MATCHDAY: Inter Milan visits Spezia, Lille hosts Lyon

Thu, Mar 9, 2023
Other News (AP)

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

ITALY

Inter Milan travels to Spezia looking to cement second place in Serie A ahead of a tough week, but its opponent needs the points to avoid risking ending the weekend in the bottom three. Inter is two points ahead of third-place Lazio and three ahead of Roma and AC Milan in a tight battle for the Champions League spots. It visits Porto on Tuesday in the last-16 of this year's Champions League, protecting a 1-0 advantage from the first leg, and hosts fierce rival Juventus in Serie A the following weekend. Spezia drew 0-0 at home to 18th-place Hellas Verona last weekend to avoid dropping into the bottom three. But it remains just three points above the relegation zone. Verona hosts Monza on Sunday.

SPAIN

Cadiz hosts Getafe aiming to maintain its strong home record as both clubs try to continue climbing away from the relegation zone. Both teams are playing their best soccer of the season after escaping from the bottom three spots. Cadiz is unbeaten in nine consecutive league home games, including three straight wins. Getafe has only one loss in the last five rounds. But Quique Sanchez Flores' team needs to improve on the road, where it hasn't won in the league since October.

GERMANY

Cologne hosts Bochum in a meeting of two teams desperate just to score a goal. Cologne is 12th and winless in three league games without scoring, though there was some improvement in a 0-0 draw with high-flying Union Berlin last week. Bochum looked to have a good chance of avoiding relegation a month ago but has now plummeted to last in the league with four consecutive losses without scoring. All of the teams in the bottom four of the 18-team league are level on 19 points.

FRANCE

Still in contention for a European spot next season, Lille will be without center-back Tiago Djalo when it hosts Lyon in the French league. Lille said the 22-year-old Djalo is out for the rest of the season with a torn ACL. With 12 matches left to play, Lille is lagging six points behind third-place Monaco. In-form striker Jonathan David is expected to lead the attack after scoring his 16th goal of the season last weekend. Only Kylian Mbappe, the league's top scorer with 18 goals, has done better. Lyon is in 10th place, six points behind Lille.

___

More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports