Bayern Munich and Schalke will both be under pressure when the German Bundesliga clubs meet in Gelsenkirchen on Sunday (TV: Gol TV, live, 10:55 am ET).
Second-place Bayern was whistled off the field by its fans after its 0-0 tie with Sporting Lisbon on the Champions League on Tuesday. With injuries to Bastian Schweinsteiger and Mark van Bommel, the Bayern midfield has struggled, which in turn has put pressure on its three-player frontline.
''We'll see if that is a wise solution,'' Bayern star Oliver Kahn said of the 4-3-3 formation. ''But it can't work when all three stand around and watch. Someone has to work in the midfield.''
Coach Mirko Slomka is under fire after Schalke was eliminated from the UEFA Cup and German Cup. After last weekend's 3-0 league loss to Stuttgart, the Schalke board gave Slomka a vote of confidence. With Brazilian star Lincoln injured, Slomka is not optimistic.
''There's a cold wind now,'' Slomka said. ''If we lose, it could turn into a storm. But even if we beat Bayern, someone will criticize us.''
ENGLAND. A pair of Sunday London derbies highlight the EPL's weekend slate. Defending champion Chelsea travels to Tottenham (TV: Fox Soccer Channel, live, 11 am ET), while West Ham hosts Arsenal earlier in the day (TV: Setanta Sports USA, live, 8:25 am ET). Chelsea, which shares the lead with Manchester United, has not lost at White Hart Lane in league play since 1987. Arsenal, seven points behind the leaders, needs a win at Upton Park against the Hammers, who broke an eight-game winless streak last Sunday with a 2-1 win over Blackburn. On Saturday, Manchester United hosts fourth-place Portsmouth (TV: Setanta Sports USA, live, 9:45 am ET).
FRANCE. Sitting on an 11-point cushion at the top of the standings, Lyon looks to tie the French record of 10 straight league wins, set by Bordeaux in the 1953-54 season, if it beats Rennes on Saturday. OL is well on its way toward winning its sixth straight league title — which would be a record for one of the big five European leagues.
ITALY. With one win in its last six games, Milan needs a win at Atalanta on Sunday. The Rossoneri trail league leaders Inter Milan and Palermo by 14 points — eight from their penalty in the Calciopoli scandal — and there are calls for Milan to dump its aging stars. One player who is in fine form is young Brazilian playmaker Kaka, who scored a hat trick in a 4-1 win over Anderlecht. Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti says Kaka is the best player in the world. ''There are lots of great players in circulation,'' Ancelotti told the Corriere dello Sport, ''but nobody is worth as much as him.'' Also on Sunday, Inter hosts winless Ascoli (TV: Gol TV, live, 9 am ET), and Palermo is at home against Sampdoria.
SPAIN. Following its 2-2 tie with Chelsea in the Champions League, La Liga leader Barcelona faces another stiff test when it travels to Deportivo Coruna on Saturday (TV: Gol TV, live, 4 pm ET). Deportivo's young team, which is in seventh place, has been dubbed ''Babydepor'' by the Spanish press.
It's been sensational at home, winning all four league games at the Estadio Riazor and not conceding a goal with its smothering midfield. Barcelona's attack is hardly at full strength. Samuel Eto'o remains out with a knee injury, and Eidur Gudjohnsen is struggling with an ankle injury.