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Alaves beats Getafe with both in mid-table in the Spanish league
The Associated Press | Posted May 18 - 3:11 p.m. | Save Story
Alaves has beaten Getafe 1-0 to leapfrog the visitor and move into 10th place in the Spanish league. Carlos Vincente scored in the 12th minute. The win on Saturday came one day after Alaves coach Luis García Plaza agreed to extend his contract through 2026. He has coached the Basque club since last season when he helped it win promotion from the second division.
Dortmund hero Marco Reus buys beer for all the team's fans at his final Bundesliga game
The Associated Press | Updated May 18 - 2:59 p.m. | Save Story
Borussia Dortmund favorite Marco Reus has bought beer for nearly a whole stadium of the team's fans at his final Bundesliga game for the club. Reus scored and set up another in the 4-0 win over Darmstadt on Saturday. He says, "It was perfect, I'm unbelievably grateful for all the love people have shown me." More than 81,000 supporters attended the match, though not all were of beer-drinking age. But many will have availed of the captain's offer, possibly more than once. Dortmund posted on X a post showing a note signed by Reus in which he says, "Thank you for everything! The farewell beer on me," followed by a smiley face and, "your Marco." Dortmund didn't show the final bill.
Atalanta secures Champions League spot in Serie A and has Europa League final next
The Associated Press | Updated May 18 - 2:53 p.m. | Save Story
Atalanta has secured a Champions League spot with a 2-0 win at Lecce in the penultimate round of Serie A. The Bergamo squad is in fifth place and moved six points ahead of Roma on Saturday. Atalanta holds a tiebreaker over the Giallorossi after beating Roma last weekend. Italy will have at least five squads in next season's Champions League and could earn a sixth if Atalanta defeats unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League final. Charles De Ketelaere and Gianluca Scamacca scored five minutes apart shortly after the break. Torino has beaten second-placed AC Milan 3-1 to keep alive hopes of qualifying for the Europa Conference League.
Slisz's first career goal helps Atlanta United earn 1-1 draw with Nashville
The Associated Press | Posted May 18 - 2:18 p.m. | Save Story
Bartosz Slisz scored his first career goal 10 minutes into the second half to help shorthanded Atlanta United earn a 1-1 draw with Nashville SC. Nashville (3-4-7), in its first match since joining the league in 2020 without manager Gary Smith leading the way, earned the tie under interim manager Rumba Munthali. Munthali, a former Nashville player and the current player development coach, took the temporary reins after Smith was fired on Thursday. Atlanta United (3-6-5), which played without Thiago Almada and Giorgos Giakoumakis, is winless in its last eight matches. Atlanta lost its dynamic duo to injuries in last week's 1-0 loss to FC Cincinnati.
Sevilla and coach Quique Sánchez Flores agree to part ways after the season
The Associated Press | Posted May 18 - 1:50 p.m. | Save Story
Sevilla says the Spanish club and coach Quique Sánchez Flores have agreed to part ways at the end of the season and annul the final year of his contract. Sánchez Flores replaced Diego Alonso in December with Sevilla in 17th place and just outside the La Liga relegation zone. It is in 12th place with two games remaining. Sánchez Flores says the club needs another coach "to provide some fresh air."
Bayer Leverkusen writes more history in first ever unbeaten Bundesliga season
James Ellingworth, Associated Press | Updated May 18 - 1:47 p.m. | Save Story
Bayer Leverkusen has completed one of the most remarkable seasons in recent soccer history as the first team ever to complete an entire Bundesliga unbeaten. Ending Bayern Munich's 11-year streak of titles last month wasn't enough. Xabi Alonso and his Leverkusen team have made more history with a 2-1 win over Augsburg in its last league game of the season. Alonso punched the air to a roar from the crowd as he received his winner's medal. He has already pledged to stay with the club next season after interest from some of Europe's biggest clubs.
Bayer Leverkusen completes unprecedented unbeaten Bundesliga season and Cologne relegated
CiarÁn Fahey, Associated Press | Updated May 18 - 12:44 p.m. | Save Story
League champion Bayer Leverkusen has become the first team to complete a Bundesliga season unbeaten. Early goals from Victor Boniface and Robert Andrich gave Leverkusen a 2-1 win over Augsburg in their last game of the season. The win was their 28th in 34 Bundesliga games. Leverkusen hasn't lost a game in any competition all season, a 51-game streak. Cologne's hopes of avoiding the drop evaporated after losing at Heidenheim 4-1.
Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi leaving the club after United game
The Associated Press | Updated May 18 - 11:22 a.m. | Save Story
English Premier League club Brighton says manager Roberto De Zerbi will leave after their game against Manchester United on Sunday. De Zerbi has been discussed as a potential coaching candidate for higher-profile clubs and his "mutually agreed" split from Brighton will only fuel further speculation. Bayern Munich and Juventus are among the teams looking for a coach. Brighton made the announcement on Saturday.
Chelsea women rout United to win 5th straight title as manager Emma Hayes exits for US
The Associated Press | Posted May 18 - 10:13 a.m. | Save Story
Chelsea has routed Manchester United 6-0 to clinch its fifth straight Women's Super League title in a triumphant sendoff for manager Emma Hayes. Hayes ends her 12-year spell at Chelsea on a high note before heading across the Atlantic to take over as coach of the U.S. women's team. Hayes has won 15 major trophies at Chelsea including seven WSLs. Mayra Ramirez scored twice on Saturday as Chelsea headed off Manchester City to the title on goal difference.
Germany midfielder Pavlović injured in Bayern's last game before Euro 2024
The Associated Press | Posted May 18 - 8:34 a.m. | Save Story
Germany midfielder Aleksandar Pavlović has gone off injured in Bayern Munich's last game of the season. The 20-year-old midfielder appeared to have a right ankle injury and was substituted by Lovro Zvonarek in the 34th minute of Bayern's Bundesliga game at Hoffenheim. Pavlović was among the 27 players named on Thursday in Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann's preliminary squad for the European Championship. Pavlović's selection may have had a role in Nagelsmann overlooking Bayern's Leon Goretzka for the tournament that Germany is hosting from June 14 to July 14.
Young women in Rio favela hope to overcome poverty and violence to play in Women's World Cup in 2027
Mauricio Savarese And Diarlei Rodrigues, Associated Press | Updated May 18 - 8:19 a.m. | Save Story
Young Brazilian female footballers are hopeful that their country playing host to the 2027 Women's World Cup will boost the sport in the South American nation. On Friday, FIFA members voted to make Brazil the first Latin American country to host the tournament. A 20-minute drive separates the Maracana Stadium from the Complexo do Alemao, one of Rio de Janeiro's most impoverished and violent favelas, which are low income communities. One of its residents, 15-year-old Kaylane Alves dos Santos, hopes her powerful shots and impressive dribbles will allow her to cover that short distance in three years to play for Brazil's national team in the final of the 2027 tournament.
Xavi denies reports that Barcelona's leadership is considering firing him
Joseph Wilson, Associated Press | Updated May 18 - 6:09 a.m. | Save Story
Xavi Hernández has denied reports in Spanish media outlets that Barcelona's leadership is considering firing the coach for having said that the club's poor finances will impede it from competing with Real Madrid. Xavi says he doesn't know who inside the club could possibly be behind those reports. He says "the club has transmitted to me that I should stay calm and continue working." Barcelona club president Joan Laporta is reportedly upset that Xavi had said that the club's debut and high pay roll will hurt its chances to sign players in the summer to improve on a squad that lost the Spanish league title to Madrid.
Ana Dias, Olivia Moultrie give Thorns sixth straight NWSL win
Susie Rantz, Associated Press | Posted May 17 - 11:03 p.m. | Save Story
Ana Dias and Olivia Moultrie scored in the second half as the Portland Thorns defeated the Houston Dash 2-0 on Friday night in the National Women's Soccer League. The Thorns have now won six straight games. Scarlett Camberos and Racheal Kundananji powered Bay FC's 2-1 comeback win against the San Diego Wave. The North Carolina Courage dominated in every offensive category but had to rely on a late Kaleigh Kurtz goal to defeat the Utah Royals 1-0. The Courage have now won five straight home games to start the season.
Elite scoring company: Ronaldo, Messi and soon to retire Indian legend Sunil Chhetri
John Duerden, Associated Press | Posted May 17 - 5:59 p.m. | Save Story
of those still playing, only Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, with 128 and 106 respectively, have scored more international goals than Chhetri. But the 39-year-old Indian star, who has 94 goals, said this week that after 150 games for India, June's World Cup qualifier against Kuwait in Kolkata will be his last before retiring. Chhetri said in a video posted on social media: "It was not that I was feeling tired . . . when the instinct came that this should be my last game, I thought about it a lot and eventually I came to this decision."
San Jose defender Bruno Wilson's fine and suspension rescinded
The Associated Press | Posted May 17 - 4:30 p.m. | Save Story
An independent panel has rescinded the one-game suspension and fine handed to San Jose Earthquakes defender Bruno Wilson for a red card issued during a match at the Portland Timbers. San Jose had appealed the red card. The Earthquakes were leading 2-0 when Wilson was sent off with a red card in the 72nd minute after a handball in the box. Portland's Evander converted on the penalty and the Timbers scored three more goals to win 4-2 with San Jose playing down a man.
NBC will have crews at Arsenal and Manchester City for the Premier League's Championship Sunday
Joe Reedy, Associated Press | Updated May 17 - 3:40 p.m. | Save Story
move up from second to first on Championship Sunday. Manchester City has a two-point lead going into the final match day. Arsenal needs a win over Everton and needs City to lose or draw against West Ham to win its first Premier League title in 20 years. If City wins, it becomes the first team to win four consecutive titles since the Premier League became England's top division in 1992.
Southampton to face Leeds in Championship final after beating West Brom
The Associated Press | Updated May 17 - 3:28 p.m. | Save Story
Southampton has set up a Championship playoff decider against Leeds United after beating West Brom 3-0. The teams will meet at Wembley on May 26 to see who joins Leicester City and Ipswich Town in the English Premier League next season. Watched by Prime Minister and Saints fan Rishi Sunak, the home side was on top for most of the match but had to wait until the second half to score. Will Smallbone broke the deadlock and Adam Armstrong got a late double to confirm the Saints' superiority. Cédric Kipré scored a late consolation for West Brom.
Fiorentina share spoils with Napoli in draw
The Associated Press | Posted May 17 - 3:16 p.m. | Save Story
Fiorentina and Napoli have drawn 2-2 in a Serie A game marked by two spectacular free kicks. Cristiano Braghi for Fiorentina in the first half and then Khvicha Kvaratskhelia for Napoli in the second period both curled impressive free kicks into the top corner of the net to light up the match. The result leaves last year's Italian champion Napoli languishing in ninth place, with Fiorentina one place above them. Napoli has one game to play and Fiorentina has two.
Juventus fires coach Massimiliano Allegri for his outburst toward the refs in the Italian Cup final
The Associated Press | Updated May 17 - 11:09 a.m. | Save Story
Juventus has fired coach Massimiliano Allegri for his ugly outburst toward the referees in the Italian Cup final. Allegri lost his cool in stoppage time when he grew angry at a decision, ripped off his jacket and earned a red card for sarcastically applauding the referee. Juventus beat Atalanta 1-0 for the title on Wednesday. Juventus says in a statement that Allegri's behavior "was not in line with Juventus' values." Allegri was suspended for two Cup matches and fined $5,000 euros by the Serie A league judge for his behavior. The league judge's report says Allegri "acted aggressively" and used insulting language and gestures toward the referees.
