Adriano gains recall as Internazionale close on record run

While the English, Scottish and Dutch leagues plough on through the fog, the rest of the Continent's leading footballers will be enjoying their winter hibernation from this weekend onwards, with the French and Italian leagues the last to break for Christmas.

In both countries, one team has broken clear, with Lyon defending a 17-point lead at home to Monaco today and Internazionale enjoying a seven-point cushion as they conclude the first half of the programme at home to Atalanta.

Inter are aiming to pick up their 11th straight win, equalling the Serie A record set last season by Roma. That run has put them on course to win a second successive title having been awarded last season's scudetto by the courts following the Moggiopoli scandal.

As the "winter champions" usually hold their nerve, the odds favour Inter, who are unbeaten this season and have dropped just six points. With Zlatan Ibrahimovic suspended, Adriano - a big disappointment this season - is likely to be recalled alongside Hernan Crespo. Roma, who are second, host Cagliari.

The other theme this autumn has been the travails of Milan, who lie 13th and would be off the pace even had they not suffered an eight-point deduction as a result of Moggiopoli. Today they travel to Udinese.

The Spanish league entered the winter break in midweek with Seville, on 37 points, surprise leaders from Barcelona (34) and Real Madrid (32). Barcelona have a match in hand and both Samuel Eto'o and Lionel Messi are working their way back to fitness. Barça's French defender Lilian Thuram will be sidelined for up to five weeks, however, with a torn thigh muscle.

Thuram pulled up in the 60th minute of Thursday's 1-1 draw at home to Atletico Madrid but should still be fit for the first leg of the Champions' League tie with Liverpool at the Nou Camp on Wednesday 21 February.

The closest, and most surprising, contest is in Germany. Werder Bremen and Schalke 04 lead the autumn championship, with perennial champions Bayern Munich three points behind.

First to return will be La Liga, on 7 January, with Le Championnat following on 13 January and Serie A the next day. The Bundesliga resumes on 26 January. The Dutch take a break. The only league outside the UK to play on Boxing Day calls a halt from 31 December to 13 January. Even with three fixtures to go before the break, PSV Eindhoven, with a seven-point lead over AZ Alkmaar, expect to conclude the year as leaders.