Author name: Omar Rodríguez

  Arsenal dominated Crystal Palace with a resounding 5-1 victory, featuring a brace from Gabriel Jesus and goals from Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli, and Declan Rice. The Gunners solidified their position in third place in the Premier League, closing in on Chelsea and Liverpool. The emphatic win at Selhurst Park ensured Arsenal’s hold on third place for this matchday. While they remain close to Chelsea (second place) and Liverpool (first place), the latter has a game in hand, which could widen the gap. Strong Start for the Visitors Arsenal wasted no time taking control, with the opening goal coming just six minutes into the game. Bukayo Saka delivered a cross that sailed through the box to the far post, where Gabriel Jesus, unmarked, slotted it home from close range to make it 1-0 in South London. Crystal Palace Responds Quickly The hosts didn’t wait long to respond. By the 11th minute, Crystal Palace capitalized on a high press. A quick counterattack saw them move the ball from their half to Arsenal’s with just three passes. Ismaïla Sarr received the ball in the final third, drove into the box, and fired a low, angled shot past David Raya to level the score at 1-1. Arsenal’s Scoring Spree Begins The home fans’ celebrations were short-lived. Just four minutes after the equalizer, Arsenal struck again. A corner kick to the far post resulted in a loose ball. Thomas Partey laid it back, and Gabriel Jesus blasted a powerful shot into the top corner at the near post, completing his brace and restoring Arsenal’s lead. In the 38th minute, Arsenal extended their advantage to 3-1. Gabriel Martinelli whipped in a cross that Jesus headed onto the right post. The rebound fell perfectly for Kai Havertz, who tapped it into the net unchallenged. Second-Half Dominance Crystal Palace tried to mount a comeback in the second half, but Arsenal’s goalkeeper, David Raya, made two crucial saves to preserve their lead. In the 60th minute, Arsenal struck again. After a save on Gabriel Jesus by the Palace goalkeeper, the ball fell to Declan Rice. The midfielder’s shot was deflected by Gabriel Martinelli, completely changing the ball’s trajectory and making it 4-1. Rice Seals the Win with a Stunner The final blow came in the 85th minute. Declan Rice received a pass from Riccardo Calafiori on the left edge of the box. With a sharp turn, Rice controlled the ball, lined up his shot, and unleashed a perfectly placed strike into the far corner. The goal capped Arsenal’s performance and secured the 5-1 triumph. Arsenal ends the day in third place in the Premier League, with their eyes firmly set on the top two spots.

Atlético Madrid claimed a 2-1 victory over Barcelona at Montjuic, with goals from Rodrigo de Paul and Alexander Sørloth. The win puts Atlético atop the LaLiga standings with 41 points, leaving Barça at 38 and at risk of dropping to third place. LaLiga’s New Leader Atlético Madrid took the top spot in LaLiga after their win at the Olympic Stadium in Montjuic against Barcelona. With the 2-1 result, Los Colchoneros overtook the Catalans on the table, establishing a three-point gap between the two sides. Barcelona Dominated Early On The match started strongly for the hosts, with Barcelona creating dangerous opportunities throughout the first half. The breakthrough came in the 30th minute when Pedri delivered a moment of brilliance. The midfielder began a run from the midfield line, weaving past Atlético’s players. Gavi, attempting a turn, unintentionally passed the ball back to Pedri, who continued his run into the box. Upon receiving the ball, Pedri struck a slightly deflected shot that avoided Jan Oblak and found the back of the net. Atlético’s Response in the Second Half Though Barcelona maintained some attacking momentum in the second half, Atlético found the equalizer in the 60th minute. A swift counterattack led to a cross from Julián Álvarez. Marc Casadó attempted to clear but directed the ball centrally, where Rodrigo de Paul capitalized with a powerful, precise shot from outside the box. The ball nestled perfectly in the bottom left corner, leaving Ter Stegen no chance. Sørloth’s Last-Minute Heroics Despite continued efforts from Barcelona, Jan Oblak stood firm, denying the hosts on multiple occasions. At 90+6’, Atlético made their final push. Nahuel Molina sent in a low cross that slipped between two Barça defenders, landing at the feet of Alexander Sørloth. The Norwegian forward struck with authority, sending the ball into the net and securing a dramatic 2-1 victory. With this result, Atlético Madrid now leads LaLiga with 41 points, leaving Barcelona in second place with 38. Barcelona’s position is under threat, as Real Madrid could surpass them with a win against Sevilla.

The last date of the Bundesliga is about to begin and the leader of the competition, Bayern Munich, is looking to finish the first half of the tournament with some points of difference with respect to their closest pursuers, for that, today they will face Leipzig, who are in fourth place in the competition. Although mathematically the Bavarians are already winter champions, they are 4 points behind second place, Bayer Leverkusen, so winning today will ensure that they maintain that advantage, and in case Leverkusen can drop points, extend it. The game will be at 1:30 p.m., Central Mexico time. You may be interested in: With an Olympic Goal, Tottenham Defeats United Cover image: X (@FCBayern)

MLS released its upcoming schedule for the 2025 season, with this, the Mexican Hirvin “Chucky” Lozano already knows everything about his debut in his new team, San Diego FC, the new franchise that will join the major league of U.S. soccer. Lozano and Sandiego FC will make their debut nothing more and nothing less than against the current champion of the tournament, the LA Galaxy, so it will be a very good challenge for the newborn team, the confrontation is scheduled for February 23, 2025, when the team of “Chucky” visit the most winning team in MLS. Cover image: X (@HirvinLozano70)

A wild match unfolded between Tottenham and Manchester United, featuring two errors that led to goals for the visitors and an incredible Olympic goal from Son Heung-Min that sealed the victory for the hosts. Tottenham triumphed 4-3 in a thrilling Carabao Cup quarterfinal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, thanks to Son’s breathtaking corner kick. Tottenham Takes the Early Lead The action started strong for the home side. In the first 15 minutes, Tottenham capitalized on a set piece. After a well-rehearsed free kick, Pedro Porro’s initial shot was poorly parried by United’s goalkeeper, leaving Dominic Solanke to pounce on the rebound. His powerful near-post strike ricocheted off the frame and into the net. Tottenham dominated the rest of the first half, creating dangerous chances while United looked uncertain. However, the score remained 1-0 until halftime.   Second Half Brings More Goals Just one minute into the second half, Tottenham struck again. After a fluid passing sequence, James Maddison sent a low cross from the left. United’s defense managed to deflect it, but the clearance fell straight to Dejan Kulusevski, who calmly slotted the ball home for a 2-0 lead. In the 53rd minute, Solanke scored his second. A long pass over the top found him in stride. The forward outpaced his marker, cut inside with finesse, and unleashed a precise shot to the near post, making it 3-0. United Capitalizes on Goalkeeping Errors Manchester United found a lifeline thanks to mistakes from Tottenham’s goalkeeper, Fraser Forster. In the 63rd minute, Forster received a back pass near his goal line. Attempting to switch play with a ground pass, he misjudged the strength, allowing United’s attackers to intercept. After a scramble, Joshua Zirkzee tapped the ball into the net for United’s first goal. At the 70th minute, Forster faltered again. Another back pass pressured him as Amad Diallo closed in. Forster’s attempted clearance ricocheted off Diallo’s sliding challenge, sending the ball into the net for a 3-2 scoreline. Son’s Olympic Goal Saves Spurs With morale shaken by their goalkeeper’s errors, Spurs needed inspiration. At the 88th minute, Son Heung-Min delivered a moment of magic. From a left-sided corner kick, Son curved the ball beautifully. It soared over everyone, dipping perfectly into the far corner of the goal, nestling in the back of the net—a stunning Olympic goal that restored Tottenham’s two-goal lead. You may be interested in: Arsenal, Newcastle and Liverpool advance to Carabao Cup semis United’s Last Gasp Not Enough In stoppage time, United added one more. At 90+4’, Jonny Evans flicked a near-post header from a corner kick, guiding the ball just inside the net to make it 4-3. Despite the late drama, Tottenham held on to secure their place in the semifinals of the Carabao Cup after a match filled with excitement, errors, and brilliance.

According to Liga MX President Mikel Arriola, Mexican soccer experienced a 30% economic growth this year, highlighting impressive attendance and viewership numbers for matches. Liga MX is celebrating significant achievements. Based on the general balance sheet for the current year, the value of Mexican soccer’s top league rose from $2.115 billion in 2020 to $2.745 billion at the conclusion of the Apertura 2024. According to the report presented by Mikel Arriola, Liga MX president and acting commissioner of the Mexican Football Federation, the country’s premier soccer league achieved a 30% growth during what can be considered the “post-pandemic” period. Attendance and Viewership in Liga MX Arriola also shared data on audience levels, both in stadiums and through television and digital platforms. He noted that during the Clausura and Apertura 2024 tournaments, a total of 7.79 million fans attended Liga MX matches. This achievement came despite some attendance challenges faced during the Apertura 2024, resulting in an average of 22,893 fans per game. For television, 42.9 million viewers were reported across Mexico and the United States, with 6.38 million of those viewers coming from the U.S. This solidified Liga MX as one of the most-watched soccer leagues globally. In the digital space, Arriola highlighted 47.8 million views on YouTube and a following of 16.8 million across Liga MX’s social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and TikTok. Liga MX, the Best in Concacaf Finally, Mikel Arriola emphasized that Liga MX remains the top league in Concacaf, outperforming MLS, with which it is often compared as a major league in North America.