Maldini milestone points the way

Points and plaudits
The former Italian international defender will make his 500th league appearance at the Oreste Granillo stadium, joining an exclusive band of seven quincenturions headed by the great Dino Zoff, who holds the record of 570 top-flight games. As well as the plaudits, however, Maldini, 34, will aim to pick up points.

Form team
Milan, who are third in the table, trail leaders Juventus FC by six points, and the Bianconeri have a negotiable fixture at home against Modena FC. Juventus are certainly the form team, having won nine of their last ten matches. Second-placed Inter less so. The Nerazzurri have eleven players out injured for the visit of lowly Como Calcio, while Emre Belözoglu and Fabio Cannavaro are suspended.

Battle for fourth
Elsewhere, S.S. Lazio will seek to preserve their fourth position when they welcome Empoli FC. AC Chievo Verona and Parma AC, the clubs directly below them, face off at the Marc'Antonio Bentegodi stadium.

Ronaldo worry
Another team looking to maintain their lofty status are Real Madrid CF, the Primera División's top side. Madrid travel to Villarreal CF with a UEFA Champions League victory against Milan under their belts - but also with injuries to Fernando Hierro and Fernando Morientes, and a question mark against Ronaldo's fitness.

Missing parts
Madrid's nearest rivals, Real Sociedad, are also bereft of key players for the trip to Real Racing Club Santander. Gabriel Schürrer and Aitor López Rekarte are injured; Agustín Aranzabal and Javier De Pedro are rated doubtful. RC Deportivo La Coruña can keep pace with the front two with a win against Rayo Vallecano. Valencia CF visit struggling Athletic Club Bilbao, while Atlético Club de Madrid kick off their centenary with a home game against RC Celta de Vigo.

Race for second
The main event in Germany appears to be the race for second place. With FC Bayern München 13 points ahead of the rest, BV Borussia Dortmund and VfB Stuttgart are vying to be chief bridesmaid - a position which guarantees entry to the Champions League's group stage. Borussia, who currently have the edge on goal difference, take on Hannover 96 at the Westfalenstadion, while Stuttgart are away to TSV 1860 München.

Top and bottom
Bayern, meanwhile, will bid to extend their unbeaten sequence to 14 matches when they take on VfL Bochum 1848 at the Ruhrstadion. At the other end of the Bundesliga, Bayer 04 Leverkusen can ease the pressure on new coach Thomas Hörster with three points against VfL Wolfsburg, while bottom club FC Energie Cottbus meet 1. FC Kaiserslautern in a relegation dogfight.

Sunderland hope
The same could be said of the English Premiership encounter between Sunderland AFC and Bolton Wanderers FC at the Stadium of Light. The game is Mick McCarthy's first in charge of the north-east club, and the former Republic of Ireland manager may have arrived at just the right time to inspire rock-bottom Sunderland.

Away days
Arsenal FC can give themselves a lift with victory at Blackburn Rovers FC, while Manchester United FC, five points behind the Gunners in the title race, will also want a good away day at Aston Villa FC. Third-placed Newcastle United FC have a tough assignment at Charlton Athletic FC.

Neighbourly conflict
Elsewhere, Liverpool FC will to try and continue their good run of form when they play at Tottenham Hotspur FC on Sunday. The Anfield club have their sights on the fourth Champions League qualifying berth, which is currently the property of neighbours Everton FC, who entertain West Ham United FC.

New beginnings
There is also the start of the Russian 2003 season, and the resumption of the Polish league after the winter break. Wisla Kraków, who were denied a UEFA Cup quarter-final place by Lazio, lead the latter competition against a backdrop of financial uncertainty, with clubs struggling with falling television revenues, a player exodus and crumbling stadiums.