Europe

LEVERKUSEN — Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen scored twice late in the game with Robert Andrich and Patrik Schick to earn a 2-1 comeback win over Hoffenheim on Saturday and edge closer to the league title.

Leverkusen, unbeaten in 39 matches across all competitions this season, are on 73 points with seven games. Bayern Munich, who face Borussia Dortmund later on Saturday, are second on 60.

Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso ended speculation of a potential move to one of his former clubs Liverpool or Bayern Munich in the close season when the Spaniard said on Friday that he was committed to staying with the Bundesliga leaders.

Alonso, who has a contract with Leverkusen until 2026, has become the talk of Europe and a reported target for top clubs after leading his team through an unbeaten season while challenging for three trophies.

The American midfielder had nothing short of a bittersweet start to her weekend.

Korbin Albert topped off her more-than-busy Thursday scoring an insane long-range goal in Paris Saint-Germain’s quarterfinal UEFA Women’s Champions League knockout tie.

The USWNT midfielder received the ball on the outskirts of the 18-yard box and hit an absolute bullet with her weak foot against BK Häcken to seal PSG’s qualification to the semi finals of the European tournament.

Korbin Albert goal for PSG in Women's Champions League vs. Häcken

WROCLAW — Ukraine's qualification for the Euro 2024 soccer finals has cheered a country suffering hardship in its conflict with Russia and for a few weeks in June and July the tournament will provide a welcome distraction from the harsh reality of war.

The team came from behind to defeat Iceland 2-1 in their playoff final in neutral Poland on Tuesday and book a fourth successive appearance in the continental finals.

France and AC Milan striker Olivier Giroud is reportedly finalizing a summer transfer to LAFC following Euro 2024 according to The Athletic’s Tom Bogert.

Giroud has been Milan’s top scorer this season finding the back of the net 14 times and adding nine assists. The 39-year-old Frenchman has aged like a fine wine.

His contract with the Italian giants will expire in June and it appears that a move to Major League Soccer is on the horizon.

The iconic Guillermo Ochoa's career in European soccer appears to have come to an end and a club in MLS could be looking to sign the goalkeeper as their main star for the following 2025 season. Hint: the transfer makes a lot of sense.

Guillermo Ochoa linked to new MLS club San Diego FC

Thursday night’s United States men’s national team 3-1 victory vs. Jamaica in the Concacaf Nations League semifinals was about as ugly as it gets. There are still some positives to be pulled for the game like the performance of Gio Reyna.

Were you watching Nottingham Forest??

Reyna is on loan from Borussia Dortmund to Forest until this summer and it’s been a nightmare move for the 21-year-old.

BERLIN — The German Football Association (DFB) announced that American sportswear giant Nike would become their official supplier from 2027 onwards, ending a decades-long partnership with German firm Adidas.

The DFB said on Thursday Nike would supply all national teams from 2027 to 2034, having made the best financial offer.

"The coming partnership allows the DFB for the next decade to work on central tasks with a view to developing football in Germany," DFB President Bernd Neuendorf said in a statement.

Germany Adidas split

PARIS — Hosts France will play the United States to kick off the men's soccer tournament at the Paris 2024 Olympics after the two teams were drawn together on Wednesday.

The game will be played in Marseille on July 24, two days before the opening ceremony in Paris. New Zealand and the winner of a playoff between an Asian team and Guinea complete Group A.

USMNT Olympics group