MATCHDAY: Barca seeks to regain lead; Spurs hosts West Ham

Posted June 22, 2020 7:00 am

By The Associated Press

Barcelona's Lionel Messi reacts during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Sevilla and FC Barcelona at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan stadium in Seville, Spain, Friday, June 19, 2020. (AP Photo/Angel Fernandez) The Associated Press

A look at what's happening around European soccer on Tuesday:

SPAIN

After leading during the pandemic-enforced break in La Liga, Barcelona hosts mid-table Athletic Bilbao sitting behind Real Madrid after being held to a draw by Sevilla. Madrid has a better goal difference and head-to-head record against Barcelona. AtlÃ©tico Madrid will try to hold on to third place when it visits Levante, while relegation-threatened Valladolid hosts fifth-place Getafe.

ENGLAND

West Ham, with just one win in its last 10 Premier League games, plays at Tottenham sitting above the relegation zone only due to a superior goal difference. Tottenham has its own pressing need for a victory with eight games left as it tries to trim the four-point gap to fifth-place Manchester United, which currently occupies the final automatic Champions League qualifying place. Tottenham and United drew 1-1 on Friday in their first game back from the break. In the other match Tuesday, third-place Leicester can move a step closer to securing a place in next season's Champions League by beating Brighton at home.

ITALY

After winning the Italian Cup last week, Napoli returns to league action after the pandemic-enforced break with an away game at Hellas Verona. A point ahead of the hosts, sixth-place Napoli will attempt to continue its revival under Gennaro Gattuso. Since replacing Carlo Ancelotti in December, Gattuso has guided Napoli to two wins over Juventus and also beaten Serie A title challengers Lazio and Inter Milan. Parma is two points below Napoli and visits relegation-threatened Genoa. Spal hosts Cagliari and Udinese visits fellow struggler Torino, with both sitting just three points above the drop zone.

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More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Tottenham's Steven Bergwijn celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England, Friday, June 19, 2020. (AP Photo/Shaun Botterill, Pool) The Associated Press

Barcelona's Luis Suarez gestures during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Sevilla and FC Barcelona at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan stadium in Seville, Spain, Friday, June 19, 2020. (AP Photo/Angel Fernandez) The Associated Press

Napoli players celebrate after winning the final match between Napoli and Juventus, at Rome's Olympic Stadium, Wednesday, June 17, 2020. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) The Associated Press

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