A look at what’s happening in European soccer on Friday:
SPAIN
Granada visits Athletic Bilbao needing a win to ensure it doesn’t fall into the Spanish league’s relegation zone. Granada coach Robert Moreno will miss the match serving the first of a two-game suspension after he was sent off for protesting during a loss to Real Madrid last round. Bilbao has only lost twice in 13 games this season, but it has gone four rounds without a win. A victory for the Basque Country club would lift it above seventh-place Barcelona before the Catalan side plays this weekend.
GERMANY
Relegation-threatened Stuttgart looks to end a five-game winless run at home against Mainz. Stuttgart was a solid mid-table team last season after promotion but is struggling this year in the relegation playoff place in 16th. Mainz comes into the game in eighth, three points off the Champions League places, and unbeaten in four games.
ITALY
The two bottom clubs in Serie A meet in Sardinia as Cagliari hosts Salernitana. Both clubs have just seven points from 13 matches and are four points from safety. Cagliari’s 2-2 draw at Sassuolo last weekend ended a run of four straight losses. Salernitana has lost its last three matches without scoring a goal.
FRANCE
Lens hosts Angers looking to bounce back and provisionally move to second place following its 4-0 loss at Brest last week. The northern side will be missing several players. Wesley Saïd and Deiver Machado are out injured, while Arnaud Kalimuendo is suspended. Lagging just three points behind Lens, sixth-place Angers has lost only three games this season, one fewer than Lens.
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