Europe: Mancini certain of warm reception at old club Sampdoria

The Lazio coach, Roberto Mancini, returns to Genoa today with a sell-out crowd at the Luigi Ferraris stadium certain to make him welcome.

Sampdoria host their first Serie A game in four years against their former favourites, Mancini and Sinisa Mihajlovic.

But after kick-off Sampdoria will be eager to take their first three points to mark their return to Italy's top flight.

Juventus travel to Chievo Verona tomorrow amid speculation that the coach, Marcello Lippi, will again drop Edgar Davids. The Internazionale forward, Christian Vieri, will miss tomorrow's game in Siena after injuring his left foot.

In Spain, Real Madrid host Real Valladolid tonight. The Brazilians, Roberto Carlos and Ronaldo, may be rested, but David Beckham can expect to return on the right of midfield.

The leaders, Deportivo La Coruna, face a difficult trip to Sevilla as the only team with a 100 per cent record.

In France, Paris St Germain must win tomorrow's game with newly-promoted Toulouse to avoid slipping into the drop zone.

Borussia Dortmund's trip to the Bundesliga leaders, Werder Bremen, will be overshadowed by a dispute over a proposed 20 per cent wage cut.

Dortmund had budgeted for a season in which they would reach the first group stage of the Champions' League, but they have suffered financially after defeat to Club Brugge in the last qualifying round.