A look at what’s happening in European soccer on Sunday:
SPAIN
Atlético Madrid faces a critical test in its title bid when the league leaders visit fourth-place Sevilla. Real Madrid has closed the gap to three points, and Barcelona is four points adrift before playing Monday. Atlético has squandered a once double-digit advantage over the past two months with just four wins in nine rounds. João Félix is doubtful with a leg injury and forward Yannick Carrasco is serving a one-game suspension, leaving coach Diego Simeone with Luis Suárez and Ángel Correa in attack. The match pits the two stingiest defenses in the league against one another. Atlético has allowed a league-low 18 goals; Sevilla is next with 21. Manuel Pellegrini’s Real Betis visits Elche seeking to keep up its strong form after winning five of its last six games. Alavés plays Celta Vigo needing a win to move off the bottom of the table, while Valencia is at a Cádiz side that is also trying to stay out of the relegation fight.
ENGLAND
Manchester United heads into the match against Brighton with uncertainty over who will play in goal. While this season has seen Dean Henderson mainly used in cups, he has featured in the last six matches in all competitions after David De Gea returned to Spain for the birth of his first child. While United is in second place, Brighton is focused on Premier League survival, sitting six points clear of the relegation zone. Newcastle, with only two wins in its last 18 league games, is only two points above the bottom three as it prepares to host Tottenham. Jose Mourinho’s side can go level on points with fourth-place Chelsea after the west London club’s surprising loss to West Bromwich. Fulham goes into a game against Aston Villa two points behind 17th-place Newcastle, having lost its last two fixtures. Southampton and Burnley, who are both seven points ahead of Fulham, meet on the south coast.
GERMANY
Neither Union Berlin nor Hertha Berlin imagined they could be in their respective Bundesliga positions with seven games remaining as they outlined their goals for the season. Ahead of the league’s fourth-ever derby between the rivals, Hertha is languishing in danger of relegation and Union is challenging for European qualification. A change of coach hasn’t prevented Hertha sliding to 15th in the 18-team league, just one point above Cologne in the relegation zone. Union was only targeting survival from its second-ever season in Germany’s top-flight, yet Urs Fischer’s team is flying high in seventh – 14 points above Hertha. Union, which hosts Sunday’s derby in its Stadion An der Alten Försterei, will take heart from knowing the home team has won each of the three top-flight derbies between the side so far. Also Sunday, promoted Stuttgart hosts Werder Bremen.
FRANCE
Sixth-place Marseille continues its push for fifth and a Europa League slot when it hosts last-place Dijon at Stade Velodrome. Marseille coach Jorge Sampaoli will look for his third win in four games since taking charge, especially given that Dijon has lost 10 straight league games and seems condemned to relegation. Rennes and Marseille are also in contention for the Europa League since they are one point behind Marseille. Both have tricky away games at midtable sides, with Rennes going to Reims and Montpellier traveling to Angers.
More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
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.
More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
