A look at what’s happening in European soccer on Friday:
SPAIN
Valencia hosts Villarreal in a regional derby amid speculation about the possible sale of the struggling club. Villarreal coach Unai Emery once had Valencia regularly in the top four of the Spanish league when he managed the side almost a decade ago. But owner Peter Lim sold off the team’s top talent last summer, and now there are rumors he could be listening to offers for a buyer. Emery’s Villarreal is in seventh place and with hopes of securing a Europa League berth despite a poor run of seven consecutive rounds without a victory. In 14th place, Valencia’s main concern is staying out of the relegation battle.
New head coach Dimitrios Grammozis, left, stands with assistant coach Mike Bueskens during his first training session of Bundesliga soccer club FC Schalke 04 in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, Wednesday, March 3, 2021. Grammozis is the 5th head coach this season, when the traditional club faces one of its biggest crises, as the club will most likely have to relegate to the 2nd division. (AP PhotoMartin Meissner)
GERMANY
Schalke's fifth coach this season takes charge of the struggling former title contender in a game which is vital to avoiding relegation. Dimitrios Grammozis has never coached in a top-division game before as last-place Schalke faces Mainz, the team one place above. Schalke is already nine points from safety with one league win all season and crushing debt. It fired coach Christian Gross after last week's 5-1 loss to Stuttgart before appointing Grammozis. Mainz has two wins from its last four Bundesliga games and can escape the relegation zone with a win, overtaking Arminia Bielefeld and big-spending Hertha Berlin.
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