Juventus visit San Siro knowing victory would put Milan out of title race while Deportivo hope to end Madrid's 28-month unbeaten home run

Juventus have the chance to take a major step towards retaining their Serie A title when they play third-placed Milan at San Siro tonight in Italy's match of the weekend.

Milan, eight points behind the leaders Juventus, need to win if they are to revive their challenge with only nine matches left and coach Carlo Ancelotti is not playing down the importance of the game. "It is the most important of the year, no doubt about it," he said. "If we win, and only if we win, we are back in the running."

Ancelotti hopes to welcome back the Ukrainian striker Andrei Shevchenko after he missed the midweek Champions' League defeat to Borussia Dortmund because of a leg injury. Juventus will give fitness tests to Alessandro Del Piero and David Trezeguet.

Internazionale, in second place, go to Udinese tomorrow looking to avenge a 2-1 defeat suffered earlier in the season.

In Spain, Deportivo La Coruña visit the Bernabeu tomorrow aiming to end Real Madrid's 28-month unbeaten home record in La Liga and boost their own title hopes, although they have not won there for 57 years.

Valencia, meanwhile, hope their 2-1 Champions' League win over Arsenal will spark a domestic revival. They have seen their chances of retaining the Spanish title reduced by two successive defeats but should return to winning ways against Espanyol.

With Bayern Munich running away with this year's Bundesliga title, the relegation battle is the big issue in Germany. Bayer Leverkusen, last season's losing Champions' League finalists, are threatened with the drop and need to beat fellow strugglers Kaiserslautern today.

The French leaders Monaco and second-placed Marseille face tough trips to clubs fighting relegation. Monaco visit seventh-from-bottom Le Havre, who are just two points ahead of Marseille's opponents Montpellier.