Soccer

Bayern Munich, Club Brugge, Benfica, and Feyenoord advanced to the Champions League Round of 16. Brugge stunned Atalanta, while Celtic and Benfica delivered thrilling performances. AC Milan was eliminated. The first set of knockout playoff matches in the UEFA Champions League has concluded, revealing the first four teams to secure their spots in the Round of 16. Bayern Munich, Club Brugge, Benfica, and Feyenoord emerged victorious and will now join the top eight teams from the overall group standings. Brugge Stuns Atalanta One of the biggest surprises came with Atalanta’s elimination. The Italian side, known for their competitive performances against Europe’s elite in previous editions, fell short in the playoffs. Club Brugge delivered a shocking 3-1 victory in the second leg, following up on their 2-1 win in the first leg. The Belgian club advanced with a 5-2 aggregate score and will now face either LOSC Lille or Aston Villa in the Round of 16. Celtic Fought Until the End Celtic also impressed, putting up a strong fight against Bayern Munich in Germany. The Scottish side took a surprising lead in the 63rd minute with a goal from Nicolas-Gerrit Kühn. However, Bayern Munich equalized deep into stoppage time, with Alphonso Davies scoring in the 94th minute to secure a 1-1 draw. With a 3-2 aggregate win, Bayern advanced and will meet either Bayer Leverkusen or Atlético Madrid in the next round. Goal Fest in Portugal The most entertaining clash came from Benfica and Monaco, producing a thrilling 3-3 draw. With Benfica holding a narrow 1-0 lead from the first leg, the match saw multiple lead changes. The Portuguese side took an early lead, but Monaco equalized before halftime. The French side then went ahead 2-1, only for Benfica to level from the penalty spot. Monaco struck again for a 3-2 advantage, but Benfica found another equalizer in the 84th minute. Thanks to their first-leg win, Benfica progressed on aggregate and will now face either Barcelona or Liverpool in the next round. You may be interested in: Santi Scored, but AC Milan Crashed Out of the Champions League Milan Falls at Home AC Milan failed to overturn their 1-0 first-leg defeat against Feyenoord. Despite an early goal from Santiago Giménez at San Siro, Milan was held to a 1-1 draw. Feyenoord secured a 2-1 aggregate victory and advanced to face either Inter Milan or Arsenal in the Round of 16. Cover photo: X (@SLBenfica)

AC Milan, despite Santiago Giménez’s goal just 34 seconds into the match, was eliminated from the Champions League after a 1-1 draw against Feyenoord. Theo Hernández’s red card made the comeback difficult, and the aggregate score ended 2-1. In the first second-leg match of the UEFA Champions League playoffs, AC Milan failed to overturn their 1-0 deficit against Feyenoord. Despite taking an early lead in the return leg with a goal from Santiago Giménez, the Dutch side equalized to secure a 1-1 draw, advancing to the Round of 16 with a 2-1 aggregate victory. Santi Stands Among the Best “Bebote” wasted no time making an impact at San Siro, scoring just 34 seconds into the match. Off a set-piece play from a corner, Christian Pulisic delivered a precise cross from the edge of the box. The ball reached Malick Thiaw at the far post, who headed it across for the Mexican striker to nod home against his former team. Out of respect, Giménez refrained from celebrating, but the home crowd and his teammates erupted in excitement. A Costly Red Card for the Rossoneri Milan pushed hard for a second goal throughout the first half but couldn’t extend their lead. Early in the second half, at the 53rd minute, Theo Hernández received a through ball from Rafael Leão but went down in the box under minimal contact, attempting to deceive the referee. The official was unimpressed and showed the Frenchman a second yellow card, reducing Milan to 10 men and shifting the momentum. With the numerical advantage, Feyenoord took control. Giménez was substituted in the 71st minute, and just two minutes later, Hugo Bueno delivered a perfect cross from the left wing to Julián Carranza, who headed it past the goalkeeper, leveling the match and securing Feyenoord’s place in the next round. Despite Milan’s desperate attempts to equalize, Feyenoord’s solid defense and Milan’s numerical disadvantage sealed their fate. As a result, Santi’s team was knocked out of the Champions League, while his former club advanced to the next stage. Cover photo: X (@acmilan)

The Mexican Football Federation (FMF) is facing a new scandal related to illegal betting in the Liga de Expansión MX and Liga Premier. While the Alebrijes de Oaxaca case remains unresolved, the FMF acted swiftly by sanctioning seven players from Correcaminos de la UAT and Real Apodaca, imposing exemplary punishments ⚖️. 🕵️‍♂️ HOW WAS THE SCANDAL DISCOVERED? The case came to light thanks to a European online casino 🎰, which detected irregular betting patterns linked to matches involving Correcaminos and Real Apodaca. Noticing these anomalies, the casino alerted the authorities, prompting the FMF to launch an internal investigation. As a result, the Disciplinary Commission announced the suspension of seven players, totaling 57 years of sanctions⏳. Without revealing names, the following punishments were specified: Two players (one from Correcaminos and one from Real Apodaca) were suspended for 16 years. Three players from Real Apodaca received 7-year bans. Two players from the same club were sanctioned with 2-year suspensions. The sanctions were based on Appendix IV of the FMF Sanctions Regulations and Articles 27 and 30 of FIFA’s Code of Ethics. However, the speedy resolution of this case contrasts with the lack of progress in the Alebrijes de Oaxaca investigation. ❓ THE ALEBRIJES CASE: A SUSPICIOUS SILENCE Unlike the cases of Correcaminos and Real Apodaca, the complaint against Alebrijes de Oaxaca, filed by former head coach Carlos Gutiérrez, remains unresolved after more than three months. Gutiérrez warned of alleged match-fixingand the possible involvement of players in illegal betting, yet the FMF has not issued any official statement 🏴. Suspicions grew when, after a 10-match winless streak, Alebrijes unexpectedly defeated Atlante, the strongest team in the tournament. Additionally, the club’s current head coach, Arturo Alvarado, has been accused of allegedly charging players to be in the starting lineup and favoring certain footballers for commercial rather than sporting reasons 🏆💰. ⚖️ IMPLICATIONS AND CONSEQUENCES The European casino that detected the suspicious bets has already initiated legal action with Mexico’s Attorney General’s Office (FGR) and will file additional complaints with FIFA. The sanctioned players could face not only the end of their football careers but also legal consequences 🚨. The scandal also affects the credibility of Mexican football, which could have a negative impact on sponsorship investments 💸. Companies like BBVA, Voit, and Tecate have requested reports on the situation, and some brands may reconsider their sponsorship contracts if decisive action is not taken. 🤨 JUSTICE OR COVER-UP? The FMF’s handling of the case has sparked a debate in the football world. The quick punishment of Correcaminos and Real Apodaca players contrasts with the secrecy surrounding the Alebrijes de Oaxaca investigation, raising suspicions of selective justice. Former footballer and analyst Javier Lozano commented: “It’s clear that the FMF acts harshly when it suits them, but when certain teams have connections, they choose to ignore the problem. This isn’t transparency, it’s a cover-up.” ❌ Meanwhile, former referee Francisco Chacón criticized the lack of a clear protocol: “The problem isn’t just match-fixing; it’s the distrust this creates among fans. If this continues, Mexican football will lose credibility with bettors and sponsors.” ⚠️ 😡 A DISGRACE FOR MEXICAN FOOTBALL This case is a total disgrace for Mexican football. While other leagues around the world conduct thorough investigations and enforce strict penalties for match-fixing scandals, Mexico applies selective and convenient justice. The FMF seems more interested in projecting authority than in truly eradicating corruption in football 🚫. It is unacceptable that the Alebrijes de Oaxaca investigation remains stagnant while other cases are resolved immediately. This only proves that some teams enjoy protection within the Mexican football structure, undermining confidence in national competitions ⚽❌. If the FMF fails to handle the situation with complete impartiality, Mexican football will remain trapped in mediocrity and international disrepute. Corruption and impunity not only damage the quality of the game but also drive away fans and investors looking for a clean and competitive sport 🏟️. 🚀 THE FUTURE OF MEXICAN FOOTBALL The scandal has put the FMF’s relationship with FIFA at risk, as the international body demands transparency and justice in such cases. A potential sanction from FIFA could impact Mexican clubs’ participation in tournaments like the Leagues Cup or the future reintegration into the Copa Libertadores 🏆. On social media, the hashtag #ApuestasMX has become a trending topic 📢, with thousands of fans demanding answers and greater transparency in the investigations. The FMF faces a crucial decision: act with fairness and transparency or continue allowing corruption to stain Mexican football. The future of Mexican football depends on how this case is handled in the coming months. What’s at stake is not just the FMF’s reputation, but the trust of the fans and the interest of sponsors and investors in Mexican football 🇲🇽⚽.

Santiago Giménez once again proved decisive for AC Milan, scoring the winning goal against Hellas Verona in his starting debut at San Siro. After a quiet performance in Milan’s UEFA Champions League loss against his former club, Feyenoord, Santi Giménez bounced back in Serie A, making a statement in his first start at San Siro. In a match where Milan struggled to find the net, the Mexican striker stepped up to secure the victory. Santi Secures the Win for Milan AC Milan dominated the match but couldn’t find the breakthrough until Santi Giménez took matters into his own hands—twice. First, in the 33rd minute, Malick Thiaw delivered a long ball into space. Giménez controlled it brilliantly and slotted a low shot past the keeper. The San Siro erupted, but celebrations were cut short as the linesman raised his flag for offside, ruling out the goal. Undeterred, Giménez and Milan kept pushing, but it wasn’t until the 75th minute that they finally broke through. After a well-orchestrated team play, Álex Jiménez lofted a precise ball to Rafael Leão, who raced into the six-yard box. Facing the advancing keeper, Leão squared the ball for Giménez, who calmly tapped it in, securing Milan’s 1-0 victory. The San Siro erupted again, chanting “Giménez, Giménez!” in celebration. The ovation continued when the Mexican striker was subbed off in the 82nd minute and once more at full-time. With this goal, Santi Giménez is proving his worth at Milan, making an impact in three of his four matches with two goals and one assist. Cover photo: X (@acmilan) 

Arsenal has suffered a major blow this week as Kai Havertz sustained a hamstring injury during the team’s training camp in Dubai. The German forward will require surgery, ruling him out for the rest of the season with the Gunners. The Schedule to Blame Following the unfortunate news, Mikel Arteta described the injury as “a tough blow” and pointed fingers at the congested fixture schedule. The Arsenal manager emphasized that competing in the league, domestic cups, and international tournaments puts immense physical strain on players, making injuries inevitable—“a ticking time bomb.” An Injury Crisis in Arsenal’s Attack Havertz now joins a growing injury list, which already includes Gabriel Jesus (ACL tear), Bukayo Saka, and Gabriel Martinelli. While Saka and Martinelli are expected to return in March or April, Arsenal now faces a serious crisis in their attacking options. Cover photo: X (@Arsenal)

The first leg of the UEFA Europa League playoffs saw key victories for Ajax, Real Sociedad, Ferencváros, Fenerbahce, FCSB, AZ, and Twente. Porto and Roma played to a draw. The second-leg matches will determine which teams advance to the Round of 16. In the opening round of the Europa League playoffs, Ajax gained an advantage over Union Saint-Gilloise with a 2-0 victory. Real Sociedad won 2-1 against Midtjylland, Ferencváros narrowly defeated Viktoria Plzen by 1-0, and Fenerbahce triumphed 3-0 against Anderlecht, where Chino Huerta started and was one of the most involved players for his team. Unfortunately, this was not enough, and the Belgian side is now on the brink of elimination from this European competition. In other results, FCSB won 2-1 against PAOK, who initially took the lead but saw the game turn after a red card before halftime. AZ also secured a big surprise, defeating Galatasaray 4-1, leaving the Turkish giant in a tough situation. The result was influenced by a red card at the 51st minute, as the score was 2-1 in favor of AZ at that point. Moving on to the most anticipated match, Porto and Roma played to a 1-1 draw. This game also featured a red card for the Italian side at the 72nd minute, but unlike the other two games, Porto couldn’t capitalize on the numerical advantage to secure the win. Finally, Twente defeated Bodo/Glimt 2-1 to take the lead. The second-leg matches of this competition will take place next Thursday, February 21, where we will find out which eight teams will qualify for the Round of 16, where they will face the top eight finishers from the group stage.

The first legs of the UEFA Champions League playoffs wrapped up without a single draw, ensuring that all teams carry either an advantage or a deficit into the second leg. Brujas and Bayern won 2-1, while Feyenoord and Benfica secured 1-0 victories over their respective opponents. The second legs are set for February 18. Brujas and Bayern Secure 2-1 Wins In Belgium, Club Brugge shocked Atalanta with a dramatic late winner. Ferran Jutglà opened the scoring in the 15th minute, but Mario Pašalić equalized before halftime. The match was decided in controversial fashion when a last-minute penalty was awarded to Brugge after a VAR review—a call that many deemed harsh. Gustaf Nilsson converted from the spot at 90+4’, giving Brugge a narrow lead heading into the return leg. Meanwhile, Bayern Munich earned a 2-1 win over Celtic in a game they largely controlled. Goals from Michael Olise (45′) and Harry Kane (49′) put the German giants in command, but Daizen Maeda’s 79th-minute strike gave the Scottish club a glimmer of hope. Celtic faces an uphill battle in Munich but will look to pull off a miracle. Benfica and Feyenoord Edge 1-0 Wins In Rotterdam, Feyenoord took an early lead against AC Milan with a shocking error from goalkeeper Mike Maignan. Just three minutes in, Igor Paixão’s shot slipped through Maignan’s hands, handing the Dutch side the advantage. Milan struggled to create chances, with former Feyenoord striker Santiago Giménez receiving a warm ovation from his old fans despite being unable to make an impact. Over in Portugal, Benfica dominated Monaco but could only manage a 1-0 win, despite playing with an extra man for nearly the entire second half. Vangelis Pavlidis scored the decisive goal in the 48th minute, but the hosts wasted several chances—23 total shots, only 6 on target. They’ll now face a tough test in Monaco, where their missed opportunities could come back to haunt them. Second Leg Fixtures Set for February 18 With these results, the return legs on February 18 will determine which four teams advance to the Round of 16, where they will face the top-ranked teams from the group stage. Cover photo: X (@SLBenfica)

The Champions League playoffs have begun, with Borussia Dortmund and PSG securing dominant 3-0 victories. Juventus edged PSV 2-1, while Real Madrid staged a thrilling 2-3 comeback against Manchester City in the first leg of the round. The revamped UEFA Champions League introduced a playoff round where teams ranked 9th to 24th in the new overall standings compete for a spot in the Round of 16. The top eight teams from the standings automatically advance, while the rest must fight for their place. First-Leg Results Yesterday, the first leg of this playoff round took place, with four teams making a strong case for a spot in the next phase. Two teams all but secured their qualification with commanding performances. Borussia Dortmund cruised to a 3-0 victory over Sporting CP in Lisbon, with goals from Serhou Guirassy, Pascal Groß, and Karim Adeyemi. The German side will now host the second leg at Signal Iduna Park with a comfortable advantage. PSG also secured a 3-0 win at home against Stade Brestois, thanks to a goal from Vítor Ferreira and a brace from Ousmane Dembélé. With this result, Brest faces an uphill battle in the return leg at the Parc des Princes. While nothing is certain in football, these results strongly suggest Dortmund and PSG are on their way to the Round of 16. In a tighter contest, Juventus claimed a late 2-1 victory at home against PSV. Weston McKennie and Samuel Mbangula found the net for the Italian side, while Ivan Perišić pulled one back for the Dutch club. Finally, in what could have been a final-worthy showdown, Real Madrid came from behind to defeat Manchester City 2-3 at the Etihad. Goals from Kylian Mbappé, Brahim Díaz, and Jude Bellingham overturned an early brace from Erling Haaland. The second-leg matches of these thrilling encounters will take place on Wednesday, February 19. Cover photo: X (@Champions League)

Real Madrid staged a thrilling comeback to defeat Manchester City 2-3 in the first leg of the Champions League playoffs, capitalizing on City’s defensive mistakes. Bellingham sealed the win with a stoppage-time goal. City Seemed Poised for Victory In one of the most anticipated matchups of the UEFA Champions League playoffs, Real Madrid secured their first-ever away win against Manchester City in the first leg. The victory came after City’s defensive lapses allowed the Spanish side to turn the game around with a 2-3 scoreline. The match at Etihad Stadium started well for the visitors, who created three dangerous chances early on. However, City’s goalkeeper Ederson and the defense managed to keep the Merengues at bay. It wasn’t until the 19th minute that Jack Grealish delivered a superb lobbed pass into the box, which Josko Gvardiol controlled perfectly before assisting Erling Haaland. The Norwegian striker struck the ball cleanly on the bounce, beating Thibaut Courtois to make it 1-0. The goal underwent a VAR review to check if Haaland was onside when Gvardiol played the ball with his chest, but it was ultimately confirmed as valid. Both teams continued to press for another goal, but it wasn’t until the second half that the scoreboard changed again. In the 60th minute, a free-kick by Federico Valverde struck the defensive wall, and the rebound fell to Dani Ceballos. Without hesitation, he lofted a pass from midfield into the heart of the box, where Kylian Mbappé beat his marker but scuffed his shot. The mishit sent the ball looping toward the far post, past a helpless Ederson, before dropping into the net in slow motion. At the 80th minute, Ceballos went from hero to villain. After assisting Madrid’s goal, he committed a foul on Phil Foden inside the penalty area. The referee immediately pointed to the spot, and Haaland stepped up once again, converting the penalty with a well-placed shot to restore City’s lead at 2-1. Madrid Completes the Comeback After City’s Costly Errors However, in the 86th minute, a poor clearance from Ederson gifted Madrid possession deep in City’s half. A quick through ball found Vinícius Jr., who fired a powerful shot at goal. Ederson managed to block it with his chest, but the rebound fell perfectly for Brahim Díaz, who smashed it into the net to level the game once again. Finally, in the 90+2’ minute, another City mistake proved costly. Mateo Kovačić attempted to pass the ball back to Rico Lewis, but the defender failed to control the lofted pass. Vinícius Jr. pounced on the loose ball, dribbled into the box, and attempted a delicate chip over Ederson. The shot lacked pace, but Jude Bellingham rushed in to tap the ball into the net, securing a dramatic 2-3 victory for Madrid in the first leg of the playoffs. The two teams will meet again for the second leg on Wednesday, February 19. With this result, Real Madrid now stands as the clear favorite to advance to the Champions League Round of 16, where they could face either Atlético Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen.

In one of the most astonishing results of the season, Liverpool—Premier League leaders and Champions League contenders—were eliminated from the FA Cup by Plymouth Argyle, the bottom team in the Championship. A second-half penalty from Ryan Hardie sealed a 1-0 victory for Plymouth, while goalkeeper Conor Hazard played the game of his life, ensuring his side held on to one of the most remarkable wins in club history. A Lone Penalty Stuns Liverpool Liverpool traveled to Home Park for their FA Cup fourth-round clash with a heavily rotated squad. Luis Díaz was the only regular starter in Jürgen Klopp’s lineup, as the Reds looked to cruise past a struggling Plymouth side. However, football’s unpredictability struck again. Despite Liverpool dominating possession and creating multiple chances, a moment of madness in the 53rd minute changed everything. A foul inside the box led to a penalty, and Ryan Hardie kept his nerve to send the ball past Liverpool’s backup goalkeeper. With the lead in hand, Plymouth fought with everything they had, relying on goalkeeper Conor Hazard, who made several crucial saves to deny Liverpool an equalizer. A Historic Triumph for Plymouth This shocking defeat is Liverpool’s first major setback of the season, coming just three days after their Carabao Cup final qualification. Meanwhile, Plymouth Argyle, a club that has never played in the Premier League, achieved the greatest victory in its history—knocking out one of England’s Big Six and eliminating the current Premier League leaders from the FA Cup. Cover photo: X (@LFC)