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They have invested millions into a failing football club, done the fly-on-the-wall documentary, enjoyed the euphoria of promotion to the English Football League (EFL) and then had a “slap in the face from reality.” If Wrexham owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney want a glimpse into the future, they should reach out to the Manchester United Class of ’92 stars who are now nine years into their own project at…

Cristiano Ronaldo returned to the scoresheet on Friday, heading in the opening goal in Al Nassr’s 4-0 victory over Al Raed in the Saudi Pro League. The Portuguese star struck inside four minutes, meeting a cross from the right by Sultan Al-Ghannam and heading down into the corner of the net from close range. Al Nassr doubled their lead 10 minutes into the second half through Abdulrahman Ghareeb before Mohammed…

Welsh legend Gareth Bale won’t be coming out of retirement to play for Wrexham next season, despite the pleas of the club’s Hollywood actor co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. After Wrexham earned promotion to the English Football League (EFL) last weekend, McElhenney responded to a congratulatory message from Bale with an ambitious bid to lure the 33-year-old back to the pitch. – Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.)…

Barcelona are into a fourth Champions League final in five years after a nervy 1-1 draw against Chelsea at Spotify Camp Nou on Thursday saw them progress 2-1 on aggregate. Caroline Graham Hansen, who scored the winner in the first leg of the semifinal last weekend, broke the deadlock after the break, but Guro Reiten’s 67th minute equaliser set up a nervy finale. – Women’s World Cup bracket and fixtures…

Tottenham Hotspur pulled off a remarkable second-half turnaround to draw 2-2 with Manchester United in a high-stakes Premier League affair on Thursday in north London. Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford put Man United in control in the first half, but Pedro Porro’s moment of magic early in the second half for Spurs and Son Heung-Min’s late strike saw the top-six rivals settle for a point apiece. – How Premier League…

Callum Wilson scored twice as Newcastle United tightened their grip on a Champions League qualification place with a thumping 4-1 Premier League victory at second-bottom Everton on Thursday, deepening the relegation crisis at the Goodison Park club. Joelinton and Jacob Murphy were also on the scoresheet as Newcastle had too much quality for an Everton side who were last relegated in 1951 but are now facing that very real prospect.…

Barcelona wasted a golden opportunity to extend their lead at the top of LaLiga as they suffered a shock 2-1 defeat at Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday thanks to goals in each half from Alvaro Garcia and Fran Garcia. With seven games to play, Barca are top of the league on 76 points, 11 ahead second-placed Real Madrid, who were also stunned 4-2 at lowly Girona on Tuesday. Rayo Vallecano are…

In February, MLS commissioner Don Garber stated that Las Vegas and San Diego were the two leading expansion candidates to become the league’s 30th team. Multiple sources tell ESPN that it’s San Diego’s bid that has considerably more momentum, though. One source with knowledge of the league’s thinking went so far as to say that San Diego “is clearly the leader in the clubhouse,” and that if the deal goes…

Alvaro Garcia and Fran Garcia scored in each half as Rayo Vallecano recorded a memorable 2-1 win over runaway LaLiga leaders Barcelona on Wednesday. Robert Lewandowski pulled a goal back late on, but it proved too little, too late for Barca, who tasted defeat in the league for just the third time this season. Rayo climbed to ninth with the three points, while Barca remain 11 points clear of Real…

British football executive Matt Crocker was hired Tuesday as sporting director of the U.S. Soccer Federation and will lead the search for the United States men’s national team coach, a job that has been uncertain since Gregg Berhalter was pushed aside during an investigation that developed from a feud with the Reyna family. Crocker will start the job on Aug. 2 but will begin the coach search process immediately, the…