A look at what’s happening around European soccer on Sunday:
ENGLAND
Everton's squad strength will be put to the test in the trip to Newcastle as Carlo Ancelotti's team looks to return to the top of the Premier League. Everton heads to St. James' Park with Lucas Digne and Richarlison suspended, while James Rodriguez and Seamus Coleman are among those out injured. Ancelotti's team lost its unbeaten record to open the season with a 2-0 defeat at Southampton last weekend and is now three points behind Liverpool, with a superior goal difference. With wins over Paris Saint-Germain and Leipzig over the past two midweeks, Manchester United is hitting some form going into a home match against Arsenal. Tottenham looks to win at home for the first time in the league when Brighton visits, while Aston Villa hosts Southampton.
SPAIN
Real Sociedad aims to retake the lead of the Spanish league when it visits Celta Vigo. Spain forward Mikel Oyarzabal has scored four goals in three consecutive wins in the domestic competition for the Basque side. Imanol Aguacil’s team lost 1-0 at Napoli on Thursday in the Europa League, but the coach was still positive about the performance of a team that counts on a talented midfield with Mikel Merino and David Silva. Sociedad trails leader Real Madrid by two points. Valencia welcomes Getafe after three consecutive defeats and pressure mounting on a club that sold its top players this offseason.
ITALY
AC Milan will be confident of maintaining its unbeaten run and remaining top of Serie A. The Rossoneri are undefeated in 22 matches in all competitions and visit lowly Udinese, which has lost four of its last five league matches. Napoli and Sassuolo are two points behind Milan and they play each other at the Stadio San Paolo. Nine-time defending champion Juventus is two points further back and visits newly promoted Spezia. Also, it’s: Torino vs. Lazio; Roma vs. Fiorentina; and Sampdoria vs. Genoa.
GERMANY
Hertha Berlin’s season has not been going to plan — with three points from the first five games — ahead of its match against Wolfsburg. Expectations are high in the German capital following the recent investments from financier Lars Windhorst. But the coronavirus pandemic complicated the club’s transfer dealings over the summer, while players’ confidence has been knocked by four straight defeats. Hertha coach Bruno Labbadia is determined to put an end to that run, especially against his former club Wolfsburg. Wolfsburg is undefeated this season after starting with four draws in five games. Freiburg hosts Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga’s other game.
FRANCE
Lille's unbeaten record faces a stern test against a Lyon side which has returned to scoring form thanks to some stellar performances from Memphis Depay. The Netherlands forward was expected to join Barcelona in the recent transfer window but the move fell through at the last minute. Since focusing his efforts back on Lyon, he has been outstanding, especially with his passing. Having recently ended Rennes' unbeaten record, Angers is at home to coach Patrick Vieira's improving Nice side. Monaco must plug its leaky defense when it hosts midtable Bordeaux.
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A look at what’s happening in European soccer on Saturday:
GERMANY
Bayern Munich can seal a record 10th consecutive Bundesliga title in style with three games remaining with a victory at home over second-placed Borussia Dortmund. Bayern is hoping to continue its strong record against Dortmund after winning their last seven encounters. In Europe’s top five leagues, Bayern is tied for the record of nine consecutive titles with Juventus, which won Serie A every season from 2012 to 2020. For Dortmund, Erling Haaland ended a goal drought by scoring twice against Wolfsburg last week amid speculation over his future. Elsewhere, Leipzig hosts Union Berlin for the second time this week after winning their German Cup semifinal, and Champions League-chasing Freiburg hosts Borussia Mönchengladbach. Bayer Leverkusen visits last-placed Greuther Fürth, Eintracht Frankfurt takes on Hoffenheim, and Cologne plays Arminia Bielefeld.
PSG's Kylian Mbappe, center right, celebrates his goal with teammates during the League One soccer match between Angers and Paris Saint Germain, at the Raymond-Kopa stadium in Angers, western France, Wednesday, April 20, 2022. (AP PhotoJeremias Gonzalez)
FRANCE
Paris Saint-Germain is just one point away from sealing a record-equaling 10th league title. With five matches left to play this season, Mauricio Pochettino’s players have the opportunity to wrap up their dominant campaign in front of their home fans against Lens at the Parc des Princes. PSG has a 15-point lead over Marseille and can be crowned even if it loses against Lens on the condition that Marseille does not beat Reims on Sunday. PSG is set to move level with Saint-Etienne, which won its 10th title in 1981 and is fighting to stay up this season. Only two of PSG's previous titles — in 1986 and 1994 — were conquered before Qatar Sports Investments took over PSG in 2011 with the aim of turning it into a world-class club. Also, Saint-Etienne hosts in-form Monaco and Montpellier travels to Lyon.
ENGLAND
Manchester City's head coach Pep Guardiola gestures during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Brighton and Hove Albion at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, Wednesday, April 20, 2022. (AP PhotoDave Thompson)
Manchester City can move four points clear of second-placed Liverpool in the back-and-forth Premier League title race with a home win over relegation-threatened Watford. A victory for City would put pressure on Liverpool ahead of its Merseyside derby against Everton on Sunday. More intrigue this weekend might lie in the race for Champions League qualification, with two candidates meeting at Emirates Stadium when fifth-placed Arsenal hosts sixth-placed Manchester United. Arsenal is tied on points with fourth-placed Tottenham, with United three points back. Tottenham visits Brentford in a match between Christian Eriksen's past and present clubs. Last-placed Norwich is eight points from safety heading into a home match against Newcastle, and Leicester hosts Aston Villa in the other game.
SPAIN
Real Betis and Valencia play the final of Spain’s Copa del Rey in Betis’ hometown of Seville. The match will be at Estadio La Cartuja, a neutral ground where Spain’s national team played its group phase matches for last year’s European Championship. Valencia will be seeking its ninth Copa del Rey after winning No. 8 in 2019. Betis’ second and last cup title came back in 2005. The winner will also earn a Europa League berth.
ITALY
Inter Milan forward Edin Džeko could bring up a century of Serie A goals by scoring twice against his former club as the defending champion hosts Roma. Džeko has a total of 98 goals in the Italian league — 13 for Inter this season and the rest in five years at Roma. A win would send Inter to the top of Serie A, with current leader AC Milan playing at Lazio on Sunday. Inter will also be buoyed after beating Milan 3-0 midweek to reach the Italian Cup final. A win could reignite Roma’s challenge for a Champions League berth. Atalanta has seen its hopes of a top-four finish evaporate following a run of three straight defeats and it visits relegation-threatened Venezia. Two other sides battling the drop, Sampdoria and Spezia, travel to Hellas Verona and Torino respectively.
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