PARIS (AP) — Yet another Champions League title for Real Madrid, the undisputed king of Europe.
Yet another showpiece European soccer game tarnished by chaotic crowd issues and disorder.
Madrid became European champion for a record-extending 14th time — double the number of any other team on the continent — after beating Liverpool 1-0 in a final that started 37 minutes late because of disturbing scenes outside the Stade de France on Saturday.
A look at what’s happening in European soccer on Saturday:
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL
Liverpool's injury concerns have eased ahead of the final against Real Madrid in Paris, with midfielders Fabinho and Thiago Alcantara back in full training.
PARIS (AP) — For a player who doesn’t consider himself to be a striker, Mohamed Salah is the envy of many forwards with his scoring record for Liverpool.
“I don’t play No. 9, I play on the wing,” Salah said.
MADRID (AP) — With one of Europe's largest gay pride celebrations right around the corner, Spain's LGBTQ community is worried that the outbreaks of monkeypox on the continent could lead to an increase in homophobic sentiment based on misunderstandings of the disease.
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — When Brazil great Ronaldo bought Spanish club Valladolid almost five years ago, the idea was to turn the modest side into a solid team in a glamorous top tier including his former clubs Real Madrid and Barcelona.
MADRID (AP) — In a Real Madrid squad filled with experienced players seeking their fifth European title, two talented young Brazilians will be getting their first shot at Champions League glory.
Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo, a pair of 21-year-old forwards who arrived in Spain a year apart after being signed as teenage sensations in Brazil, had breakout seasons and will experience their first Champions League final on Saturday against Liverpool in suburban Paris.
PARIS (AP) — The French league has written to Spanish competition president Javier Tebas complaining about his attacks on Paris Saint-Germain's finances after Kylian Mbappé chose to stay with the team rather than join Real Madrid.
MADRID (AP) — The last time Karim Benzema was in a Champions League final, it was in a supporting role to Cristiano Ronaldo.
He was just another forward on a Real Madrid team in which Ronaldo attracted most of the attention.
Mohamed Salah could easily have given the kind of diplomatic answer trotted out by most soccer players.
He just couldn’t.
Was there a preference, Salah was asked minutes after Liverpool reached the Champions League final three weeks ago, over which team he faced in the title match in suburban Paris?
MADRID (AP) — Carlo Ancelotti is the only coach to win titles in the top five European soccer leagues, and is a victory away from a record-fourth Champions League trophy.
Still, not even Ancelotti is immune to pressure, especially ahead of a Champions League final.
MADRID (AP) — Real Madrid wants to quickly forget about Kylian Mbappé and turn its focus back on the Champions League final against Liverpool.
Four days before the final in suburban Paris, Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti and his players tried their best to avoid talking about the France forward and his decision to stay with Paris Saint-Germain.
MADRID (AP) — Teenager Ansu Fati was called up for Spain’s national team again on Monday after a long injury layoff.
Spain coach Luis Enrique included the 19-year-old Barcelona forward in the list of 25 players selected for the four Nations League matches “La Roja” will play in June.
MADRID (AP) — A senior Spanish government official on Monday rebuked Spain’s former king, saying Juan Carlos should have used his first trip home from exile to clear the air over investigations into his financial affairs.
MADRID (AP) — After seeing his low penalty shot go just wide of the left post, Granada striker Jorge Molina raised his hands to cover his face in despair.
He knew it was a big miss. And it proved to be very costly.
PARIS (AP) — Kylian Mbappé's decision to stay with Paris Saint-Germain was widely celebrated in the French league, even by coaches who still have to defend against the prolific forward next season.
MADRID (AP) — For Real Madrid and its fans, it was not about whether it would happen. It was just a matter of when it would happen.
Signing Kylian Mbappé was seen as a done deal in the Spanish capital.
PARIS (AP) — Kylian Mbappé celebrated with fans at Parc des Princes then scored a hat trick after signing a new three-year contract with Paris Saint-Germain on Saturday and turning down the chance again to join Real Madrid.
MADRID (AP) — The Spanish league will file a complaint against Paris Saint-Germain over the renewal of Kylian Mbappé's contract, saying the “scandalous" agreement attacks the economic stability of European soccer.
MADRID (AP) — Real Madrid’s regular starters were held by Real Betis to 0-0 on Friday in the team’s last match before the Champions League final.
Madrid began with the team that is expected to face Liverpool on May 28 in Paris, where it will try to win a record-extending 14th European title.
MADRID (AP) — Spain’s former king, Juan Carlos I, is planning to visit Spain again in June, the mayor of the northwestern town hosting the former monarch said Friday, signaling that the vigorous debate sparked by the former monarch's return is unlikely to fade soon.
MADRID (AP) — Large parts of Spain were under alert Friday as a wave of intense heat began sweeping across the country, leaving residents sweltering through May temperatures that rank among the hottest in two decades.
A look at what’s happening in European soccer on Friday:
SPAIN
Real Madrid is expected to get some of its regular starters back on the field in its final Spanish league match before the Champions League final against Liverpool.
MADRID (AP) — Real Madrid has signed a stadium management deal for the Santiago Bernabéu worth 360 million euros ($381 million), the club said Thursday.
The agreement was reached with investment firm Sixth Street and “experiences company” Legends, which specializes in organizing sports and other events and is partly owned by Sixth Street.
MADRID (AP) — Spain’s former king returned to the country Thursday for his first visit since leaving nearly two years ago amid a cloud of financial scandals.
Plans for the visit were confirmed earlier this week by the royal household, who said Juan Carlos I would first visit the northwestern town of Sanxenxo, where a yachting event is scheduled.
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Three teams are fighting to avoid relegation on the final day of the Spanish league, while Real Madrid gets its last chance to fine-tune before facing Liverpool for the European Cup.
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Qatar committed Wednesday to investing 4.7 billion euros ($4.9 billion) in Spain as the European country launches an economic overhaul with its share of European Union pandemic recovery funding.
MADRID (AP) — The land borders between Spain and Morocco at Ceuta and Melilla, Spain’s North African enclave cities, have begun to reopen after being closed for just over two years because of the COVID-19 pandemic and later a diplomatic crisis between the two countries.
MADRID (AP) — Sevilla needed a late equalizer in a 1-1 draw at Atlético Madrid to clinch the final Champions League spot in the Spanish league on Sunday.
Barcelona secured second place, and a spot in the lucrative Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia, after a 0-0 draw at Getafe, which escaped relegation.
MADRID (AP) — Karim Benzema continues to add his name to Real Madrid's record books, scoring his 323rd goal on Thursday to draw level with Raúl González as the club’s second-highest scorer behind Cristiano Ronaldo.
MADRID (AP) — The land borders between Morocco and Spain's North African enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla will reopen next week, Spain said Thursday, after being closed for more than two years due to COVID-19 restrictions and tensions between the two countries.
A look at what’s happening in European soccer on Thursday:
ENGLAND
In one of the biggest north London derbies in years, Tottenham hosts Arsenal for a match between rivals looking to secure a Champions League spot.
MADRID (AP) — Barcelona moved a step closer to securing second place in the Spanish league by defeating 10-man Celta Vigo 3-1 on Tuesday despite defender Ronald Araújo leaving the field in an ambulance with a head injury after colliding with a teammate.
MADRID (AP) — It’s been a quick rise for Carlos Alcaraz.
It wasn’t long ago that the 19-year-old Spaniard was playing in youth tennis tournaments and talking about his idols Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, and about his dream of one day making it into the top 10 and winning the French Open and Wimbledon.
MADRID (AP) — Alexander Zverev criticized the ATP Tour for its scheduling of late-night matches and said he was at a disadvantage in Sunday’s final against Carlos Alcaraz at the Madrid Open.
The third-ranked Zverev was overpowered by the 19-year-old Spaniard in straight sets.
MADRID (AP) — After keeping a promise that it wouldn't give Real Madrid an honor guard before the game, Atlético Madrid went on to beat the newly crowned Spanish league champion 1-0 Sunday and moved closer to securing a Champions League spot.
MADRID (AP) — When Carlos Alcaraz played in his first Madrid Open as an 18-year-old, his goal was to gain experience and learn from the top players.
Only a year later, Alcaraz already feels he belongs among the best.
MADRID (AP) — Novak Djokovic is optimistic about his game going into the French Open despite going another week without a title.
The top-ranked Djokovic is yet to win a trophy this season while trying to regain his best form after not being allowed to play in the Australian Open because he was not vaccinated for COVID-19.
MADRID (AP) — Rafael Nadal one day. Novak Djokovic the next.
The list of victims of Spanish teenager Carlos Alcaraz keeps growing.
And so does the hype over tennis’ newest sensation.
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Winding down a difficult season, Barcelona pulled out a 2-1 victory at Real Betis after Jordi Alba struck a last-gasp winner on Saturday.
Barcelona strengthened its hold on second place in the Spanish league behind newly crowned champion Real Madrid, which clinched the title last weekend.
MADRID (AP) — The newly crowned champion of the Spanish league should not expect any special treatment at its most hated rival on Sunday.
Atlético Madrid says it won’t provide an honor guard, whereby one team’s players line up to applaud their opponents as they enter the field before kickoff, for league champion Real Madrid for Sunday’s derby at Wanda Metropolitano Stadium.
MADRID (AP) — Rafael Nadal wasn't losing any sleep after his loss to Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals at the Madrid Open.
His focus hasn't changed. It's still all about getting ready for the French Open in a few weeks.
MADRID (AP) — This time, the Spanish player being celebrated on center court wasn’t Rafael Nadal.
The loud cheers from spectators at the Caja Mágica in Madrid were, instead, directed at the teenage sensation considered the Spanish successor to the all-time great Nadal.
MADRID (AP) — Steadily improving her game and slowly making her way to the top, Jessica Pegula gets a chance for a breakthrough title at the Madrid Open on Saturday.
The American has been consistently achieving good results in the top tournaments, and after another good run in Madrid, she is a match away from winning her biggest title and entering the top 10 for the first time.