Leaders look to stay in front

This weekend brings another round of matches in Europe's top leagues, while the focus in England is on the FA Cup.

Full strength
Serie A leaders AC Milan have won eight of their last nine league games, and have a full squad available against UC Sampdoria on Sunday. The visitors, who are coached by former Milan player Walter Novellino, could be without striker Fabio Bazzani, who is struggling with flu.

Injury worries
Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti may well be hoping that city rivals FC Internazionale can defeat second-placed AS Roma at the Stadio Olimpico. The Giallorossi are five points behind Milan and are without Cristian Chivu. Inter, meanwhile, have a long injury list and suspensions to Marco Materazzi, Dejan Stankovic and Alvaro Recoba.

Miccoli in
Juventus FC are one point behind Roma in third place and visit Brescia Calcio on Saturday, with striker Fabrizio Miccoli set to replace the injured David Trezeguet. Brescia's Roberto Baggio will be seeking his 200th Serie A goal against one of his former clubs, and another veteran forward, Giuseppe Signori, faces his former employers as Bologna FC meet fourth-placed S.S. Lazio.

Raúl out
In Spain, Primera División leaders Real Madrid CF will be without captain Raúl González for Saturday's visit to Real Racing Club Santander as the striker has an inflamed left ankle. Carlos Queiroz must also do without suspended defenders Michel Salgado and Francisco Pavón.

Crucial game
Second and third meet at the Mestalla stadium where Valencia CF welcome RC Deportivo La Coruña. Ricardo Oliveira returns for Valencia but captain David Albelda faces a late fitness test. Fourth-placed FC Barcelona will be looking to continue their recent resurgence against RCD Mallorca.

Selection problems
Spain's two other UEFA Champions League contenders both have selection worries, with Real Sociedad de Fútbol missing injured pair Sander Westerveld and Agustín Aranzabal for the trip to Basque rivals CA Osasuna and RC Celta de Vigo without Juanfran, Giovanella, Pablo Caballero and Jesuli against RCD Espanyol. However, Sebastián Méndez, Eduardo Berizzo and Juan Velasco all return after injury.

Bayern chance
Bundesliga leaders SV Werder Bremen travel to TSV 1860 München on Sunday, allowing second-placed FC Bayern München the chance to reduce their seven-point advantage on Saturday when they visit Bayer 04 Leverkusen. The home side are without midfield pair Yildiray Bastürk and Robson Ponte, and Lucio, Hanno Balitsch and Oliver Neuville could miss out too. Although Bayern may welcome back Alexander Zickler and Tobias Rau, Claudio Pizarro, Martin Demichelis, Bixente Lizarazu, Mehmet Scholl and Sebastian Deisler are out.

Dortmund test
Also on Saturday, BV Borussia Dortmund play VfB Stuttgart, with Dortmund missing Tomáš Rosický, Marcio Amoroso, Christoph Metzelder and Otto Addo while Stuttgart must replace Steffen Dangelmayr.

French action
In France, third play fourth at the Parc des Princes on Saturday as Paris Saint-Germain FC take on FC Sochaux Montbéliard with both sides well aware that leaders AS Monaco FC and second-placed Olympique Lyonnais both secured comfortable Friday-night victories.

Third triumph
In England, Arsenal FC continue their quest for a third successive FA Cup and a fourth consecutive final with a trip to Portsmouth FC in the quarter-finals. Ray Parlour and Sylvain Wiltord are both injured, although Martin Keown and Jérémie Aliadière could return.

United casualties
Manchester United FC have Quinton Fortune, Gary Neville, Louis Saha and Mikaël Silvestre all unavailable for the visit of Fulham FC, while the remaining quarter-finals both feature lower-division sides, with Millwall FC meeting Tranmere Rovers FC and Sunderland AFC playing Sheffield United FC.