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Montreal drew Liga MX power Santos Laguna for the most high-profile Round of 16 pairing in the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League, as the four MLS teams from the United States randomly drew first-round matches with clubs from Central America.

The two-legged first-round pairings will take place in the last two weeks of February, with quarterfinals scheduled in the windows of March 8-10 and March 15-17, semifinals April 5-7 and April 12-14 and the final April 26-28 and May 3-5.

Portland head coach Giovanni Savarese said he expects the raucous Timbers fanbase to give his team a major boost when they take on visiting New York City FC in the MLS Cup Final on Saturday.

The team's mascot, the chainsaw-wielding 'Timber Joey,' slices a piece off of a giant tree every time Portland scores, and Savarese said he expects his side to cut NYCFC down too.

"I believe so, 100 percent," he told reporters when asked if his team would claim the franchise's second Cup at Providence Park.

Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp said it was a matter of time before former player Steven Gerrard would take charge of the Merseyside club, ahead of his return to Anfield as Aston Villa's head coach.

Liverpool great Gerrard, who replaced Dean Smith at Villa last month, won numerous trophies in 17 years at Anfield and will take on his boyhood club for the first time as a manager on Saturday.

MADRID - Atlético Madrid will be desperate to beat runaway leaders Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu on Sunday to revive their bid for a second consecutive Spanish league title.

Real are currently cruising in top spot, eight points ahead of second-placed Sevilla and 10 above Atlético in fourth, albeit having played a game more than those two rivals.

Beginning in May 2022, the USL W League begins play with Minnesota’s community-owned soccer team among the competitors. The division is a pre-professional league that effectively represents the third-tier in America, behind the NWSL and the recently announced USL Super League.

PARIS — Paris Saint-Germain defender Sergio Ramos is primed to play his first match in over six months after being named in the squad for Wednesday's Champions League Group A clash away to Manchester City.

The Parisian squad for #MCIPSG!

@ChampionsLeague pic.twitter.com/VhuTOWSwJp