Europe's big guns lock horns

The pick of this week's European matches sees the top two in both Italy and Germany lock horns as Inter Milan travel to Roma and Bayern Munich visit Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday. Atop Serie A with eleven points apiece there is very little to separate Roma and Inter but the indications are that Roma have what it takes to upset the Italian champions, who have twice struggled on their travels this season. Roberto Mancini's side were held to a 2-2 draw by lowly Livorno in their last league game match away from home and also suffered a 1-0 loss at Fenerbahce in the Champions League last week. Roma also beat Inter in the Supercup in August, to add to their Coppa Italia defeat of the Nerazzurri in May. Inter overcome Sampdoria with an impressive 3-0 win on Wednesday assisted by two Zlatan Ibrahimovic wonderstrikes but the absence of defenders Marco Materazzi, Maicon and possibly also Cristian Chivu will tell against Roma. Although the Giallorossi have drawn their last two matches 2-2, those results came against strong opposition in Juventus and Fiorentina and Roma were much the better side on both occasions. Francesco Totti's return should also ensure a home win. Bayern Munich can be expected to make shirt shrift of Bayer Leverkusen as Ottmar Hitfeld's side have hit the ground running this term. Propelled by the goals of the fit-again Luca Toni and Miroslav Klose (five and eight goals respectively), the nine goals Bayern have rattled off in their last two matches suggests they will have far too much for Leverkusen. Although Arsenal lost twice to them last season, Arsène Wenger's men can be expected to continue their scintillating against West Ham. The misnomer that the Gunners lack a squad boasting strength in depth has been proven by seven straight wins in spite of the absence of Jens Lehmann, William Gallas and Emmanuel Eboué. The Emirates outfit have yet to play any of Big Three yet but recent victories against Tottenham and Newcastle have demonstrated an incredibly talented side that were tipped to win the league at 12/1 in this column at the start of the campaign. West Ham have hardly impressed this term and the recent defeat at Newcastle suggests win no 8 should be a formality for the visitors. Verdict: 1pt Roma @ 6/4 (SportingBet); 3pts Bayern Munich @ 10/11 (SportingBet); 3pts Arsenal @ 5/6 (SportingBet); 2pts double on Bayern and Arsenal @ 5/2 (SportingBet).