Premier League leader Liverpool moved level on points with Aston Villa at the top of the Champions League standings by extending its perfect record to three wins, and Manchester City set a new record for the most consecutive games undefeated in the history of the competition.

Two of the world’s most exciting young players shone on club soccer’s biggest stage but with mixed fortunes.

Tournament soccer offers a chance for young players to break through.

Substitute Mikel Merino has headed Spain into the semifinals at the European Championship as his goal in the final minute of extra time saw La Roja snatch a 2-1 win over Germany and brought an end to Toni Kroos’ career.

Host Germany has opened the European Championship with a confidence-boosting 5-1 win over 10-man Scotland in Munich.

Bayer Leverkusen silenced the Stadio Olimpico with a 2-0 win at Roma in the first leg of the Europa League semifinals to extend its record unbeaten streak to 47 matches across all competitions.

Bayer Leverkusen has won the Bundesliga for the first time.

Perhaps the only positive Germany can draw from its national soccer team’s deepening crisis is that the 2024 European Championship is still a year away.