially insulted Zinedine Zidane during the World Cup final in 2006.

Internazionale defender Marco Materazzi admits the Serie A leaders are going through a difficult time.

THE Champions League kicks off again this week with each team aware that this round of 16 provides more shocks than the rest of the tournament combined.

INTER MILAN are looking to the last time they beat Liverpool to prove they can come back from Tuesday’s 2-0 Champions League first leg defeat.

Rafael Benitez reserved special praise for Dirk Kuyt after Liverpool’s unexpected Champions League victory over Inter Milan.

WHEN the dust finally settles on the internal strife that threatens the future of manager Rafael Benitez and is expected to precipitate a change in the ownership of the club, the name Javier Mascherano will figure prominently in any review of an uncomfortable episode in Liverpool’s recent history.

Liverpool 2 Inter Milan 0

Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres and Jose Reina all returned to Liverpool’s starting line-up for tonight’s Champions League clash against Inter Milan – one of the most important matches of manager Rafael Benitez’s reign.

FRANCE coach Raymond Domenech believes Marco Materazzi should have been man-of-the-match in last year’s World Cup final and even player of the tournament, praising the Italy defender for his role in the sending-off of France playmaker Zinedine Zidane.

France coach Raymond Domenech believes Marco Materazzi should have been man-of-the-match in last year’s World Cup final and even player of the tournament, praising the Italy defender for his role in the sending-off of France playmaker Zinedine Zidane.

ITALY defender Marco Materazzi claims Zinedine Zidane refuses to even acknowledge him over 12 months after that infamous head-butt in the World Cup final.

IT was one year ago this weekend that ZZ blew his top, 12 months and what seems like forever since Zinedine Zidane kicked a ball in anger for the last time and then, in even angrier mode, butted Marco Materazzi to floor the Italian giant and, with him, French hopes of winning the 2006 World Cup.

NOTHING falls down more easily than an Italian soccer player — with the possible exception of an Italian soccer player’s pants.

SCOTLAND’S Euro 2008 qualification hopes suffered a blow as they lost to two Luca Toni goals as Italy won 2-0 in Bari.

Internazionale 2 Valencia 2

SO OUR old friend Sepp Blatter, this time urged on by South Africa’s World Cup Organising Committee for 2010, has come up with another cracker to pop in the ‘Believe It Or Not File’.

FIFA are trying to persuade Zinedine Zidane and Marco Materazzi to bury the hatchet on a goodwill mission to 2010 World Cup hosts South Africa.

DESPITE that famous World Cup headbutt — or perhaps because of it — retired soccer star Zinedine Zidane is France’s favourite celebrity, a poll said.

Marco Materazzi has signed a new four-year contract at Inter Milan.

THE Football Association and FIFA have insisted the punishment handed out to Marco Materazzi for insulting Zinedine Zidane does not set any new precedent.

Inter Milan president Giacinto Facchetti has questioned FIFA’s decision to hand Italy defender Marco Materazzi a two-match ban for insulting Zinedine Zidane.

France playmaker Zinedine Zidane has been handed a three-match ban and a fine for his World Cup final head-butt on Italy defender Marco Materazzi who himself has been suspended for two games and fined for provoking the incident.

Zinedine Zidane has been suspended for three matches and fined 7500 Swiss francs (€4,775) for his World Cup final headbutt on Marco Materazzi.

Zinedine Zidane left FIFA headquarters without a word to waiting reporters in Zurich today after he gave his version of the incident which marred his last appearance in a competitive match in the 2006 World Cup final.

ZINEDINE ZIDANE and Marco Materazzi face judgment day today with FIFA disciplinary chiefs set to decide on any punishments for the incident in the World Cup final which led to Zidane’s sending-off.

Zinedine Zidane and Marco Materazzi face judgement day tomorrow with FIFA disciplinary chiefs set to decide on any punishments for the incident in the World Cup final which led to Zidane’s sending-off.

MARCO MATERAZZI will have “strong grounds” for appeal if FIFA punish him for provoking Zinedine Zidane’s infamous World Cup final headbutt based on the France captain’s testimony alone.

Marco Materazzi will have “strong grounds” for appeal if FIFA punish him for provoking Zinedine Zidane’s infamous World Cup final headbutt based on the France captain’s testimony alone.

“Everything went fine” for Italy’s World Cup-winning defender Marco Materazzi at his meeting with FIFA officials today, according to the player’s agent.

FIFA have opened disciplinary proceedings against Italy defender Marco Materazzi following the incident that led to France captain Zinedine Zidane being sent off in Sunday’s World Cup final.