CROCE D'AUNE-MONTE AVENA, Italy (AP) — Ecuadorian cyclist Richard Carapaz took a huge step towards winning the Giro d'Italia as he preserved his overall lead at the end of the penultimate stage,...

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Valencia and Athletic Bilbao kept up their strong run of form on Sunday in the chase for the final Champions League spot in Spain.

BILBAO, Spain (AP) — Police in Spain's northern city of Bilbao have clashed with hundreds of protesters outside a rally by a far-right party that is running in Spain's general election this...

MADRID (AP) — Surprising Getafe is standing its ground in the fight for the final Champions League spot in the Spanish league.

The southern Madrid club defeated Athletic Bilbao 1-0 on Sunday...

MADRID (AP) — Athletic Bilbao rallied with two goals early in the second half to defeat Girona 2-1 and move closer to the European spots in the Spanish league on Friday.

MADRID (AP) — A record crowd is expected to attend a women's soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Barcelona on Sunday.

Atletico says no more tickets are available for the Spanish league...

MADRID (AP) — Francisco "Isco" Alarcon has been left out of the Spain squad, paying the price for not playing often enough for Real Madrid under coach Santiago Solari.

HUESCA, Spain (AP) — Athletic Bilbao defeated last-place Huesca 1-0 on Monday to keep momentum from a draw against leader Barcelona and open a comfortable gap to the relegation zone in the Spanish league.

The away victory, coming a week after a 0-0 draw against Barcelona at home, moved Athletic into 11th place, seven points from safety.

Raul Garcia scored the winner by converting a 19th-minute penalty kick at El Alcoraz Stadium.

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Barcelona needed goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen to put in a superb performance as the Spanish league leader failed to score and dropped points at Athletic Bilbao in a 0-0 draw on Sunday.

The result ended Barcelona's run of 37 league games where it scored at least one goal. Its last league game without a goal was a 0-0 draw with Getafe on Feb. 11, 2018.

MADRID (AP) — A record crowd of 48,121 attended a women's soccer match between Athletic Bilbao and Atletico Madrid in Spain on Wednesday.

Athletic says it was the largest ever attendance for a club-level women's match in Europe. The English Football Association says a crowd of 53,000 watched a game in December 1920 between Dick, Kerr's Ladies and St. Helen's Ladies at Everton's Goodison Park stadium.

MADRID (AP) — Athletic Bilbao remained in the relegation zone of the Spanish league after being held at Alaves to 0-0 on Monday.

Bilbao is in 18th place of the 20-team league and level on points with Villarreal, which is the last team in safety.

Bilbao generated the few scoring chances of the regional Basque Country derby, but goalkeeper Fernando Pacheco saved shots by Raul Garcia and Inigo Cordoba in each half.

MADRID (AP) — Veteran striker Aritz Aduriz converted a penalty kick in stoppage time to end Athletic Bilbao's 13-game winless streak in the Spanish league on Monday.

Aduriz calmly converted his shot from the spot to give the hosts their first league win — 1-0 over Girona — since the first round in August.

Athletic seemed headed to another draw until Jonas Ramalho fouled Iker Muniain inside the area.

MADRID (AP) — Traditional Spanish clubs Villarreal, Valencia, and Athletic Bilbao entered the season with high hopes, looking to make a run against the powerful trio of Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.

Almost halfway through the league, they are just fighting to stay away from the relegation zone.

Athletic fired its coach last week. Villarreal did it on Monday, and Valencia is already under pressure to follow suit.

MADRID (AP) — Spanish club Athletic Bilbao has fired coach Eduardo Berizzo after the team won only two of its first 15 matches this season.

The Basque Country club made the announcement on Tuesday, a day after a 3-0 loss at Levante in the Spanish league.

The result kept the Athletic winless in 13 league matches, inside the relegation zone. Its only league win was against Leganes in the first round.

MADRID (AP) — Levante added to Athletic Bilbao's struggles with a resounding 3-0 home win in the Spanish league on Monday.

The result extended Athletic's winless streak in the league to 13 matches and kept the Basque Country club in the relegation zone. Athletic hasn't won since the first round.

Chema Rodriguez, Jose Campana and Roger Marti scored for Levante, which moved to sixth place after its first victory in five matches in all competitions.

MADRID (AP) — With Diego Godin injured and no substitutions left, Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone told the defender to go play in the attack.

It was a desperation move, and it worked.

Despite not being able to run, Godin scored the winning goal in stoppage time — with the help of a video review — as Atletico twice came from behind to defeat Athletic Bilbao 3-2 in the Spanish league on Saturday.

BILBAO, Spain (AP) — Cuban-American singer Camila Cabello was the big winner at the MTV EMAs gala in Spain on Sunday, while Janet Jackson used her acceptance speech for a life-time achievement award to take a stand for women's rights.

Jackson was honored with the Global Icon Award for her four-decade, 11-album career that started when she was a child growing up in the family that also produced her music legend brother, Michael, and The Jackson Five.

MADRID (AP) — Mikel Oyarzabal converted penalty kicks in both halves as Real Sociedad defeated Athletic Bilbao 3-1 in the Basque Country derby in the Spanish league on Friday.

It was the second straight win for Sociedad against its rival, and the first at Athletic's San Mames Stadium since the 2015-16 season.

Sociedad, playing without several regular starters, hadn't won its last two league matches and was coming off a 1-0 home loss to Valencia, which had yet to win this season.

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — With Lionel Messi rested for most of the match, Barcelona was held to 1-1 by Athletic Bilbao at home on Saturday in its third straight setback in the Spanish league.

Messi came off the bench in the second half to set up a late equalizer by Munir El Haddadi, but he wasn't able to lead the defending champions to victory at Camp Nou Stadium.

The result was enough to keep Barcelona in the lead after Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid went 0-0 in the derby.

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Ousmane Dembele came to Barcelona's rescue for a third time this season on Saturday, when the France forward struck a second-half winner to complete a comeback at Real Sociedad 2-1.

Dembele was quickest to a poor clearance of a corner kick by Sociedad's defense in the 66th minute, rifling a left-footed shot through a crowd while goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli was off his line.

BILBAO, Spain (AP) — Real Madrid dropped its first points in the Spanish league after being held at Athletic Bilbao to 1-1 on Saturday.

Madrid needed Francisco "Isco" Alarcon to come off the bench and score three minutes later in the 64th to salvage a point from the visit to the Basque Country club. Isco slipped into the area unmarked and headed Gareth Bale's cross down off the turf and into the corner of the net.

MADRID (AP) — Athletic Bilbao forward Inaki Williams has apologized for a heated altercation with his partner, and says they were victims of a blackmail attempt to keep images from being distributed online.

Williams posted the apology on Twitter Friday after Spanish media published videos that show a man and a woman in an intense confrontation. They yell at each other several times and at one point the man apparently spits toward the woman.

LONDON (AP) — Chelsea has signed Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga for a record fee after selling Thibaut Courtois to Real Madrid.

Chelsea announced the signing on Wednesday after paying Kepa's 80-million-euro ($92.6 million) buyout clause — the biggest fee ever for a goalkeeper.

The transfer was completed shortly after Courtois' move to Madrid was also confirmed in a deal that will see midfielder Mateo Kovacic move to the London club on a season-long loan.

MADRID (AP) — Tens of thousands of Spaniards from the northern Basque Country have formed a line that stretched over 200 kilometers (124 miles) to demand a ballot on secession for the wealthy region.

Protesters held hands or extended scarves between themselves to form the human chain, which connected the cities of San Sebastian, Bilbao and regional seat Vitoria.

The scarves bore the slogan "It's in our hands" written in Basque

BILBAO, Spain (AP) — Several thousand protesters have marched in northern Spain to demand that imprisoned members of the militant Basque group ETA be moved to prisons closer to their homes.

The demonstration in Bilbao on Saturday came a day after ETA made an unprecedented apology for the killings of more than 850 people during the group's four-decade armed campaign for the Basque region's independence from France and Spain.

MADRID (AP) — Cristiano Ronaldo came through for Real Madrid again, this time with a backheel flick that saved his team from a loss in the Spanish league.

Ronaldo netted an 87th-minute equalizer with a subtle touch of the ball with his back to the goal, redirecting a low shot by Luka Modric from outside the area to give Madrid a 1-1 draw against Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday.

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Lionel Messi added to his scoring streak with a first-half goal in Barcelona's 2-0 win over Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish league on Sunday.

Messi scored his eighth goal in six matches with a firm, low shot from outside the area in the 30th minute at Camp Nou Stadium, helping Barcelona to take an 11-point lead over Atletico Madrid, which plays at Villarreal later.

PRAGUE (AP) — Danny Welbeck celebrated his England callup by scoring twice as Arsenal beat AC Milan 3-1 Thursday to cruise into the Europa League quarterfinals 5-1 on aggregate.

German powerhouse Borussia Dortmund suffered a surprise exit at the hands of Salzburg. Two goals by Fernando Torres helped Atletico Madrid oust Lokomotiv Moscow while CSKA Moscow knocked out Lyon after winning the second leg in France 3-2.

BILBAO, Spain (AP) — Two security guards received minor injuries after being attacked by Marseille fans during the second leg of the Europa League last-16 match at Athletic Bilbao Thursday, Spanish police said.

The police also said three supporters of the French team had been detained.

Marseille won the game 2-1 and advanced to the quarterfinals 5-2 on aggregate.

MADRID (AP) — Real Madrid couldn't overcome the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo and other regular starters on Tuesday, losing 1-0 to Espanyol in the Spanish league to see its five-game winning streak come to an end.

Gerard Moreno scored three minutes into injury time to give Espanyol the victory against the defending champions. The result left Madrid in danger of losing third place to Valencia, which is two points behind going into its match at Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday.

MADRID (AP) — The riot police officer who died of cardiac arrest during crowd trouble before a Europa League match in Spain collapsed on his own and not in a direct confrontation with fans, authorities said Friday.

Officials in the Basque region of Spain said doctors dismissed the possibility the cardiac arrest was caused by any type of trauma sustained by the officer in fighting that took place before the match between Athletic Bilbao and Russian club Spartak Moscow on Thursday.

Serie A leader Napoli wasn't good enough to advance in the Europa League on Thursday after it was knocked out in Germany by Leipzig. The last-of-32 round of matches was marred by a police officer's death in Spain after clashes with fans ahead of the game between Athletic Bilbao and Spartak Moscow.

Spanish police said the officer died in hospital after clashes outside San Mames Stadium in the Basque Country city of Bilbao in northern Spain. Spanish media said the officer died of cardiac arrest.

BILBAO, Spain (AP) — A Spanish riot police officer died of cardiac arrest after clashes involving Russian soccer fans before a Europa League match on Thursday between hosts Athletic Bilbao and Spartak Moscow, raising concerns less than four months before the World Cup in Russia.

Basque Country authorities in northern Spain said the officer died in a hospital after the confrontations outside San Mames Stadium in the city of Bilbao, which will host matches in the 2020 European Championship.

BERLIN (AP) — German police have arrested a Russian suspected of seriously injuring a British soccer fan during the European Championship in France two years ago.

Federal police say the 31-year-old suspect was arrested on Thursday at Munich airport during a stopover from Moscow to Bilbao, Spain.

Police said the unnamed suspect, who was sought with an international arrest warrant, "appears to belong to the Russian hooligan scene."

MADRID (AP) — Retirees are demonstrating across Spain, calling for higher pensions and urging authorities to ensure funding for social security.

The biggest protests are in cities including Bilbao, Barcelona and the capital, Madrid, where thousands screamed "Thieves, thieves!" at the gates of the national parliament, blocking traffic and facing off with rows of police.

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Atletico Madrid stayed within sight of Barcelona while Real Madrid's attack bailed out its porous defense in the Spanish league on Sunday.

Diego Costa and Kevin Gameiro scored second-half goals to give Atletico a 2-0 win over Athletic Bilbao and keep it seven points behind Barcelona at the top of the table.

Atletico will visit Barcelona on March 4 in what could be its last chance to inject some drama into the title race.

BILBAO, Spain (AP) — Las Palmas continued to show improvement under new coach Paco Jemez when it drew 0-0 at Athletic Bilbao on Friday.

Jemez took over the Canary Islands club in late December and, after a poor start, his team has won two and drawn one of its last four matches to climb to 18th in the 20-team Spanish league.

MADRID (AP) — Athletic Bilbao didn't take long to replace young French defender Aymeric Laporte after his move to Manchester City.

The Spanish club said Tuesday it had signed central defender Inigo Martinez from Basque Country rival Real Sociedad, spending 32 million euros ($39 million) on the player's buyout clause.

Laporte left to play for Manchester City after his clause of 65 million euros ($80 million) was paid on Monday.

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester City signed France under-21 international Aymeric Laporte from Athletic Bilbao for a club-record fee of 65 million euros ($80 million) on Tuesday, taking its spending on center backs since 2014 to about $250 million.

The 23-year-old Laporte came close to joining City in 2016 — when Pep Guardiola took charge of the current Premier League leaders — but backed out of the move after feeling the Frenchman wasn't quite ready.

MADRID (AP) — Defender Aymeric Laporte has paid his buyout clause and is leaving Athletic Bilbao, opening the way for a transfer to Manchester City.

The 23-year-old Frenchman has been closely linked with a move to the English Premier League leader and was left out of Athletic's squad in its Spanish league match on Saturday.

Athletic said the payment of the buyout clause of 65 million euros ($80.8 million) was made on Monday, effectively ending Laporte's contract with the Spanish club.

BILBAO, Spain (AP) — Athletic Bilbao defender Aymeric Laporte watched from the stands as his side drew 1-1 at home with Eibar in the Basque country derby on Friday.

The 23-year-old Frenchman has been closely linked with a move to Premier League leader Manchester City, with media reports in Spain and England equally confident coach Pep Guardiola's City will pay his buyout clause of 65 million euros (US$ 81 million).

MADRID (AP) — Athletic Bilbao says it has extended the contract of goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga until June 2025, ending speculation about his move to Real Madrid.

The 23-year-old Kepa admitted he had offers to leave Athletic, but decided to stay at the club he considers his "home."

Madrid reportedly wanted to sign Kepa but negotiations did not advance in recent weeks.

MADRID (AP) — Barcelona stumbled again, and Real Madrid wasn't able to capitalize.

Madrid missed a chance to move closer to the top of the Spanish league standings after being held by Athletic Bilbao to 1-1 on Sunday.

It could have moved within six points of the lead after Barcelona drew at home against Celta Vigo 2-2 for its second consecutive setback, but Zinedine Zidane's team struggled in Bilbao and remained eight points behind the Catalan rival after 14 matches.

MADRID (AP) — Barcelona reached the last 16 of the Copa del Rey with a comfortable 5-0 win over Murcia on Wednesday, but Basque Country teams Real Sociedad and Athletic Bilbao were eliminated by third-division clubs.

Atletico Madrid advanced after a 3-0 win against Elche to overcome a first-leg draw.

BRUSSELS (AP) — The Latest on the crisis over regional lawmakers in Catalonia voting to declare independence from Spain (all times local):

8:30 p.m.

Several thousand people marched in Spain's Basque Country to protest the Spanish government's takeover of Catalonia's affairs to impede the region's secession and to punish the politicians promoting it.

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Barcelona says Andres Iniesta will not play Saturday's Spanish league match against Athletic Bilbao because of a muscle problem.

Thomas Vermaelen also won't be available, as he is nursing a hip injury.

Ousmane Dembele, Rafinha, Arda Turan and Aleix Vidal had already been ruled out because of long-term injuries.