#relegation-zone

#relegation-zone

Diego Lopez's winner boosted Valencia's bid for La Liga survival with a victory over the 10 men of Real Madrid at the Mestalla.Lopez met Justin Kluivert's cross-come-shot at the back post to tuck the winner past Thibaut Courtois.Vinicius Jr, who had Madrid's best chance in the game, was sent off for violent conduct in added time.

France's sports minister says Ligue 1 clubs should sanction players who did not take part in a show of support against homophobia, though the players' union says it was "astonished" its members were asked to do so.Amelie Oudea-Castera said players "have to show up" on such issues.

West Ham boss David Moyes believes his side are playing their best football at the right time of the season as they look to win the Europa Conference League.The Hammers host Dutch side AZ Alkmaar in the first leg of their semi-final on Thursday.Should they come out on top in the two-legged tie, West Ham will reach their first European final in 47 years.

Newcastle revived their bid to finish in the Premier League's top four with a battling victory over Wolves at St James' Park.Substitute Miguel Almiron curled home the winner with 12 minutes left as the Magpies ended a run of three straight defeats in all competitions to leapfrog Liverpool into fifth on goal difference and move within four points of fourth-placed Tottenham, who have played two games more.

Manchester United scored twice in the final 10 minutes at Elland Road to leave managerless Leeds deep in relegation trouble.Substitute Alejandro Garnacho then outpaced the home defence before beating Illan Meslier at his near post to the obvious joy of manager Erik ten Hag on the touchline.The result was harsh on Leeds, who created a number of decent opportunities but could not beat visiting goalkeeper David de Gea.

Prediction: Arsenal win
The Premier League returns for two matches in the next few days as four clubs attempt to use their game in hand to make a real impact in the top flight.In moments like these, you've really got to seize the opportunity and make a statement, regardless of which end of the table you're at.

When it comes to Serie A's two teams involved in the Champions League semifinal, we've seen two very different kinds of results in their game that's in between the two-legged tie that won't have them traveling outside of Milan city limits.So what about the two Italian teams in the Europa League semifinals?

Here we go again.It's a big Europa League night in Turin.Just like the last three rounds of Juventus ' Europa League adventure as a result of getting dumped out of the Champions League group stage, things will start in front of the hometown crowd in Turin.In the first leg of the Europa League semifinals tonight, Juventus will face the specialists of the Europa League, Sevilla, who is in the midst of an impressive run under their new manager after spending a good amount of the 2022-23 season around the relegation zone in La Liga.

Marco Asensio kept Real Madrid's faint hope of retaining their La Liga title alive with the winner against Getafe.Carlo Ancelotti made eight changes as Madrid warmed up for Wednesday's Champions League semi-final second leg at Manchester City.It resulted in a disjointed performance against a Getafe side in the relegation zone, before Asensio's deflected strike with 20 minutes remaining.

Leeds United players say they "can't express how sorry" they are for not acknowledging fans before Sunday's defeat by Bournemouth.A video went viral on social media of Leeds players appearing to ignore fans, including a child, as they departed the team hotel prior to their
The Whites have taken just one point from their last five games and are one point above the relegation zone.

A Leeds United fan has been arrested and handed a lifetime ban by the club after confronting Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe at Elland Road on Saturday.The supporter managed to avoid security and ran onto the touchline to confront Howe near the end of the 2-2 draw between both clubs.After getting into the face of the Newcastle boss, the fan was escorted away by security and Leeds confirmed he has been arrested.

Caretaker manager Michael Skubala will remain in charge of Leeds United's "upcoming fixtures," including this weekend's match at relegation rivals Everton, the club said on Tuesday.No head coach has been announced since Jesse Marsch was sacked last week.- Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.)

Javi Gracia has defended his record as Leeds manager following his sacking.Leeds were 19th in the table when Gracia took over from Jesse Marsch in February, and are currently 17th - above the relegation zone on goal difference."Everton got eight points, Leicester and Southampton took six and (Nottingham) Forest five.

West Ham United are interested in signing James Ward-Prowse from Premier League rivals Southampton in the summer transfer window, according to Football Insider .The report has claimed that the Hammers could find it tough to get a deal done as Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United are also keen on the England international.

Brennan Johnson scored twice for Nottingham Forest to salvage a point against an Everton side whose display was "a great building block" in their Premier League survival bid, according to Sean Dyche.Everton, who have won two of six games since Dyche was appointed manager in January, remain in the bottom three on goal difference behind Leeds United.

Leicester City and Everton both remained deep in relegation trouble after slugging out a 2-2 draw in a gripping basement battle at a raucous King Power Stadium on Monday.Dominic Calvert-Lewin's first goal since October, a penalty in the 15th minute, put Everton ahead, but Leicester equalised seven minutes later when Caglar Soyuncu fired home.

It started with a hero's welcome.When he arrived as Valencia's new owner in October 2014, Peter Lim was greeted with glee by fans who hoped the Singaporean businessman would rescue their club from a perilous financial position caused by years of over-ambitious spending.Fans were optimistic Lim's takeover, through his Hong Kong-based Meriton Holdings company, would propel Valencia back to the summit of European football - the lofty heights they occupied at the turn of the century with consecutive Champions League final appearances in 2000 and 2001 and two La Liga titles in 2002 and 2004.

Leeds United are in initial talks with former Ajax boss Alfred Schreuder to replace Jesse Marsch.Schreuder replaced Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag at Ajax in the summer but was sacked in January.Leeds have had several setbacks in their hunt for a manager since American Marsch was dismissed last Monday.

Queens Park Rangers have sacked manager Neil Critchley after just 12 games in charge at Loftus Road.The west London club have gone 10 Championship games without a win and are 17th in the table, eight points above the relegation zone.Critchley, 44, was appointed in December after Michael Beale left for Scottish giants Rangers.

Liverpool completed a difficult week with a frustrating 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace on Saturday that did little to enhance their prospects of finishing in the Premier League's top four.Thrashed 5-2 at home by Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday, Jurgen Klopp's inconsistent side laboured against a Palace team who kept a first clean sheet against Liverpool for 18 years.

The Spanish side beat Fenerbahce to progress to the last eight but their domestic form has been far less impressive, with Sampaoli unable to improve the club's form after replacing Julen Lopetegui in October.Sevilla currently sit two points above the relegation zone in 14th place, with a 2-0 defeat at Getafe on Sunday Sampaoli's final game in charge.

Oxford United have appointed former Milton Keynes Dons boss Liam Manning as their new head coach.The 37-year-old takes over from Karl Robinson, who was sacked last month following an eight-game winless run.The U's have picked up one point since beating Ipswich on 21 January leaving them three points above the League One relegation zone in 18th place.

Everton deservedly collected a monumental victory over fellow Premier League strugglers Leeds to climb out of the relegation zone and send their opponents into trouble.Victory was Everton's second in three games under new manager Sean Dyche, lifting them up to 16th place, while Leeds drop to 19th and remain without a win under interim boss Michael Skubala.

Barcelona's Sergi Roberto and Robert Lewandowski struck just before half-time to give the league leaders a 2-0 home win over lowly Cadiz on Sunday in their pursuit of a 27th Spanish title.Unbeaten in their last 18 matches in all competitions, Barcelona extended their LaLiga winning streak to seven games, piling pressure on rivals Real Madrid, who won 2-0 at Osasuna on Saturday.

How many people who watch the Bundesliga are concerned with the relegation zone?Not that many, especially if you're a Bayern Munich fan.But if you support a team directly in the relegation fight, then you might be excited, if not a bit disconcerted, to see that this season's relegation battle is shaping up to be one for the history books.