Briefs

Rivas: Inter centre back Nelson Rivas will undergo surgery after rupturing the external collateral ligament of his right knee in the second half of Saturday's 2-1 victory over Bologna, the club said in a statement. The Colombian is expected to be out for at least two months and leaves the Italian champions short of defensive options with Marco Materazzi and Maxwell injured.

Mellberg: Juventus defender Olof Mellberg has pulled out of Sweden's World Cup Group One qualifier against Portugal on Saturday after sustaining a groin injury during his side's 2-1 loss to Palermo in Serie A at the weekend. Mellberg is expected to be sidelined for three weeks.

Manucho: Manchester United striker Manucho could make his first World Cup qualifying appearance for Angola after he was named in their squad for Sunday's African zone Group Three qualifier against Niger following a return from injury.

Milan: Milan chief executive Adriano Galliani has blamed tiredness from Thursday's UEFA Cup match at FC Zurich for Sunday's 0-0 Serie A draw at bottom side Cagliari. "Playing away Thursday night, arriving in Milan on Friday afternoon and leaving again on the Saturday is tiring," he told reporters.

In Italy: Serie B - Empoli vs Livorno 2-1.

Weightlifting: India's weightlifting federation has handed out life bans to two lifters after both were found guilty of second doping offences. Top male lifter Sateesha Rai, first caught and stripped of two gold medals and a bronze at the 2002 Commonwealth Games, and woman lifter Boradi Prameelavalli have been banned. Rai was suspended for six months after testing positive for a stimulant six years ago and was caught again last year using the banned steroid stanozolol at the national games.

MFA Division Three: Għaxaq vs Luqa St Andrews 2-1; Pembroke vs Mtarfa 0-1.