The global 2023 soccer calendar just doesn't relent from month to month with the usual suspects (Premier League, Champions League, etc.) demanding and receiving our attention, but a few soccer-centric things have flown under the radar in the new year.
Update your Google Calendar, set a reminder with Alexa or just make a mental note of these five happenings.
Already out of the Champions League, Barcelona's season almost took another turn for the worse on Wednesday when third-tier Intercity (founded 2017 in the Valencian Community) forced them into extra-time in the Copa del Rey Round of 32 with a 3-3 scoreline after 90 minutes.
After another memorable performance in Qatar for Mr. World Cup (stonewalling Robert Lewandowski from the penalty spot), Guillermo Ochoa made his Serie A debut with Salernitana on Wednesday against defending champions AC Milan.
Salernitana hosted at Stadio Arechi, but the gap between the two sides was evident with Milan putting 11 shots on target to just one for the hosts.
After losing in the final stages of the World Cup and then suffering a first Ligue 1 defeat of the season this past Sunday, PSG teammates Kylian Mbappé and Achraf Hakimi quickly used their time off to get as far away from the sport as possible.
With the France and Monaco stars unlikely to feature whatsoever in Friday's Coupe de France Round of 64 match against third-tier Châteauroux, Mbappé and Hakimi departed for the United States and made a surprise appearance at Brooklyn's Barclays Center for an NBA game between the Nets and San Antonio Spurs on Monday night.
LONDON - Brentford pulled off their latest Premier League shock by beating Liverpool 3-1 at home on Monday, bringing Jürgen Klopp's side's four-game winning streak to an end and rattling their top-four ambitions.
Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konaté knocked the ball into his own net in the 19th minute while Yoane Wissa doubled Brentford's advantage before halftime after his side had two goals disallowed following VAR reviews in a frantic opening 45 minutes.
West Brom's incredible renaissance under Spanish manager Carlos Corberán continued Monday with a 1-0 victory over Reading courtesy of Daryl Dike's goal in the 60th minute.
After missing a large portion of the start of the season with a thigh injury, the 22-year-old American striker enjoyed his longest outing of the Championship season (66 minutes) and scored his second goal in eight games.
⚽️ West Bromwich 1-0 Reading FC
GOAL | 60' Darly Dike ⚽️Send Like ve RT for more audience !
With the USWNT just months away from defending its World Cup title out in Australia and New Zealand, it's only fitting that some of the team's stars should feature in ESPN's first ‘This is SportsCenter’ ad since 2019.
The beloved campaign returns this week with spots being shown throughout college football bowl games on ESPN. This one — featuring Megan Rapinoe, Becky Sauerbrunn, Sophia Smith, SportsCenter anchor Nicole Briscoe and Syracuse mascot Otto the Orange — debuts Friday night during the Capital One Orange Bowl between Tennessee and Clemson.
Erling Haaland is back. The Norwegian spent his World Cup break acting as groundskeeper at the Etihad and dressing up as club mascot Moonchester, but Haaland was back to doing what he does best Wednesday: scoring goals for Manchester City in the Premier League.
When we cover the San Marino national team here at The18, it's usually to report on players breaking down in tears after securing 0-0 draws with Gibraltar.
The squad has attracted a global following by virtue of being the worst international team on the planet — San Marino sits dead last (211th) in the FIFA Rankings with an all time record of 194 matches played, one win, eight draws and 185 defeats with a goal difference of negative 770.