A look at what’s happening in European soccer on Friday:
ENGLAND
Sixth-division club Chorley will try to pull off another FA Cup upset when it hosts Premier League team Wolverhampton Wanderers. The club from northern England has already eliminated professional teams Wigan, Peterborough and Derby in previous rounds. Chorley manager Jamie Vermiglio is a headteacher in his day job. The club has already earned about 350,000 pounds ($475,000) in prize money and from television appearances, helping to offset losses caused by coronavirus pandemic. Chorley enjoyed one of its biggest moments against Wolves in 1986 — also in the fourth round of the FA Cup. Wolves were then in decline after three straight relegations had plunged them into the fourth division, but this time Chorley faces a team that reached the last 16 of the Europa League last season.
PSG's Kylian Mbappe, left, duels for the ball with Angers' Vincent Manceau during the French League One soccer match between Angers and Paris Saint-Germain at Jean-Bouin stadium in Angers, France, Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021. (AP PhotoDavid Vincent)
FRANCE
Paris Saint-Germain striker Kylian Mbappe looks to end a run of four games without a goal when the French league leaders host Montpellier at Parc des Princes. The France forward has been below his best in recent weeks and has been unusually wasteful with his finishing. PSG's defense could face a threat from Montpellier striker Andy Delort, who missed the match against PSG last month after contracting the coronavirus for the second time. Delort has nine league goals this season, three behind Mbappe. A win would move PSG three points ahead of second-place Lille. PSG will again be led by assistant coach Jesus Perez while coach Mauricio Pochettino continues his COVID-19 recovery.
GERMANY
Borussia Dortmund coach Edin Terzic questioned his team's will to win after a 2-1 loss to Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday left them drifting away from the top of the Bundesliga standings, saying their “heads went down” after Leverkusen scored. He wants a turnaround against Borussia Mönchengladbach, but that won’t be easy with Gladbach on a five-game unbeaten run in all competitions, including a win over Bayern Munich on Jan. 8.
SPAIN
Valladolid visits Levante looking to end a two-game winless streak and move further away from the relegation zone. The team owned by former Brazil striker Ronaldo is in 16th place, two points from safety. Levante is in 12th place, three points ahead of Valladolid with a game in hand.
ITALY
Torino coach Davide Nicola will take charge of his first match since replacing the fired Marco Giampaolo when his team visits promoted Benevento. Relegation-threatened Torino is 18th in the league standings, a point from safety, but Nicola is known as a coach who can rescue teams from desperate situations. Benevento is sitting in relative comfort in the middle of the standings in only its second season in Serie A, but has lost three of its last four matches.
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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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