Italian challengers out to close gap

Pivotal fixture
Roma and Juve both trail leaders AC Milan by five points with the UEFA Champions League holders at home to winless AC Perugia earlier on Sunday afternoon. Juventus coach Marcello Lippi will take a full squad to Rome with the exception of the injured Alessandro Birindelli and could start with Pavel Nedved, Alessandro Del Piero and David Trezeguet in attack.

Capello determined
Roma, who are denied Vincenzo Montella through injury, have dropped five points in their last two games. Coach Fabio Capello said: "One month ago we were in better physical condition but I am sure we will get through this tough time soon."

European contenders meet
Filippo Inzaghi has recovered from his calf injury and scored Milan's only goal in their 2-1 Coppa Italia defeat against S.S. Lazio, but he is likely to start on the bench against a Perugia side heavily revamped during the transfer window. Fourth-placed FC Internazionale visit UC Sampdoria, while AC Parma take on Lazio in another match vital for European qualification.

Valencia depleted
The top two in the Primera División both play on Saturday, and in the first of those games fourth-placed Atlético can ensure city rivals Madrid end the weekend on top by avoiding defeat at Valencia CF, who won 6-1 at Málaga CF last weekend. Playmaker Pablo Aimar is out with an injured achilles tendon along with Jorge López, who has damaged ankle ligaments. Atlético could include Rubén Olivera, newly signed on loan from Juve.

Ronaldo hope
If Valencia win and wipe out Madrid's two-point lead, the champions have an immediate chance to return to the top against Málaga. Ronaldo has recovered from the illness which kept him out of the 2-0 Spanish Cup win against Sevilla FC. Third-placed RC Deportivo La Coruña should be at full strength for their trip to lowly Albacete Balompié on Sunday.

Ailton doubtful
Bundesliga leaders SV Werder Bremen could go seven points clear on Saturday night by winning at VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach. However, prolific striker Ailton has flu and may not play. Also on Saturday, the new 1. FC Kaiserslautern coach Kurt Jara hopes to steer his side out of the bottom three when they welcome relegation rivals 1. FC Köln.

Sunday games
Second-placed VfB Stuttgart may give Hakan Yakin a debut against Hertha BSC Berlin on Sunday, while FC Bayern München will be hoping to bounce back from their German Cup defeat against TSV Alemannia Aachen when they take on Hannover 96.

Arsenal visit strugglers
English Premiership front-runners Arsenal FC are expected to maintain their unbeaten record when they visit struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers FC on Saturday, although Manchester United FC recently lost at Molineux. United, two points behind, go to Everton FC. On Sunday, Scott Parker will be a spectator at Chelsea FC as his former club Charlton Athletic FC insisted that he could not play against them in this fixture as part of his recent €14.6m switch to Stamford Bridge.

Giuly blow
All the Ligue 1 contenders are in action on Saturday. Four points clear, AS Monaco FC visit lowly FC Metz without midfielder Ludovic Giuly due to a foot injury, while second-placed Olympique Lyonnais welcome bottom side EA Guingamp. AJ Auxerre, in third, visit a Stade Rennais FC side unbeaten at home, while FC Sochaux Montbéliard go to Lille OSC.