Soccer

6:26 PM ET The stadium — three-quarters empty, one-quarter filled with substitutes, coaches and media at the sort of population density you might find in Alaska — must have made it worse. Angry boos and vicious abuse, anguished howls and despairing cries… however unpleasant, they tell you you’re alive. They’re the slap to the face

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4:00 AM ET Welcome to ESPN’s Insider Notebook, featuring contributions from our reporters across the top leagues around the world. In this edition, there’s the latest on Arsenal’s investigation into their record £72 million signing. Plus: Barcelona start their search for a new boss. Jump to: Barca hunt for new boss | Mourinho and Levy’s

6:35 PM ET Before their Champions League quarterfinal against Atletico Madrid, RB Leipzig boss Julian Nagelsmann called on Tyler Adams and the rest of his players to step out of the shadows and embrace the blinding spotlight that used to shine on their former star striker Timo Werner. With Werner watching his old team in

9:17 AM ET In a football sphere defined and dominated by super clubs — whether legacy institutions, or generously bankrolled nouveau riche — it’s tempting see the tale of Atalanta as the classic underdog story, using ingenuity, creativity and, above all, fearlessness to shake up the established order in both the Champions League and Serie

5:15 PM ET Jeff Carlisle Close U.S. soccer correspondent Jeff Carlisle covers MLS and the U.S. national team for ESPN FC. Austin Lindberg After five weeks of consistent drama from the group stage through the knockout rounds, the MLS is Back Tournament has come to an end, with the Portland Timbers crowned deserving champions of

8:49 PM ET This time, Paris Saint-Germain were Sergi Roberto. They were Marcus Rashford. Twenty-five years of frustration, of remontadas, of disappointments, of sadness all gone in the space of three minutes in added time. All the heartbreaks the Parisians suffered through the years, especially those nightmare nights against Barcelona in 2017 and Manchester United

2:11 AM ET Diego Valeri raised the MLS is Back Tournament trophy, an expression on his face that seemed both maniacal and gleeful. He was soon joined by his teammates, jumping and shouting in unison, with masks that read “Champions” mostly staying on. Off to the side, Portland Timbers owner Merritt Paulson engaged in a

4:00 AM ET Gabriele Marcotti Mark Ogden The old sports trope whereby staying at the top is tougher than getting to the top might not apply to football the way it once did, but it’s clear that after winning the Premier League and Champions League in successive seasons, Liverpool will want to think carefully about

6:15 AM ET James OlleySenior Writer, ESPN FC Close Follow on Twitter Facebook Twitter Facebook Messenger Pinterest Email Manchester United will continue to pursue a deal for Borussia Dortmund winger Jadon Sancho but have sounded out Barcelona‘s Ousmane Dembele as a possible alternative, sources have told ESPN. Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc cast doubt over

5:00 AM ET After the last 16 wrapped up over the weekend and several big teams bowed out early — Juventus even changed managers after losing to Lyon — we are down to the final eight, competing in Lisbon, for the 2019-20 Champions League. The format has been altered in light of the coronavirus pandemic,

1:25 PM ET Jeff Carlisle Close U.S. soccer correspondent Jeff Carlisle covers MLS and the U.S. national team for ESPN FC. Austin Lindberg The MLS is Back Tournament began 33 days ago, with a field of 26 teams that would soon contract to 24 as FC Dallas and Nashville SC were withdrawn amid a cluster

6:00 PM ET Rob DawsonCorrespondent COLOGNE, Germany — The Europa League started as a sideshow for Manchester United and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, but it is now centre stage. It took a nervous, edgy 1-0 win over FC Copenhagen in Cologne on Monday night — earned thanks to Bruno Fernandes‘ penalty in extra time — but

10:55 AM ET Saturday’s announcement that Juventus were hiring Andrea Pirlo as first-team manager made shockwaves, but it’s not the first time they’ve picked a former club legend with no experience as a number one. Ciro Ferrara was appointed with two games left in Juve’s 2008-09 campaign, and he stuck around the following season. Barcelona

4:47 AM ET Manchester United target Jadon Sancho has joined Borussia Dortmund for their preseason camp in Bad Ragaz, Switzerland. The Bundesliga club have said in the past that if the 20-year-old is part of the squad on Aug. 10 he would remain a BVB player for the 2020-2021 season, and sporting director Michael Zorc

3:02 PM ET Rob DawsonCorrespondent COLOGNE, Germany — Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has got some things wrong during his 20 months as manager of Manchester United, but not often in front of the television cameras. His predecessors in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era — David Moyes, Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho — all, at one

5:01 PM ET Lionel Messi led the way as Barcelona reached another quarterfinal. Enric Fontcuberta/EPA Barcelona moved to the Champions League quarterfinals 4-2 on aggregate after a 3-1 second-leg victory over Napoli at the Camp Nou on Saturday. Clement Lenglet, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez all scored in the first half to give the hosts a

5:24 PM ET Lionel Messi inspired Barcelona to a 3-1 win against Napoli on Saturday to set up a Champions League quarterfinal against Bayern Munich in Lisbon next week. Messi scored a stunning individual goal, had another effort ruled out for handball and won a penalty, which was converted by Luis Suarez, as Barca booked