THE SOCCER REPORT
Soccer Recap: Monterrey back at the top of Liga MX mountain, Zlatan returns to Milan
Dec 31, 2019, 6:00 am
THE SOCCER REPORT
As the calendar year comes to a close, European leagues have hit their midseason point while Mexican soccer crowned a new champion.
After a 2-1 Monterrey win in the first leg, a 2-1 win by Club America in the second leg sent the Liga MX final to extra time and penalties. It was in the penalty shootout that "Rayados" outlasted America, 4-2, to capture their fifth league title.
The win caps off a rollercoaster season where Monterrey fired their manager midseason, rehired former manager Antonio Mohamed (who has now won his third Liga MX title with as many teams as a Manager) and captured the final playoff spot to win the title. In the middle of their playoff run, Monterrey played Liverpool to a 2-1 defeat that could've easily gone their way in the FIFA Club World Cup.
The Clausura 2020 season kicks off on January 10.
The Premier League had the spotlight on them twice this week with the Boxing Day tradition gifting fans matches after Christmas. At the forefront of the PL talk was VAR (video assistant referee) decisions due to a number of goals being called back.
Top six: 1. Liverpool (55), 2. Leicester City (42), 3. Man City (41), 4. Chelsea (35), 5. Manchester Utd (31), 6. Tottenham (30)
Bottom three (relegation): 18. Aston Villa (18), 19. Watford (16), 20. Norwich City (13)
Scoring leader: 17 - Jamie Vardy (Leicester City)
Assists leader: 12 - Kevin De Bruyne (Man City)
A second-half Nikola Katić goal gave Rangers a first win at Celtic Park in 9 years, making it a two points difference in the title race.
Top three: 1. Celtic (52), 2. Rangers (50), 3. Motherwell (37)
Bottom two (relegation): 11. Hamilton (18), 12. Hearts (13)
Scoring leader: 13 - Odsonne Edouard (Celtic)
Assists leader: 9 - James Forrest (Celtic)
#IZBACK 🔙🔴⚫ Read the story of how football has been Zlatan'ed in our focus on @Ibra_official 👉🏻… https://t.co/F7LtQl08mj— AC Milan (@AC Milan) 1577528163.0
One of the bigger news over the Christmas break was the announcement of Zlatan Ibrahimovic returning to Serie A with A.C. Milan. The Rossoneri are currently 11th in the standings, 14 points removed from fourth place and a Champions League spot that used to be a given for the seven time European champions.
Welcome, @AlonsoDT! The Uruguayan becomes first ever coach of #InterMiamiCF, and is the only coach to win the Con… https://t.co/f2Zay3p7vF— Inter Miami CF (@Inter Miami CF) 1577722283.0
David Beckham's Miami expansion club announced the signing of Uruguayan manager Diego Alonso. The 44-year-old enjoyed success in Liga MX by guiding Pachuca to the Clausura 2016 title, the 2016-17 Concacaf Champions League title and a 3rd place finish at the 2017 FIFA Club World Cup. He guided Monterrey to Concacaf Champions League crown earlier this year before being fired midway through the Apertura 2019 season.
Sources tell me that midfielder @marcelopalo has come to terms with @HoustonDynamo . The former Dynamo Academy play… https://t.co/DW28jtSuIy— Glenn Davis (@Glenn Davis) 1577712104.0
The Houston Dynamo are reportedly about to announce the signings of former Dynamo Academy and youth U.S. National Team midfielder Marcelo Palomino and young European goalkeeper Marko Maric.
Wednesday, January 1
6:30 a.m. - [Premier League] Brighton vs. Chelsea (NBC Sports)
9:00 a.m. - [Premier League] Southampton vs. Tottenham (NBC Sports)
11:30 a.m. - [Premier League] Manchester City vs. Everton (NBC Sports)
2:00 p.m. - [Premier League] Arsenal vs. Manchester United (NBC Sports, Universo)
Thursday, January 2
2:00 p.m. - [Premier League] Liverpool vs. Sheffield United (NBC Sports, Universo)
Friday, January 3
12:00 p.m. - [La Liga] Valladolid vs. Leganes (beIN Sports)
2:00 p.m. - [La Liga] Sevilla vs. Athletic Bilbao (beIN Sports)
Saturday, January 4
6:30 a.m. - [FA Cup] Rochdale vs. Newcastle (ESPN+)
9:00 a.m. - [FA Cup] Fulham vs. Aston Villa (ESPN+)
9:00 a.m. - [La Liga] Getafe vs. Real Madrid (beIN Sports)
11:30 a.m. - [FA Cup] Wolves vs. Man United (ESPN+)
11:30 a.m. - [FA Cup] Leicester vs. Wigan (ESPN+)
11:30 a.m. - [FA Cup] Manchester City vs. Port Vale (ESPN+)
11:30 a.m. - [La Liga] Atletico Madrid vs. Levante (beIN Sports)
2:00 p.m. - [La Liga] Espanyol vs. Barcelona (beIN Sports)
Sunday, January 5
8:00 a.m. - [FA Cup] Middlesbrough vs. Tottenham (ESPN+)
8:00 a.m. - [FA Cup] Crystal Palace vs. Derby (ESPN+)
8:00 a.m. - [FA Cup] Chelsea vs. Nottingham Forest (ESPN+)
10:00 a.m. - [FA Cup] Liverpool vs. Everton (ESPN+)
12:15 p.m. - [FA Cup] Gillingham vs. West Ham (ESPN+)
1:30 p.m. - [Serie A] Roma vs. Torino (ESPNews, ESPN Deportes)
Monday, January 6
8:00 a.m. - [Serie A] AC Milan vs. Sampdoria (ESPN+)
8:00 a.m. - [Serie A] Juventus vs. Cagliari (ESPN+)
1:45 p.m. - [Serie A] Napoli vs. Inter (ESPN+)
2:00 p.m. - [FA Cup] Arsenal vs. Leeds United (ESPN+)
2:00 p.m. - [Coupe de France] Linas Montlhery vs. PSG (beIN Sports)The Texans flurry of offseason extensions continues as Houston has secured one of the top defenders in its secondary. According to multiple reports, Jalen Pitre is now the highest-paid nickel in the NFL.
$29.156M in guarantees for Jalen Pitre, who is now the NFL’s highest-paid nickel. https://t.co/VBv6kuQbjr
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 11, 2025
Pitre has agreed to a 3-year, $39 million extension with over $29 million in guarantees. Pitre joins pass rusher Danielle Hunter and star corner Derek Stingley, who have also received massive extensions this offseason with Houston.
Pitre has been a key piece of DeMeco Ryans' defense and is now being recognized for it. It was a massive blow for Houston when Pitre went down for the year in Week 12 last season with a torn pectoral muscle.
During Pitre's three seasons with the Texans he's recorded a sack, two forced fumbles, six interceptions, 21 passes defended, and 296 tackles.
The Texans secondary is absolutely loaded for the foreseeable future with Stingley Jr., breakout rookie corner Kamari Lassiter, Super Bowl winning safety CJ Gardner-Johnson, Jimmie Ward, and standout rookie safety Calen Bullock.
Good luck, AFC South quarterbacks!