Focus back on domestic duties

Frontrunners meet
Four of the top five in Serie A meet on Sunday, with leaders AC Milan travelling to fourth-placed S.S. Lazio and AS Roma – who are second, five points behind Milan – visiting Parma AC.

Striking returns
Filippo Inzaghi has recovered from his back injury and could link up with Andriy Shevchenko in Milan's attack, with Rui Costa in line to replace Kakà. Meanwhile, Roma strikers Francesco Totti and Antonio Cassano are also ready to return, although defender Jonathan Zebina is suspended.

Notable absentees
Third-placed Juventus FC are at home to winless bottom side Ancona Calcio. However, Marcello Lippi's team are without Pavel Neved through suspension as well as Paolo Montero, Enzo Maresca and David Trezeguet who are all injured.

Baggio aim
Brescia Calcio striker Roberto Baggio will be attempting to score his 200th Serie A goal against one of his former clubs, FC Internazionale, who have mounting defensive problems. Iván Cordoba and Marco Materazzi are suspended, with Fabio Cannavaro and Carlos Gamarra injured.

Midfield reinforcements
In Spain, leaders Real Madrid CF welcome back midfield pair David Beckham and Guti for the home game with fellow Champions League contenders RC Celta de Vigo. The visitors are without Pablo Cavallero after the goalkeeper broke his nose against Arsenal FC on Tuesday while Sebastián Méndez also joins Jesuli, Giovanella, Juanfran and José Ignacio on the injured list and Sergio Fernández is banned. Valencia CF will be seeking to close the five-point gap on Madrid as they visit RCD Espanyol.

Deportivo duel
Third play fourth as RC Deportivo La Coruña meet FC Barcelona, who welcome back Edgar Davids after suspension, although Patrick Kluivert, Gabriel Márquez and Luis Enrique are still injured. Elsewhere, Sevilla FC meet neighbours Real Betis Balompié in Saturday night's derby.

Fitness worries
In England on Sunday, Bolton Wanderers FC meet Middlesbrough FC in the League Cup final at the Millennium stadium in Cardiff, with the winners earning a place in next season's UEFA Cup. Boro playmaker Juninho Paulista, twice a runner-up for the club in major cup finals, is relishing the occasion. "I have won a [FIFA] World Cup winner's medal but in a different way, earning a winner's medal this weekend will probably mean as much to me," he said.

Ljungberg doubt
Premiership leaders Arsenal will give late fitness tests to Ashley Cole and Gilberto ahead of their match with Charlton Athletic FC, with Fredrik Ljungberg also a doubt. Second-placed Manchester United FC, who trail by seven points, are without the suspended Gary Neville for their visit to Fulham FC and Louis Saha's calf injury threatens his participation against his former club. Chelsea FC have Adrian Mutu available again after injury, with Damien Duff also in contention to start at Manchester City FC.

Bremen advantage
Bundesliga leaders SV Werder Bremen will be seeking to preserve their six-point advantage at home to BV Borussia Dortmund. Bixente Lizarazu sits out FC Bayern München's meeting with VfL Wolfsburg while VfB Stuttgart take on FC Schalke 04, and Bayer 04 Leverkusen play at Hamburger SV.

Away tests
The top two in France are both away on Saturday, with AS Monaco FC visiting lowly Toulouse FC and Olympique Lyonnais at RC Lens. On Sunday, third-placed Paris Saint-Germain FC visit the side immediately below them, AJ Auxerre.