Jardel return whets appetite

Football fans in the Iberian peninsula can look forward to some explosive action this weekend as the frontrunners in Spain and Portugal meet in important league games.

Showdown in Porto
Saturday sees the I. Liga’s top side, Sporting Clube de Portugal, visit third-placed FC Porto, while Sunday sees drama over the border in Spain as Primera División leaders Real Madrid CF play host to fellow title challengers Valencia CF.

Jardel returns
The main talking point ahead of the match at the Das Antas stadium is the return of Sporting striker Mario Jardel to the ground he graced for four seasons between 1996 and 2000. Jardel, who joined Sporting last summer from Galatasaray SK, will take his place in Laszlo Bölöni’s side after returning from an injury lay-off.

Machado under pressure
Sporting top the table with 36 points, ahead of Boavista FC and Porto and Octávio Machado, Porto’s coach, could certainly do with a victory. He enters the match under some pressure from the club’s fans after a disappointing run that has brought his side only one league win since November. Machado remains defiant, however. "Whatever the score is, I will be here the next morning to do my job," he said.

Striker shortage
Machado is not helped by the absence of Benni McCarthy on international duty with South Africa in the African Cup of Nations, while loan signing Ivan Kaviedes is not yet ready to play following his arrival from RC Celta de Vigo.

Intrigue in Spain
Across the border in Spain, the top places in the table remain in constant flux. Just five points separate the top eight sides in the Primera División, and the destiny of the league’s UEFA Champions League and UEFA Cup places is anybody's guess.

Madrid in form
For sheer drama, the Santiago Bernabéu stadium should be the place to be as Real Madrid take on Valencia on Sunday. Having risen to the top of the table with a 3-1 win against RC Deportivo La Coruña last week, Madrid will be eager to dent the challenge of a fellow pretender to the Spanish title - and a side they beat to win the UEFA Champions League in 2000.

Basque derby
Elsewhere fifth-placed Athletic Club Bilbao will look to climb higher with victory in the Basque derby against lowly Real Sociedad on Saturday, while FC Barcelona take on mid-table Sevilla FC.

Fiorentina feel the heat
In Italy, third-placed AC Chievo Verona take on an AC Fiorentina side second from bottom of the table and without a coach, following the departure of Roberto Mancini on Friday. Fiorentina have collected just three points from a possible 24 on the road this season and with reserves of money and morale seemingly spent, it will take an almighty effort to get their season back on track in Verona.

Excitement in England
The race for the FA Premiership could take another twist in England. Leeds United AFC lead the table with 41 points as they prepare for the visit of fourth-placed Newcastle United FC, but Manchester United are now second with 39 points after recovering from after a dreadful run of results in late 2001.

Highbury head-to-head
United travel to Southampton FC on Sunday seeking an eighth straight win while two other English Champions League contenders go head-to-head at Highbury Stadium on Sunday as Arsenal FC host Liverpool FC. The visitors will be eager to end their recent wretched run which continued with a 2-0 defeat at Southampton on Wednesday.

Livingston out to unsettle Rangers
In Scotland, Rangers FC coach Alex McLeish is settling into his task at Ibrox Stadium but there is uncertainty over the future of the club’s technical director Dick Advocaat – who has been linked with the vacant coaching position with the Dutch national side – as they prepare for the visit of Livingston FC. Second-placed Rangers are eight points clear of third-placed Livingston, but, with an eye on a European place, there is little chance of the Scottish Premier League newcomers showing Rangers too much respect.

Xanthi restart Greek season
Europe is also in the sights of Xanthi FC who have been the surprise package in Greece this year and have the honour of playing the first Ethniki Kategoria game following the winter break away to Ethnikos Asteras on Saturday. Xanthi are third in the table - within striking range of the top two, AEK Athens FC and Olympiakos Piraeus FC, who are both in action on Sunday.