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La Liga: Matchday 18 analysis
The Spanish tournament is halfway through and it was a tough weekend for the leaders who played under difficult weather conditions, thanks to a snowstorm. Nevertheless, games were played as scheduled, except for Atletico Madrid vs. Athletic de Bilbao at Wanda Metropolitano.
Granada 0-4 Barcelona.
FC Barcelona traveled to the south of the country to play at the Nuevo Estadio de los Cármenes. The Red and White had lost only once so far this season until this game. Koeman seems to have found the line-up, the starting eleven and his players’ positions, as he has been on an eight-game unbeaten streak, with six wins and two draws.
Barcelona seems more confident and full of chemistry, especially in the new Messi-Pedri partnership. De Jong and Griezmann are also playing their best games. Although there are still many doubts when the rival team attacks, because when defending, Barca spreads out a lot. Similarly, the best version of the team is already showing and has managed to shorten the distance between the Madrid teams.
Osasuna 0-0 Real Madrid.
Real Madrid, against all odds, traveled to Pamplona on Friday because of the weather. And at the last-minute Zidane was allowed to travel with the team as he had been in contact with someone from the coaching staff who tested positive for COVID-19.
The team had Ramos and Hazard return in the starting eleven, so it seemed that despite the weather, Real Madrid would make it through. But the snow made it impossible to reach the goal. So much so that with 70% possession, Real Madrid only had one shot to score. While Osasuna, with less possession, got one more shot to score.
For the time being, Zizou won’t be worried about La Liga, as the Super Copa and Copa del Rey matches are coming up in the next few days. He will do it until January 23, when Madrid plays against Alavés.
Seville 3-2 Real Sociedad.
Andalusians and Donostians had a direct encounter since Lopetegui’s team was three points down in the table. The white-and-blue team arrived at the Sánchez Pizjuán stadium in a downward spiral, as they had been on a bad run with only one win in the last six games. And the Europa League champion took advantage of it with En-Nesyri’s hat-trick and tied the rival in points, even with three fewer games played.
Atletico remains in the lead, with 38 points, despite having three matches still to play, while Real Madrid is down by one point and Barcelona is close with 34 points. Should Atletico win their pending matches, they will have a 10-point difference with the second place, they will play the first match this Tuesday against Sevilla.
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Trump renews criticism of Pope Leo XIV amid tensions over Iran
The President of the United States, Donald Trump, renewed his criticism of Pope Leo XIV on Tuesday night, urging that “someone tell him” that Iran has “killed at least 42,000 innocent protesters” and insisting that it is “unacceptable” for the country to possess nuclear weapons.
“Can someone please inform Pope Leo that Iran has killed at least 42,000 completely unarmed, innocent protesters over the past two months, and that it is absolutely unacceptable for Iran to have a nuclear bomb?” Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social.
The statement comes amid an escalating public dispute between Trump and the pontiff over the conflict in Iran and the broader Middle East. The US president concluded his message with the phrase “AMERICA IS BACK.”
Pope Leo XIV, who was born in the United States, has repeatedly spoken out—both directly and indirectly—against Washington’s stance toward Tehran, while calling for peace in the region.
On Monday, Trump openly criticized the pope, describing him as “weak” and “terrible on foreign policy.”
Speaking aboard a flight to Algeria, the first stop of his trip to Africa, the pontiff said he was “not afraid” of the Trump administration and would continue to raise his voice against the ongoing conflict.
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Tehran engulfed in toxic cloud after strikes on fuel facilities
Tehran woke up under a sky that shifted from gray to black following strikes on fuel infrastructure, as the city has become engulfed in a toxic cloud that is turning daily life into a public health and environmental emergency.
Residents warn that what is falling from the sky is no longer just rain, but a mixture of oil and pollutants. Attacks on fuel depots have triggered prolonged fires, releasing thick plumes of smoke that continue to spread across the العاصمة.
For several days, facilities have remained ablaze, while a dark layer has settled over streets, homes, and even water reserves. Authorities have urged the population—more than nine million people—to remain indoors, especially vulnerable groups.
The extreme toxicity is linked to mazut, a dense petroleum byproduct with high sulfur content still used in Iran due to industrial limitations and sanctions. When burned, it releases hazardous particles that, when combined with moisture, result in contaminated rainfall.
The situation is worsened by Tehran’s geography. Surrounded by mountains, the city is affected by a temperature inversion phenomenon that traps pollutants near the ground, preventing their dispersion and creating a stagnant layer of toxic air over the population.
Residents have reported symptoms such as eye and skin irritation, headaches, and respiratory difficulties. Emergency agencies have also warned of potential chemical burns caused by acid rain.
Long-term concerns are mounting, as prolonged exposure to fine particles and heavy metals could lead to serious health conditions, including lung damage and cancer.
Contamination is also spreading to water sources and agricultural land, threatening the food supply in a country already facing water scarcity.
At a regional level, the environmental impact is expanding, with oil spills reported in the Persian Gulf, affecting marine ecosystems and fishing communities.
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FBI Most Wanted Fugitive Arrested in Mexico and Deported to U.S.
Authorities in Mexico announced Thursday that Samuel Ramírez Jr., a U.S. citizen accused of murdering two women and listed among the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives, was arrested in the northern state of Sinaloa.
Ramírez Jr., 33, was detained Tuesday in Culiacán just 1 hour and 13 minutes after being added to the Federal Bureau of Investigation Ten Most Wanted list, the agency said in a statement.
The suspect, who was born in California, has already been deported to the U.S. state of Washington, where he faces charges related to the fatal shooting of two women at a bar in Federal Way in May 2023.
A court issued an arrest warrant for Ramírez in November last year, and the FBI initially offered a $25,000 reward for information leading to his capture, later increasing the amount to up to $1 million.
“To protect individuals’ privacy and ensure continued cooperation from the public, the FBI does not confirm the identity of those who provide information,” the agency said in its statement.
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