The Observer:
The appeals by Juventus, Fiorentina, Lazio and AC Milan in the Italian match-fixing trial have begun in Rome, with the outcome due tomorrow.
The four clubs were all stripped of their European places, given points penalties for the new league season and, with the exception of Milan, were relegated to Serie B. The appeals need to be conducted as quickly as possible because the Italian Football Federation must submit the names of the teams entering the European club competitions to Uefa on Tuesday.
Juventus do not expect to be able to reverse their relegation or the loss of their Champions League place. The activities of Luciano Moggi, their former general manager, were at the heart of the match-fixing scandal, as he manipulated the selection of referees for the club's matches. But Juve do hope that the 30-point penalty imposed - which makes promotion back to Serie A this season all but impossible - may be cut.
'There are lots of ways the penalty can be reduced,' said Cesare Zaccone, one of Juventus's lawyers. 'We'll have to see, but let's not get carried away.'
Fiorentina, who are due to be docked 12 points at the start of their Serie B campaign, and Lazio, who face a seven-point deficit, have greater hopes of a reprieve from relegation. Milan, who are set to kick off the Serie A season with minus 15 points, have not given up all hope of playing in the Champions League.