MATCHDAY: Atletico chases 7th straight league win in Spain. PSG looks to go top in France

Thu, Nov 2, 2023
Soccer News (AP)

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

SPAIN

Atletico Madrid visits Las Palmas looking for its seventh consecutive win in the Spanish league. Diego Simeone's team hasn't lost since a 3-0 defeat at Valencia in September. That was the team's only defeat in the league so far. Atletico enters the weekend in third place, three points behind Real Madrid and Girona at the top but with a game in hand. Las Palmas has won four of its last six league matches and is 10th after 11 matches. It has lost eight straight league games against Atletico.

FRANCE

Other news Copa Libertadores final: Cavani's Boca Juniors seeks 7th title, Marcelo's Fluminense eyes first one Ballon d'Or winner Bonmati helped get a win over sexism in Spain. Now it's time to 'focus on soccer' Real Madrid extends contract of Brazil winger Rodrygo to 2028

Second-place Paris Saint-Germain can take the top spot in the French league by avoiding defeat against Montpellier. PSG had a narrow escape at Brest last weekend, winning 3-2 with a late penalty, but is looking to extend its winning streak to five games in all competitions. The defending champions will be missing defender Danilo (hamstring). Montpellier forward Akor Adams (7 goals) is the second most prolific scorer in the league this season behind PSG striker Kylian Mbappe (10). Montpellier sits in 11th place.

ITALY

After a mixed start to the season, Lazio will be looking for its fourth straight Serie A win when it faces Bologna. Lazio won only two of its first seven league matches but three straight wins lifted the team to seventh in the table. Another victory would send Lazio level with fourth-place Atalanta ahead of the rest of the weekend's fixtures. But it is only a point above Bologna, which has lost only one of its 10 league matches. Bologna has drawn five of its past seven, however.

GERMANY

Two teams in need of a win meet as 14th-place Darmstadt hosts 16th-place Bochum in the Bundesliga. Darmstadt is seeking to bounce back from an 8-0 loss to Bayern Munich last week but isn't helped by Klaus Gjasula and Matej Maglica each being banned for two games for red cards in the Bayern match. Bochum hasn't won all season but it's repeatedly come close with five draws from nine games.

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