Marchisio out with muscle injury

Milan - Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio is expected to miss the Italian champions' first two games of the league season after the club confirmed he had suffered a muscle problem.

Italy international Marchisio has suffered "a grade one tear" in his right thigh muscle, according to a club statement, and is expected to be sidelined for around 20 days.

Juventus, who won a league and Cup double last season but lost to Barcelona in the final of the Champions League, open the 2015-2016 season at home to Udinese on Sunday.

The first major challenge of the season for Massimiliano Allegri's 31-time champions is their away trip to title pretenders Roma, who finished distant runners-up last season, on August 30.