UEFA Champions League

MILAN — Liverpool FC's planned victory parade on Sunday has stirred unease for a representative of victims of the Heysel stadium disaster as it coincides with the 37th anniversary of the tragedy.

Liverpool, who play Real Madrid in the Champions League final on Saturday, plan a celebration in their home city after a season in which they have already won the two main domestic cup competitions in England and finished runners-up in the Premier League.

American stars Catarina Macario and Lindsey Horan became the fourth and fifth USWNT players to win the UEFA Champions League as Lyon defeated the seemingly unstoppable Barcelona 3-1 on Saturday in Turin.

Macario and Horan played the entire game and the 22-year-old phenom made history as the first American to score in the final. 

Catarina Macario made history on Saturday when she became the first American to score in a UEFA Champions League final. Macario and her club Lyon faced Spanish powerhouse and defending champions Barcelona in Turin, Italy, and had a sensational first half.

With Lyon leading 2-0, Macario netted the third goal in the 33rd minute with a poacher’s finish at the far post. Lyon went on to win 3-1.

Two Champions League spots will go to associations with the best collective performance by their clubs in the previous season from 2024-25 onwards after UEFA's Executive Committee approved the final format and access list for European club competitions.

UEFA also changed the criteria to qualify for Europe's premier club competition, removing access based on club coefficient, denying teams who did historically well a chance to qualify even if they did not finish in qualifying positions.

The final format was approved in Vienna on Tuesday.

Manchester City won't be glad to hear it, but Real Madrid's absurd comeback over City in last Wednesday's Champions League semifinal is breaking records as the most watched in U.S. television history. 

A focused Manchester City will channel the pain of their Champions League semifinal defeat by Real Madrid into Sunday's home game against Newcastle United, manager Pep Guardiola said on Friday.

The Spaniard told reporters he had not spoken to his players since Real's astonishing comeback in Wednesday's second leg in Madrid and nothing he said would be any consolation.