Spotlight to elude Soler

Landmark appearance
Soler is expected to make his 500th league appearance in RCD Mallorca's game against Athletic Club Bilbao on Sunday. However, the Son Moix meeting is unlikely to be the main event with the league leadership up for grabs in Spain, Italy, France and England.

Close contact
In the Primera División, just two points separate pacesetters Real Sociedad from nearest rivals, Real Madrid CF and RC Deportivo La Coruña. Real face Club Atlético Osasuna in a Basque derby at Anoeta, Madrid entertain Real Valladolid, while Deportivo are also at home against Deportivo Alavés.

Valerón returns
Suspensions will deprive Real of defenders Igor Jaúregui and Agustín Aranzabal, and cause Madrid to miss Luis Figo. Yet the outstanding team news concerns Depor, who could reunite the attacking trio of Roy Makaay, Alberto Luque and fit-again midfield player Juan Valerón.

Back for good
FC Barcelona will also recover players after injury, with Luis Enrique set for his first league start in four months and Patrik Andersson and Philippe Christanval also available for selection. The Catalan side host Real Betis Balompié.

Neutral ground
There is little room at the top in Italy too. Juventus FC lead Internazionale FC on goal difference, with AC Milan two points behind in third place. This weekend Juventus tackle Como Calcio - as well as the flu bug which affected their personnel if not their performance against Manchester United FC on Wednesday. The game will take place at neutral Piacenza, as Como are serving a four-match stadium ban for crowd trouble.

Holy trinity
Piacenza Calcio themselves travel to Inter, who could field a three-man attack of Gabriel Batistuta, Alvaro Recoba and Christian Vieri. Milan welcome back winger Serginho for the trip to Torino Calcio, S.S. Lazio entertain Atalanta BC, while AC Chievo Verona head to Modena FC.

League focus
In France, Le Championnat returns after a three-week break with leaders Olympique de Marseille looking to maintain their advantage over AS Monaco FC. Marseille face Lille OSC at the Vélodrome; Monaco, two points behind, welcome AJ Auxerre.

Nice task
OGC Nice, still hanging on to their rivals' coat-tails in third place, have a tough assignment at SC Bastia, who are unbeaten in eight games. Meanwhile, defending champions Olympique Lyonnais meet Stade Rennais FC.

Away specials
The action in England centres on the north-west, with Arsenal FC journeying to Manchester City FC, and Manchester United FC away at Bolton Wanderers FC. Both teams will expect three points, though it is United, three points behind the Premiership leaders, who have arguably the easier task.

Fixture list
Newcastle United FC in third place will want to repeat the away form that brought victory at Bayer 04 Leverkusen when they play Leeds United AFC at Elland Road. Chelsea FC meet Blackburn Rovers FC, while Everton FC are at home to Southampton FC.

Derby day
The highlight of the German calendar, meanwhile, is the Bavarian derby between 1. Bundesliga leaders FC Bayern München and 1. FC Nürnberg at the Olympiastadion. A week after they handed out a five-goal thrashing to TSV 1860 München, Bayern will be keen to underline their local supremacy yet further against a team coached by former defender Klaus Augenthaler.

Neighbourly dispute
BV Borussia Dortmund, eight points back in second place, also have a neighbourly dispute to settle against FC Schalke O4, who are in fourth position. Meanwhile, Bayer 04 Leverkusen can climb out of the relegation places when they come up against another struggling side, bottom club 1. FC Kaiserslautern.

Croatian league returns
Finally, after two and a half months, the Croatian First League returns this weekend, with second-placed HNK Hajduk Split hoping the winter arrivals of Milan Rapaic and Almir Turkovic will help them overturn leaders NK Dinamo Zagreb's four-point advantage.