A look at what’s happening in European soccer on Monday:
ENGLAND
Having beaten Chelsea in December when Frank Lampard was manager, Everton goes to Stamford Bridge to face Thomas Tuchel's revived side. But the Merseyside club is also on a high after three victories in a row. It is a point behind fourth-place Chelsea and has a game in hand. Tuchel has made a huge impression since taking over from Lampard in late January. He has not lost any of his 10 matches and has taken the side from ninth in the table to top-four contenders again. Like Everton, West Ham is another surprise package this season, sitting only a point behind Carlo Ancelotti's side heading into Monday's game against Leeds.
ITALY
Inter Milan’s title credentials face a big test when high-scoring Atalanta visits the San Siro. “Atalanta puts everyone in trouble,” Inter coach Antonio Conte said. “Whoever attacks better will win.” While Atalanta is no longer a surprise package after reaching the quarterfinals of last season’s Champions League, the Bergamo-based club has more big-game experience now and is better organized in defense. Inter, however, is on a six-match winning streak and looking to restore its six-point lead over AC Milan atop the table as it chases its first Italian league title in more than a decade.
SPAIN
Real Betis tries to stay in the fight for European qualification spots in the Spanish league when it hosts second-to-last Alavés. Coming off three consecutive wins, Betis is sixth in the standings. It trails fifth-place Real Sociedad by three points and has a two-point lead over seventh-place Villarreal, which lost 2-1 to Valencia on Friday. Alavés has lost three straight matches, with only one win in its last 11 league games.
FRANCE
In the remaining French Cup game, it's a short trip of 21 kilometers (13 miles) along the French Riviera for Monaco as it visits Nice. A place in the last 16 of the competition is at stake, along with the pleasure of beating a local rival. Nice has won its last two games and has forward Amine Gouiri in good form with 15 goals in 33 games this season. Monaco's attack has been purring but the recent 1-0 league defeat against Strasbourg was the club's first loss in 13 league games. Monaco has won the trophy five times but not since 1991, while three-time winner Nice last won it in '97.
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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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