Analysis

Roberto De Zerbi's Sassuolo strolled to a 5-0 win against Genoa on Wednesday, in large part thanks to winger Domenico Berardi. 

Berardi, who joined Sassuolo as a 16-year old in 2010, has been one of Serie A's standout players in 2019-20. After his man-of-the-match performance Wednesday, he has 14 goals and 10 assists this season. After providing the assist for the opener, Berardi scored Sassuolo's second with a beautiful curling effort from outside the box.

Swansea started the Championship playoffs on Sunday with a statement in Wales, defeating promotion favorites Brentford 1-0, with Andre Ayew scoring after left back Rico Henry was sent off for Brentford. There are still four more matches to play before a third promoted side is determined, as two home-and-away ties will be contested before soccer's most valuable game, the Playoff Final, which is to be played Tuesday, August 4. 

In Neymar ($255 million) and Kylian Mbappé ($150 million) Paris Saint-Germain boasts the two most expensive footballers ever. By the time Neymar arrived in the summer of 2017 the club had already established itself as the best in France by winning four of the last five Ligue 1 titles and back-to-back Coupe de Frances. 

What Neymar and Mbappé were lavishly acquired for was to take the next step in Europe, where PSG had suffered four straight quarterfinal defeats before La Remontada — that infamous Round of 16 loss to a Neymar-inspired Barcelona. 

Manchester United's 14-game unbeaten run to end the Premier League season, culminating in Sunday's 2-0 win at Leicester City, pushed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side into the Champions League spots but now the club faces a crucial transfer window.

The Norwegian delivered on United's main goal for this season — they were never expected to challenge Liverpool or Manchester City for the title — but being back in Europe's elite competition is just part of the journey back to the top.

The Seattle Sounders face Los Angeles FC for the first time since knocking them out of last year's playoffs when they meet in the MLS is Back Tournament Round of 16 on Monday night at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex near Orlando.

After winning the 2019 Supporters' Shield by earning the most points in MLS history, LAFC were eliminated from the postseason in a 3-1 defeat to eventual MLS Cup champions Seattle in the Western Conference final.

Sports announcers often use cliches like "you can't write a script like that" or "that was a Hollywood ending" when describing a particularly unpredictable and exciting game.

On Wednesday, the EFL Championship took the script, ripped it up, taped it back together, wrote 20 more pages, ripped it up again, then burned it for good measure.

Domestic leagues are wrapping up their respective competitions at a frantic pace, clearing the way for the return of European football. It’s been many a moon since Marcos Llorente silenced Anfield, so before Champions League matches return, let’s do a quick recap and preview of things to come.     

Where were we?

June 3, 2020: Megan Rapinoe is sitting out the NWSL Challenge Cup? That’s OK, that’ll give rising stars a chance to shine!

July 22, 2020: I would sell my soul to see Rapinoe cross the ball.