MILAN, Sept 8 (AFP): A three-month footballi-ngTaine is about to end for Italy's soccer fans as they prepare for a feast of midweek Italian Cup ties.

With the Serie A not starting until the weekend, all eyes are I on the second round ties be-| tween the country's elite and their mainly Serie B opponents.

The first-leg action gets underway on Tuesday, when new coach Alberto Zaccheroni takes his re-vamped AC Milan to face , .Torino.

, Milan executives, whp have watched the club's fall from grace over the past two years and who are desperate to return to power in Europe, are counting heavily on the Udinese-ef-fect.

Zaccheroni guided the provincial club to third in the table last season and has arrived with two of his best players — German Ace Oliver Bierhoff. the Serie A's top scorer, and Danish midfielder Thomas Helveg.

Now they face competitive action for the first time, after grappling with the novelty of playing 3-4-3 football in a series of friendlies.

All but one of the other cup ties will be played on Wednesday. headed by championship favourites Inter Milan, who face Cesena, and Italian Super Cup winners Lazio, who meet Cosenza.

Inter supporters are desperate to see Ronaldo back in action after the trials and tribulation of the World Cup. and preferably playing alongside

Italian idol Roberto Baggio.

Baggio, re-bom since leaving AC Milan a year ago, is almost certain to start, while the Brazilian may make an ap-|jearance from the substitutes'

Club officials are convinced that the convulsions which struck Ronaldo in his hotel room shortly before the World Cup final were caused by stress.

They are therefore anxious to ensure he doesn’t return to the spotlight until the 21-year-old is 100 per cent match fit and mentally prepared.

"He couldn't cope with all the pressure, with the hopes of an entire nation on his shoulders." said coach Luigi Simoni. "We all thought he was a self-contained youngster who didn't have a care in the world.

"Instead, we realised that infact he's the sensitive type."

Simoni has a wealth of talent at his disposal this season, after narrowly failing to land

the league title last time around.

Baggio's arrival may have boosted season ticket sales to a record 57,000 but he has been Joined by two of the most exciting young players in Italian soccer, striker Nicola Ventola and midfielder Andrea Pirlo, both of whom should be on show on Wednesday night.

But if Inter's signing of Ronaldo was last summer's sensation. Lazio have made the biggest transfer coup this year witn the near 30-million-dollar recruitment pf Christian Vieri from Atletico Madrid.

Vieri was Italy's best player of their ill-fated World Cup campaign and he Is raring to team up with another newcomer. Chilean Marcelo Salas.

Vieri. the Spanish leagues top scorer last season, said: Tm not setting myself any limits on the number of goals I'll score this season. And anyway, that's not the only way to judge a striker. I always try to be a team man.

"But one thing is for sure. Lazio fans will have nothing to worry about. They won't be disappointed when they come to watch us. 1 swear I can't wait for the cup Ue against Cosenza. It's an important game, at least for me.”

Thursday’s match is reserved for Italy's reigning champions. Juventus, ana Ravenna.

Juventus, upset by recent in-sinuaUons that Alessandro Del Piero and Gianluca Vlalli may have used drugs, and rattled by their recent Super Cup defeat to Lazi. will be looking to resume their normal service.

Coach Marcello Lippi, who faces as busy week with the Italian Cup. the Serie A and then the European Champions League, is clearly ready to start.

"As usual, we will be fighting on all three fronts, and Ravenna are the first opponents.” he said. They have a lot of enthusiasm and will do everything they can to cause an upset."

But echoing the feelings of millions in Italy, he admitted: Tin Just glad that we ll be playing real football again.”