Milan derby tops the bill in Serie A

Top of Serie A and with a midweek Champions League win against Manchester United under their belts, Milan's players have reason to feel confident as they prepare for tomorrow night's derby against Inter.

The jury is still out, however, on whether Carlo Ancelotti's side have regained the form that carried them to last's year's Serie A title.

Luck has certainly played a significant part in their recent successes.

They needed two last-gasp strikes and an own goal to edge out Lazio, Reggina and Cagliari in their previous three Serie A matches, while Wednesday's win at Old Trafford arrived courtesy of a clanger by home 'keeper Roy Carroll.

A win over Inter would be the clearest signal so far that Milan have replaced Juventus as favourites in the championship race.

Third on 43 points, 11 off the lead, Inter still harbour title ambitions and have yet to taste defeat in 38 games this season.

Inter striker Adriano, though, is struggling to rediscover his touch after a calf injury.

The 23-year-old Brazilian last got on the scoresheet with a penalty in a 2-2 draw with Siena on December 12 and could be pushed back to the bench as Obafemi Martins starts alongside Christian Vieri.

Milan, though, also have a question mark hanging over their attack as well. Andriy Shevchenko's fractured cheekbone should lead Ancelotti to field Hernan Crespo up front alone, with Kaka and Rui Costa in support.

The other matches

Brescia vs Sampdoria - Brescia slid to penultimate place in the division following last week's 2-1 loss against fellow strugglers Parma.

A Sampdoria win could take them above Udinese into fourth but they will start without midfielders Sergio Volpi and Angelo Palombo and defender Simone Pavan, all suspended.

Fiorentina vs Udinese - Fiorentina drift ever closer to the relegation zone, having earned three points in the five games since Dino Zoff took charge.

Udinese have also been less than impressive recently and will want to get their charge for a Champions League berth back on track after taking one point from two games.

Bologna vs Livorno - Bologna welcome back striker Claudio Bellucci from suspension as they try to make up for last weekend's abject 2-0 loss against bottom club Atalanta.

Livorno have won just one of 12 away matches this season.

Cagliari vs Atalanta - Cagliari were unlucky to lose out to a late winner by Milan winger Serginho last weekend and they will be keen to avoid a third straight defeat.

Atalanta's 2-0 win over Brescia confirmed their improved form, though they remain six points adrift at the foot of the table.

Juventus vs Siena - While leaders Milan grapple with Inter, Juventus will want to take advantage of any slip-up by beating a Siena side whose lowly league position masks a seven-game run without defeat.

Former European Footballer of the Year Pavel Nedved misses the game after being knocked out during Juve's midweek game against Real Madrid.

Lazio vs Parma - Lazio's bid for Serie A survival has been boosted by back-to-back wins over Atalanta and Chievo.

Parma are still hovering just over the drop zone and will start without influential midfielder Domenico Morfeo, who is suspended.

Lecce vs Messina - Lecce looked lively despite losing 3-2 to Palermo in the last round of matches.

Messina have taken two points from five matches but were unlucky not to get the better of Juventus last week when striker Riccardo Zampagna headed against the post in a 0-0 draw.

Palermo vs Roma - Three wins and a draw in four matches have pushed Palermo up the division.

Their Champions League pretentions should be sternly tested by a Roma side regaining striker Antonio Cassano from suspension.

Reggina vs Chievo - Reggina have slipped back into the bottom half following consecutive defeats against Palermo and Milan.

Chievo are also sinking and will be without defender Fabio Moro and midfielders Roberto Baronio and Matteo Brighi, all suspended.

Serie A

Playing Today
Brescia-Sampdoria (1-0) 6 p.m.
Fiorentina-Udinese (2-2) 8.30 p.m.

Tomorrow - 3 p.m.
Bologna-Livorno (0-1)
Cagliari-Atalanta (2-2)
Inter-Milan (0-0) 8.30 p.m.
Juventus-Siena (3-0)

Lazio-Parma (1-3)
Lecce-Messina (4-1)
Palermo-Roma (1-1)
Reggina-Chievo (0-0)

Serie B

Played Yesterday
Piacenza-Torino 1-0

Tomorrow - 3 p.m.
Cesena-Perugia (1-1)
Crotone-Arezzo (0-3)
Genoa-Bari (1-0)
Pescara-Vicenza (0-0)
Salernitana-Catanzaro (0-3)

Ternana-Treviso (1-3)
Triestina-Catania (1-2)
Venezia-Modena (0-1)
Verona-Ascoli (1-2)

Playing On Monday
AlbinoLeffe-Empoli (0-1)

Primera Liga

Playing Today
Deportivo-Real Madrid
Espanyol-Albacete
Numancia-Barcelona
Real Mallorca- Levante

Playing Tomorrow
A. Madrid-R. Sociedad
Osasuna-Malaga
R. Zaragoza-Villarreal
Sevilla-R. Santander
Valencia-Real Betis

Bundesliga

Playing Today
A. Bielefeld- Nuremberg
B. Dortmund-Mainz
Freiburg-B. Munich
H. Rostock-B. M'gladbach
H. Berlin-Hamburg
Kaiserslautern-Wolfsburg
W. Bremen-Bochum

Playing Tomorrow
B. Leverkusen-Stuttgart
Schalke-Hanover

Ligue 1

Playing Today
Lyon vs St Etienne
Nice vs Monaco
Ajaccio vs Lens
Bordeaux vs Caen
Nantes vs R. Strasbourg
Paris SG vs Bastia

Playing Tomorrow
Sochaux vs Metz
Auxerre vs Toulouse
Lille vs Stade Rennes
Marseille vs Istres