Rome - Italian football club Juventus will be without new playmaker Diego and veteran forward Alessandro del Piero in Tuesday's European Champions League opener against French club Girondins Bodeaux.

Juve said on their website on Monday that Diego is nursing a thigh muscle injury and that del Piero is still not fit from injury to make his season debut.

Diego, the 24-year-old summer arrival from Germany's Werder Bremen, had to be replaced after suffering a pulled muscle in his right thigh Saturday during a league game the Turin side won 2-0 at Lazio.

Juve said that Diego will take a week to recover, making him doubtful as well for Saturday's Serie A game against minnows Livorno.

Also missing for Juve are midfielders Mohamed Sissokho, from Mali, and Bosnian Hasan Salihamidzic, while international defender Giorgio Chiellini is suspended. (dpa)