Europe: Deportivo turn to domestic honours for consolation following European exit

The Deportivo la Coruña coach, Javier Irureta, believes that his team's elimination from the Champions' League could spur them into a major assault on the Spanish title.

A last-minute goal saw them lose 3-2 against Juventus in Turin but Irureta is trying to draw positives from the disappointment, reasoning that Real Madrid, who lead the domestic race from Real Sociedad with Deportivo third, may be distracted, given that they remain preoccupied with Europe.

"We'll be aiming to beat Manchester United next week but we're out of the competition and now we'll be focusing all our efforts on the league," he said.

Deportivo are at home to Rayo Vallecano and while Sociedad should claim maximum points at Racing Santander, Madrid face a trickier looking visit to Villareal, all three matches taking place today.

In Italy, Juventus may have Alessandro del Piero back after five weeks out with a thigh injury. Victory against Modena this evening will heap pressure on second-placed Internazionale, who would go into tomorrow's meeting with Como at San Siro six points behind the champions.

Milan face a tricky trip to Reggina as they attempt to revive their fading title hopes. The draw with Chievo last week, their third in a row at the San Siro, has left them six points behind Juventus and Carlo Ancelotti's side can ill-afford another setback.

In France, Third Division Martigues will be playing for the pride of Provence when they entertain Paris St Germain in the quarter-finals of the French Cup. Martigues is a seaside town west of Marseille and their coach said they want to avenge PSG's 3-0 league win over Marseille at the Stade Velodrome last week.

"PSG's victory was like a cold shower on our region," the Martigues coach Roland Gransart said. "Marseille made the mistake of playing the game inside their heads before coming on to the pitch. We must avoid the same trap."