Welcome to the All-Star edition of ESPN's Major League Soccer Power Rankings.

This week, we all take a collective breath and pause for the midseason clasico pitting the best performers of the first half of the season against a barnstorming European powerhouse led by a man who is either color blind or REALLY committed to his style choices.

Does Diego Simeone know about summer in Central Florida?

Anyway, before we go, let's celebrate with a one good ranking. See you soon, Orlando!

Previous rankings: Week 20 | Week 19 | Week 18 | Week 17 | Week 16 | Week 15 | Week 14 | Week 13 | Week 12 | Week 11 | Week 10 | Week 9 | Week 8 | Week 7 | Week 6 | Week 5 | Week 4 | Week 3 | Week 2 | Week 1

1. LAFC (15 wins, 4 draws, 3 losses)

Previous ranking: 1

Next MLS match: Aug. 3 at New England (7:30 p.m. ET, stream live on ESPN+)

How's that for a "big game" performance? It would be nitpicking to point out that Atlanta's defense let them down a bit and allowing LAFC back in to win the game by the odd goal in seven, so we won't. Instead, let's focus on the fact that league leaders will clash with the hottest team in MLS next week when they visit Bruce Arena and the Revs.

2. San Jose Earthquakes (11-4-7)

Previous ranking: 2

Next MLS match: Aug. 3 vs. Columbus (10 p.m. ET, stream live on ESPN+)

And it continues. The Quakes may be more than the sum of their parts because of Matias Almeyda's playing system and man-management, but there are several entertaining individuals in the mix at Avaya. The Valeri Qazaishvili Show is must-watch TV at the moment, with everyone asking: "How many defenders will he embarrass this week?"

3. New York City FC (9-8-3)

Previous ranking: 4

Next MLS match: Aug. 3 at Real Salt Lake (10 p.m. ET, stream live on ESPN+)

He might not be David Villa, but Heber has proven to be a competent replacement for the club legend at the front of the NYCFC formation. The Brazilian striker's nine goals leads the team and is good enough to put him in a tie for sixth in the league despite playing just 13 games.

4. New England Revolution (9-6-8)

Previous ranking: 7

Next MLS match: Aug. 3 vs. LAFC (7:30 p.m. ET, stream live on ESPN+)

Sometimes it's difficult to move a hot team who started poorly up the rankings when the teams above them are also winning. This week, that can't be an excuse. With 11 games unbeaten, including three wins in a row over the past three matches, we can't justify leaving the Revs out of the top five even if they are in seventh place in the East. We see you, Bruce.

5. Philadelphia Union (11-6-7)

Previous ranking: 3

Next MLS match: Aug. 4 at DC United (7:30 p.m. ET)

That's now two 4-0 humblings on the road in three weeks for Philly, who sandwiched a home win over Chicago in between. Those losses in Utah and Quebec serve as a reminder of how important home field will be in the playoffs and how crucial it is that Jim Curtin's team not slip down the table.

6. Minnesota United (10-5-7)

Previous ranking: 5

Next MLS match: Aug. 4 vs. Portland (4 p.m., watch live on ESPN)

The positive way of looking at things is that the Loons are on a six-game unbeaten run. The negative view would focus on a pair of draws in their last two games, with the second being Saturday's 0-0 letdown at home against then-last place Vancouver. Minnesota needs to pick up as Portland comes to town next week.

7. Seattle Sounders (11-5-6)

Previous ranking: 9

Next MLS match: Aug. 4 vs. Sporting Kansas City (10 p.m. ET)

"Gritty" was the order of the day for the Sounders in Houston on Saturday. One goal, turned in mostly due to Jordan Morris' commitment, was enough to secure a road win that lifted Seattle into second place in the Western Conference. Catching LAFC will be tough, but at least the Sounders can dream about a top seed.

8. Atlanta United (11-3-9)

Previous ranking: 6

Next MLS match: Aug. 3 vs. LA Galaxy (5 p.m. ET)

Twelve very bad defensive minutes did in the champs in Los Angeles. After going 231 minutes without conceding, the league's top team ripped Atlanta apart with four goals. On the plus side, Atlanta showed some fight and made it interesting. If it's possible to take a positive out of a loss, it's that.

9. Portland Timbers (9-4-8)

Previous ranking: 12

Next MLS match: Aug. 4 at Minnesota (4 p.m., watch live on ESPN)

We can't help but wonder if Diego Valeri -- a fairly quiet personality despite his talent -- wasn't sending a message to a certain Swedish star about Ferraris and Fiats in Major League Soccer. Even if it wasn't meant for Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Valeri's braggadocio should be heard loud and clear across the league.

10. LA Galaxy (12-1-9)

Previous ranking: 8

Next MLS match: Aug. 3 at Atlanta (5 p.m. ET)

Two questions loomed for the Galaxy entering a match against the Timbers in Portland: Would Ibrahimovic play on Providence Park's artificial surface? And, would the Galaxy suffer a letdown after last week's El Trafico win? The answers, it turns out, were "yes" and "HELL YES."

11. FC Dallas (9-6-8)

Previous ranking: 10

Next MLS match: Aug. 3 at Orlando (7:30 p.m. ET, stream live on ESPN+)

Jesse Gonzalez saved FC Dallas' bacon on two different occasions to ensure a point at home against RSL on Saturday. Not the best of days for the FCD attack, which seems prone to getting stuck in neutral too often for the team to be a real contender. A summer signing might do wonders to make them more dangerous.

12. New York Red Bulls (10-4-9)

Previous ranking: 11

Next MLS match: Aug. 3 vs. Toronto FC (6 p.m. ET, stream live on ESPN+)

It's tough to have a truly terrible "bad look" game in a league with so much parity but the Red Bulls managed one, losing 3-2 to Columbus at home. Dare we wonder if Aaron Long's focus might be (understandably?) a little off with the swirling rumors of Premier League interest? Not be best day for Long or the Red Bulls' defense as a whole.

13. D.C. United (9-9-6)

Previous ranking: 13

Next MLS match: Aug. 4 vs. Philadelphia (7:30 p.m. ET)

When the ancient founders of the Power Rankings laid down the laws governing the One True Order of Clubs, they declared that no words need be spilled on teams that fail to score in a draw in the most recent round of matches. And so we won't.

14. Montreal Impact (10-3-11)

Previous ranking: 16

Next MLS match: Aug. 3 at Colorado (9 p.m. ET, stream live on ESPN+)

The Impact clung to a playoff spot in the East thanks to a 4-0 romp over Philadelphia on Friday. Ignacio Piatti was back on the field, but the star of the show was debutant target="_blank"Lassi Lappalainen. The Finnish winger scored two great goals and sparked a needed win for the East's most mercurial side.

15. Toronto FC (9-5-9)

Previous ranking: 19

Next MLS match: Aug. 3 at Red Bulls (6 p.m. ET, stream live on ESPN+)

Are the Reds good? Bad? Mediocre? Something in between mediocre and good where every week seems like a coin flip, equally likely to show the best of Toronto's trio of DPs as it is to have them all play flat and uninspired? It's probably that last one, but let's give TFC credit: Wins in three of their last four is their best run since the start of the season.

16. Real Salt Lake (9-4-9)

Previous ranking: 15

Next MLS match: Aug. 3 vs. NYCFC (10 p.m. ET, stream live on ESPN+)

RSL didn't win in Frisco even though RSL probably should have won in Frisco. Maybe the magic missing was Mike Petke, who was suspended for the game because he yelled at the referee after the League Cup loss on Wednesday night? Or because the referee thought Petke was yelling at him? It's very confusing.

17. Colorado Rapids (5-5-12)

Previous ranking: 14

Next MLS match: Aug. 3 vs. Montreal (9 p.m. ET, stream live on ESPN+)

As new manager bumps go, the Rapids maxed theirs out. But the end of that bump came hard and fast and the Rapids are now in the midst of a four-game winless run. Saturday's drubbing by San Jose wasn't exactly unexpected, but it does drive home that for all the good feelings last month, Colorado isn't close to the West's best teams.

18. Columbus Crew (7-3-14)

Previous ranking: 23

Next MLS match: Aug. 3 at San Jose (10 p.m. ET, stream live on ESPN+)

The Crew went and won two-in-a-row while no one was looking, as mini-streak that ties the club's best run of the season. Looming next week is a trip to San Jose, however, so if Columbus really does intend to turn the corner and not just run smack into a wall, they'll need a strong performance against the red hot Quakes.

19. Orlando City (7-5-11)

Previous ranking: 17

Next MLS match: Aug. 3 vs. FC Dallas (7:30 p.m. ET, stream live on ESPN+)

Maybe the Lions got played off the field by the Revs in Foxborough because they were worried about getting back home and getting everything ready for the league to visit for All-Star Week. Yeah, that's probably it. Orlando was just a little preoccupied. It's always so hectic when company's coming.

20. Houston Dynamo (9-3-10)

Previous ranking: 18

Next MLS match: Aug. 3 vs. Chicago (9 p.m. ET, stream live on ESPN+)

The Dynamo's slip against Seattle dropped them all the way to ninth place in the Western Conference, though they are just one point behind seventh-placed Portland. Houston has a pair of good wins over the last five weeks, but the problem is that every other game they played was a loss.

21. Sporting Kansas City (6-7-9)

Previous ranking: 20

Next MLS match: Aug. 4 at Seattle (10 p.m. ET)

We don't think Sporting is very good right now, hence this ranking, but it's hard to hold them to task for the performance in New York on Friday night. We wouldn't wish playing on the Yankee Stadium... field... on our worst enemies, much less Sporting Kansas City, who we actually like.

22. Chicago Fire (5-9-10)

Previous ranking: 21

Next MLS match: Aug. 3 at Houston (9 p.m. ET, stream live on ESPN+)

Please see the entry for DC United.

23. FC Cincinnati (5-2-16)

Previous ranking: 23

Next MLS match: Aug. 3 vs. Vancouver (8 p.m. ET, stream live on ESPN+)

The good news is that FCC is still eight losses short of DC United's post-shootout era record of 24 losses in a season by an MLS team. The bad news is that there are 11 games left on the schedule. Cincinnati does reportedly have a new head coach lined up, something that can only help.

24. Vancouver Whitecaps (4-9-11)

Previous ranking: 24

Next MLS match: Aug. 3 at FC Cincinnati (8 p.m. ET, stream live on ESPN+)

A draw at Minnesota ended the 'Caps five-game losing streak and ensured that next weekend's matchup against FC Cincinnati won't be a last place vs. last place affair. No other words need be spilled.

Match referees will take the final call on concussion substitutes under new ICC regulations, giving them the power to rule out a replacement player entirely if the referee deems there is no appropriate "like for like" player available.

The concussion substitute rule will make its start in Test cricket in the first Ashes match between England and Australia at Edgbaston from Thursday, also the opening contest of the inaugural World Test Championship, in which the world's top nine teams will compete over six bilateral series each to play in a final in England in two years' time.

The ICC's most senior referee, Ranjan Madugalle, will be the primary arbiter of the new concussion rule, in concert with the umpires Aleem Dar, Joel Wilson, Chris Gaffaney and the England and Australia team doctors, Mark Wotherspoon and Richard Saw. Geoff Allardice, the ICC's operations manager, explained that the match referee will be empowered to decide whether a concussion replacement is appropriate in the circumstances, whether they should be restricted in what they can do in the game, and if a replacement should be ruled out.

"The treatment of the player is the No. 1 priority with this," Allardice said. "Whether the player is to take no further part in the game comes from the medical staff, and whether there is a replacement available is the secondary consideration. If a player breaks a leg in a game there's no replacement available with that circumstance either. It is an opportunity for teams to help manage their players better, but there'll be a bit of a period where we'll find out the rules and if there are any loopholes with the rules that have been set.

"In terms of the like for like replacement ... the match referee is the sole decision maker on that. Every circumstance is going to be different depending on when the player is requested to be replaced. If a bowler is injured and they've only got a batting innings left then the decision might be different than if the same player was injured and they've only got a bowling innings left. It's very much around the circumstances of the game.

"The match referee could put conditions on a player being involved. If there is an all-rounder replacing a batter, then he might put a condition that that player is unable to bowl during the match. The referee has the flexibility to best accommodate a like for like replacement. There will be a period where we're going to find if there are any loopholes with the rules."

Plenty of questions about the concussion substitute provision have been raised by the Australian captain Tim Paine, among others, many around the scenario whereby Nathan Lyon has been chosen as the sole frontline spin bowler in the touring squad. Should Lyon be ruled out of a match while batting, the closest spin replacement Australia may have is Marnus Labuschagne, who would be batting a long way below his usual station at Lyon's usual No. 10.

"The referees will be given guidelines as will the teams around how to interpret those, but it's very much around what is the likely role of the injured player for the rest of the match, and who is most like for like with the role that player would play," Allardice said. "The aim of the concussion replacements is to try and make the decision making around payers who've sustained injuries and concussions a bit more straightforward.

"If there's any pressure for those players to continue in the game because the team doesn't want them to be one player short, then there is a replacement player available. The conditions around concussion replacements are the player needs to be concussed, it needs to happen on the field of play during play, it needs to be replaced with a like for like player, which will be up to the discretion of the match referee, and a request for a replacement needs to come within 36 hours of the incident happening."

Another area still being discussed is how to handle matches and series in which a fully accredited team doctor is not present for each team. There is the possibility that in future, the ICC may add an independent doctor to its current travelling officials team of three umpires and the match referee.

India captain Virat Kohli is "baffled" about media reports that have surfaced recently about fights or rifts between him and ODI vice-captain Rohit Sharma. Kohli also said it was "absolutely ridiculous" and "disrespectful" to bring players' personal lives into the picture when the team's focus has been on taking Indian cricket to the top.

"In my opinion, it's baffling, to be honest. It's absolutely ridiculous to read such stuff that comes out there," Kohli said in Mumbai before the team's departure for the tour of the USA and the West Indies. "I mean I've been to a few public events and the public sentiment that I've seen - everyone comes up and says, 'yaar, aap log kya khele (you guys played so well). We have so much respect for you'. And here we are feeding off lies, we are overlooking facts, we are turning a blind eye to all the good things that have happened and creating fantasies and scenarios in our head and we want to accept that this is the truth. And I've seen this for too long now, you know bringing personal lives into the picture, it's disrespectful at the moment. I've played the game for 11 years, Rohit has played for 10 years. It's bizarre that you people are creating this on the outside when, as I said, [so much] about the change room environment.

"If the team environment was not good, we wouldn't have played the way we have in the last two-three years. I know very well how important the dressing-room environment and the trust factor are to succeed in international cricket. If that wasn't there, we wouldn't have been here in world cricket. Our journey from No. 7 to 1 [in Tests] and getting this consistency in ODIs and the way we've been strong in T20s as well. I know environment is very important. To get from No. 7 to 1…that camaraderie wouldn't have been there without the respect and understanding."

Head coach Ravi Shastri soon interrupted and quashed any such reports of "divisions" in the dressing room, by calling it "nonsense".

"The way this team plays, no individual is bigger than the game. Not me, not him, nobody in the game," Shastri said. "And the way they play, it's in the interest of the team. You can't have the kind of consistency across formats if you have, like you mentioned, rifts or divisions, or whatever. It is not possible. So when you play on the cricket field, in that dressing room, I've been part of it for some time, and none of that nonsense [is] there."

More to follow...

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The Tampa Bay Lightning have signed goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy to an eight-year extension worth $76 million, the team announced Monday.

"Since joining the organization Andrei has shown unmatched work ethic and professionalism both on and off the ice," Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois said in a statement Monday. "We look forward to him continuing his career in Tampa Bay for the foreseeable future."

At $9.5 million, the new average annual value of Vasilevskiy's deal is the third-highest among active goalies behind Carey Price of the Montreal Canadiens ($10.5M) and Sergei Bobrovsky of the Florida Panthers ($10M), according to CapFriendly.com.

Selected 19th overall in the 2012 draft, Vasilevskiy has spent his entire career with Tampa Bay.

He missed 14 games last season with a broken foot but still took home the Vezina Trophy after posting a career high in save percentage (.925) and goals-against average (2.40) in 53 games.

The 25-year-old Russian led the NHL in wins last year with 39 for a Tampa Bay squad that tied the NHL record for wins in a season with 62.

Unfortunately for Vasilevskiy, his postseason mirrored that of the Lightning. After a stellar regular season, his GAA swelled to 3.82 in a first-round sweep by the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Gareth Bale's proposed transfer to Chinese Super League side Jiangsu Suning broke down because Real Madrid "changed their minds," his agent, Jonathan Barnett, told ESPN FC on Monday.

On Sunday, Bernabeu sources told ESPN FC the proposed transfer was called off after the Wales international's family opted against the move.

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However, Barnett has blamed Madrid's hierarchy for the deal falling through -- and said that Madrid had given Bale's camp the green light to negotiate a move, only to go back on that agreement when it was close to being finalised.

Last week ESPN FC learned that Madrid were willing to let Bale move to China on a free transfer -- a deal that would have saved the club around €100 million in salary and taxes over the remaining three years of the 30-year-old's contract.

Marca reported on Friday that Bale was to be paid €22m a season [after taxes] on a three-year contract with Jiangsu, though Barnett has told ESPN FC that story was "fake news."

Reports have suggested that when Madrid president Florentino Perez learned that the Chinese Super League club were willing to pay so much money to Bale, he decided that his club could not let such a valuable player leave for nothing.

Jiangsu had already signed Brazilian defender Miranda before adding Croatian forward Ivan Santini on Monday, which means there is no room left for any foreign additions.

Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane has said repeatedly in recent weeks that he hopes Bale leaves Madrid this summer, as removing his wages from the books likely would boost the chances of Los Blancos signing Paul Pogba from Manchester United.

Asked for an update on Bale's situation after Friday's 7-3 International Champions Cup loss to Atletico Madrid, Zidane replied: "At the moment it is the same, Bale is here with us, he played, and we will see what happens."

On Monday morning, the club announced that Bale trained alone away from his teammates at Madrid's Valdebebas facility, raising doubts over whether he would travel with the squad to Munich for Tuesday's Audi Cup game against his former club Tottenham.

The Los Angeles Dodgers acquired infielder/outfielder Kristopher Negron from the Seattle Mariners for minor leaguer Daniel Castro, it was announced Sunday.

Negron was recalled by the Mariners from Triple-A earlier this month and has batted .217 in 10 games. Before joining Seattle, he was batting .310 with 12 homers and 61 RBIs at Tacoma.

Castro, an infielder, was signed by the Dodgers as a free agent last November. He was batting .241 with 11 RBIs in 45 games with Triple-A Oklahoma City this season.

The Dodgers need depth in the infield, as second baseman Kike Hernandez (left wrist) will likely be placed on the injured list Monday, according to manager Dave Roberts.

"He's still in pain. It's getting better, but the IL is probably inevitable," Roberts said after Sunday's 11-4 loss to the Washington Nationals.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

CALIFORNIA, Mo. — Hometown ace Randy Martin won Sunday night’s winged sprint car feature at Double-X Speedway.

Martin started outside the front row and took the early lead. A lap-one yellow flag slowed the pace, but Martin was back to the front on the restart.

Taylor Walton would make one last attempt in turn one on the white flag lap, but Martin would hold his line and gain a slight advantage down the back chute and carry it to the checkered flag.

Walton earned a well-deserved second place, hard charging Ayrton Gennetten coming from 13^th to third, Tyler Blank was fourth and Riley Goodno fifth.

Kyle Smith topped the hobby stock feature and John Brooks won the street stock main event.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has said that his side "don't have a chance" of beating Manchester City in Sunday's Community Shield if they continue to defend poorly.

The Reds have failed to win any of their last four preseason matches and they suffered a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Napoli on Sunday.

Liverpool will face Premier League champions City in the season curtain raiser at Wembley this weekend and Klopp said he fears for his team's chances if they continue to concede goals.

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"We didn't defend counterattacks well yesterday [against Napoli]," he said in a news conference. "If that happened against City then you don't have a chance. But we know each other well enough to know it will be different next Sunday.

"If you don't defend well against City you could get a proper knock and we don't want that.

Klopp added that Alisson, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah will return to training ahead of the Community Shield but didn't confirm whether they will be fit enough.

All three players haven't featured in any of Liverpool's preseason matches due to their involvement in the Copa America and Africa Cup of Nations this summer.

Klopp also said that although he wants to claim the first domestic trophy of the season, he does not believe the result will have an influence on the upcoming campaign.

"I don't think we can expect to play our best game on Sunday," he said. "But it's about winning. There are different ways to do it, and we want to find one.

"I won the Super Cup in Germany five times -- if you win it nobody cares, if you lose it some people care. Do I think it has an influence on the rest of the season? I don't think so."

Meanwhile, Liverpool defender Andrew Robertson said that teammates James Milner and Jordan Henderson expressed their anger at the team on the pitch after the loss against Napoli.

"It wasn't good enough," he said. "We were miles off it. We were outplayed. At times we looked foolish by not pressing as a team. We need to be a hell of a lot better than this.

"Jordan Henderson and James Milner pulled us in for a huddle on the pitch and what was said cannot be repeated until after 9 p.m.. It's not crisis meetings, it's preseason. But we can't get into a habit of losing or drawing. We need to step it up massively."

Following the clash against City, Liverpool will kick off the Premier League season against newly promoted Norwich City on Friday, Aug. 9.

Paris Saint-Germain have announced that Neymar has not travelled to Suzhou, China, for the French champions' preseason friendly against Sydney FC on Tuesday amid links of a return to former club Barcelona.

The Brazil international, who was confident of tempting an offer from the Spanish giants before the squad left for China, has stayed behind at PSG's base in Shenzhen to work on his fitness alongside defender Presnel Kimpembe as "planned."

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Consequently, Neymar will not feature against the Australian side and will therefore not play at all in China as he is suspended for the Trophee des Champions clash with Rennes on Saturday in Shenzhen.

PSG drew 1-1 with Inter Milan in Macau on Saturday with German defender Thilo Kehrer on target but lost 6-5 to the Italians on penalties.

Marco Verratti has been rested for the Sydney match with head coach Thomas Tuchel expected to give game time to a number of youth academy graduates in order to be fully prepared for Saturday's clash with Rennes.

Meanwhile, sources have told ESPN FC that Everton's Idrissa Gueye will undergo his medical on Monday ahead of his move.

Sporting director Leonardo, who had stayed behind in France to secure the Senegal international's signature, could now link up with the group in China in time for the Trophee des Champions.

According to ESPN FC sources, Leonardo has also agreed a fee with Newcastle United for the sale of defender Stanley N'Soki.

Although the youth academy graduate still needs to agree terms with the Premier League outfit, PSG stand to earn at least €10 million through the deal with a percentage of the resale also part of the agreement between the two clubs.

Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku has been left out of the squad to travel to Norway for a preseason friendly against Kristiansund amid links to a summer move to Inter Milan.

Lukaku is a target for the Serie A club and sources have told ESPN FC he is keen to join the Nerazzurri and work under manager Antonio Conte, who he labelled the "best manager in the world."

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The Belgium international has not played a single minute in any of United's preseason matches this summer with manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer having cited an injury -- and has once again been left out of the squad.

Lukaku watched on from the sidelines when United beat Inter 1-0 in their International Champions Cup match in Singapore last Saturday.

Sources have told ESPN FC that United have already rejected a £54 million bid from Inter for Lukaku who they value between £80m and £90m.

Lukaku joined United from Everton in 2017 and he has scored 42 goals in 96 appearances.

However, he has slipped down the pecking order under Solskjaer who prefers Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial up front.

Sources have told ESPN FC that Serie A champions Juventus are also interested in signing Lukaku this summer and are willing to include Paulo Dybala in the deal.

United defender Matteo Darmian has also been left out of the travelling squad with sources telling ESPN FC that he is set to depart Old Trafford this summer.