Europe: Roma face tough early test against Juventus while Marseilles look to stretch lead at top and Real Madrid travel to Malaga
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Your support makes all the difference.Roma's attempt to re-establish themselves as credible title contenders in Serie A will be subjected to the stiffest early examination at the Stadio delle Alpi tomorrow when Fabio Capello's side take on the champions, Juventus.
The Turin side may have struggled in Wednesday's 2-1 Champions' League win against Galatasaray, but they have looked in good shape domestically, crushing Empoli 5-1 at home and returning from Verona last weekend with a 2-1 victory over Chievo.
Roma, who lead Serie A on goal difference from Juve after also collecting two wins from two matches, believe they are playing well enough not to be daunted by their opponents. "If we continue to play as we have done we will not have any problems," their Romanian defender, Christian Chivu, said.
Internazionale, whose confidence is high after their excellent Champions' League win against Arsenal at Highbury, meet promoted Sampdoria at San Siro following wins against Modena (2-0) and Siena (1-0), both of whom also came up from Serie B last term. The striker Christian Vieri returns after a knee problem.
Lazio, who were 2-0 Champions' League winners over Besiktas in Turkey on Tuesday, face a tricky home clash with Parma at the Stadio Olimpico, but can clinch a sixth consecutive win in all competitions.
In France, the league leaders, Marseilles, will look to bounce back from their 4-2 defeat at Real Madrid in the Champions' League when they travel to Nantes tomorrow. Marseilles look like serious contenders for the French title after going top with a 5-0 thrashing of Le Mans.
Monaco will start as favourites against Montpellier, who are lying just one place off the bottom, especially after their excellent Champions' League win away to PSV Eindhoven, while today's big match sees fourth-placed Nice host the team one place above them, Lille.
Newly promoted Albacete will face their toughest test yet in La Liga when they travel to the early leaders, Deportivo La Coruña. Albacete are bottom, having failed to pick up a point so far this season, though luck deserted them last week when a deflected Luis Enrique effort saw them lose 1-0 at home to Barcelona.
Another top-versus-bottom match-up sees Malaga play host to second-placed Real Madrid, brimming with confidence after hammering Valladolid 7-2 last weekend and then beating Marseilles. Malaga have managed only a point so far this season.
The Oktoberfest beer festival begins this weekend in Munich, where Bayern are looking to kick-start the celebrations as they play host to a rejuvenated Bayer Leverkusen. Bayern trail their visitors by two points, and may not be helped by yesterday's news that their veteran goalkeeper, Oliver Kahn, is suffering from a mysterious problem with his eyes and may not be able to play. However, he did reassure reporters after being checked by doctors: "It would have to become a lot worse to stop me from playing."
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