A look at what’s happening in European football on Sunday:
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ITALY
The Derby d’Italia is always a hotly contested fight between two of the biggest teams in Italian football. But this time Juventus know they can move above defending champion Inter Milan in what has become a thrilling title race. After a poor start to the season, Juventus are unbeaten in 16 consecutive league matches and sit just one point behind Inter, who have dropped to third after one win in their past seven matches. Victory would also see Juventus cut the gap between AC Milan to four points, with the Serie A leader not playing until Monday. Napoli can move level with Milan at the top – for 24 hours at least – with a win at Atalanta. Roma and Fiorentina are bidding for European spots and play Sampdoria and Empoli respectively. There is also a relegation fight as Udinese host Cagliari.
SPAIN
Barcelona host Sevilla with only three points separating the rivals fighting for second place in the league. Xavi Hernández has Barcelona playing their best football of the season after winning five league games by a combined score of 18-2. That included a 4-0 win at leader Real Madrid in the last round before the international break. Barcelona will have all of their first-choice players available. Backup striker Luuk de Jong is out after testing positive for COVID-19. Sevilla have sputtered in recent weeks and are in danger of losing second place. Atlético Madrid have pulled even on points with Sevilla. Fifth-placed Real Betis host Osasuna and need a win to stay in the fight for a top-four finish and a Champions League berth. Betis will be without the suspended Nabil Fekir and the injured Sergio Canales and Borja Iglesias, three of their most important players in attack. Athletic Bilbao play Elche, trying to climb into the Europa League positions. Cádiz will try to edge away from the relegation zone with a win over Valencia, while Granada also flirt with the drop before facing Rayo Vallecano.
ENGLAND
Everton look to push clear of the relegation zone in the Premier League with a win at West Ham, whose priorities might lie elsewhere in the remaining two months of the season. Frank Lampard’s Everton are one place and three points above the bottom three and going for a second straight victory in the league, after beating Newcastle 2 1/2 weeks ago with a stoppage-time goal. West Ham, who are six points off the Champions League qualification places, play against Lyon in a first-leg match in the Europa League quarterfinals on Thursday so David Moyes has to decide whether to leave out key players. In the other match, Tottenham host Newcastle. Tottenham are three points behind fourth-placed Arsenal, their fierce north London rival, in the race for Champions League qualification.
GERMANY
Augsburg’s bid to escape Bundesliga relegation begins with a home game against Wolfsburg before they welcome Mainz for their coronavirus-postponed game on Wednesday. Augsburg are level on points with Hertha Berlin and Arminia Bielefeld, who are in the relegation zone due to their inferior goal difference, and a point behind Stuttgart. But Augsburg coach Markus Weinzierl will be without regular forwards Michael Gregoritsch and André Hahn. Ruben Vargas is doubtful to play, meaning Weinzierl will have to place his trust in Florian Niederlechner and Ricardo Pepi. The former hasn’t scored since October and Pepi has yet to score since his winter switch from FC Dallas. Borussia Mönchengladbach host Mainz in the late game.
FRANCE
Runaway leader Paris Saint-Germain can move closer to a record 10th league title with a victory over lowly Lorient. PSG will rely on Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi, Neymar and Angel Di Maria, who all scored during the international break. Fifth-placed Strasbourg have become a surprising contender in the race for European spots but will miss six injured players against Lens. Mid-table Lyon, who need a strong finish to qualify for Europe, will be without an injured Maxence Caqueret against Angers but will be boosted by the recent signing of Brazilian winger Tete from Shakhtar Donetsk. Monaco need a win at relegation-embattled Metz to make up ground in the race for Europe.
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