Time for a recap.
After 17 riveting matchweeks, the regular phase of the Clausura 2023 is over. Teams are now getting ready for the playoffs, but while we wait, we decided to look back and bring back the memories of an unforgettable tournament.
FYI, though, do not expect goals or new tactical theories coming from our fields. We are here to show moments that make Liga MX that imperfect tournament you adore.
The fallout from Lionel Messi's unauthorized use of PTO to go on a quick jaunt to Saudi Arabia continued Wednesday with our transfer lord and savior Fabrizio Romano drawing the line on the Argentine's time in Paris.
"Messi will leave Paris Saint-Germain at the end of the season. There are no doubts about that anymore," Romano tweeted. "Behind the scenes, it's now understood that Leo's father Jorge communicated the decision to PSG already one month ago."
Hay muchos aficionados a quienes les gustaría que la Liga MX se jugara con formato europeo. Es decir, dos rondas de todos contra todos y en el que el equipo con más puntos al final de la temporada es el campeón.
Nada de dos torneos en una campaña ni menos playoffs.
Sin embargo, esa idea es solo un sueño. La dinámica Apertura / Clausura es provechosa para los dueños de los clubes, quienes ni de broma piensan cambiarla.
Lionel Messi's future with PSG is wobbly. Fans are not enthusiastic about him, he doesn't look particularly thrilled about being there and talks regarding a possible return to FC Barcelona are gaining momentum. And then – on top of that – you have an unauthorized trip to Saudi Arabia that is angering PSG teammates and the sporting hierarchy at the club.
The old LaLiga logo wasn't perfect. It was guilty of what I consider a cardinal sin: containing that damn generic soccer ball that's way too heavy-handed in getting its point across.
But LaLiga had established a powerful brand identity with its iconic color wheel over the past 30 years, and when news broke of an all-new LaLiga logo for the 2023-24 season, the initial thought was concerning how the league would reimagine and update the famous design while retaining some sense of history.
MILAN — Italy's top sports body on Thursday canceled a decision to dock Serie A club Juventus 15 points in a case centered on the club's transfer dealings, ordering soccer authorities to hold another hearing.
With eight games left to play, the decision will lift Juventus from seventh to third in the Serie A table - with 59 points, still 16 behind leaders Napoli but back into the qualifying spots for the lucrative European Champions League.
Cristiano Ronaldo had a rough Tuesday. His team, Al-Nassr, lost 2-0 against fourth-place Al-Hilal, missing a chance to put pressure on leader Al-Ittihad in the title race. On a personal level, the Portuguese ace also faced heavy criticism for two actions: a WWE headlock against an opponent and a gesture labeled as an "indecent act" that has led some people to call for the Saudi government to deport him.
Early Thursday morning, Amazon Prime Video Sport released a video on social media highlighting the difficulties and intricacies involved in being a top-flight match official. The clip showed Benoît Millot, a French referee taking control of a Ligue 1 match between Olympique Lyonnais and FC Nantes, and gave fans a great insight into what match officials go through over 90 minutes.
This is what referees really say to footballers during a game... ️
For the 11th time in 13 seasons (mercy me), Real Madrid are through to the Champions League semifinals after Rodrygo's second-half brace at Stamford Bridge put the finishing touches on a commanding 4-0 aggregate victory over Chelsea.
AC Milan are in the Champions League semifinals after drawing Napoli 1-1 (for a 2-1 in aggregate) in the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. The Rossoneri will play this stage for the first time since the 2006-07 season, but the history could have been completely different if referee Szymon Marciniak and VAR had not looked to the other side in a clear penalty not called on Mexican winger Hirving "Chucky" Lozano.
I get that it could have been difficult to see it in real-time, but what were they doing at VAR? Watching Looney Tunes?