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.

After two seasons with poor numbers, the historic 41-year-old quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, will no longer continue with the New York Jets. This was confirmed by head coach Aaron Glen and general manager Darren Mougey of the Big Apple franchise. “Last week, we met with Aaron and shared that our intention was to move in a different direction at the quarterback position,” mentioned the two team officials. Therefore, the Jets now likely have a clear objective for the upcoming Draft: filling the quarterback position. You may be interested in: Is Travis Kelce Considering Retirement After Losing Super Bowl LIX? The End of Rodgers’ Career? Although the legendary quarterback of the Green Bay Packers and, for two seasons, of the New York Jets, has not given any official statement about his immediate future, retirement seems likely. At 41 years old, and after suffering an Achilles tendon injury that sidelined him for the entire 2023-24 season, it appears that the path of the four-time NFL MVP may now be leading away from the field. Cover photo: X (@nyjets)

Following the Kansas City Chiefs’ defeat against the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX, Travis Kelce stated that he won’t rush a decision regarding his potential NFL retirement. Although he had previously mentioned his intention to play in 2025, his perspective shifted during a conversation with his brother Jason on the New Heights podcast. The 35-year-old tight end acknowledged the physical and mental exhaustion he has endured throughout his career, having played multiple Super Bowls and AFC Championship Games. He also admitted feeling somewhat lost as he nears the end of his playing days. While he has yet to make a final decision, his tone suggests he is seriously considering retirement. You may also be interested in: No Three-Peat: Eagles Crowned NFL Champions Cover Image: X (@Chiefs)

The WTA 1000 Doha Open delivered an exciting quarterfinal clash between Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina, a rematch of last year’s final. Once again, Swiatek emerged victorious, securing a 6-2, 7-5 win to advance to the semifinals. Swiatek Continues Her Quest for No. 1 Currently ranked No. 2 in the world, Swiatek is determined to reclaim the WTA No. 1 spot from Aryna Sabalenka. Her dominant performance in Doha keeps her on track, as she looks to capture another title. Meanwhile, Rybakina drops from No. 5 to No. 7 in the rankings, overtaken by Jessica Pegula and Madison Keys, both of whom have started the year strong on the WTA Tour. Semifinal Clash with Ostapenko Swiatek’s next challenge comes on Saturday, February 15, when she faces Jelena Ostapenko (No. 37) in the semifinals. Ostapenko secured her spot with a commanding 6-2, 6-2 victory over Ons Jabeur. Can Swiatek continue her dominance, or will Ostapenko pull off an upset? Cover photo: X (@TheTennisLetter)

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)

This past Tuesday, in the Phoenix Suns game against Memphis Grizzlies, Suns forward Kevin Duran made history. Although his team lost by a score of 112-119, Duran contributed 34 points to the scoreboard, which made him reach the mark of 3,000 thousand points scored in his NBA career, becoming the eighth player in this league to achieve this milestone. Duran among the NBA’s best With this record, Kevin wrote his name in the NBA history books, where he shares a page with great stars such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, Dirk Nowitzki, Wilt Chamberlain, LeBron James, Kobey Bryant and Michael Jordan. At 36 years old when he achieved this, Duran mentioned that it is a true honor for him to be in the same category as those players who helped shape basketball and led it forward. Cover photo: X (@Suns)

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.

La NASCAR Cup Series, la categoría más importante del automovilismo estadounidense, hará historia este 2025 al celebrar su primera carrera puntuable fuera de Estados Unidos. El Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez será el escenario del NASCAR Mexico City Weekend, un evento que se llevará a cabo del 13 al 15 de junio y que marcará un antes y un después en el mundo del deporte motor. ¿QUÉ ES LA NASCAR CUP SERIES? 🏁🔥 La National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) es una de las organizaciones deportivas más importantes de Estados Unidos, con más de 75 años de historia. Fundada en 1948 por Bill France, ha crecido hasta convertirse en un fenómeno global con competencias en México, Canadá y Europa. La NASCAR Cup Series es la categoría reina y cuenta con otras dos divisiones destacadas: 🏎️ NASCAR Xfinity Series 🚛 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Además, la NASCAR tiene series regionales en Estados Unidos y Canadá, además de su presencia en el campeonato mexicano, la NASCAR México Series. FORMATO DE COMPETENCIA Y TEMPORADA 2024 📅🏆 El calendario de la Cup Series consta de 26 carreras en temporada regular, seguidas de los playoffs, donde los 10 mejores pilotos luchan por el campeonato en un sistema de eliminación. Los récords históricos en la categoría pertenecen a Richard Petty, quien ostenta 200 victorias, mientras que Dale Earnhardt, Jimmie Johnson y el mismo Petty comparten el récord de siete títulos. En 2024, Joey Logano se consagró como tricampeón de la NASCAR Cup Series tras una victoria dominante en el Phoenix Raceway. Con este logro, Logano se convirtió en el único piloto activo con tres títulos en la categoría. La temporada 2025 ya arrancó con el NASCAR Cook Out Clash, celebrado en el Bowman Gray Stadium el 1 y 2 de febrero. En esta primera prueba, Chase Elliott (Hendrick Motorsports) se llevó la victoria tras liderar 172 de las 200 vueltas, superando a Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano, Bubba Wallace y al mexicano Daniel Suárez. LOS AUTOS DE NASCAR: VELOCIDAD Y PODER V8 🚀🔧 Los autos de la NASCAR Cup Series conservan la esencia de los autos de serie (stock), pero están modificados para ofrecer máximo rendimiento y seguridad. Actualmente, la categoría compite con los modelos Next-Gen V8 de tres fabricantes: 🔹 Ford Mustang 🔹 Chevrolet Camaro 🔹 Toyota Camry UNA COMPETENCIA DE PILOTOS, EQUIPOS Y CONSTRUCTORAS 🏆👊 El atractivo de la Cup Series no solo radica en la lucha por el campeonato de pilotos, sino también en la batalla por el título de constructores y propietarios. 🏁 Campeonato de Pilotos: Se define en los playoffs, donde los mejores de la temporada regular luchan por la gloria. 🔧 Campeonato de Equipos: Se otorga al equipo con mayor cantidad de puntos sumados en el año. 🏎️ Campeonato de Constructores: Se decide con base en los puntos que suman los autos de cada fabricante. NASCAR CUP EN MÉXICO: UNA CITA IMPERDIBLE 🇲🇽🔥 La llegada de la NASCAR Cup Series a México es un reflejo del crecimiento del automovilismo en el país. Será un momento histórico, ya que por primera vez una carrera puntuable de la categoría se disputará fuera de Estados Unidos. 📍 Fecha: 13, 14 y 15 de junio de 2025 📍 Sede: Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, CDMX Los motores ya están rugiendo y la cuenta regresiva ha comenzado. ¡Prepárate para vivir la emoción de NASCAR Cup en México! 🏁🔥