Relegation strugglers LeccehostUdinese today
Relegation strugglers Lecce will be desperate to end an eight-match winless run when they welcome Udinese to Stadio Via del Mare on Friday night.
The hosts find themselves two points clear of the drop zone with seven games remaining, while the visitors occupy ninth place in the Serie A table – 14 points above Lecce.
Lecce have lost seven of their last eight matches while failing to score on six occasions, with last weekend’s 2-0 defeat at AC Milan leaving the club just two points above the relegation zone.
Having managed to win only two of their previous 15 league outings – suffering nine defeats in the process – Lecce will need to turn the tide soon.
Udinese appear to be finding their way again after enduring a damaging mid-season run of one win in 17 league matches, having kicked off their campaign with six victories across the first eight games.
The Bianconeri head into Friday’s clash on the back of a comfortable 3-0 win over relegation-doomed Cremonese.
Battling for their lives at the bottom end of the table, Lecce are expected to put up a decent fight, but Udinese should have enough quality to inflict an eighth defeat in nine matches on the relegation strugglers.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Osasuna welcome top-four hopefuls Real Sociedad Friday night
Osasuna will be bidding to make it three La Liga wins in a row when they welcome top-four hopefuls Real Sociedad on Friday night.
The home side are currently eighth in the table, three points behind sixth-placed Villarreal, while Real Sociedad sit fourth, six points ahead of fifth-placed Real Betis in the race for Champions League spots.
Osasuna have picked up nine points from their last four league games courtesy of wins over Elche, Real Betis and Cadiz, which has put them in contention for a top-six finish entering the final straight.
Osasuna have struggled for consistency in front of their own fans this season, winning eight, drawing one and losing six of their 15 matches, and the hosts will be taking on a Real Sociedad outfit with the fourth-best away record in La Liga.
Real Sociedad will enter this match off the back of a goalless draw with Real Betis on Tuesday. The visitors are in pole position to claim a spot in the Champions League for next season despite a recent wobble which has seen them win just three times in the league since the middle of February.
Imanol Alguacil‘s side will next be in action against Real Madrid on May 2, while they will also travel to Barcelona next month, so the Basque outfit cannot afford to drop many points, as their top-four spot is far from certain at this stage of the campaign.
This is a really tough match for Real Sociedad, with Osasuna showing excellent form at a vital stage of the campaign.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Crystal Palace, West Ham renew hostilities in London derby
On the back of respective midweek defeats, Crystal Palace and West Ham United renew hostilities for Saturday’s Premier League London derby at Selhurst Park.
The Eagles went down 2-0 to Wolverhampton Wanderers in Tuesday’s bottom-half battle, 24 hours before David Moyes‘s side failed to hang on to a 1-0 lead in a 2-1 defeat to Liverpool.
A few eyebrows were raised when Roy Hodgson made several alterations to a hitherto unbeaten Palace side under his wing. Hodgson’s new manager bounce appears to be waning for Palace, but the mini boost provided by the 75-year-old has propelled the Eagles away from danger, sitting eight points clear of the drop zone with five games left to play.
West Ham’s five-game unbeaten run in all competitions came to an end on Wednesday evening, and there can be no downplaying the importance of a result on Saturday before West Ham meet Manchester City, Manchester United and Europa Conference League semi-final opponents AZ Alkmaar in their opening three May fixtures.
Moyes’s side have had few problems taking their chances during their springtime surge and have enough firepower in their ranks to come away with all the spoils although Palace have proven to be a very tough nut to crack at Selhurst Park recently.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Roma, AC Milan battle for top four in Serie A
The Stadio Olimpico will host a crucial Serie A encounter between AS Roma and AC Milan this Saturday, with both sides battling for a place in the top four.
Roma currently sit in fifth place on the Serie A table with 56 points, level on points with AC Milan in fourth. Both sides are on a +14 goal difference.
A win for either side could significantly boost their bid for a Champions League spot, while a defeat could spell the end of their hopes.
Roma were unbeaten in their last three league games before their 3-1 loss to Atalanta on Monday. AC Milan beat Lecce this weekend to earn their first league win after two draws.
With so much at stake, this will be a closely contested encounter, with both sides likely to leave everything on the pitch.
AC Milan’s Portuguese international Rafael Leao undid Napoli’s defence with his mazy dribbling, scoring a double to send Milan to fourth position.
Keeping him quiet will be top of Roma’s to-do list if they want the win.
Credit: onefootball.com
