25.02.2016 13:36 h

Thigh strain rules Marchisio out of Inter clashes

Serie A leaders Juventus will be without Claudio Marchisio for two successive games against Inter Milan after the influential midfielder suffered a thigh injury against Bayern Munich in midweek.

Marchisio was replaced at half-time in a 2-2 draw with Bayern on Tuesday which has left their Champions League last 16 tie delicately poised ahead of the return leg on March 16 in Munich.

A statement from Juventus said: "This morning Claudio Marchisio underwent scans which revealed a muscle strain in his left thigh. He is expected to return to competition after one week."

It rules Marchisio out of Sunday's league clash against Inter in Turin, as well as the visit to the same opponents in midweek for the second leg of an Italian Cup semi-final clash, in which Juventus lead 3-0 from the first leg.

AC Milan are the other top flight semi-finalists and will face third division Alessandria in the second leg on Tuesday with a 1-0 first-leg advantage.

It means Marchisio, an Italy international, is expected to return in time for the trip to Atalanta on March 6.

Juventus sit top of Serie A with a one-point lead on Napoli, with Fiorentina in third a further five points off the pace.