Materazzi facing spell on sidelines

FC Internazionale Milano defender Marco Materazzi will be absent for at least two weeks after pulling a muscle in his right thigh during his team's 1-1 UEFA Champions League draw at home to Werder Bremen on Wednesday.

Fitness race
The 35-year-old Italian international had to leave the field 20 minutes into the Group B game at San Siro, with Nicolás Burdisso coming on in his place. Scans today showed the extent of the injury and Materazzi is expected to miss Italy's FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Bulgaria on 11 October and against Montenegro four days later. He will then face a race to be fit for Inter's next UEFA Champions League fixture, at home against Anorthosis Famagusta FC on 22 October. Materazzi was already due to sit out Saturday's Serie A meeting with Bologna FC through suspension.