Italy : Serie A injured & suspended list (with statistics)

Alexandre Pato will be out for three to four weeks after the latest in a series of muscle injuries. The 22-year-old Brazilian striker strained his left thigh after scoring the extra-time winner in his side's Coppa Italia round of 16 game against Novara on Wednesday. Pato already missed the start of this season due to a muscle problem, and his entire career with Milan has been marked by similar injuries. He has just one goal in 10 Serie A appearances this season.

Milan have suffered another injury setback with the news that Kevin-Prince Boateng has been ruled out for four weeks with a muscular problem. The loss of Boateng is a major blow for Milan, given that fellow midfielders Gennaro Gattuso, Alberto Aquilani and Mathieu Flamini are also sidelined. Injuries have prompted Milan to bring back Alexander Merkel, 19, from Genoa and recall Rodney Strasser, 21, after a loan stint with Lecce. Meanwhile, Milan have signed Algerian left-back Djamel Mesbah from Lecce on a contract through 2016.

Inter are likely to be without Uruguayan international Diego Forlan for the next four weeks after the striker injured his right thigh in training. The Uruguayan international joined Inter from Atletico Madrid last summer, but the 32-year-old has made just nine appearances and scored one goal in Serie A. He was sidelined earlier this season with another muscular injury to his left thigh, which he suffered on international duty in October.

Roma striker Pablo Osvaldo will spend eight weeks on the sidelines after picking up a thigh injury in Wednesday's training session. It was feared that he had sustained a second-degree strain, and tests on Friday morning have confirmed the problem. The news comes just days after Roma dispensed with the services of one of their strikers, as Marco Borriello joined Juventus on loan. Osvaldo, who joined Roma from Espanyol in the summer in a €17.5 million deal, is the club's top Serie A scorer, with 7 goals in 15 matches.

Napoli will be without Ezequiel Lavezzi for around four to five weeks after the forward strained his right thigh during Sunday's 3-1 home defeat by Roma. The 26-year-old Argentinian international has scored three goals in 14 Serie A appearances this season. Lavezzi will miss Napoli's league matches against Genoa, Palermo and Bologna as well as the Italian Cup Italia match against Cesena.

Defender Mario Yepes is facing several weeks on the sidelines with an ankle injury. The Colombian centre-back was substituted just after the hour mark in last weekend's 2-2 draw with Bologna. Milan say his injury is a serious one and will require further tests. The news came as a blow to Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri, who is already without centre-back Alessandro Nesta.

Lazio will be without Federico Marchetti for a month after the goalkeeper strained a muscle in his right thigh during their 3-2 Serie A win at Lecce. The 28-year-old was replaced by Argentinian Juan Pablo Carrizo 62 minutes into Saturday's game. Marchetti will miss Lazio's crucial UEFA Europa League Group D match with Sporting Portugal. He joins fellow goalkeeper Albano Bizzarri on the injury list.

Inter have confirmed that Wesley Sneijder requires more treatment for a muscular injury, and will not be available against Fiorentina. The Netherlands international has been on the sidelines since early November but was expected to potentially make a return this weekend. "Sneijder is still not ready for a full return to the team," read a statement on Inter's official website. "This is what was revealed by Friday morning's training session and the medical tests to which the midfielder was subjected this afternoon on the part of the Inter medical staff. For the complete recovery of the injury to the rectus femoris muscle of his right leg, which he sustained on November 11 at the end of the warm-up before Inter v Cagliari, Sneijder still needs an additional period of specific exercises."

Juventus will be without striker Mirko Vucinic for about three weeks. The Montenegro international sustained a muscle strain in his right leg during Sunday's 2-0 win over Cesena. Vucinic has scored two goals in 12 league appearances for the Serie A leaders this season. Meanwhile, Juventus captain Alessandro Del Piero has been released from the hospital and says he's ready to play again. The 37-year-old forward needed eight stitches after being kicked in the face during Sunday's game.

Alessandro Del Piero spent the night in hospital after being kicked in the face during Juventus' 2-0 win over Cesena on Sunday. The 36-year-old was stretchered off with blood streaming from his forehead after being caught by Marco Rossi's studs. The veteran striker received eight stiches before being transferred to hospital for further scans. The injury came during a frustrating season for Del Piero, who has been mainly restricted to late substitute appearances for Juventus.

Striker Pablo Osvaldo has apologized for striking teammate Erik Lamela across the face after Roma's 2-0 loss to Udinese last week. The 25-year-old was annoyed that Lamela did not pass the ball to him to create a chance against Udinese, but recently admitted that he regrets his actions. Osvaldo's violent actions in the dressing room saw him slapped with a €50,000 fine and a one-match ban by Roma, meaning he will miss this Sunday's trip to Fiorentina.

Striker Fabrizio Miccoli is likely to miss the upcoming Serie A match against Parma because of pulled a muscle in his right thigh. The Palermo captain, 32, was taken off on a stretcher late in the first half of a 2-0 win over Fiorentina last weekend. Miccoli has played in 10 Serie A matches this season, and has four goals and three assists.

Inter Milan defender Lucio will be out for about a month after picking up a leg injury in Tuesday's Champions League draw against Trabzonspor. Lucio pulled a muscle in his left leg at the end of the 1-1 draw. The Brazilian centerback is unlikely to play again until the new year. The 33-year-old Lucio will miss Serie A matches against Siena, Udinese, Fiorentina, Genoa, Cesena and Lecce, as well as the final Champions League group game at home to CSKA Moscow.