With a busy midweek programme in the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League behind them, the top teams in Europe's leading leagues resume the battle for championship points this weekend.

Once again, the biggest game on the continent takes place in England, with the crunch showdown between Liverpool and Manchester United. In Germany, high-flying Schalke face joint leaders Hamburg. A French classic sees Olympique Marseille and Paris Saint-Germain square off, with a host of tasty clashes in La Liga and Serie A too.

FIFA.com previews the weekend action around the continent.

Premier League: Six-pointer for Liverpool
Just nine games into the new Premier League campaign, Liverpool's title ambitions are already unravelling, with victory a must for the side currently in eighth place. Unfortunately for the Merseyside outfit, Manchester United are the visitors to Anfield on Sunday. The Reds are already seven points adrift of the Red Devils, and cannot afford the gap to grow any larger.

Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur in second and third will expect to win at home to Blackburn Rovers (13th) and Stoke City (9th). Fourth-placed Arsenal cross London to second-from-bottom West Ham, with fifth-placed Manchester City at home to Fulham (12th).

The question: Can Rafa Benitez's Liverpool end a four-game losing streak at home to the champions and make up lost ground on the leading group?
The big game: Liverpool-Manchester United, Sunday, 15:00, Anfield
The quote: "I hope Blackburn win. I'm their player now, and I'll do my very best for the club," Franco Di Santo, Blackburn Rovers, on loan from Chelsea.

La Liga: Top three target victory
After distinctly mixed results in the Champions League, the leading trio in the Spanish top flight will hope for maximum points this weekend. Leaders Barcelona, beaten at home by Rubin Kazan on Tuesday in the biggest shock of the week, aim to bounce back at home to Zaragoza on Sunday. The visitors, the best of the promoted sides in 13th, will be hoping for an upset similar to that pulled off by the Russian champions.

Real Madrid travel to Sporting Gijon (7th), who will be keen to underline their European ambitions with a decent result against the men from the capital. Third-placed Sevilla meet Espanyol (8th), who will for once be hoping to offer neighbours Barcelona a helping hand.

Atletico Madrid (15th) and Villarreal (20th) were billed as title contenders in pre-season, but both are currently operating at the wrong end of the table and urgently need to win against Mallorca (5th) and Malaga (19th).

The question: On Matchday 8, can Villarreal finally record a victory and consign opponents Malaga to last pace in the standings?
The big game: Sporting Gijon-Real Madrid, Saturday, 20:00, El Molinon
The quote: "It's obvious from the situation we're in that it can't go on like this," Enrique Cerezo, Atletico Madrid President.

Bundesliga: Leaders up first on day ten
Top dogs Bayer Leverkusen open the weekend Bundesliga programme on Friday evening at home to tenth-placed Borussia Dortmund. The Rhineland side could steal a march on Hamburg, level on points at the top, who travel to Gelsenkirchen and the showdown with third-placed Schalke on Sunday. Felix Magath's men would leapfrog the visitors if they win.

Bremen and Wolfsburg in fourth and fifth face lowly opposition. Werder entertain Bochum, while the reigning champions travel to bottom club Hertha Berlin. Sixth-placed Bayern urgently need a win to stay in touch with the leading group. Eintracht Frankfurt, three spots below Munich in the standings, visit the Bavarian capital.

The question: Can Europa League participants Hertha end a run of eight consecutive defeats with a win over champions Wolfsburg?
The big game: Schalke-Hamburg, Sunday, 17:30, Veltins Arena
The quote: "We'll need to perform extremely well against Hamburg if we're to take the three points," Marcelo Bordon, Schalke.

Serie A: Inter on the march
Following a thumping 5-0 success away to Genoa last time out, leaders Inter Milan will seek to maintain or extend their two-point lead in the standings at home to 15th-placed Catania. Second-placed Sampdoria entertain struggling Bologna (17th), who fired coach Giuseppe Papadopulo and handed the hot seat to former player Franco Colomba in midweek.

Juventus (3rd) visit Siena (19th) fully intending to harvest three points in the race for the Scudetto. Fiorentina (4th) entertain crisis club Napoli (14th), who have fallen way below their pre-season expectations so far. Promoted Parma (5th) aim to continue their impressive start away to Atalanta (17th).

The question: Following their surprise Champions League success away to Real Madrid, can AC Milan continue to make up lost ground in the league when they visit Chievo Verona?
The big game: Fiorentina-Napoli, Sunday, 15:00, Stadio Atremio Franchi
The quote: "It would be a dream to play Mutu and Jovetic together with Gilardino, but we're not quite there yet," Cesare Prandelli, Fiorentina coach.

Ligue 1: Giants clash in Marseille
A meeting between the sides in fifth and ninth would not normally prompt an above-average level of comment - except perhaps when the clubs in question are Marseille and PSG. The French footballing world reverberates to echoes of titanic duels in the 90s whenever these famous names come to blows.

Leaders Lyon appear to have a manageable task on paper with the visit to second-from-bottom Nice. Surprise package Montpellier, currently second to the former serial champions on goal difference alone, make the trip to eighth-placed Stade Rennes.

Bordeaux (3rd) and Monaco (4th) will be hoping to collect maximum points. The champions are at home to Le Mans (17th), and the men from the principality entertain Boulogne-sur-Mer (16th).

The question: In the tenth fixture of the new season, can Grenoble put their first points on the board in the meeting with Nancy?
The big game: Marseille-Paris Saint-Germain, Sunday, 21:00, Stade Velodrome
The words: "It's still a special game with a very special atmosphere. It's our big chance to return to winning ways," Pegyu Luyindula, Paris Saint-Germain.

Elsewhere
In Belgium, Mechelen in third meet second-placed Anderlecht. Both sides will be looking for the win, as Jupiler League leaders Club Brugge are away to bottom club Roeselare and would be expected to bank maximum points.

Panathinaikos currently lead the Super League in Greece but face tough opposition at the weekend in the shape of third-placed PAOK Saloniki. Champions Olympiakos in second entertain fourth-placed Ergotelis.