The wait for a full card of Premier League football may continue as the FA Cup largely dominates the English grounds this weekend following a winter break.
But in Europe there are big contests taking place throughout the continent including pivotal top of the table clashes and local derbies as some of Europe’s top stars are put through their paces.
Sportsmail has a look at the best of the action taking place across Europe’s top leagues this weekend.
The Milan derby between Inter and AC could have a big say in the Serie A title race this term
Inter Milan vs AC Milan (Saturday, 5pm GMT)
Whether it’s a battle for the Serie A title or a mid-table tear up (as has been the case many times within the last decade) the Milan derby is always a highlight on the world football calendar – so it’s good to know the 176th meeting in Serie A on Saturday will concern the former.
Inter are just four points ahead of their rivals Milan who sit in third place behind Napoli, but the champions have the comfort of a game in hand too.
Nevertheless opportunity knocks for the Rossoneri at the San Siro as they look to bounce back from suffering a shock home defeat by Spezia last month and following that up with a frustrating goalless draw against Juventus, as they begin to lose control in the title battle.
Milan though will be without veteran striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic for the San Siro meeting
Inter meanwhile are flying at the top. They are unbeaten in Italy since October and since drawing 1-1 with Milan in November have since won nine of their 10 Serie A matches.
Inter also have few absentee concerns with Joaquin Correa out with a hamstring injury, while the same concern will prevent Robin Gosens making his debut following his loan move from Atalanta.
Milan meanwhile are without centre-backs Simon Kjaer and Fikayo Tomori, while veteran striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is also sidelined having picked up an ankle knock in the draw against Juventus.
Bayern Munich vs RB Leipzig (Saturday, 5.30pm)
It’s a big weekend at the top of the Bundesliga and it opens up on Saturday evening when league leaders Bayern look to strike first in the title race over Borussia Dortmund by opening up a nine-point advantage.
Standing in their way will be RB Leipzig who despite being down in sixth are just four points off third spot and are recovering under new boss Domenico Tedesco following a poor start to the season.
Tedesco only arrived in December and has since recorded four league wins from his first six games.
Not that Bayern’s recent run should be ignored, they are typically showing winning machine form, winning all but one of their last eight league matches.
Bayern Munich suffered a shock defeat by Borussia Monchengladbach in their last home game
Their last encounter at the Allianz Arena though did see them lose 2-1 against Borussia Monchengladbach and they will be keen to get back to winning ways against Leipzig who they have won eight and lost just one of their 13 games against.
Against his former team, boss Julian Nagelsmann is without Bouna Sarr and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting who are at the Africa Cup of Nations, while Leon Goretzka and Alphonso Davies are out injured.
Tedesco meanwhile will be without left-back Marcel Halstenberg, while doubts persist with centre-back Mohamed Simakan after picking up a knee knock in training.
However the Bundesliga leaders still look in good shape ahead of facing RB Leipzig
Borussia Dortmund vs Bayer Leverkusen (Sunday, 2.30pm)
Following on less than a day later is Dortmund’s home clash with Leverkusen, with what looks like being a pivotal game at the top of the table regardless of what happens the previous evening at the Allianz.
It’s second against third and while there are eight points between the sides, a win for Dortmund could be huge given events at Bayern, while Leverkusen will at the very least be keen to maintain their charge for a top four finish where, including themselves, six clubs are separated by just four points.
Dortmund’s Bundesliga results have been perfect since the winter break, even if the defensive performances have not been the same standard with 3-2 wins at Eintracht Frankfurt and Hoffenheim sandwiching a 5-1 hammering of Freiburg.
Borussia Dortmund have won all three of their Bundesliga matches since the winter break
Leverkusen have a 5-1 victory of their own since the winter break, winning 5-1 at home to Augsburg last time out having also won 2-1 at Gladbach and rescued a late 2-2 draw at Union Berlin – who are enjoying a stunning season sitting just one point and place beneath Gerardo Seoane’s side.
Dortmund may have to continue their winning run without Erling Haaland though who limped off in the win over Hoffenheim and remains a huge doubt to feature on Sunday.
Bayer meanwhile have injuries of their own, with Andrey Lunev, Exequiel Palacios, Julian Baumgartlinger and Daley Sinkgraven all out while Edmond Tapsoba remains on international duty with Burkina Faso.
Haaland or not, expect goals. There have been 40 produced between the teams within just their last eight meetings.
But they are set to be without key striker Erling Haaland for the game against Bayer Leverkusen
Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid (Sunday, 3.15pm)
Usually this fixture is set against a backdrop of a title battle. That’s not the case this time for the respective clubs who are struggling relative to their expectations.
Yet their clash on Sunday still carries huge importance as the sides are battling for the fourth and final LaLiga place that brings Champions League football next term, with the riches of that of huge importance to cash strapped Barcelona.
Xavi has largely steadied the ship since taking over from Ronald Koeman in November, losing only one match even if there have been too many draws in recent times.
Barcelona could hand a debut to loan arrival Adama Traore in a huge clash with Atletico Madrid
Atletico meanwhile have endured a poor winter so far, having won just two of their last seven LaLiga games since the end of November.
Nevertheless they sit in fourth place albeit just one point above Barca, whose club legend Xavi prepares for his first serious league test as manager.
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Adama Traore is likely to make his Barcelona debut following his loan move from Wolverhampton Wanderers, but Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is a major doubt to feature following his free transfer from Arsenal as he looks to rebuild his fitness.
Atletico have squad selection headaches of their own, with Antoine Griezmann, on loan from Barca, injured while Marcos Llorente and Geoffrey Kondogbia also sidelines. Defender Felipe has tested positive for Covid-19, but Rodrigo de Paul is set to be available following international duty.
The visitors though will be without key stars including Antoine Griezmann at the Nou Camp