MATCHDAY: Runaway Serie A leader Napoli visits Lecce

Updated Apr. 6, 2023 1:25 p.m. ET
Associated Press

A look at what’s happening in European soccer on Friday:

ITALY

Runaway Serie A leader Napoli visits Lecce looking to bounce back from its heaviest defeat of the season but won’t want to spend too much energy with the Champions League quarterfinals coming up. Defending champion AC Milan routed Napoli 4-0 on Sunday and meets Napoli again in the Champions League on Wednesday. Milan, meanwhile, hosts Empoli looking to build on its performance at Napoli. Inter Milan visits Salernitana before traveling to face Benfica in the Champions League. Milan and Inter are involved in a tight fight for the top four places and spots in next season's Champions League. The other seven matches in Serie A this weekend will all be played on Saturday because of the Easter holiday.

SPAIN

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Sevilla hosts Celta Vigo in the Spanish league seeking a second straight victory under new coach José Luis Mendilibar. Sevilla won 2-0 at Cadiz in the veteran Spanish coach's debut after he replaced Jorge Sampaoli. Sevilla is 13th in the league but only four points above 19th-place Almeria in a tightly packed bottom part of the standings. Sevilla plays at Manchester United in the first leg of the Europa League quarterfinals next Thursday.

FRANCE

Second-place Lens hosts struggling Strasbourg looking for a fourth straight win in the French league. Lens leapfrogged Marseille into second place on goal difference last weekend by winning at Rennes. It trails leader Paris Saint-Germain by six points. Inform striker Loïs Openda will try to add to his tally of 15 league goals this season after scoring six times in his last three games for Lens. Strasbourg is one spot above the relegation zone because of its better goal difference.

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