MATCHDAY: Real Madrid hosts Valencia; Juventus in action | Soccer
A preview of what’s happening in European football on Thursday:
SPAIN
Real Madrid host Valencia in a league game postponed from January due to the teams’ participation in the Spanish Super Cup. Madrid and Valencia contested the semi-finals of the tournament in Saudi Arabia, with Madrid advancing in a penalty shootout before ultimately losing the final to Barcelona. Madrid need a win at the Santiago Bernabéu to stay close to league leaders Barcelona. It will be Valencia’s first game without manager Gennaro Gattuso, whose contract was terminated by mutual agreement amid the team’s poor run. Valencia have won just one of their last 10 league games and are one point above the relegation zone. His only two wins this year have come in the Copa del Rey.
ITALY
Juventus will try to put their league misery behind them when they host Lazio with a Coppa Italia semi-final spot on the line. Juventus were penalized 15 points last month for false accounting and that, coupled with poor results left them just 10 points above the relegation zone. Sunday’s 2-0 loss at home to Monza was preceded by a draw with Atalanta and a heavy 5-1 defeat at Napoli. Juventus have won the trophy a record 14 times, however. Lazio are unbeaten in their last five matches but lost 3-0 at Juventus in the league in November. The winner will face holders Inter Milan in a semi-final round trip in April.
More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.