A look at what’s happening in Europe on Friday:
FRANCE
Second-place Marseille can close the gap on French league leader Paris Saint-Germain to four points if it beats Montpellier. Marseille has been impressive on the road but its home form has lacked consistency, with Igor Tudor’s players looking for a first league win at the Velodrome stadium since January. Montpellier is full of confidence ahead of the trip to its southern rival, having won five of their six games since coach Michel Der Zakarian returned last month.
GERMANY
Eintracht Frankfurt is under pressure against Bochum in the Bundesliga. Frankfurt hasn’t won any of its last six games including two losses to Napoli as it exited the Champions League. Its poor form in the Bundesliga is not helping its prospects of returning to Europe’s premier competition next season. Oliver Glasner’s team is now six points behind Freiburg in the last qualification spot and the Frankfurt coach is coming under scrutiny for criticizing his own players. Glasner was particularly outspoken after his team’s 2-0 loss at Union Berlin before the international break and time will tell whether his criticism stings his players into a response. Bochum is not yet out of relegation danger, but it has helped its cause with two straight wins over Cologne and Leipzig.
SPAIN
Mallorca hosts Osasuna in the Spanish league with both teams trying to move closer to the European places. Osasuna is in ninth place and Mallorca is 11th. Mallorca is looking to end a four-game winless run that includes three losses. Osasuna in winless in three matches, with two losses. Osasuna has some of its focus on the second leg of the Copa del Rey semifinals against Athletic Bilbao next week. It won the first leg 1-0 at home. Osasuna is trying to reach the Copa final for the second time after losing the title to Real Betis in 2005.
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