By DPA
Milan : With nine goals in as many games, Inter Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has become a nightmare for Serie A defenders struggling to contain his unpredictable bursts of power and inventiveness.
The towering Swede turned 26 Wednesday, but celebrated the occurrence a day earlier scoring a brace in a 2-0 defeat of PSV Eindhoven in the UEFA Champions League. Ibrahimovic has already notched three braces in the Italian Serie A.
“I am running out of adjectives to describe this footballer,” said Inter president Massimo Moratti.
Ibracadabra, as fans have dubbed him for his ability to fool defenders, said he was glad to have ended a two-year drought in the Champions League.
“You saw a really good Zlatan (against PSV),” he said. “But now we must not relent. Inter will need to be at its best until the end of the Champions League.”
Coach Roberto Mancini could give Ibra a game off against newcomers Napoli, who visit the Giuseppe Meazza late Saturday.
Inter will be confident of stretching their one-point lead on second-place Juventus but Ibrahimovic is likely to turn down any offer to sit the game out as he is battling with Juve’s Frenchman David Trezeguet for the top-scorer spot. Both strikers have seven goals after six Serie A games.
Juventus face a tough affair Sunday at Fiorentina, who are a point behind them but have a UEFA Cup game against Dutch outfit Groningen Thursday night.
Also facing UEFA Cup duties Thursday are Palermo, who Sunday welcome Reggina, Sampdoria, playing at Torino, and Empoli, tackling Siena in a Tuscany derby.
A prompt recovery is expected from Roma, visiting Parma after last weekend’s 1-4 home drubbing by Inter and a narrow 0-1 defeat at the hands of Manchester United in the Champions League.
The midweek round was glum for European champions AC Milan, beaten 1-2 by Celtic, while their late Sunday opponents Lazio gained confidence from a 2-2 home draw with Real Madrid.
Both sides have just seven points ahead of their clash at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico, where Lazio are unbeaten in their last 15 games.
Atalanta and Udinese, respectively on nine and 10 points, open the weekend Saturday afternoon, a day before Catania welcome tail-enders Livorno and promoted Genoa take on Cagliari.