Taking a look at Monday’s events in European soccer:
ENGLAND
By defeating Aston Villa in the final match of the most recent Premier League round, Nottingham Forest can move up from the bottom of the standings. It is the first game since Forest manager Steve Cooper’s contract was extended, despite the fact that his team has only picked up one victory all year and has dropped to last place following a 4-0 defeat at Leicester.
The season isn’t going any better for Aston Villa, who are currently in fifth-to-last place and just two points above the relegation zone. Steven Gerrard is leading the team. Leicester and Forest are equal for the most points.
ITALY
With a victory over Fiorentina, Lazio will have the opportunity to climb into the top four in Serie A. Lazio, which has scored 10 goals and let up none in its last three games, would win the league for the fourth time in a row if they accomplish that. Contrarily, Fiorentina has only won one of its previous seven Serie A games and is currently ranked thirteenth, barely four points above the bottom three.
SPAIN
Elche will host Mallorca in an effort to snap its current winless run in the Spanish league. The only team in the top division without a win so far this year is Elche. It has six losses, including the last five rounds in a row, and one tie (against Almera in the second round). In the league, it has never lost six straight games. Mallorca has dropped two of its previous three games, but in a 1-0 home loss to Barcelona last Saturday, it fought valiantly.
