Arsenal takes a five-point lead into an away match at Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday in one of the biggest matches of the season.
It is a big test of the leader’s title credentials, with Liverpool having already beaten Manchester City and Manchester United at Anfield.
Arsenal last won at Anfield in 2012. City closed the gap to Arsenal with a 4-1 win at Southampton on Saturday.
Liverpool are in eighth place and need to win to keep alive their slim chances of a top-four finish.
In the other match, Leeds hosts Crystal Palace as both teams look for a win to pull further clear of relegation danger.
FRANCE
Third-placed Marseille need to win at Lorient to stay level on points with second-placed Lens in the race for an automatic Champions League place.
Marseille have won their past eight away games in the league and need one more to equal their own record set in 2009.
Elsewhere, fourth-place Monaco look to keep the pressure on Marseille with a win at French Cup holder Nantes, which reached the cup final this week but are struggling for league form and are in 14th spot.
SPAIN
Atletico Madrid play a derby at Rayo Vallecano in search of their 12th consecutive league game without a loss.
A fifth straight win for third-placed Atletico would improve their slim chances of catching second-placed Real Madrid.
Real Betis host Cadiz needing a win to remain close to fourth-placed Real Sociedad, which hold the final Champions League berth.
Paulo Pezzolano debuts as Valladolid’s new coach at home against Mallorca.
Valencia are at Almeria in a clash of teams struggling to avoid relegation.
GERMANY
There are two games with major implications for the Bundesliga relegation fight as last-placed Stuttgart visits Bochum, who have dragged themselves up the table after recent wins over Leipzig and Cologne.
Second-to-last Schalke play American coach Pellegrino Matarazzo’s Hoffenheim. Two mid-table teams meet when Wolfsburg face Borussia Mönchengladbach, whose European ambitions have taken a hit following five games without a win.
AFP
