Puget Sound

Ijeoma Oluo with Megan Rapinoe | The Elliott Bay Book Company

Reign Academy alum and Harvard student Smith Hunter is also part of the group with Lopez. Birmingham’s Lopez Excited as Next Gen United Earns USSF Athletes Council Positions

MLS / USL

The Reds’ season is cut short by the expansion side as the most unique campaign in MLS history comes to an end. Nashville SC knock Toronto FC out of playoffs with extra time goal - Waking The Red

New England’s Adam Buksa and Tajon Buchanan scored goals four minutes apart midway through the first half. Philadelphia Union lose to New England Revolution 2-0 in MLS playoffs | Philadelphia Inquirer

NWSL / women’s soccer

An ownership group in Kansas City is trying to bring the Utah Royals back, but Sporting KC is proving to be a roadblock to any deal. Utah Royals could move back to KC, sources say – The Athletic ($)

The Royals could move or fold if a new owner doesn’t step in soon. Report: Utah Royals’ future in question - RSL Soapbox

The draw is in, and Chelsea will play the Champions League newcomers Benfica next month for a place in the last 16 on their return to the competition after a year’s absence. Women’s Champions League: Chelsea face Benfica, Manchester City land Gothenburg | The Guardian

US soccer

The defender opens his Catalonia account. Sergino Dest nets his first Barcelona goal - Stars and Stripes FC

World soccer

The return of crowds to outdoor sporting events is “something to celebrate for fans”, says English Football League chairman Rick Parry. Fans at sporting events: ‘Celebrate’ return but ‘work to do’ - EFL chair Rick Parry - BBC Sport

The Manchester City boss is confident in his team’s chances, but says it’s not an obsession for him. Champions League not an ‘obsession’ for Pep Guardiola - BBC Sport

Perhaps this is why Guardiola is not obsessed about UCL. Pep Guardiola claims Manchester City’s goal problems are his fault | The Guardian

Top of the league and we’re having a ham. Jamón You Spurs: Jose Mourinho buys Sergio Reguilon a celebratory ham - Cartilage Free Captain

He “always goes under the radar”, but the time could be right for Atalanta’s Remo Freuler to star when they face Liverpool on Wednesday. Are Liverpool set to face Europe’s most underrated player? - BBC Sport

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah, who tested positive for coronavirus during the international break, is back in training and could face Atalanta. Salah available after negative coronavirus test - BBC Sport

The England attacker damaged parked cars during lockdown and will be sentenced next month. Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish pleads guilty to careless driving | The Guardian

Barcelona presidential candidate Victor Font says he hopes Lionel Messi can be convinced to stay and talks about Pep Guardiola’s possible return. Lionel Messi can be convinced to stay, says Barcelona presidential candidate - BBC Sport

A 17-year-old with a €400m release clause is emerging as the most likely candidate to fill the void left by Andres Iniesta and Xavi at Barcelona. Pedri: Lionel Messi is ‘enormously impressed’ - so could he be Barcelona’s saviour? - BBC Sport

Bruno Fernandes scored twice as Manchester United beat Istanbul Basaksehir to close in on a place in the knockout stages of the Champions League. Man Utd 4-1 Istanbul Basaksehir: Bruno Fernandes scores twice in win - BBC Sport

Neymar’s first-half penalty helped to ease the pressure on boss Thomas Tuchel as PSG leapfrogged RB Leipzig in Group H of the Champions League. Paris Saint Germain 1-0 RB Leipzig: Neymar penalty eases pressure on PSG boss Thomas Tuchel - BBC Sport

Erling Haaland became the fastest player to reach 15 Champions League goals as Borussia Dortmund brushed aside Club Bruges. Borussia Dortmund 3-0 Club Bruges: Erling Braut Haaland & Jadon Sancho score - BBC Sport

The referee’s report said that the pitch had ‘defective field markings, non-standard centre circle’. Teams kick off in bizarrely shaped ‘centre circle’ in Brazilian third division | The Guardian

What’s on TV?

8:30 AM: Cagliari vs. Hellas Verona (Coppa Italia) — ESPN+

8:30 AM: Bologna vs. Spezia (Coppa Italia) — ESPN+

8:30 AM: Udinese vs. Fiorentina (Coppa Italia) — ESPN+

9:55 AM: Borussia Monchengladbach vs. Shakhtar Donetsk (UEFA Champions League) — Galavision / CBS All Access

9:55 AM: Olympiakos Piraeus vs. Manchester City (UEFA Champions League) — TUDN / UniMas / CBS All Access

11:45 AM: Bristol City vs. Watford (English Championship) — ESPN+

12:00 PM: Bayern Munich vs. Salzburg (UEFA Champions League) — CBS All Access

12:00 PM: Atletico Madrid vs. Lokomotiv Moskva (UEFA Champions League) — Galavision / CBS All Access

12:00 PM: Internazionale vs. Real Madrid (UEFA Champions League) — TUDN / UniMas / CBS All Access

12:00 PM: Olympique Marseille vs. Porto (UEFA Champions League) — CBS All Access

12:00 PM: Liverpool vs. Atalanta (UEFA Champions League) — CBS All Access

12:00 PM: Ajax vs. Midtjylland (UEFA Champions League) — CBS All Access

2:15 PM: Delfin vs. Palmeiras (Copa Libertadores) — beIN Sports

4:30 PM: Internacional vs. Boca Juniors (Copa Libertadores) — beIN Sports

5:00 PM: Puebla vs. Leon (Liga MX) — TUDN

7:06 PM: Guadalajara vs. América (Liga MX) — Telemundo