Soccer

On Matchday 7 of the UEFA Champions League, FC Barcelona triumphed over Benfica in a thrilling match at Estadio da Luz.   Vangelis Pavlidis opened the scoring just two minutes in, with Robert Lewandowski equalizing from the penalty spot in the 13th minute. Pavlidis capitalized on a goalkeeper error to score again and completed his hat trick with another penalty before halftime.   In the second half, a mistake by the home goalkeeper allowed Raphinha to score Barcelona’s second, but shortly after, a Ronald Araújo own goal extended Benfica’s lead to 4-2. At minute 78, Lewandowski converted another penalty to close the gap.   Eric García equalized in the 86th minute, and Raphinha secured the victory in the 96th minute with a dramatic 5-4 scoreline. This result guarantees Barcelona a spot in the Round of 16, as they hold second place in their group with 15 points.   You may also like: Real Madrid, the best in Spain   Cover image: X(@FCBarcelona_es) 

The Champions League is back in action this January thanks to the new format featuring eight matches per team. Today, the tournament resumes with the fixtures of Matchday 7. Midday Action Kicks Things Off Under UEFA’s new Champions League format, implemented this season, each team now plays eight matches—four at home and four away—adding two extra matchdays compared to the previous group-stage format with four teams per group. As a result, Matchday 7 begins today at 11:45 a.m. (Central Mexico Time) with two early games: Monaco vs. Aston Villa and Atalanta vs. Sturm Graz. Big Showdowns in the Afternoon The prime-time slot kicks off at 2:00 p.m. (Central Mexico Time), with seven matches scheduled to take place simultaneously. The headline clash of the day is undoubtedly Atlético Madrid vs. Bayer Leverkusen, as both teams battle for a top spot in the overall standings. Atlético currently sits in 11th place with 12 points, while Leverkusen occupies 4th, holding a slim one-point advantage. Meanwhile, Benfica will face the second-place team, Barcelona, who are on 15 points and determined to prevent any slip-ups that could allow their rivals to overtake them. Benfica, on the other hand, aims to secure their playoff spot with a strong performance. Elsewhere, the league leaders and only undefeated team in the competition, Liverpool, will host LOSC Lille, a surprise contender sitting in 8th place and within the automatic qualification zone. The Reds boast a perfect record, holding a three-point cushion over the second-placed Barcelona. Despite this, they’ll undoubtedly aim to maintain their dominance with another win. In the other fixtures, PSV Eindhoven will look to stay in the playoff race against Red Star Belgrade; Juventus and Club Brugge will engage in a direct battle to climb the playoff standings; Stuttgart, needing a win to keep their playoff hopes alive, will face already-eliminated Slovan Bratislava; and finally, Borussia Dortmund seeks to return to the automatic qualification spots as they take on Bologna, a team clinging to slim mathematical chances of making the playoffs.

With a brace from Mbappé and additional goals from Brahim Díaz and Rodrygo, Real Madrid won their match against Las Palmas, a game they started losing in the very first minute. Real Madrid positioned itself as the best team in Spain after defeating U.D. Las Palmas with a commanding victory and benefitting from Atlético Madrid’s surprising loss to Leganés. Thanks to these results, Madrid is now at the top with 46 points, Atlético has 44, and Barcelona is falling behind with 39 points. A bitter start for Madrid At the Santiago Bernabéu, things didn’t begin well for the home team. Just 30 seconds after kickoff, Las Palmas launched an attack, with the ball reaching Sandro Ramírez on the right edge of the attacking area. From there, he delivered a precise cross that bypassed Madrid’s defense, allowing Fábio Silva to get ahead and send the ball into the net. Real Madrid wakes up It seemed like Madrid might miss the chance to claim the top spot after the early goal. However, in the 18th minute, Kylian Mbappé equalized with a penalty after a foul on Rodrygo. After this, Real Madrid launched an aggressive attack to complete the comeback, which came in the 33rd minute. Mbappé fired a shot from outside the area, which the Las Palmas goalkeeper saved, but the rebound fell to Lucas Vázquez. With no defender marking him, Vázquez had time to assist Brahim Díaz, who also found himself unmarked and easily tapped the ball into the goal, making it 2-1. Before the first half ended, Mbappé scored again, this time with a first-touch strike off a pass from Rodrygo near the penalty spot. His shot found the lower left corner of the goal, completing a brilliant finish and securing his brace, putting Madrid ahead 3-1. Madrid closes the game In the second half, at the 57th minute, Rodrygo completed the scoring for Real Madrid. Fran García sent in a delayed cross, which Rodrygo converted with great precision. Real Madrid finished the match with a 4-1 win, even having three goals disallowed by VAR.

Erling Haaland and Manchester City have reached a historic agreement, with the footballer signing a new contract to remain at the club until 2034. Manchester City and Norwegian striker Erling Haaland have agreed to a groundbreaking new contract, securing the “Android” as part of the Citizens for another nine and a half years, until 2034. Prior to this agreement, Haaland’s contract was set to expire in 2027. With this deal, City has ensured that one of football’s current stars will stay with the team for the long term. Haaland Will Be Among the Highest Paid Although the Manchester club did not disclose the financial terms of the new nine-year deal, it is estimated to be an enormous sum due to the lengthy duration of the contract. When Haaland joined Manchester City from Borussia Dortmund, the English club paid €60 million for him, even though his market value at the time was €150 million. Given Haaland’s stellar performance as the Cityzen forward, it’s reasonable to assume that the new figures are equal to or likely exceed the previous ones. Haaland’s decision wasn’t solely driven by the lucrative salary he will enjoy for nearly the next decade but also by his deep affection for the club. After signing the contract, the Norwegian expressed his happiness, pride, and eagerness to stay with the team for many more years. “It was an easy decision,” Haaland said. A Player Worth Every Penny While the cost may seem exorbitant, it’s clear that Manchester City was willing to invest heavily to retain their star striker. Since joining City, Erling Haaland has scored an incredible 111 goals in 126 matches. He has won the Premier League Golden Boot twice and has contributed to City’s triumphs in two Premier League titles, one Champions League, one FA Cup, one UEFA Super Cup, and one Club World Cup.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, the 23-year-old Georgian forward, has officially transferred from Napoli to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) after signing a contract that ties him to the French champions until 2029. According to *L’Equipe*, the deal was worth €70 million. The player expressed his pride in joining PSG, sharing high expectations for his new chapter. Nicknamed “Kvaradona” by Napoli fans in honor of Maradona, Kvaratskhelia played a pivotal role in securing Napoli’s 2022-2023 Serie A title. After requesting a move, he now arrives at PSG to fill the void left by Kylian Mbappé, who joined Real Madrid last summer.   You may also like: Real Madrid narrowly escapes Copa del Rey elimination Cover image: X(@PSG_espanol)

Necaxa surprised the Rebaño Sagrado, coming from behind to win at home and hand Chivas their first defeat of the Clausura 2025. As Matchday 2 of the Clausura 2025 arrived, it seemed that Chivas de Guadalajara had a chance to continue their strong start after last week’s victory against Santos. With their visit to Necaxa, a team that debuted with a loss against Pumas, Chivas looked poised to secure another three points. However, the result ended up being quite the opposite. Chivas Took the Lead After a goalless first half at the Estadio Victoria, which saw good chances from both sides, fans had to wait until the second half to witness the first goal. Guadalajara opened the scoring in the 51st minute. Following a set-piece play from a corner kick, a secondary cross from the Rebaño Sagrado caused the ball to land near a Necaxa defender. However, Gilberto Sepúlveda anticipated the attempted clearance, sliding in to connect with the ball and push it over the goal line for the 0-1. Necaxa Shattered Chivas’ Hopes It seemed that the Rojiblancos, wearing dark blue as the visiting team, were on their way to a second consecutive win. However, Necaxa responded in the 62nd minute. José Paradela delivered an excellent cross, and Pavel Pérez headed it down into the net to make it 1-1. The home team gained momentum after their equalizer and began to trouble the visitors with dangerous plays. In the 77th minute, Agustín Palavecino sent a precise through ball to the left edge of the box. There, Kevin Rosero got behind the defense and delivered a cross that Tomás Badolini finished with a well-executed sliding effort. The Guadalajara defense was overwhelmed by the speed of Necaxa’s attack and couldn’t prevent the 2-1. In the 87th minute, Necaxa kept up the pressure. Following a well-rehearsed corner kick, the ball bounced around the penalty spot before falling to Ricardo Monreal. With his back to goal, Monreal showed excellent technical skill. He trapped the ball with his right foot, moved it behind him to his left, and fired a left-footed shot into the near post to make it 3-1. Chivas’ Response Came Too Late Chivas’ attempt to level the score came far too late. In the 90+8th minute, “Piojo” Alvarado converted a penalty awarded for a handball in the box. Unfortunately for the Chiverío, it wasn’t enough to avoid their first loss of the tournament, falling 3-2.

Real Madrid squandered a two-goal lead and ended up needing extra time to salvage a game that was slipping through their fingers. What seemed like a straightforward match for Real Madrid turned into a nail-biter in the final minutes against Celta Vigo in the Round of 16 of the Copa del Rey. The Merengues came dangerously close to being eliminated and had to rely on extra time to seal the victory. Real Madrid Dominated for Most of the Match The game at the Santiago Bernabéu unfolded favorably for the home team. For 80 minutes, the Galácticos controlled the match, although early on, controversy arose in the Madrid penalty area. Williot Swedberg made a deep run into the box, with Lunin rushing out to intervene. Swedberg pushed the ball forward, and the Madrid goalkeeper made slight contact with the attacker’s foot with his glove, causing him to fall. However, neither the referee nor VAR deemed the play worthy of a penalty. Following this, Real Madrid’s dominance translated into the opening goal. Kylian Mbappé struck in the 37th minute after Dani Ceballos delivered a pass from near his own area to midfield. The Frenchman picked up the ball, drove down the left wing, entered the box, and unleashed a powerful near-post shot from a tight angle that rippled the net. In the second half, at the 48th minute, Mbappé set up Brahim Díaz from midfield. Díaz then sent a through ball to Vinícius, who connected with it near the penalty spot to score the 2-0. Madrid Collapsed in Just 10 Minutes While Real Madrid maintained control for much of the second half, even scoring another goal that was disallowed for offside, their troubles began in the 83rd minute. Celta Vigo launched an attack, and Jonathan Bamba capitalized on a cross from Pablo Durán, heading it into the net after poor defensive marking. Lunin was left rooted as the score became 2-1. Then, in stoppage time (90+1’), Marcos Alonso converted a penalty kick following a foul by Raúl Asencio on Bamba, leveling the game at 2-2. Madrid Sealed the Deal in Extra Time In extra time, Endrick came to the rescue for the hosts. In the 108th minute, he received a pass from Arda Güler at the edge of the box. The Brazilian turned masterfully and unleashed a curling shot to the far post, an unstoppable strike that made it 3-2. Shortly after, in the 112th minute, Federico Valverde scored another stunner. After receiving a deflected ball from a corner kick, the Uruguayan fired a rocket from outside the box that found the top corner, extending the lead to 4-2. Finally, in the 119th minute, chaos in Celta’s defense during a corner allowed Endrick to receive the ball in the six-yard box. Though he fumbled with it briefly, the Brazilian improvised brilliantly, finishing with a backheel while facing away from goal to net his second of the match and secure a definitive 5-2 victory. Real Madrid narrowly avoided a humiliating exit from the Copa del Rey.

Pumas have made official their second reinforcement for the Clausura 2025 tournament: Panamanian player Adalberto “Coco” Carrasquilla, who joins Alex Padilla as a new addition to the club. It has been a busy month for the Pumas of UNAM. After confirming the departure of César Huerta to Anderlecht in Belgium to fulfill his European dream, the club has found its new “Chino” to fill the gap in their attack. Pumas Bring in a Panamanian Star Adalberto “Coco” Carrasquilla, a key player for the Panamanian national team and named the best player in CONCACAF for the 2023-2024 season, is the new addition. Carrasquilla arrives from Major League Soccer in the United States, specifically from the Houston Dynamo, with whom he won the 2023 US Open Cup. Pumas announced his signing through their social media platforms, though they did not disclose the exact duration of his contract. In a press release, the club stated only that it was a “long-term” deal, and the fee paid by the team from Ciudad Universitaria (CU) for the player was not revealed either. Carrasquilla Brings European Experience The Panamanian forward has experience in European football. In 2019, he left his home country to join Spanish football, playing in the Primera Federación, equivalent to Spain’s third division, with FC Cartagena. He later helped the team secure promotion to the Segunda División. Additionally, during his time with his first club, Tauro FC from Panama City, he won the Clausura 2017 and Apertura 2018 championships. Carrasquilla, the Second Signing to Excite the Auriazules With this move, Carrasquilla becomes the second signing for the Universitarios in this winter transfer window for the Clausura 2025, which kicked off last weekend. Pumas started the tournament with a 2-1 victory against Necaxa. Carrasquilla joins Mexican goalkeeper Alex Padilla, who came from Athletic Bilbao and joined the squad in Pedregal last week but has yet to make his debut in the current competition. While Adalberto’s addition to the Pumas’ attack looks promising, time will tell if the departure of “Chino” Huerta will weigh on the team during crucial matches. On many occasions, Huerta was a key player and often went above and beyond for the team. Though “Coco” appears to have the qualities to win over the fans, it remains to be seen if he can become a decisive player on the pitch.

The former leader of Cruz Azul 🏆, Guillermo ‘Billy’ Álvarez, was captured 💀 this Thursday by agents of the Attorney General’s Office (FGR) 📚 in the south of Mexico City 🌆. The arrest of the former executive of Cooperativa La Cruz Azul ⚖️ marks a turning point in the case that has been pursuing him for several years. HE WAS A FUGITIVE FOR YEARS 💥 Since 2020, Billy Álvarez had been on the run from justice 🕵️‍♂️ after being accused of a series of financial crimes 💰, including tax fraud 📅, money laundering 💳, and organized crime 🛡️. According to official reports, his accounts contained 1.1 billion pesos 💵 without justification, which triggered an intense investigation by the authorities. ARRESTED BY THE AIC 👮‍♂️ The capture of Guillermo Álvarez Cuevas was carried out by the Criminal Investigation Agency (AIC) 🔒, in compliance with an arrest warrant issued by a judge of the Federal Criminal Justice Center 🏛️ at the Altiplano prison, in the State of Mexico 🇪🇸. HE REAPPEARED IN 2022 👀 In May 2022, the former Cruz Azul ⚽ executive reappeared in a video shared on social media 🎥, where he expressed concern about the cooperative’s situation ⚖️ and claimed he had not been able to share his side of the story. However, the investigations against him continued progressing until culminating in his arrest 🔧. DETAILS OF HIS ARREST 🕵️‍♂️ According to the report from the Ministry of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC) 🔒, Billy Álvarez was arrested at exactly 1:06 PM ⏰. At the time, the former executive was wearing blue pants, a black sweatshirt, and black sneakers 👕. His physical description indicates that he is 1.70 meters tall, has a slim build, light complexion, and thinning gray hair 👤. REQUESTS HOUSE ARREST 👵️ According to Adrián Esparza, journalist for TUDN 📰, Billy Álvarez will request the possibility of house arrest 🏡 if he is formally charged. So far, he has not been presented before a judge ⚖️, nor has it been confirmed whether he will be transferred to a penitentiary center 🚶‍♂️. THE FUTURE OF BILLY ÁLVAREZ 🌀 With his arrest, the authorities may finally bring him to justice for the crimes he is accused of ⚖️. Meanwhile, Cooperativa La Cruz Azul continues its restructuring process 🌟 after the leadership of Billy Álvarez, who was at the helm for more than 30 years ⏳. The case is still developing, and more details about his legal status are expected to be revealed in the coming hours 📄.