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The first UEFA Champions League tournament with the new format has concluded, revealing the eight teams that have qualified directly for the Round of 16 and the 16 teams that will fight in the playoffs to secure their place in Munich 2025. Qualified Teams and Playoff Spots Liverpool finished as the overall leader of the competition, with Barcelona in second, Arsenal third, Inter Milan fourth, Atlético de Madrid fifth, Bayer Leverkusen sixth, and the surprises of the top eight, LOSC Lille and Aston Villa, in seventh and eighth, respectively.   As for the playoff spots, Atalanta, Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and AC Milan secured their places, followed by PSV, PSG, Benfica, Monaco, Brest, Feyenoord, Juventus, and Celtic. Lastly, Manchester City, Sporting Lisbon, and Club Brugge complete the 16 playoff teams. The teams eliminated from the competition due to goal difference include Dinamo Zagreb, Stuttgart, Shakhtar, Bologna, Red Star, Sturm, Sparta Prague, RB Leipzig, Girona, RB Salzburg, Slovan Bratislava, and Young Boys. Possible Playoff Matchups Although teams await the draw to determine their rivals, speculation about potential matchups is already circulating. Monaco and Brest may face PSG or Benfica, with the winner facing either Liverpool or Barcelona in the next round. Sporting and Brugge could meet Atalanta or Dortmund in the playoffs, with potential Round of 16 matchups against Lille or Aston Villa. Celtic or Manchester City might go up against Real Madrid or Bayern Munich, which could lead to one of the most exciting playoff matchups. Afterward, they could face Atlético de Madrid or Leverkusen in the Round of 16. Finally, Feyenoord or Juventus could meet AC Milan or PSV, with potential Round of 16 clashes against Arsenal or Inter Milan.

Another thrilling day of European football awaits, as the Europa League holds its final matchday with 18 simultaneous games and 28 teams still fighting for something. No Time to Rest Following the excitement of the Champions League, today it’s the UEFA Europa League’s turn to wrap up its league stage. Like its sister competition, this matchday will determine the eight teams that qualify directly and the 16 that will battle in the playoffs. Key Matches of the Day The action kicks off at 2:00 p.m. (Mexico City time), with Lazio looking to secure its top spot against a desperate Braga, which must win to have a chance at the playoffs. One of the standout clashes is Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Roma. The German side is on the verge of securing a top-eight finish but must confirm it against the Italian club, which needs to lock in a playoff spot. Other teams aiming for a direct ticket include Athletic Club against Viktoria Plzen, Manchester United taking on FCSB—who are also eyeing eighth place—Olympique Lyon vs. Ludogorets, Tottenham vs. Elfsborg, and Anderlecht, featuring “Chino” Huerta, facing Hoffenheim. Challenging these teams for a direct spot, Galatasaray will battle Ajax, Bodo/Glimt faces Nice, Olympiacos takes on Qarabag, and Rangers go head-to-head with Union Saint-Gilloise, both currently tied at 11 points. Meanwhile, AZ Alkmaar will square off against Ferencváros. Clubs like Real Sociedad, Fenerbahçe, and Beşiktaş will aim to secure their playoff spots against PAOK, Midtjylland, and Twente, respectively. The first two of those opponents are also in contention for a playoff berth. Lastly, Porto will fight for qualification against Maccabi Tel Aviv. The “Dragons” currently sit outside the playoff spots and must win to keep their Europa League hopes alive.

Club América secured its third victory in the Clausura 2025, defeating Atlético de San Luis. This win placed them at the top of the standings, tied with Tigres, both teams with 10 points and undefeated so far in the tournament. The Eagles Dominate The match at Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes was completely controlled by the home team. From the early minutes, América showed determination in attack, which paid off in the 16th minute. A long pass from Cristian Calderón split the San Luis defense, and Brian Rodríguez made a run behind the defense to assist Víctor Dávila, who easily pushed the ball into the net. Before the end of the first half, América orchestrated another great collective play, culminating in a cross to Dávila. Once again, he anticipated the defense and connected with the ball to score his second goal of the match. In the second half, Brian Rodríguez provided another assist. From midfield, he sent a pass that broke through San Luis’ defense. Álvaro Fidalgo controlled the ball and, just as he entered the area, he placed a shot over the goalkeeper, who attempted to close the angle, making it 3-0. Cover photo: X (@ClubAmerica)

After playing just seven games in Saudi Arabia, Neymar announced on social media that he is officially leaving Al-Hilal, a club where injuries prevented him from making an impact. A High-Profile Signing Turned Costly Investment What once seemed like one of the most significant signings in football has now become one of the sport’s worst investments. Yesterday, Neymar Jr. confirmed his departure from Al-Hilal, the Saudi club that paid €90 million for him in August 2023. However, he managed to play only seven matches before injuries derailed his stint in Saudi Arabia. Neymar’s Farewell Message On social media, Neymar expressed his gratitude to the club, the fans, and the country while also lamenting his inability to play more matches. “To everyone at Al Hilal, to the fans: Thank you! I gave everything to play, and I wish we could have shared more moments together on the pitch. To Saudi Arabia, thank you for giving me and my family a new home and new experiences. Now, I truly know the Saudi people and have made lifelong friends. I always felt your love and passion for the game. I will follow your journey as a club and as a country towards 2034. Your future will be incredible, and special things are happening. I will always support you!” A Spell Marked by Injuries Neymar’s lack of playing time was due to injuries that kept him from performing at the level that once made him one of the world’s best players with Barcelona, where he played 225 matches and scored 132 goals. When Al-Hilal signed him, Neymar was still recovering from ankle surgery. He then suffered muscle issues that kept him sidelined, only to later sustain a devastating ACL tear, effectively ending his time at the club for over a year. A Return to Brazil? Now, strong rumors suggest that Neymar’s next destination could be a return to his boyhood club, Santos FC, in Brazil.

A historic Champions League matchday is upon us. On Matchday 8 of the tournament’s new format, all 18 matches will kick off simultaneously, promising a rollercoaster of emotions. A Historic Champions League Matchday Today is unlike any other, as the UEFA Champions League will stage its final matchday in the new league format with all 36 teams playing at the same time. With 18 matches kicking off simultaneously, at least 25 clubs are still fighting for something in this decisive round. This marks the first time in over two decades that all final-round Champions League matches will be played simultaneously. However, never before has the scale been this massive, with all 18 matches set to begin at 2:00 p.m. Mexico City time. The Key Matches to Watch Among this wave of matches, several standout games will capture the world’s attention. Barcelona vs. Atalanta will be crucial, as its outcome directly impacts another European giant—Real Madrid, who must defeat Brest and hope for an Atalanta loss to secure a top-eight spot and qualify directly for the knockout stage. Meanwhile, Liverpool will aim to finish as the overall leader when they face PSV, who are fighting to secure a playoff spot. Other clubs battling for direct qualification to the Round of 16 include Arsenal, who take on the already-eliminated Girona, Inter vs. Monaco, Atlético Madrid against Salzburg, AC Milan vs. Dinamo Zagreb—a team still hoping for a playoff spot—, and Bayer Leverkusen vs. Sparta Prague, another eliminated side. Meanwhile, teams still vying for a top-eight finish and depending on results elsewhere include Feyenoord, led by Santiago Giménez, who face LOSC Lille, another contender for a direct knockout berth. Germany’s two biggest clubs, Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich, will play against already-eliminated Shakhtar Donetsk and Slovan Bratislava, respectively. Elsewhere, with far slimmer hopes, Juventus will attempt to break into the top eight against Benfica, who must win to secure a playoff spot. Finally, among Europe’s elite, PSG will fight to keep their playoff position against Stuttgart, who have the same goal. Meanwhile, Manchester City, currently outside the playoff spots, face Club Brugge, a team desperate to maintain its playoff standing. With such an action-packed matchday, there won’t be a single moment to blink—one goal in any of the 18 matches could change the fate of a team, deciding whether they advance directly, enter the playoffs, or fall out of contention altogether.