A cloud of gloom has settled over Barcelona, Milan and Munich at the present time, where three giants of the European stage have temporarily forgotten their lines. The solution, as everyone in the game knows, is a virtuoso, winning performance, preferably this very weekend. FIFA.com previews the forthcoming action around the continent, where the spotlight falls on the Madrid and Turin derbies, and the last eight of the FA Cup in England.

La Liga: Neighbours meet in Madrid
Atletico Madrid recently did their fierce city rivals Real a huge favour last week by beating Barcelona by the odd goal in seven. Coach Abel Resino’s unpredictable side will now attempt to pull off a similar job against their most bitter foes. The whole of the country will be glued to the fiery encounter at the Bernabeu, where champions Real go in search of an 11th straight league victory. That would ensure the gap to leaders Barcelona, now down to a mere four points, will at remain constant.

For their part, the Catalans are under more pressure than at any time so far this term. Lionel Messi and Co have taken just a single point from their last three La Liga fixtures and desperately need to rediscover their form. Barca entertain Athletic Bilbao, both clubs buoyed by reaching the final of the Spanish cup in midweek. Third-placed Sevilla will expect to chalk up a routine victory at home to Almeria.

The question: Can Atletico delay the 700th league defeat in their history, putting an end to Real’s successful streak?
The big game: Real Madrid-Atletico Madrid, Saturday 7 March, 20.00, Estadio Bernabeu
The quote: "I’m hoping it will be the Barcelona fans saying thank you this time," Maxi Rodriguez, Atletico Madrid captain.

Serie A: Milan vow to banish sorrows
The AC Milan camp has taken on an air of despondency of late, with the Rossoneri sorely missing the creativity supplied by the injured Kaka. A 2-1 defeat to Sampdoria last weekend did nothing to improve the mood, making victory at home to Atalanta a must as they seek a tonic for their current woes.

Runaway leaders Inter could also use a fillip after losing the first leg of their cup semi-final 3-0 to Sampdoria. Jose Mourinho’s star-studded ensemble travel to Genoa, who have yet to lose at home this term. In Turin, Torino and Juventus will square off for local bragging rights, with Juve targeting a third league win on the bounce.

The question: Can AC Milan rediscover the winning formula and bolster their push for a place in next season’s UEFA Champions League?
The big game: Genoa-Inter, Saturday 7 March, 18.00, Stadio Luigi Ferraris
The quote: "If we fail to finish third, there’ll be changes round here – and that includes me. But I’m confident we'll finish third." Carlo Ancelotti, AC Milan coach

Bundesliga: Pressure building on Bayern
Jurgen Klinsmann’s Bayern Munich side have entered crisis territory after taking just four points from five matches since the mid-season break, and tumbling out of the cup to Bayer Leverkusen in a thrilling midweek quarter-final. To steady the ship domestically, Bayern must beat Hannover 96 at home, both to maintain or cut the four-point gap to leaders Hertha Berlin, and quell the increasingly loud murmurs of dissent directed at coach Klinsmann.

Of the four clubs currently ahead of Bayern in the standings, Hoffenheim face easily the trickiest task at the weekend with the visit of a resurgent Werder Bremen, a different proposition since knocking AC Milan out of the UEFA Cup, and surely destined to move on from their current 11th place. As for the other top-four sides, Hertha travel to struggling Energie Cottbus, Hamburg visit bottom club Borussia Monchengladbach, and Wolfsburg entertain lowly Karlsruhe.

The question: Can champions Bayern finally reproduce their glittering Champions League form in the Bundesliga?
The big game: 1899 Hoffenheim-Werder Bremen, Saturday 7 March, 15.30, Rhein-Neckar Arena
The quote: "There’s no point in launching a populist tirade against the players and ordering them to don sackcloth and ashes. We have to work with the same players tomorrow," Uli Hoeness, Bayern Munich general manager.

Ligue 1: Lyon recall trio for Paris match
Serial French champions Olympique Lyon set out on a revenge mission of a very special kind this weekend. At the Stade de France in Paris, the league leaders face the same OSC Lille side that knocked them out of the cup in midweek. However, Claude Puel’s troops are undefeated in nine league fixtures, and also welcome back Juninho Pernambucano and Jeremy Toulalan, both rested for the first instalment of the double-header with Lille.

Second-placed Paris Saint-Germain, victims of an embarrassing cup mugging by lower league Rodez Aveyron in midweek, travel to Lorient aiming to prevent Lyon extending their four-point lead. Olympique Marseille, who have conceded just once in their last seven league games, go in search of maximum points at home to Valenciennes as they aim to keep their noses in front of the tightly-bunched pursuing pack. Elsewhere, Toulouse in fifth could leapfrog weekend opponents Girondins Bordeaux and go fourth with a home win.

The question: Can Lyon avenge their cup defeat to Lille and extend their fine run in Ligue 1?
The big game: OSC Lille-Olympique Lyon, Saturday 7 March, 21.00, Stade de France (Paris)
The quote: "Collecting 24 points on our travels is good, but we also want to win more often at home," Laurent Bonnart, Olympique Marseille defender.

Elsewhere
The Greek and Czech leagues serve up a couple of mouth-watering fixtures, as the leaders meet their chief pursuers in both countries. PAOK Saloniki must win at home to champions Olympiakos to retain any realistic chance of eating into the visitors' nine-point advantage. The same applies to Banik Ostrava, ten points behind leaders Slavia Prague and due in the Czech capital this weekend. The results in both games could well prove decisive in settling the destination of the silverware this season.

Unstoppable United?
The FA Cup quarter-finals dominate the English programme, with Fulham facing the monumental task of facing the seemingly invincible Manchester United. Chelsea visit Coventry City, while Everton host Middlesbrough at Goodison. Arsenal face Burnley in a leftover last 16 fixture, with the prize for the winners a home tie against Hull City.