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The Euro Preview: Serie A resumes following death of Fiorentina’s Davide Astori

By Clemente Lisi

4th March 2018, Italy; Serie A football, Italian player Davide Astori of Fiorentina in a file photo Captain and Italy international Davide Astori has died suddenly in his sleep aged 31 The dad-of-one was found in a hotel room by a massage therapist this morning after he did not turn up for breakfast or answer his phone Davide Astori has passed away suddenly in his sleep at the age of 31 (Photo by Giampiero Sposito/Action Plus via Getty Images)
4th March 2018, Italy; Serie A football, Italian player Davide Astori of Fiorentina in a file photo Captain and Italy international Davide Astori has died suddenly in his sleep aged 31 The dad-of-one was found in a hotel room by a massage therapist this morning after he did not turn up for breakfast or answer his phone Davide Astori has passed away suddenly in his sleep at the age of 31 (Photo by Giampiero Sposito/Action Plus via Getty Images) /
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After the death of Fiorentina captain Davide Astori postponed last Sunday’s Serie A games, the league resumes this weekend following an emotional week.

Serie A

Following the death of Fiorentina’s Davide Astori led to the postponing of last Sunday’s seven league matches, including that night’s highly-anticipated Milan derby, Serie A is set to resume this weekend with matchday 28.

The sudden death of Astori, whose funeral was held earlier this week in Florence, upset coaches, players and fans. Astori, a preliminary autopsy revealed, died of natural causes from a suspected heart attack. Many tributes to the star defender popped up online soon after his death.

Fiorentina, along with Astori’s former club Cagliari, have decided to retire his number 13 shirt. Even an emotional Chelsea manager Antonio Conte expressed shock at Astori’s death, a player he had previously coached during his time as Italy manager.

The tragedy cast a pall over what has been a riveting season. The title race between Napoli and Juventus remains as tight as ever. Napoli now only hold a one-point lead, and Juve have a game in hand.

The fight for the two remaining spots in next season’s Champions League is also competitive, stretching from third-place Lazio to sixth-place AC Milan, a team surging following Gennaro Gattuso’s installation as manager just a few months ago. Even the relegation battle features seven clubs.

Here’s the situation at the top of the table:

  1. Napoli — 69
  2. Juventus — 68
  3. AS Roma — 53
  4. Lazio — 52
  5. Inter Milan — 51
  6. Sampdoria — 44
  7. AC Milan — 44

Juventus host Udinese and Napoli play on the road at Inter Milan on Sunday. While the competitive Scudetto race is certain to give fans some competitive matches, it will also be a weekend filled with sorrow following what has been an emotionally-draining week.

La Liga

The biggest game of matchday 28 features fifth-place Sevilla hosting fourth-place Valencia on Saturday. While Valencia currently hold a comfortable eight-point lead over Sevilla, a loss would allow the team coached by former AC Milan manager Vincenzo Montella, sacked from that job earlier this season, a chance to get closer to the top four. That illusive Champions League spot is something Sevilla have been chasing all season, even before Montella was surprisingly appointed manager in late December.

When the sides met earlier this season last October, Valencia dominated Sevilla 4-0 thanks to a Goncalo Guedes hat-trick. Valencia, a title contender at the time, are trying to lock up their hold on fourth place and will be looking for Italian striker Simone Zaza. His 11 goals in 24 league matches has turned Valencia into a competitive side this season.

Here’s a look at the title/Champions League qualification race:

  1. Barcelona — 69 points
  2. Atletico Madrid — 61
  3. Real Madrid — 54
  4. Valencia — 53
  5. Sevilla — 45

Third-place Real Madrid,  just a point ahead of Valencia, face eighth-place Eibar on Saturday. Real, fresh off reaching the quarterfinals of the Champions League after overcoming PSG, have seemingly found their stride with Cristiano Ronaldo back to the scoring form we’re all used to seeing.

Barcelona, still first with an eight-point lead over Atletico Madrid after defeating Atleti last weekend, play the same day at last-place Malaga. It’s expected to be another easy three points for Lionel Messi and his teammates.

Next: With elite status on the line, PSG fail once again

Bundesliga

Bayern Munich may be running away with the title in Germany (now 20 points clear of Schalke 04), but the fight for second (and spots in next season’s Champions League) remains hotly contested. The biggest game of matchday 26 pits Borussia Dortmund against Eintracht Frankfurt, both tied for third place on 42 points. Dortmund hold a slight edge after having scored 50 goals this season, compared to Eintracht’s 33.

The game, which takes place on Sunday in Dortmund, could have a big impact on the final standings. Dortmund, under manager Peter Stoger, have come into their own in recent weeks after a poor slump early on the season led to the sacking of Peter Bosz.

In addition, Dortmund can now bank on the services of striker Marco Reus, back in the lineup after an eight-month layoff following a rupture to his right cruciate ligament. Reus suffered the injury during Dortmund’s DFB-Pokal final win versus Eintracht last May.

Eintracht, meanwhile, enter the match after winning four straight home games (after their most-recent win versus Hannover 96). Eintracht and Borussia Dortmund played to a 2-2 draw when the sides met last October during their first meeting this season.

Here’s a look at the top of the table:

  1. Bayer Munich — 63
  2. Schalke 04 — 43
  3. Dortmund — 42
  4. Eintracht — 42
  5. Bayer Leverkusen — 41
  6. RB Leipzig — 39

Bayer Leverkusen, just a point behind Dortmund and Eintacht after winning at struggling Wolfsburg last weekend, host seventh-place Monchengladbach this Saturday. It’s a big game in yet another weekend where the top of the table is expected to be shaken up.

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