Soccer

MADRID (AP) — Atletico Madrid continued boosting its squad by signing midfielder Álex Baena from Villarreal on Wednesday. The transfer was announced a day after Atletico said it signed 22-year-old Italian left back Matteo Ruggeri from Atalanta.

GENEVA (AP) — It is rare in top-level soccer for a player to be tasked with marking their life partner who is also the opponent’s star striker.

Joao Pedro joined Chelsea from Brighton on Wednesday to continue the Premier League club's lavish spending under American owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital.

LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — Former Rangers manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst has joined Liverpool as assistant coach to Arne Slot.

LEVERKUSEN, Germany (AP) — Bayer Leverkusen has replaced former captain Jonathan Tah with Jarell Quansah from Liverpool in a club-record signing for a defender.

METZ, France (AP) — Fans are an integral part of soccer clubs and French Ligue 1 side Metz has reinforced the bond by featuring them on the away jersey this season.

BASEL, Switzerland (AP) — Switzerland coach Pia Sundhage says the country has a “fantastic future” in women’s soccer thanks to several young players hoping to make their mark at the European Championship.

Jobe Bellingham is suspended for the Club World Cup quarterfinals after picking up a yellow card in Borussia Dortmund's victory against Monterrey, meaning he will miss the chance to face his brother, Jude, and Real Madrid in the next round.

Toronto FC (4-10-5, 12th in the Eastern Conference) vs. New York City FC (8-7-4, seventh in the Eastern Conference) The Bronx, New York; Thursday, 7:30 p.m. EDT BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: NYCFC -166, Toronto FC +409, Draw +302; over/under is 2.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump keeps saying that Republicans' mega tax and spending cut legislation will eliminate taxes on federal Social Security benefits. It does not.