ENGLAND. Reading, tied for fourth place only three points behind leaders Chelsea and United, is the surprise of the EPL season. In their previous home game, the Royals, who start Americans Marcus Hahnemann and Bobby Convey, tied Manchester United, 1-1. On Saturday evening, defending EPL champion Chelsea visits the Madejski Stadium (TV: Fox Soccer Channel, Saturday, live, 12 pm ET). Reading manager Steve Coppell says preparing for the Blues is impossible because Manager Jose Mourinho has so many players to choose from. ''This game in particular is difficult because you can't anticipate the team he is going to select,'' he said. ''After the international break, he has to see who is injured, who looks tired, who looks fresh and who hasn't played or is coming back from injury.''
FRANCE. Lyon goalkeeper Gregory Coupet is out for up to three weeks after cutting his hand Thursday in an accident at home. Coupet, France's No. 1 keeper with the retirement of Fabien Barthez, cut his right hand after slipping on stairs and needed six stitches. He could miss as many as six games for first-place Lyon, which leads Marseille by three points. Remi Vercoutre will likely replace Coupet against neighbor St. Etienne on Saturday (no U.S. TV), with John Hartock as backup.
GERMANY. Defending champion Bayern Munich hosts Hertha Berlin (TV: Gol TV, Saturday, 9:30 am ET), which holds first place ahead of Bayern and three other teams tied with 10 points thanks to goal difference. After Lukas Podolski scored twice Wednesday for Germany in its 4-1 victory at Slovakia, the pressure has increased on Bayern coach Felix Magath to start Podolski, who has been coming off the bench since arriving from FC Cologne this summer. Magath insists Podolski, voted the 2006 World Cup's best young player, needs time to adjust. ''We have four top strikers and any one of them can play,'' Magath said. ''It will be a last-minute decision.''
ITALY. Roma and Palermo share the lead going into Serie A's Game 6. With Inter Milan looking shaky and AC Milan beginning with an eight-point penalty, Roma has emerged as the early favorite to win the Scudetto. The Giallorossi are heavily favored to take the three points when they meet struggling Reggina (TV: RAI International, Sunday, live, 8:15 am ET). Palermo hosts Atalanta.
SPAIN. Leader Barcelona will be out for revenge when it hosts Sevilla Sunday (no U.S. TV). Sevilla stunned Barca, 3-0, to win the UEFA Super Cup, the preseason showcase involving last season's Champions League and UEFA Cup champions. Sevilla coach Juande Ramos is making no guarantees of success in the rematch. ''It's difficult to beat the big teams twice on the run, but we have to try,'' he said. Argentine Javier Saviola played a big role in Sevilla's run to the UEFA Cup and is now back at Barca, where he is one of Coach Frank Rijkaard's options to fill in for Cameroonian star Samuel Eto'o, out for three months with a knee injury. Two weeks ago, Saviola scored in Barca's 3-1 win over Athletic Bilbao in its first game without Eto'o.