MATCHDAY: Man U in FA Cup action; Barça visits Girona

Updated Jan. 27, 2023 6:26 p.m. ET

Associated Press

A look at what’s happening in European soccer on Saturday:

ENGLAND

Several Premier League clubs will be looking to avoid famous upsets in the fourth round of the FA Cup. Leeds travels to third-tier Accrington Stanley, while Leicester faces fourth-tier Walsall. Manchester United hosts second-tier Reading after moving within touching distance of the English League Cup final this week. Top-flight Fulham, Southampton and Tottenham also face lower-league opposition.

SPAIN

League leader Barcelona visits Girona aiming for a win that would open up a six-point gap over second-placed Real Madrid before the defending champion faces third-placed Real Sociedad on Sunday. It will be the third and final game that Robert Lewandowski, the league top scorer, will miss due to suspension. Real Betis has lost three straight across all competitions before it visits Getafe. A win would lift Betis level on points with fourth-placed Atletico Madrid in the fight for a Champions League spot. Sevilla hosts last-placed Elche after Jorge Sampaoli’s team was eliminated from the Copa del Rey quarterfinals. Mallorca has moved into the middle of the standings with five victories in eight rounds before it plays at Cadiz.

ITALY

Inter Milan will be looking to bounce back from a demoralizing loss at home to Empoli when it visits bottom club Cremonese in Serie A. Inter is two points behind second-placed AC Milan, which it faces in the derby next weekend. Atalanta is just two points behind Inter — in a tight battle for the Champions League qualifying spots — and it hosts lowly Sampdoria. Torino travels to Empoli with both teams needing a win to boost their hopes of reaching the final Europa League qualifying spot.

FRANCE

Second-placed Lens has gone nine games unbeaten and can move level on points with league leader Paris Saint-Germain if it wins at lowly Troyes. Third-placed Marseille looks for a seventh straight league win when it hosts Monaco at Stade Velodrome. Marseille has scored 17 times in the past six matches, including a 3-2 win at Monaco two weeks ago. But Marseille's defense will be wary of facing a Monaco side which put seven past Ajaccio in the previous round. Striker Wissiam Ben Yedder scored a hat trick in that game and will be confident of adding to his 11 league goals. A win for Monaco would close the gap on Marseille to two points.

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