Soccer

MADRID (AP) — Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone ran down the touchline in joy while Barcelona players sunk to the turf in dismay.

SAO PAULO (AP) — Four River Plate women's players were arrested by Sao Paulo police and accused of making a racial slur, the Sao Paulo's public security secretariat told The Associated Press on Saturday.

MILAN (AP) — Mario Balotelli almost scored his first goal back in Serie A while Napoli returned to the top after withstanding a late siege from Genoa to hold on for a 2-1 win on Saturday.

Manchester City’s stunning slump deepened after losing to Aston Villa 2-1 in the Premier League on Saturday.

BERLIN (AP) — Florian Wirtz starred and Patrik Schick scored four goals as Bayer Leverkusen routed Freiburg 5-1 on Saturday to keep the pressure on Bundesliga leader Bayern Munich over the winter break.

SOUTHAMPTON, England (AP) — Ivan Juric was hired as the manager of Southampton on Saturday and was quickly challenged with the task of preserving its place in the Premier League.

BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) — Center back John Stones sustained a fresh injury setback in Manchester City's 2-1 loss to Aston Villa on Saturday in the Premier League.

TORONTO — Despite having previously traded away its first-round pick, Toronto FC managed to find some value in the MLS SuperDraft. TFC’s haul produced an athletic centre back, versatile midfielder and Liberian international winger.

LONDON (AP) — Former England midfielder George Eastham, a member of the country’s 1966 World Cup winning squad who was better known for his social activism, has died. He was 88.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate passed legislation early Saturday to boost Social Security payments for millions of people, pushing a longtime priority for former public employees through Congress in one of its last acts for the year.