Madrid click after position swap for Mbappé, Vini​​

David Raya has warned his Arsenal teammates that Sporting CP forward Viktor Gyökeres is a “top player in form” as Mikel Arteta urged his strikers to find their ruthless streak to keep their Champions League hopes on track.

Gyökeres has become one of Europe’s most prolific forwards after netting 24 goals in 17 games this season, attracting interest from a host of Premier League clubs including Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea and the Gunners.

Sporting host Arsenal at Estadio Jose Alvalade on Tuesday and Arsenal goalkeeper Raya said of Gyökeres: “We know his strengths, how he runs a lot in behind and scores a lot in one v. one and he is a top player in form.

“We are going to try and keep him very, very quiet. Don’t give him any chances. We have to step up defensively. Hopefully we can do a great job and keep a clean sheet.”

Arteta refused to be drawn on Gyökeres specifically, choosing instead to focus on Sporting’s collective threat, having beaten Manchester City 4-1 in Ruben Amorim’s final Champions League match before becoming United boss.

Gyökeres scored a hat trick that night and since joining Sporting from Coventry in 2022, he has scored 69 goals in 67 games across all competitions.

Asked how good the Sweden international is and how Arsenal can stop him, Arteta chose to focus on Sporting’s remarkable unbeaten 19-game run this season, including 17 victories.

“I would like to talk about the team, about the coaches and how phenomenal they have been,” said Arteta. “The run they are in is incredible. That tells you that it is not only the quality, the setup, the ambition, it is something about the team energy that they have. That is a great challenge that we have tomorrow, to come here and make a statement and show we are capable against this kind of opponent. Be ourselves and win the game.”

Pushed further on Gyökeres, Arteta replied: “I understand the question, but they have a lot of individual qualities. That’s why they can win games in various ways. And yes, in the specific position they have great players.”

Arsenal have won just one of their last eight away games in Europe and have not scored in their last four, a run dating back to last December’s 1-1 draw against PSV Eindhoven when the Gunners had already booked their spot in the knockout rounds.

“Not all the games have been the same. It’s true that within those games there were games that were when we had already qualified,” Arteta said. “Something that is very true is that we have to improve those results and we have to find ways to understand what has been missing. Sometimes it’s been performance, sometimes it’s been other aspects. That’s the next step we have to make as a team.

“I wouldn’t say that this is the most important thing but the efficiency that we have shown inside the box at this level with the chances that we are normally able to generate in the Champions League level, is not at the level required to win consistently.

“I always say the Champions League is about boxes, small margins and details. You have to get all of those right to win, especially away from home.”

Sporting are second in the Champions League table, two points behind first-place Liverpool, while Arsenal sit in 12th on seven points after four matches.

United States goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher announced her international retirement on Monday, calling the past 15 years “the greatest honor.”

Naeher, 36, will take part in a pair of upcoming friendlies against England on Nov. 30, followed by a match against the Netherlands three days later, at which point she will end her 11-year career with the USWNT.

Naeher will continue to play at club level for the Chicago Red Stars, for whom she has played since 2016.

“Having the opportunity to be a part of the USWNT for the past 15 years has been the greatest honor,” said Naeher, referring to a spell that included playing for U.S. youth national teams. “When I began this journey, I never could have imagined where it would take me, and now I find myself so grateful for all the incredible teammates that I have shared the field with; teammates that have turned into lifelong friends.

“To all my teammates, coaches and staff, thank you all for pushing me, supporting me, and making me a better person/player every single day. A special thanks goes to my family. You have traveled all over the world and were in my corner every step of the way and I love you all.”

Naeher had an immensely difficult act to follow when she took over the starting spot in goal for the USWNT, replacing legendary American keeper Hope Solo. Yet the Bridgeport, Connecticut native went on to write her own chapter in USWNT lore. She was part of two World Cup-winning squads in 2015 and 2019, and also earned a gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Her penalty save from Steph Houghton in the 2019 World Cup semifinal against England helped cement a 2-1 victory and was a pivotal moment on the road to the United States claiming a fourth World Cup title. She is the only goalkeeper in women’s soccer history to earn a shutout in a World Cup final and an Olympic gold medal game.

Naeher added: “This has been a special team to be a part of and I am beyond proud of what we have achieved both on and off the field. The memories I have made over the years will last me a lifetime. I know one chapter is ending, but I am so excited to continue to see the growth of this team going forward and what more they can accomplish.”

Earlier this year, she had one of her strongest performances in the semifinals of the Concacaf Women’s Gold Cup. Not only did she make three saves during a penalty shootout with Canada, she converted a penalty kick herself — tucking the ball neatly into the corner of the net.

Afterward she said: “Winning is the best feeling.”

Naeher made her senior international debut on Dec. 18, 2014, in a 7-0 win over Argentina in Brazil, and she heads into the two matches in Europe with an all-time record of 88W-6L-14D and a goals-against average of 0.50 for her career.

Her totals in goalkeeper caps (113), starts (110), wins (88) and shutouts (68) are behind only Solo and Briana Scurry. At club level, in addition to her time with the Red Stars, she had two stints with the Boston Breakers — the first in the now-defunct WPS — as well as with German side Turbine Potsdam.

Neaher’s second spell with the Breakers saw her named NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year in 2014. Collegiately, Naeher played for Penn State University, where she was a two-time All-American.

Casey Murphy and Jane Campbell are the presumptive choices to step in as the new No. 1 for Emma Hayes and the U.S., but neither is included in the squad for the upcoming friendlies, with Utah Royals keeper Mandy Haught and the uncapped Phallon Tullis-Joyce of Manchester United selected.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this story.

The MLS Cup playoffs are down to their final four.

After No. 1 seed Inter Miami‘s ouster in Round One, Western Conference champions LAFC were eliminated in the semifinals by the Seattle Sounders. On the other side of Los Angeles, though, the stars seem to be aligning for the LA Galaxy.

Atlanta United‘s Cinderella run, sparked by their upset of Lionel Messi & Co., was short-lived as they fell to Orlando City. Meanwhile, the New York Red Bulls knocked out New York City FC in the first-ever postseason edition of the Hudson River Derby.

What to make of the weekend’s playoff action? And of the last four teams standing in MLS postseason play? ESPN’s experts weigh in.

The talk of the conference semis

Galaxy do what every other favorite couldn’t

The Galaxy stunned Minnesota United 6-2 in the Western Conference semifinals, becoming the only team to finish in the top three in both the East and West to reach the conference finals. LAFC, Real Salt Lake, FC Cincinnati, the Columbus Crew and Inter Miami all proved to be disappointments in the 2024 postseason.

Many predicted Miami would be the likely host and clear favorite to win MLS Cup, as Messi and Luis Suárez scored the team’s way to the Supporters’ Shield. Instead, the underrated Galaxy came through with 15 goals throughout three playoff games to do what Inter simply couldn’t.

The historic California club capitalized on the momentum gained throughout the regular season, translating consistency into success during the postseason tournament. — Megan Swanick

Looking ahead to an MLS Cup of firsts

With LAFC and NYCFC out of the picture, all four remaining clubs will try to clinch their first league championship of the 2020s. Of those four clubs, two from the Eastern Conference — Orlando City and the Red Bulls — could make history by lifting an MLS Cup title for the first time.

For Orlando, achieving this would be thanks to their revitalized form, which was on display in their 1-0 win over Atlanta. “From July, we’ve been one of the best teams in MLS,” said Dagur Thórhallsson after their conference semifinal victory.

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Ramiro Enrique sinks goal from the corner kick for Orlando

Ramiro Enrique slots in a left-footed shot to the center of the goal for Orlando FC.

As for the Red Bulls, who will face Orlando for a coveted spot in the final, they will hope to brush aside their upcoming opponents just like they did NYCFC 2-0 last weekend.

Both the Galaxy and the Sounders have more history when it comes to MLS Cup titles — the Galaxy lead the league with five, while Seattle has two — but there’s a clear sense of redemption after watching other heavy hitters win the championship in recent years. As hosts of the Western Conference final, the red-hot Galaxy will be the favorites, but let’s not overlook the grit of the Seattle’s roster that went toe-to-toe with LAFC through extra time in a dramatic 2-1 conference semifinal win. — Cesar Hernandez

Atlanta’s Cinderella run is already over

Once you beat the record-breaking Supporters’ Shield winners in the first round of the playoffs, it’s hard not to become the neutrals’ favorite in the next round. Alas, it wasn’t meant to be. Atlanta — the ninth-best team in the Eastern Conference during the regular season, and the valiant underdog story of Round One — is out of the playoffs.

The Five Stripes upset the star-studded Inter Miami dream team with a string of tenacious performances, polished off by the goalkeeping heroics of 40-year-old Brad Guzan. On Saturday, though, a flat-footed Atlanta was outplayed by Orlando and fell short in the conference semifinals.

Vulnerabilities from the past year proved decisive in the end. Atlanta conceded 13 goals from set pieces during the regular season, and Orlando’s only goal in Saturday’s match came the same way: Argentine striker Ramiro Enrique was unmarked in the box and scored off a dead-ball situation.

And just like that, Atlanta’s inspiring playoff run comes to an end. Silver lining? Orlando just made their first-ever Eastern Conference final and could make more history next Saturday night. — Lizzy Becherano

Conference semifinals MVP

Stefan Frei | Seattle Sounders

The Sounders slid past LAFC on Saturday, toppling the West Coast’s top-ranked team from the regular season with an incredible nine saves by their goalkeeper. Frei is a big-game keeper, and he came up big for Seattle yet again.

“We’ve been a pretty good defensive team for the last couple of years … but I’m gonna stump for Stefan Frei,” longtime Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer said after the match. “I mean how that guy hasn’t won Goalkeeper of the Year is a travesty. I’m gonna say it. It’s a travesty, and it’s a mistake. And if people don’t want to get on the bandwagon, that’s your choice. But my belief, my opinion, is that guy’s the best shot stopper in the league, bar none.” — Becherano

Gabriel Pec | LA Galaxy

It should come as no surprise that Pec knows how to perform for the Galaxy after his shocking debut season in MLS. The 2024 Newcomer of the Year scored two goals against Minnesota, the first less than 60 seconds after the opening whistle, giving the edge to the California club. The 23-year-old Brazilian immediately set the tone for the Galaxy, linking perfectly with the midfield to unlock potential across the field. He’s scored three goals in the playoffs and shows no signs to be slowing down. — Swanick

Carlos Coronel | New York Red Bulls

One could argue that Frei was the best goalkeeper of the round, and perhaps that the Red Bulls’ Andrés Reyes was the best player on Coronel’s team in Saturday’s derby win. But the 27-year-old Brazilian was still nothing short of brilliant. Coronel made seven saves against NYCFC, who were held goalless despite their xG of 2.8. In contrast, the Red Bulls had an xG of just 0.97. The shutout was Coronel’s seventh in the Hudson River Derby. — Hernandez

Goal of the conference semis

Jordan Morris | Seattle Sounders

Morris’ 13 regular-season goals make him the Sounders’ top scorer, but his 109th-minute strike against LAFC might be his most important. Amid the melee following a corner, Morris found himself well-positioned as the ball bounced his way. With a crisp turn, he struck it into the top-right corner, sealing Seattle’s spot in the Western Conference final. — Becherano

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Jordan Morris’ extra-time winner sends Seattle through

Jordan Morris’ sharp finish earns Seattle a 2-1 win at LAFC as the Sounders advance in the MLS Western Conference playoffs.

Gabriel Pec | LA Galaxy

Pec’s second of the night against Minnesota brought back flashbacks of the goal Diego Maradona scored against England in the 1986 World Cup. It was a perfectly timed run on the right as he took on the entire Loons backline before completing the strike. — Swanick

Felipe Carballo | New York Red Bulls

It has to be the wonder strike from Carballo. More than 30 yards out from goal, the Red Bulls midfielder rocketed in a shot that put his team up 1-0 in an eventual 2-0 derby victory. To quote Apple TV commentator Danny Higginbotham on the goal: “It’s one touch and then it’s world class.” — Hernandez

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Felipe Carballo Ares’ wonder strike makes it 1-0 Red Bulls

Felipe Carballo Ares’ stunning goal lays the platform for a 2-0 win for the Red Buls over NYCFC in Eastern Conference playoffs semifinals.