It’s shaping up to be quite the few weeks for German soccer. The country is preparing to stage the European Championship over June and July, with Germany’s national team taking a nicely timed upturn in form. Before that, Germany might yet be celebrating having a European champion once again, with Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund … Read more
GENEVA — There could be a surprising team from each of Europe’s “big five” leagues when the new-look Champions League debuts next season. Aston Villa, Bologna, Brest, Girona and Stuttgart are all, remarkably, on course to qualify for Europe’s elite competition going into the final few rounds of their national league. Bologna, Stuttgart and Girona … Read more
LONDON — Arsenal earned its biggest win ever over Chelsea as Kai Havertz scored twice against his former team in a 5-0 rout on Tuesday that solidified the Gunners’ place atop the Premier League standings. Ben White also got a second-half double against a dismal Chelsea team that collapsed after the break and saw most … Read more
RAMAT GAN, Israel — When Ben Binyamin was left for dead, his right leg blown off during the Hamas attack on the Tribe of Nova music festival, the Israeli professional soccer player thought he would never again play the game he loved. “When I woke up,” the 29-year-old said, “I felt I was going to … Read more
LEVERKUSEN, Germany — It’s “Neverkusen” no longer. Coached by Xabi Alonso, Bayer Leverkusen won the Bundesliga title for the first time Sunday to end Bayern Munich’s 11-year reign as champion. In the end, it wasn’t even close — Leverkusen leads second-place Bayern by 16 points. Florian Wirtz scored a hat trick as Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen … Read more
WREXHAM, Wales — The sequel turned out to be just as good for Wrexham. The Welsh team co-owned by actor Ryan Reynolds clinched promotion to the third tier of English soccer thanks to a 6-0 home win over Forest Green on Saturday. That’s back-to-back promotions for the team since it was thrust into the spotlight … Read more
For the three contenders in the Premier League title race, any dropped points from this stage could be fatal. The danger could be greater than ever for Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City this weekend. On the face of it, the games don’t appear too difficult — Arsenal, the leader on goal difference with seven rounds … Read more
MONTERREY, Mexico — Lionel Messi’s first trip to Mexico for an official match did not end well. Brandon Vazquez, Germán Berterame and Jesus Gallardo scored goals and Monterrey beat Inter Miami 3-1 on Wednesday night in the second leg of the two-game, total-goals series to secure a spot in the CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinals. Vazquez … Read more
France and Spain will step up security ahead of the Champions League quarter-finals in Madrid and Paris on Tuesday and Wednesday nights, top officials said, as Islamic State threatened drone attacks on Europe’s top club soccer tournament. British police said they were aware of reports of threats and had a robust policing plan in place ahead of Arsenal’s match against Bayern … Read more
Wrexham, the fourth-tier Welsh team co-owned by actor Ryan Reynolds, has taken a step toward another promotion by beating Mansfield 2-0 WREXHAM, Wales — Wrexham, the fourth-tier Welsh team co-owned by actor Ryan Reynolds, took a step toward another promotion by beating Mansfield 2-0 on Friday. Talismanic forward Paul Mullin scored both goals — finishing … Read more
