Warming up for Europe

AC Milan may only be days away from starting their UEFA Champions League defence against AFC Ajax - but they first face a tough Serie A test this weekend as Europe's domestic competitions recommence after a break for international action.

Maldini out
Milan started the season with a 2-0 win against Ancona Calcio a fortnight ago - but the sending-off of captain Paolo Maldini means he will miss Saturday's home match with Bologna FC. Title-holders Juventus FC face AC Chievo Verona.

Emotional return
Another of Italy's Champions League sides, S.S. Lazio, visit UC Sampdoria in an emotional match for the Rome team's coach, Roberto Mancini, who spent 15 successful years with the Genoa club. Internazionale FC, who meet Arsenal FC on Wednesday, take on newly promoted AC Siena without Christian Vieri, who injured his ankle on international duty.

Morientes bow
Fernando Morientes is set to make his Ligue 1 bow on Saturday as AS Monaco FC travel to fourth-placed Lille OSC looking to open up a lead at the top of the table. The Spanish international forward, whose loan from Real Madrid CF was completed on deadline day, should partner Togo's Emmanuel Adebayor in attack four days before Monaco's Champions League opener at PSV Eindhoven.

Govou returns
Champions Olympique Lyonnais, five points off the lead with five games gone, welcome AJ Auxerre with Sidney Govou ready to return from an ankle injury, while second-placed Olympique de Marseille, whose Champions League bid begins at Madrid on Tuesday, meet Le Mans UC 72.

Deportivo head south
In Spain, RC Deportivo La Coruña are the only Primera División side with two wins from two games, but they face a difficult test at unbeaten Sevilla FC. Madrid welcome Real Valladolid to the Spanish capital with Iván Helguera suffering from a knee problem.

Real missing strikers
Real Sociedad de Fútbol are without injured striker Nihat Kahveci for their visit to Real Racing Club Santander, although Darko Kovacevic and Óscar De Paula are both available, while their fellow Champions League debutants RC Celta de Vigo have lost forward Catanha to a groin strain as they play Real Betis Balompié.

Portsmouth visit Arsenal
Arsenal FC are top of the English Premiership but before the visit of Inter they defend their 100 per cent record against unbeaten newcomers Portsmouth FC. Manchester United FC are three points behind and go to Charlton Athletic FC, as Chelsea FC, whose expensively assembled team visit AC Sparta Praha on Tuesday, warm up with a London derby at home to Tottenham Hotspur FC.

Dortmund depleted
SV Werden Bremen lead the way in the German Bundesliga but on Saturday travel to meet BV Borussia Dortmund, whose injury list includes Marcio Amoroso, Evanilson, Torsten Frings, Guy Demel, Heiko Herrlich, Christoph Metzelder and Leandro. FC Bayern München are back in the Champions League after disappointment last season, but first visit VfL Wolfsburg without Jens Jeremies and Sebastian Deisler. VfB Stuttgart visit FC Schalke 04 ahead of their match at Rangers FC on Tuesday.

Eredivisie top two meet
In the Netherlands, Ajax prepare for their trip to Milan by facing the only other team with a perfect Eredivisie record, RKC Waalwijk, on Saturday. Title-holders PSV play the side they beat to win the Johan Cruyff Shield in pre-season, FC Utrecht.

Belgrade derby
Elsewhere, another side facing a Champions League debut, FK Partizan, welcome Prva savezna liga leaders OFK Beograd on Saturday, and the Israeli Premier League begins three weeks late after a reduced television deal was signed with champions Maccabi Tel-Aviv FC opening with a game against deposed title-holders Maccabi Haifa FC.