Soccer

HAMBURG, Germany (AP) — Hamburger SV’s first home game in the Bundesliga since 2018 ended in disappointment on Friday as the host went down to archrival St. Pauli 2-0 in front of a full Volksparkstadion.

MONTREAL — As a lifelong Newcastle United supporter, Matty Longstaff knows a thing or two about rivalries.

MONACO (AP) — At the Champions League draw in Monaco this week, UEFA hosted European soccer officials and marketing executives from the United States with a radical plan on their minds.

VILLARREAL — Forward Tani Oluwaseyi has joined fellow Canadian international Tajon Buchanan at Spain's Villarreal CF. Oluwaseyi's transfer from Minnesota United was confirmed Friday with the 25-year-old from Mississauga, Ont.

ROME (AP) — The 18-year-old Liverpool center back Giovanni Leoni was one of three players given their first national team call-up by new Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso on Friday.

LONDON (AP) — Tottenham signed Netherlands attacking midfielder Xavi Simons from Leipzig on Friday, an arrival that partially makes up for the club's failure to bring in Eberechi Eze last week.

LONDON (AP) — Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka's latest hamstring injury will keep him out for “a few weeks,” manager Mikel Arteta said Friday ahead of the Premier League game at Liverpool.

Forge FC returns to Calgary on Saturday, riding a 20-game unbeaten streak in Canadian Premier League play since losing the championship game to Cavalry FC there on Nov. 9.

NYON, Switzerland (AP) — Italy withdrew from bidding to host the 2029 Women's European Championship, leaving four contenders for the 16-team tournament. Germany, Poland, Portugal and a joint bid by Denmark and Sweden will compete in a Dec.

MONACO (AP) — Fiorentina’s quest to win the Conference League enters a fourth straight season with opponents including Mainz and Dynamo Kyiv from the draw ceremony on Friday.