&lt;p&gt;If there’s one team that has truly stood out this &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/nfl&quot;&gt;NFL&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; season, it’s the &lt;strong&gt;Los Angeles Rams&lt;/strong&gt;. An offense led by veteran &lt;strong&gt;Matthew Stafford&lt;/strong&gt; has been a force to be reckoned with, and it’s one of the team’s biggest strengths as they aim for the top seed in the NFC.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;However, an interesting setback emerges for &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/sean-mcvay&quot;&gt;Sean McVay&lt;/a&gt; heading into the final stretch of the season, as one of his key offensive players might sit out to be 100% ready for the playoffs.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;The &lt;em&gt;Underdog NFL&lt;/em&gt; account, via X, reported that insider Jeremy Fowler shared details about &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/davante-adams&quot;&gt;Davante Adams&lt;/a&gt;’ health situation, who could be “shut down” for the final two regular-season games&lt;/strong&gt; in an effort to be fully healthy for the playoffs.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;This significant absence would give much more prominence to Puka Nacua, who, following Adams’ injury, has been one of &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/matthew-stafford&quot;&gt;Matthew Stafford&lt;/a&gt;’s primary targets in recent games. The Rams might lose an important player for the final stretch of the season.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;figure class=&quot;image&quot;&gt;&lt;img loading=&quot;lazy&quot; width=&quot;1920&quot; height=&quot;1080&quot; src=&quot;https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20251225_BUS_551382_Davante-Adams-shouting_dd81bbb6.webp&amp;amp;width=1920&amp;amp;height=1080&quot; alt=&quot;Davante Adams #17 of the Los Angeles Rams&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-499816&quot; sizes=&quot;(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px&quot;&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;Davante Adams #17 of the Los Angeles Rams&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;What injury is Adams dealing with?&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Davante Adams is currently battling a persistent hamstring injury&lt;/strong&gt; that has placed his availability for the final two games of the regular season in serious doubt.&lt;/p&gt;


        &lt;div class=&quot;wp_fsn_relatedlinks&quot; id=&quot;BUS#/nfl/puka-nacua-and-sean-mcvay-send-clear-message-to-nfl-and-referees-after-rams-overtime-loss-against-seahawks&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;


&lt;p&gt;With the Rams already having clinched a postseason berth, the coaching staff is taking a cautious approach, &lt;strong&gt;making him a major question mark for the upcoming matchups against the Falcons and Cardinals.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;figure class=&quot;image&quot;&gt;&lt;img loading=&quot;lazy&quot; width=&quot;1920&quot; height=&quot;1080&quot; src=&quot;https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20251225_BUS_551382_davante-adams-1-1_b6f4d293.webp&amp;amp;width=1920&amp;amp;height=1080&quot; alt=&quot;Davante Adams #17 of the Los Angeles Rams&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-547716&quot;&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;Davante Adams #17 of the Los Angeles Rams&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;Davante Adams’ stats this season with the Rams&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Davante Adams has been a touchdown machine in his first season with the &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/matthew-stafford&quot;&gt;Rams&lt;/a&gt;, leading the league in that category despite his recent injury. Over 14 games,&lt;strong&gt; he has hauled in 60 receptions for 789 yards, averaging a reliable 13.1 yards per catch.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;His most remarkable contribution has been his scoring efficiency, &lt;strong&gt;racking up 14 touchdowns and serving as the primary red-zone threat&lt;/strong&gt; for the Los Angeles offense.&lt;/p&gt;

Bad news for Rams: Matthew Stafford could lose key weapon for the end of the NFL regular season

Bad news for Rams: Matthew Stafford could lose key weapon for the end of the NFL regular season - Bolavip US

miniaturas

&lt;p&gt;The Detroit Lions are in big trouble after the loss against the &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/pittsburgh-steelers&quot;&gt;Pittsburgh Steelers&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; at home in Week 16. Despite Jared Goff being close to leading an epic comeback, Dan Campbell’s team fell just short.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Now, their chances of making the playoffs are only 6%, and they no longer control their own destiny. They need to win their two remaining games and have the &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/green-bay-packers&quot;&gt;Green Bay Packers&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; lose to the Baltimore Ravens and the Minnesota Vikings to stay alive.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Two years ago, when they lost the NFC Championship game to the 49ers, Dan Campbell warned that the &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/super-bowl&quot;&gt;Super Bowl&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; window could close very soon for the franchise. A loss today could confirm that prediction.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;What happens if Lions lose today against Vikings?&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;If the Lions lose today against the Minnesota Vikings, Detroit would be eliminated. With an 8-8 record, they would no longer have a chance to catch the Green Bay Packers in the race for the final NFC wild card spot.&lt;/p&gt;


        

        


&lt;h2&gt;Can the Lions make the playoffs?&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;The Lions can make the playoffs if they defeat the Vikings and the Chicago Bears, while the Green Bay Packers must lose against the Ravens and Minnesota. The scenario is very simple: two wins by Detroit and two losses by Green Bay for the Lions to get in.&lt;/p&gt;


        &lt;div class=&quot;wp_fsn_relatedlinks&quot; id=&quot;BUS#/nfl/mike-tomlin-issues-strong-warning-to-entire-nfl-after-steelers-win-over-detroit-lions&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;


&lt;h2&gt;Can the Lions win the AFC North?&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;No. The Detroit Lions cannot win the NFC North because the Chicago Bears have an 11-4 record as the leaders of the division. With a current record of 8-7, the gap is insurmountable regardless of the result against the Vikings.&lt;/p&gt;

NFL Christmas Day: What happens if Lions lose against Vikings in Week 17?

Aaron Rodgers sends clear message about Lions fans before Steelers game in Detroit

Aaron Rodgers sends direct message about referees after Steelers controversial win against Lions

What happens if Detroit Lions lose today against Minnesota Vikings in NFL Week 17? - Bolavip US

What happens if Lions lose to Vikings in Week 17?

What happens if Detroit Lions lose today against Vikings in NFL Week 17?

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/minnesota-vikings&quot;&gt;Minnesota Vikings&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/strong&gt;and&lt;strong&gt; Detroit Lions &lt;/strong&gt;face each other in a Week 17 showdown of the 2025&amp;nbsp;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/nfl&quot;&gt;NFL&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;regular season. Here’s everything you need to know, including kickoff details and streaming options for USA fans, so you don’t miss any of the action.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p class=&quot;has-text-align-center&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.fubo.tv/welcome/leagues/191277?irad=356362&amp;amp;irmp=3119684&quot; rel=&quot;sponsored nofollow&quot;&gt;[Watch Minnesota Vikings vs Detroit Lions online in the USA on Fubo]&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Christmas Day features a compelling &lt;strong&gt;NFC North&lt;/strong&gt; showdown as the &lt;strong&gt;Minnesota Vikings &lt;/strong&gt;and &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/detroit-lions&quot;&gt;Detroit Lions&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; square off under the holiday spotlight. The &lt;strong&gt;Vikings &lt;/strong&gt;enter on a three-game winning streak but with playoff hopes extinguished, playing for pride and a strong finish.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;The &lt;strong&gt;Lions&lt;/strong&gt;, meanwhile, remain mathematically alive and must secure a victory to keep their slim postseason chances intact. With division rivalry and contrasting motivations in play, this matchup still carries plenty of intrigue.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;When will the Minnesota Vikings vs Detroit Lions match be played?&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Minnesota Vikings &lt;/strong&gt;take on&lt;strong&gt; Detroit Lions &lt;/strong&gt;in Week 17 of the 2025&amp;nbsp;&lt;strong&gt;NFL&lt;/strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;regular season on&amp;nbsp;&lt;strong&gt;Thursday, December 25&lt;/strong&gt;. Kickoff is scheduled for&amp;nbsp;&lt;strong&gt;4:30 PM (ET).&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;figure class=&quot;image&quot;&gt;&lt;img loading=&quot;lazy&quot; width=&quot;1920&quot; height=&quot;1080&quot; src=&quot;https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20251225_BUS_550160_J.J.-McCarthy-of-the-Minnesota-Vikings_0b2baf11.webp&amp;amp;width=1920&amp;amp;height=1080&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-550171&quot;&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;J.J. McCarthy of the Minnesota Vikings – Elsa/Getty Images&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;


        &lt;div class=&quot;wp_fsn_relatedlinks&quot; id=&quot;BUS#/nfl/nfl-punishes-dk-metcalf-for-altercation-with-fan-during-steelers-win-over-lions&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;


&lt;h2&gt;Minnesota Vikings vs Detroit Lions: Time by State in the USA&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;ET&lt;/strong&gt;: 4:30 PM&lt;br&gt;&lt;strong&gt;CT&lt;/strong&gt;: 3:30 PM&lt;br&gt;&lt;strong&gt;MT&lt;/strong&gt;: 2:30 PM&lt;br&gt;&lt;strong&gt;PT&lt;/strong&gt;: 1:30 PM&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;How to watch Minnesota Vikings vs Detroit Lions in the USA&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;The&amp;nbsp;&lt;strong&gt;NFL&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;matchup between the&lt;strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;Minnesota Vikings &lt;/strong&gt;and&lt;strong&gt; Detroit Lions &lt;/strong&gt;will be available for live streaming on&amp;nbsp;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.fubo.tv/welcome/leagues/191277?irad=356362&amp;amp;irmp=3119684&quot; rel=&quot;sponsored nofollow&quot;&gt;Fubo&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;. Fans can also catch the game on CBS and Netflix.&lt;/p&gt;

Where to watch Minnesota Vikings vs Detroit Lions in the USA: 2025 NFL Regular Season Game

Where to watch Minnesota Vikings vs Detroit Lions in the USA: 2025 NFL Regular Season Game - Bolavip US

&lt;p&gt;One of the most talked-about incidents in the &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/nfl&quot;&gt;NFL&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; in recent days involved &lt;strong&gt;DK Metcalf&lt;/strong&gt; and a &lt;strong&gt;Detroit Lions&lt;/strong&gt; fan, during which the WR delivered a punch during the game. The incident led to the suspension of &lt;strong&gt;Aaron Rodgers&lt;/strong&gt;’ teammate, meaning the &lt;strong&gt;Pittsburgh Steelers&lt;/strong&gt; will be without him for the next two games.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;The unfortunate incident at Ford Field &lt;strong&gt;has sparked a debate about the limits of fan behavior&lt;/strong&gt; toward players inside stadiums. &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/aaron-rodgers&quot;&gt;Rodgers&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;, perhaps one of the most experienced voices in the league today, &lt;strong&gt;offered an interesting perspective on the matter.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;“&lt;strong&gt;I think there’s a mindset that you pay for a ticket, you say whatever the hell you want&lt;/strong&gt;,”&lt;/em&gt; &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/pittsburgh-steelers&quot;&gt;Steelers&lt;/a&gt; quarterback told reporters from the Pittsburgh locker room.&lt;em&gt; “I think there should be some code of conduct. Obviously, &lt;strong&gt;that was intentional&lt;/strong&gt;, and I think there was some celebration afterwards, on [the fan’s] part. &lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;“Obviously, [I] don’t condone what DK did, but I understand, you know, there’s been a lot of crazy comments sent my way over the years and, you know, &lt;strong&gt;the truth is that that would never happen face-to-face.&lt;/strong&gt;”&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;div class=&quot;ck-twitter&quot;&gt;&lt;blockquote class=&quot;twitter-tweet&quot; data-media-max-width=&quot;560&quot;&gt;&lt;p lang=&quot;en&quot; dir=&quot;ltr&quot;&gt;Aaron Rodgers says fans think because they buy a ticket “they can say whatever the hell they want.” And none of these guys would have the balls to say any of this stuff to a players face. Preach. Amen Aaron. &lt;a href=&quot;https://t.co/FipBqAuoJm&quot;&gt;pic.twitter.com/FipBqAuoJm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;— Andrew Fillipponi (@ThePoniExpress) &lt;a href=&quot;https://twitter.com/ThePoniExpress/status/2003956047275597885?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&quot;&gt;December 24, 2025&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/blockquote&gt;&lt;/div&gt; 



&lt;h2&gt;Metcalf suspended&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;The &lt;strong&gt;NFL has officially upheld the two-game suspension for Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf&lt;/strong&gt; following a physical altercation with a fan during the team’s victory over the Lions. &lt;/p&gt;


        &lt;div class=&quot;wp_fsn_relatedlinks&quot; id=&quot;BUS#/nfl/mike-tomlin-and-steelers-have-reportedly-made-final-decision-not-to-part-ways-with-aaron-rodgers-key-teammate&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;


&lt;p&gt;The league’s decision cited &lt;em&gt;“conduct detrimental to the NFL,”&lt;/em&gt; specifically for initiating contact with a spectator in the stands. As a result, &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/nfl/aaron-rodgers-star-teammate-is-out-for-rest-of-the-season-with-steelers-after-nfl-suspension&quot;&gt;Rodgers’ star teammate is out for rest of the regular season&lt;/a&gt;, missing crucial division matchups against the Browns and Ravens, though he will be eligible to return for the playoffs.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;figure class=&quot;image&quot;&gt;&lt;img loading=&quot;lazy&quot; width=&quot;1920&quot; height=&quot;1080&quot; src=&quot;https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20251225_BUS_551311_dk-metcalf_242b91e2.webp&amp;amp;width=1920&amp;amp;height=1080&quot; alt=&quot;DK Metcalf&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-525146&quot;&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;DK Metcalf #4 of the Pittsburgh Steelers.&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;Securing a playoff spot&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/dk-metcalf&quot;&gt;Metcalf&lt;/a&gt;’s absence during this stretch of the season could have serious implications for a team still fighting for a playoff spot. Ahead of Week 17, according to the &lt;em&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.nfl.com/standings/playoff-picture&quot;&gt;official NFL website&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/em&gt;, the &lt;strong&gt;Steelers have a 91% chance of securing a Wild Card spot, a number that would rise to 99% with a win over the Browns.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Aaron Rodgers offers key insight on DK Metcalf incident in Steelers vs. Lions game

Aaron Rodgers offers key insight on DK Metcalf incident in Steelers vs. Lions game - Bolavip US

&lt;p&gt;With just two games left, the NFC North is still up for grabs, and the &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/detroit-lions&quot;&gt;Detroit Lions&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; are still dreaming of a playoff berth. Securing a win against the &lt;strong&gt;Minnesota Vikings&lt;/strong&gt; on &lt;strong&gt;Christmas Day&lt;/strong&gt; will be crucial, making the presence of &lt;strong&gt;Amon-Ra St. Brown&lt;/strong&gt; and &lt;strong&gt;David Montgomery&lt;/strong&gt; on offense potentially key to their success.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;According to the &lt;em&gt;official NFL website&lt;/em&gt;, &lt;strong&gt;both players were listed as questionable&lt;/strong&gt; for the game at US Bank Stadium. However, according to the latest report from Ian Rapoport on X,&lt;strong&gt; all indications are that both St. Brown and &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/david-montgomery&quot;&gt;Montgomery&lt;/a&gt; are expected to play.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;It’s undoubtedly a huge boost for &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/jared-goff&quot;&gt;Jared Goff&lt;/a&gt; to have both players on the field, especially since a win is the only result that matters to keep Lions’ hopes alive for a Wild Card spot.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;What injuries are affecting St. Brown and Montgomery?&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;St. Brown is dealing with knee irritation&lt;/strong&gt; that limited his practice participation throughout the week, while &lt;strong&gt;Montgomery was a late addition to the injury report due to an illness.&lt;/strong&gt; Although both stars are technically game-time decisions, recent reports suggest they are likely to play through their respective issues to help the Lions in this crucial divisional clash.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;figure class=&quot;image&quot;&gt;&lt;img loading=&quot;lazy&quot; width=&quot;1920&quot; height=&quot;1080&quot; src=&quot;https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20251225_BUS_551305_David-Montgomery-running-back-of-the-Detroit-Lions_47f604eb.webp&amp;amp;width=1920&amp;amp;height=1080&quot; alt=&quot;David Montgomery, running back of the Detroit Lions&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-249779&quot; sizes=&quot;(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px&quot;&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;David Montgomery, running back of the Detroit Lions&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;The impact of both players on the offense&lt;/h2&gt;


        &lt;div class=&quot;wp_fsn_relatedlinks&quot; id=&quot;BUS#/nfl/nfl-on-christmas-2025-which-quarterbacks-are-starting-today&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Amon-Ra St. Brown and David Montgomery have been the offensive engines for the Lions this season, consistently delivering elite production. &lt;strong&gt;St. Brown&lt;/strong&gt; has established himself as a premier target with &lt;strong&gt;98 receptions for 1,194 yards and 11 touchdowns, maintaining an impressive 12.2 average per catch.&lt;/strong&gt; Meanwhile, &lt;strong&gt;Montgomery&lt;/strong&gt; has been a force on the ground, &lt;strong&gt;racking up 649 yards and 8 touchdowns on 140 carries, averaging a solid 4.6 yards per attempt.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;figure class=&quot;image&quot;&gt;&lt;img loading=&quot;lazy&quot; width=&quot;1920&quot; height=&quot;1080&quot; src=&quot;https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20251225_BUS_551305_Amon-Ra-St.-Brown_d9ba0ea0.webp&amp;amp;width=1920&amp;amp;height=1080&quot; alt=&quot;Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14)&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-285147&quot; sizes=&quot;(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px&quot;&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) &lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;The playoff dream&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;With a current record of eight wins and seven losses, the Detroit Lions are still in the hunt for a playoff spot in the NFC North. Ahead of their matchup against the Vikings, the &lt;em&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.nfl.com/standings/playoff-picture&quot;&gt;official NFL website&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/em&gt; lists &lt;strong&gt;their chances of securing a Wild Card at 6%, but a win could boost that to 9%.&lt;/strong&gt; Is it enough? No. But the dream remains alive.&lt;/p&gt;

Are Amon-Ra St. Brown and David Montgomery playing for the Lions in Christmas Day game vs. Vikings?

Are Amon-Ra St. Brown and David Montgomery playing for the Lions in Christmas Day game vs. Vikings? - Bolavip US

&lt;p&gt;The &lt;strong&gt;MLB&lt;/strong&gt; offseason continues to be in constant motion, with an endless stream of names moving between teams. The &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/new-york-mets&quot;&gt;New York Mets&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; are among the clubs looking to strengthen their roster, and following &lt;strong&gt;Jeff McNeil&lt;/strong&gt;’s departure, &lt;strong&gt;Carlos Mendoza&lt;/strong&gt;’s team has set its sights on &lt;strong&gt;Luis Robert Jr.&lt;/strong&gt; who is also being pursued by a new competitor&lt;strong&gt;.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;The interest in the outfielder is real and concrete. However, according to &lt;em&gt;empiresportsmedia.com&lt;/em&gt;, &lt;strong&gt;the team that has aggressively entered the race for the White Sox player is the Cincinnati Reds&lt;/strong&gt;, a club with strong chances of acquiring him.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;As the days go by, the next destination of the former All-Star will undoubtedly become clear. And if the Mets end up losing the battle to the &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/cincinnati-reds&quot;&gt;Reds&lt;/a&gt;, &lt;strong&gt;they will need to look for a new name to replace McNeil’s departure.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;Mets sign Ofreidy Gomez to minor league deal&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;By bringing in Ofreidy Gomez, the Mets are sticking to a familiar strategy: prioritize raw power now and refine the performance later. While Gomez lacks a high-profile resume or a track record of big-league dominance, &lt;strong&gt;his primary appeal is undeniable—a high-octane fastball that consistently pushes 99 mph.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;figure class=&quot;image&quot;&gt;&lt;img loading=&quot;lazy&quot; width=&quot;1920&quot; height=&quot;1080&quot; src=&quot;https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20251225_BUS_551352_ofreidy-gomez_04fe8af1.webp&amp;amp;width=1920&amp;amp;height=1080&quot; alt=&quot;Ofreidy Gomez&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-551374&quot;&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;Ofreidy Gómez #91 of the Baltimore Orioles.&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Following an impressive stint in winter ball, the Mets decided his elite velocity was worth the investment as they continue to stockpile high-ceiling arms for their pitching depth.&lt;/p&gt;


        &lt;div class=&quot;wp_fsn_relatedlinks&quot; id=&quot;BUS#/mlb/cody-bellingers-reported-demands-creates-tension-and-draws-strong-criticism-amid-ny-yankees-ny-mets-rumors&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

NY Mets rumors: Carlos Mendoza faces a competitor joining the chase for Luis Robert Jr.

NY Mets rumors: Carlos Mendoza faces a competitor joining the chase for Luis Robert Jr. - Bolavip US

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/cody-bellinger&quot;&gt;Cody Bellinger&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; is giving a lot to talk about in MLB free agency. On the heels of a comeback year with the &lt;strong&gt;New York Yankees&lt;/strong&gt;, the 2x All-Star is drawing interest from several teams, including the Bronx Bombers’ crosstown rivals, the &lt;strong&gt;New York Mets&lt;/strong&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;However, the first baseman is &lt;strong&gt;taking his time to make a decision&lt;/strong&gt;, something that may not necessarily benefit him. In fact, the &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/mlb/mlb-rumors-ny-yankees-join-ny-mets-in-battle-for-former-phillies-player-as-plan-b-to-cody-bellinger&quot;&gt;Yankees and Mets have already engaged in a battle for a former Philadelphia Phillies player&lt;/a&gt; as an alternative to Bellinger.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Recently, a report suggesting Bellinger’s mind-boggling demands &lt;strong&gt;created tension and drew strong criticism&lt;/strong&gt; towards his agent, Scott Boras. During a recent episode of his podcast Nothing Personal, former MLB executive &lt;strong&gt;David Samson blasted Boras.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;“&lt;em&gt;&lt;strong&gt;You have to know that Boras is ridiculous. He’s unreasonable. He doesn’t make sense. He’s actually an industry joke&lt;/strong&gt;,”&lt;/em&gt; said Samson, who was president of the Miami Marlins from 2002 until September 2017. “&lt;em&gt;Scott Boras is out there somewhere asking for an insane amount of money and getting bailed out by older owners or newer owners, or anyone who somehow is subject to his spell.”&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;figure class=&quot;image&quot;&gt;&lt;img loading=&quot;lazy&quot; width=&quot;1920&quot; height=&quot;1080&quot; src=&quot;https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20251225_BUS_551333_cody-bellinger-yankees_c12c49ad.webp&amp;amp;width=1920&amp;amp;height=1080&quot; alt=&quot;Cody Bellinger rounding the bases&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-551353&quot;&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;Cody Bellinger playing for the Yankees.&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;A retracted report on Bellinger’s contract demands&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Barry M. Bloom of &lt;em&gt;Forbes&lt;/em&gt; raised eyebrows by reporting that Bellinger was seeking an &lt;strong&gt;eight-year contract worth an impressive $400 million&lt;/strong&gt;. Bloom eventually said to &lt;strong&gt;consider his report retracted due to a petition from Boras&lt;/strong&gt;, who denied his client was expecting those figures. However, the agent didn’t provide a number.&lt;/p&gt;


        &lt;div class=&quot;wp_fsn_relatedlinks&quot; id=&quot;BUS#/mlb/mlb-rumors-ny-yankees-appear-unlikely-to-pursue-tatsuya-imai-amid-cody-bellinger-uncertainty&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

        

        


&lt;p&gt;“&lt;em&gt;Scott Boras said my report about Bellinger asking for $400m was ‘nonsense’ and asked me to retract it. In immense respect to him and our decades-long relationship and despite my very credible source, consider it retracted. &lt;strong&gt;He didn’t give me a replacement figure&lt;/strong&gt;,”&lt;/em&gt; Bloom wrote on X.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Regardless of Boras’ comment to Bloom, Samson continued to call out the agent, saying that Bellinger isn’t worth that kind of money. “&lt;em&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Bellinger is absolutely delusional if he thinks he is a $50 million dollar player. He can’t be under any analysis&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/em&gt;,” Samson added. &lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;“&lt;em&gt;No matter the ridiculousness fed by Boras. No matter what his free agent binder looks like, selling Bellinger to all these teams. &lt;strong&gt;There is no argument to be made anywhere that Bellinger is a $400 million player. Say nothing of a $50 million player&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/em&gt;.”&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;Bellinger may have to choose between the New York teams&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Turning 31 in July, Bellinger probably wants to seize this moment to land &lt;strong&gt;what could be the most lucrative deal in his career&lt;/strong&gt;, and perhaps the last big paycheck before Father Time catches up to him.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;It may come down to choosing between the Yankees and &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/new-york-mets&quot;&gt;Mets&lt;/a&gt;. On one hand, there’s his last team, where he shined last season; and on the other, the Yankees’ city rivals. &lt;strong&gt;Luke Weaver and others didn’t have a problem in switching the Bronx for Queens though&lt;/strong&gt;, with the Mets clearly enjoying any opportunity to land a former rival. &lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Only time will tell us if Bellinger’s decision comes down to &lt;strong&gt;money, or if his ties to the &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/new-york-yankees&quot;&gt;Yankees&lt;/a&gt; or the sporting aspect and the chances to succeed&lt;/strong&gt; play a role in his decision. And we’ll also find out whether his contract demands turned out to be that astonishing.&lt;/p&gt;

Cody Bellinger’s reported demands create tension and draw strong criticism amid NY Yankees, NY Mets rumors

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Cody Bellinger's reported demands create tension and draw strong criticism amid NY Yankees, NY Mets rumors - Bolavip US

Cody Bellinger's demands draw tension and criticism amid NY Yankees, NY Mets rumors

&lt;p&gt;The &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/philadelphia-phillies&quot;&gt;Philadelphia Phillies&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; continue to operate under the assumption that retaining &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/jt-realmuto&quot;&gt;J.T. Realmuto&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; is the preferred outcome, but confidence has not translated into closure. Despite extending an offer weeks ago, &lt;strong&gt;the organization has yet to receive a response from its longtime catcher&lt;/strong&gt;, opening the door to alternative planning.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Realmuto’s importance goes well beyond his offensive production&lt;/strong&gt;. He remains central to how the Phillies manage their pitching staff, game preparation, and clubhouse leadership. Still, silence from his camp has forced the front office to prepare for a scenario that once felt unlikely. &lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;As the market develops, Philadelphia is now balancing patience with pragmatism, aware that viable catching options are scarce — and increasingly mindful that a &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/mlb/phillies-must-make-key-decision-regarding-jt-realmutos-contract-standoff&quot;&gt;looming decision on JT Realmuto’s contract standoff&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; may force the Phillies to start evaluating other alternatives.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;How would the Phillies replace JT Realmuto if he leaves?&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;According to &lt;em&gt;NBC Sports Philadelphia&lt;/em&gt; insider Cole Weintraub, the Phillies’ contingency plan would not involve free agency. &lt;em&gt;“&lt;strong&gt;Any contingency plan would more likely come via trade than from a thin free-agent catching class,&lt;/strong&gt;”&lt;/em&gt; Weintraub wrote, emphasizing how limited the open market is at the position.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;figure class=&quot;image&quot;&gt;&lt;img loading=&quot;lazy&quot; width=&quot;1920&quot; height=&quot;1080&quot; src=&quot;https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20251225_BUS_551256_realmuto-jt_3c92db2c.webp&amp;amp;width=1920&amp;amp;height=1080&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-551257&quot;&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;&amp;nbsp;J.T. Realmuto #10 of the Philadelphia Phillies runs to third base. Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Realmuto remains the top catcher available, which helps explain why his market has been stronger than expected. Even in a down offensive year—&lt;strong&gt;.257/.315/.384 with 12 home runs and a .700 OPS&lt;/strong&gt;—his overall value continues to outpace alternatives.&lt;/p&gt;


        &lt;div class=&quot;wp_fsn_relatedlinks&quot; id=&quot;BUS#/mlb/mlb-rumors-ny-yankees-appear-unlikely-to-pursue-tatsuya-imai-amid-cody-bellinger-uncertainty&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;


&lt;h2&gt;Realmuto still holds the leverage&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Philadelphia originally acquired Realmuto in a 2019 trade with the &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/miami-marlins&quot;&gt;Miami Marlins&lt;/a&gt;, and he has been the club’s everyday catcher ever since. That continuity, combined with his leadership, gives him significant leverage in negotiations.&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;div class=&quot;wp_fsn_poll&quot; id=&quot;694d3a36e2d53b59fb2f06de&quot; data-title=&quot;How should the Phillies handle a potential J.T. Realmuto departure?&quot; data-options=&quot;4&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Whether the Phillies ultimately meet &lt;strong&gt;Realmuto’s price or pivot toward a trade remains unresolved. &lt;/strong&gt;What is clear is that time, rather than urgency, is shaping this standoff—and the next move could define the roster’s foundation for years to come.&lt;/p&gt;


        

        

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MLB Rumors: Phillies could activate contingency plan as J.T. Realmuto's future remains uncertain - Bolavip US

Phillies could activate contingency plan as J.T. Realmuto's future remains uncertain

destacadas

&lt;p&gt;The &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/new-york-yankees&quot;&gt;New York Yankees&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; continue to take a measured approach this offseason, and one potential avenue now appears to be closing. Despite recent speculation, the organization is not expected to pursue Japanese right-hander &lt;strong&gt;Tatsuya Imai&lt;/strong&gt;. With uncertainty still surrounding &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/cody-bellinger&quot;&gt;Cody Bellinger&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;’s future in the Bronx, New York appears reluctant to make additional high-commitment moves.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;With several starters facing delayed returns in 2026, the &lt;strong&gt;Yankees were loosely connected to Imai in recent weeks as a possible reinforcement&lt;/strong&gt;. His power arm and availability on the international market made him a natural fit for speculation, especially given the club’s historical ties to Japanese pitchers.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;However, internal sentiment suggests &lt;strong&gt;New York may be comfortable standing pat rather than making a significant move&lt;/strong&gt;, even as questions persist about the rotation’s short-term stability.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;Are the Yankees truly out on Tatsuya Imai?&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;That speculation cooled considerably Tuesday night when &lt;em&gt;YES Netwo&lt;/em&gt;r&lt;em&gt;k&lt;/em&gt; insider &lt;em&gt;Jack Curry &lt;/em&gt;addressed the rumors directly. Speaking on a Hot Stove segment, Curry made it clear the connection never materialized. &lt;em&gt;“&lt;strong&gt;The Yankees’ connection to Tatsuya Imai does not exist,&lt;/strong&gt;”&lt;/em&gt; Curry said, dismissing reports that had linked the two sides.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;figure class=&quot;image&quot;&gt;&lt;img loading=&quot;lazy&quot; width=&quot;1920&quot; height=&quot;1080&quot; src=&quot;https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20251225_BUS_551250_Tatsuya-Imai-pitching_d5ba7912.webp&amp;amp;width=1920&amp;amp;height=1080&quot; alt=&quot;Tatsuya Imai pitching&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-539297&quot;&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;Tatsuya Imai pitches in the Japanese league. Via MLB.&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;



&lt;p&gt;According to Curry, the Yankees are prepared to open the season with &lt;strong&gt;Ryan Yarbrough&lt;/strong&gt; penciled in as the No. 5 starter if needed. That stance reflects confidence in internal options rather than a desire to chase another high-priced arm on the market.&lt;/p&gt;


        &lt;div class=&quot;wp_fsn_relatedlinks&quot; id=&quot;BUS#/mlb/mlb-rumors-ny-yankees-join-ny-mets-in-battle-for-former-phillies-player-as-plan-b-to-cody-bellinger&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;


&lt;h2&gt;Rotation questions remain, but urgency does not&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;The Yankees are expected to begin the 2026 season without several key starters. &lt;strong&gt;Gerrit Cole&lt;/strong&gt; continues his recovery from Tommy John surgery, &lt;strong&gt;Carlos Rodon&lt;/strong&gt; may not return until late April or May, and &lt;strong&gt;Clarke Schmidt&lt;/strong&gt; is likely to miss most of the season following his own elbow surgery.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Even so, the projected rotation—including &lt;strong&gt;Max Fried&lt;/strong&gt;, &lt;strong&gt;Luis Gil&lt;/strong&gt;, &lt;strong&gt;Cam Schlittler&lt;/strong&gt;, and &lt;strong&gt;Will Warren&lt;/strong&gt;—has reduced pressure to pursue external reinforcements like Imai. The Yankees appear willing to absorb early-season uncertainty rather than commit resources prematurely.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;How Bellinger factors into New York’s patience&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;With &lt;strong&gt;Bellinger’s status s&lt;/strong&gt;till unresolved, the &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/mlb/yankees-rumors-team-reportedly-develops-backup-strategy-if-cody-bellinger-opts-out-of-signing-for-next-season&quot;&gt;Yankees are keeping backup options open across the roster&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;. Any major pitching addition could be influenced by how that situation plays out, reinforcing why the club has resisted aggressive moves elsewhere.&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;div class=&quot;wp_fsn_poll&quot; id=&quot;694d2f14e2d53b59fb2f06db&quot; data-title=&quot;Should the Yankees have pursued Tatsuya Imai to stabilize the rotation?&quot; data-options=&quot;4&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;


&lt;p&gt;For now, &lt;strong&gt;stepping back from Imai aligns with a strategy built on flexibility&lt;/strong&gt;. Whether that patience extends beyond the winter will depend largely on how the Bellinger talks conclude—and how the rotation holds up once the season begins.&lt;/p&gt;


        

        

MLB Rumors: NY Yankees appear unlikely to pursue Tatsuya Imai amid Cody Bellinger uncertainty

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MLB Rumors: NY Yankees appear unlikely to pursue Tatsuya Imai amid Cody Bellinger uncertainty - Bolavip US

NY Yankees appear unlikely to pursue Imai amid Bellinger uncertainty

&lt;p&gt;The &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/new-york-yankees&quot;&gt;New York Yankees&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; have yet to make a splash in the &lt;strong&gt;MLB&lt;/strong&gt; offseason. Coming off a somewhat disappointing campaign, many expected the Pinstripes to go all in ahead of the 2026 season. However, that hasn’t been the case. Now, a report suggests New York might be after a temporary patch rather than a long-term solution to aid the lack of bona fide starting pitchers on the active lineup.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;With &lt;strong&gt;Gerrit Cole, Clarke Schmidt, and Carlos Rodon out&lt;/strong&gt; to start the 2026 &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/mlb&quot;&gt;MLB&lt;/a&gt; season, Max Fried is being left out to dry by the Yankees’ front office. That could all change as there is still time for New York to shakeup its roster and bullpen. Still, most signs suggest the Bronx Bombers are focusing on other positions at the moment. &lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Obviously, re-signing Cody Bellinger holds priority, with &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/mlb/yankees-rumors-team-reportedly-develops-backup-strategy-if-cody-bellinger-opts-out-of-signing-for-next-season&quot;&gt;rumors hinting the Yankees have developed a strategy if he doesn’t re-sign&lt;/a&gt;. Still, surrounding Fried with another star pitcher could prove to be just as paramount. &lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;On that note, a report indicates the Yankees &lt;strong&gt;could be after former &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/kansas-city-royals&quot;&gt;Kansas City Royals&lt;/a&gt; pitcher Michael Lorenzen,&lt;/strong&gt; looking for him to fill the position before Cole, Schmidt, and Rodon return to the mound at Yankee Stadium. Lorenzen is currently unsigned for the 2026 MLB campaign.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;figure class=&quot;image&quot;&gt;&lt;img loading=&quot;lazy&quot; width=&quot;1920&quot; height=&quot;1080&quot; src=&quot;https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20251224_BUS_551210_michael-lorenzen_4460e8f0.webp&amp;amp;width=1920&amp;amp;height=1080&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-551212&quot;&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;Michael Lorenzen in action for the KC Royals&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;Lorenzen could help out Yankees&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;“The New York Yankees are in the position of &lt;strong&gt;needing a bridge starter&lt;/strong&gt;, essentially, until Gerrit Cole, Clarke Schmidt and Carlos Rodon can recover from injuries. Lorenzen isn’t the sexiest option, but &lt;strong&gt;he has the pedigree to warrant consideration&lt;/strong&gt;,”&lt;/em&gt; as stated by&lt;em&gt; FanSided’&lt;/em&gt;s Christopher Kline. &lt;/p&gt;


        &lt;div class=&quot;wp_fsn_relatedlinks&quot; id=&quot;BUS#/mlb/mlb-rumors-ny-yankees-join-ny-mets-in-battle-for-former-phillies-player-as-plan-b-to-cody-bellinger&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;


&lt;p&gt;“&lt;em&gt;Better yet: He’s an experienced reliever and can transition to the bullpen as needed. New York can figure out which role suits him best at this stage.”&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;


        


&lt;h2&gt;Lorenzen’s numbers in 2025&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;What started off smoothly turned out to be a rocky year as Lorenzen struggled to end the season. As a result, the 33-year-old pitcher—&lt;strong&gt;named to the All-Star Game in 2023&lt;/strong&gt;—posted a 7-11 record. Moreover, he registered a 4.64 ERA, 127 strikeouts, and a WHIP of 1.33 over 141 innings pitched.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;Cole’s uncertain production in 2026&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;The Yankees are set to face much uncertainty by the time Opening Day 2026 comes around in the spring. &lt;strong&gt;Cole is recovering from Tommy John surgery&lt;/strong&gt; on his right elbow. &lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;According to a report from &lt;em&gt;CBS News&lt;/em&gt; back in October 2024, about 35% of active MLB pitchers had undergone the procedure—in which a partially or fully torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) on the medial side of the elbow is &lt;strong&gt;replaced with a tendon. &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Regardless, it’s still a risky surgery that casts doubt on a pitcher’s production in the seasons following the medical intervention. With that in mind, &lt;strong&gt;it might be wise for New York to acquire pitching help&lt;/strong&gt; in case Cole—35—regresses next season.&lt;/p&gt;


&lt;div class=&quot;wp_fsn_poll&quot; id=&quot;694c6cbbe2d53b59fb2f06d9&quot; data-title=&quot;Who will be the Yankees&apos; best pitcher next season?&quot; data-options=&quot;5&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

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MLB drama: NY Yankees resorting to temporary All-Star hire to aid injury-riddled position - Bolavip US

NY Yankees resorting to temporary All-Star hire to fill key position

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Boxing Day&lt;/strong&gt; in England is more than just a date marked in red on the calendar. For decades, December 26 has been synonymous with non-stop soccer: packed stadiums, crowded pubs, and a full day of &lt;strong&gt;Premier League&lt;/strong&gt; action that became one of the most recognizable cultural hallmarks of British sport. In 2025, however, only one match will take place, featuring &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/manchester-united&quot;&gt;Manchester United&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; against &lt;strong&gt;Newcastle United&lt;/strong&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;The &lt;strong&gt;2025/26 season represents a significant exception&lt;/strong&gt;. The Premier League did not schedule a full round of matches for Boxing Day. Instead, just a single game is set for Friday, December 26: &lt;strong&gt;Manchester United vs &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/newcastle&quot;&gt;Newcastle United&lt;/a&gt; at Old Trafford&lt;/strong&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;The rest of matchday 18 was &lt;strong&gt;rescheduled for Saturday, December 27, and Sunday, December 28&lt;/strong&gt;, temporarily breaking a tradition that had endured for over a century.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;Why did the Premier League make this decision?&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;The main reason is not soccer-related but contractual and structural. &lt;strong&gt;The Premier League and its broadcasting partners agreed on a calendar requiring 33 league weekends&lt;/strong&gt;, leaving only five midweek dates throughout the season. This structure directly reflects broadcast rights sales and the strategic distribution of matches in key viewing slots.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped&quot;&gt;
&lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-large&quot;&gt;&lt;figure class=&quot;image&quot;&gt;&lt;img loading=&quot;lazy&quot; width=&quot;1920&quot; height=&quot;1080&quot; data-id=&quot;512367&quot; src=&quot;https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20251224_BUS_551192_Joelinton_17b8aec7.webp&amp;amp;width=1920&amp;amp;height=1080&quot; alt=&quot;Joelinton&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-512367&quot; sizes=&quot;(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px&quot;&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;Joelinton of Newcastle United&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
&lt;/figure&gt;



&lt;p&gt;In 2025, December 26 falls on a Friday, a day considered part of a &lt;strong&gt;“standard weekend”&lt;/strong&gt; in television contracts, rather than a holiday with multiple broadcast windows. &lt;strong&gt;To meet the 33-weekend requirement, the league moved most matches to Saturday and Sunday&lt;/strong&gt;, reserving only one game for Friday.&lt;/p&gt;


        &lt;div class=&quot;wp_fsn_relatedlinks&quot; id=&quot;BUS#/soccer/argentine-defender-turns-down-south-american-giants-to-join-lionel-messi-at-inter-miami-report&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

        

        


&lt;p&gt;Additional &lt;strong&gt;pressure comes from the expansion of European competitions&lt;/strong&gt;—Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League—and the reconfiguration of domestic cups, including FA Cup weekends with exclusive scheduling. &lt;strong&gt;The English calendar is tighter than ever&lt;/strong&gt;, and the Premier League prioritized full weekends, more valuable for television, over a full midweek matchday.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;What is the Boxing Day tradition?&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;The tradition dates back to the late 19th century, when professional soccer began to establish itself as a popular spectacle. The day after Christmas, historically associated with short travels, family gatherings, and collective consumption, found its perfect companion in &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/soccer&quot;&gt;soccer&lt;/a&gt;. Over time, Boxing Day evolved from a social custom into a global showcase: &lt;strong&gt;while much of the world went quiet for the holidays, England lit up its stadiums&lt;/strong&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;For years, matchdays featuring ten games in one day were an essential part of England’s soccer identity. The ritual&lt;strong&gt; closed the calendar year in style, with heated rivalries&lt;/strong&gt;, unpredictable results, and record-breaking audiences.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;The &lt;strong&gt;origin of “Boxing Day” goes back to the Middle Ages&lt;/strong&gt;. On the day after Christmas, &lt;strong&gt;the noble classes would give boxes or baskets of food and fruit to their servants&lt;/strong&gt;. This holiday is celebrated in English-speaking European countries and is also known as the “Second Day of Christmas.”&lt;/p&gt;

Why is Manchester United vs Newcastle the only match on the 2025 Premier League Boxing Day?

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Why is Manchester United vs Newcastle the only match on the 2025 Premier League Boxing Day? - Bolavip US

&lt;p&gt;2025 has been a year of change and breakthroughs for &lt;strong&gt;Luis Diaz&lt;/strong&gt;. His departure from Liverpool was driven by a desire for a salary increase that reflected his performances on the pitch. His first half-season with Bayern Munich has put him ahead of names like &lt;strong&gt;Cristiano Ronaldo&lt;/strong&gt; and &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/lionel-messi&quot;&gt;Lionel Messi&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; in The Guardian’s year-end ranking.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Increasingly, even legends considered among the best players in history appear lower on these lists, showing that time affects all careers. Luis Diaz’s consistent performances have elevated him, according to one of the most prestigious &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/soccer&quot;&gt;soccer&lt;/a&gt; media outlets, &lt;strong&gt;which publishes an annual ranking of the 100 best players based on votes from journalists&lt;/strong&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;The Colombian is positioned &lt;strong&gt;at number 31&lt;/strong&gt;, surpassing &lt;strong&gt;Messi at 34&lt;/strong&gt; and &lt;strong&gt;Cristiano Ronaldo at 51&lt;/strong&gt;, reflecting the relative impact of their seasons. The analysis leaves little room for debate.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;“What a year this has been for Diaz, with his highest finish yet a reflection of a year in which he &lt;strong&gt;won the Premier League with Liverpool and has already taken huge steps towards&lt;/strong&gt; following up with a Bundesliga title at Bayern Munich. &lt;strong&gt;The Colombian was an underrated huge part of Arne Slot’s incredible debut campaign&lt;/strong&gt; and perhaps has been underestimated generally; Liverpool didn’t want to pay a 28-year-old top-level wages to extend his contract and many in Germany doubted Bayern’s wisdom in pushing the boat out for a forward pushing 30,” &lt;/em&gt;said analyst Andy Brassell in The Guardian.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped&quot;&gt;
&lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-large&quot;&gt;&lt;figure class=&quot;image&quot;&gt;&lt;img loading=&quot;lazy&quot; width=&quot;1920&quot; height=&quot;1080&quot; data-id=&quot;542137&quot; src=&quot;https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20251224_BUS_551160_Luis-Diaz-looks-on_6d2a4c9f.webp&amp;amp;width=1920&amp;amp;height=1080&quot; alt=&quot;Luis Diaz looks on&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-542137&quot;&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;Luis Diaz of FC Bayern München reacts.&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;
&lt;/figure&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;Luis Diaz’s impact at Bayern Munich&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;It has been a spectacular semester for &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/luis-diaz&quot;&gt;Diaz&lt;/a&gt; since joining the Bundesliga giant. His &lt;strong&gt;13 goals and 7 assists in 22 official matches&lt;/strong&gt; across all competitions justify the accolades he has received.&lt;/p&gt;


        &lt;div class=&quot;wp_fsn_relatedlinks&quot; id=&quot;BUS#/soccer/inter-miami-reportedly-want-to-pair-lionel-messi-and-rodrigo-de-paul-with-another-argentina-international&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

        

        


&lt;p&gt;Diaz’s contributions place him ahead of players like Messi in the United States and &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/cristiano-ronaldo&quot;&gt;Cristiano Ronaldo&lt;/a&gt; in Saudi Arabia, who remain prominent but are not outperforming him in collective impact. &lt;strong&gt;He is the highest-ranked Colombian in this prestigious international ranking.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;The current form of the German powerhouse is inseparable from Diaz’s impact. The team lost points in only three official matches this semester. In the Bundesliga, &lt;strong&gt;they collected 41 points out of 45 possible&lt;/strong&gt;, the best start in the club’s history &lt;strong&gt;since the league adopted the 18-team&lt;/strong&gt;, three-points-per-win format.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Only Arsenal in the Champions League&lt;strong&gt; has managed to take points from the in-form European team&lt;/strong&gt;, which, with Díaz’s goals and assists to teammates like Harry Kane, has achieved the best start in the history of the five major European leagues since records began.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;South Americans surpassing Diaz&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;In The Guardian ranking, Diaz is ahead of other notable South Americans, including &lt;strong&gt;Moises Caicedo (32), Alexis Mac Allister (35), Federico Valverde (37)&lt;/strong&gt;, Jamal Musiala (43), and Kevin De Bruyne (73). Among South Americans, he ranks as the fifth most influential, behind only &lt;strong&gt;Raphinha, Lautaro Martínez, Vinicius Junior, and Julian Alvarez&lt;/strong&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;

Luis Díaz surpasses Messi and Ronaldo in The Guardian’s 2025 player rankings

Argentine defender turns down South American giants to join Lionel Messi at Inter Miami — Report

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo placed behind Luis Diaz in prestigious 2025 ranking - Bolavip US

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/cameroon&quot;&gt;Cameroon&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/strong&gt;will square off against&lt;strong&gt; Gabon &lt;/strong&gt;in the Matchday 1 of the&amp;nbsp;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/africa-cup-of-nations&quot;&gt;2025 Africa Cup of Nations&lt;/a&gt; &lt;/strong&gt;group stage. Here’s all the key information, including the match date, kickoff time, and streaming options for fans in the United States.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p class=&quot;has-text-align-center&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.fubo.tv/stream/live/preview/bein-sports/?title=Watch+the+Africa+Cup+of+Nations+Online+with+fuboTV&amp;amp;irad=638202&amp;amp;irmp=3119684&quot; rel=&quot;sponsored nofollow&quot;&gt;[Watch Cameroon vs Gabon online in the US on Fubo]&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Two familiar rivals get a chance to bounce back as &lt;strong&gt;Gabon &lt;/strong&gt;and &lt;strong&gt;Cameroon &lt;/strong&gt;square off after both narrowly missing Intercontinental Qualifier spots. &lt;strong&gt;Gabon &lt;/strong&gt;fell in the semifinals to &lt;strong&gt;Nigeria &lt;/strong&gt;and will look to maximize what could be one of &lt;strong&gt;Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang&lt;/strong&gt;’s final runs at the international level.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Meanwhile, &lt;strong&gt;Cameroon &lt;/strong&gt;enters eager to respond after a shock loss to &lt;strong&gt;DR Congo&lt;/strong&gt;. With the &lt;em&gt;Indomitable Lions&lt;/em&gt; led by the attacking spark of &lt;strong&gt;Bryan Mbeumo&lt;/strong&gt;, this matchup offers both sides a prime opportunity to open their AFCON campaign with a statement result.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;When will the Cameroon vs Gabon match be played?&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Cameroon &lt;/strong&gt;take on&lt;strong&gt; Gabon &lt;/strong&gt;for the Matchday 1 of the&amp;nbsp;&lt;strong&gt;2025/2026&lt;/strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;strong&gt;Africa Cup of Nations &lt;/strong&gt;group stagethis&amp;nbsp;&lt;strong&gt;Wednesday, December 24&lt;/strong&gt;. The action is set to kick off at&amp;nbsp;&lt;strong&gt;3:00 PM (ET)&lt;/strong&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;figure class=&quot;image&quot;&gt;&lt;img loading=&quot;lazy&quot; width=&quot;1920&quot; height=&quot;1080&quot; src=&quot;https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20251224_BUS_550650_Pierre-Aubameyang-of-Gabon_53c3f22a.webp&amp;amp;width=1920&amp;amp;height=1080&quot; alt=&quot;Pierre Aubameyang&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-525613&quot;&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;Pierre Aubameyang of Gabon – Michael Steele/Getty Images&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;Cameroon vs Gabon: Time by State in the USA&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;ET:&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;3:00 PM&lt;strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;CT:&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;2:00 PM&lt;strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;MT:&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;1:00 PM&lt;strong&gt;&lt;br&gt;PT:&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;12:00 PM&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;How to watch Cameroon vs Gabon in the USA&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Catch this&amp;nbsp;&lt;strong&gt;2025 Africa Cup of Nations&lt;/strong&gt; clash between&lt;strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;Cameroon &lt;/strong&gt;and&lt;strong&gt; Gabon &lt;/strong&gt;live in the USA, streaming on&amp;nbsp;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://www.fubo.tv/stream/live/preview/bein-sports/?title=Watch+the+Africa+Cup+of+Nations+Online+with+fuboTV&amp;amp;irad=638202&amp;amp;irmp=3119684&quot; rel=&quot;sponsored nofollow&quot;&gt;Fubo&lt;/a&gt;.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;Other options: Fanatiz USA, beIN SPORTS, beIN SPORTS en Español and beIN SPORTS Connect.&lt;/p&gt;

Where to watch Cameroon vs Gabon live in the USA: 2025 Africa Cup of Nations

Where to watch Cameroon vs Gabon live in the USA: 2025 Africa Cup of Nations - Bolavip US

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/al%20nassr&quot;&gt;Al Nassr&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; delivered a commanding performance against &lt;strong&gt;Al Zawraa&lt;/strong&gt; in the group stage finale of the &lt;strong&gt;AFC Champions League Two&lt;/strong&gt;, with &lt;strong&gt;Cristiano Ronaldo&lt;/strong&gt; providing crucial assists. The match ended 5-1, with Al Nassr controlling possession from start to finish and creating multiple scoring opportunities. Al Zawraa struggled to respond, unable to find a consistent rhythm against a highly organized Al Nassr. The victory secured a perfect record for Al Nassr in Group D.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;The first half saw Al Nassr open the scoring through Kingsley Coman, following sharp combinations with Angelo Gabriel and Joao Felix. &lt;strong&gt;Wesley and Cristiano Ronaldo also made key contributions, helping extend the lead to 4-0&lt;/strong&gt; before halftime. Al Zawraa managed a goal through Ibrahim Gbadamosi, reducing the deficit slightly, but it was not enough to shift momentum.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;In the second half, both teams made several substitutions, yet Al Nassr maintained dominance. &lt;strong&gt;Kingsley Coman completed his brace after a clever setup from Joao Felix&lt;/strong&gt;, while Al Zawraa could not capitalize on their chances. The match ended 5-1, showcasing Al Nassr’s tactical depth and attacking quality. &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/cristiano-ronaldo&quot;&gt;Cristiano Ronaldo&lt;/a&gt;’s involvement in the buildup highlighted his impact in the team’s continental campaign.&lt;/p&gt;

Al Nassr and Al Zawraa clash in the AFC Champions League Two

Welcome to our live blog of the AFC Champions League Two group stage finale.
Al Nassr face Al Zawraa today in a decisive matchup, with knockout stage implications still in play. Al Nassr arrive having already secured qualification and first place in the group, while Al Zawraa need a result to advance.
Stay with us for key information and minute-by-minute updates as both teams square off in this continental showdown.

Start time!

Al Nassr vs Al Zawraa will get underway at 11:00 AM ET (PT:8:00 AM)

Today's venue

King Saud University Stadium, commercially known as Al-Awwal Park, hosts today’s AFC Champions League Two match in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The stadium, which serves as Al Nassr’s home ground, has been operated by Saudi Media Company since September 2020 and features a seating capacity of 25,000, providing the stage for this decisive group finale.
Here's how it looks:
<figure class="image"><img class="size-full wp-image-550822" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20251224_BUS_550752_al-nassr-stadium_f25abce2.webp&width=1920&height=1080" alt="A general view inside the stadium Al-Awwal Park." width="1920" height="1080"><figcaption> A general view inside the stadium Al-Awwal Park.</figcaption></figure>

Is Cristiano Ronaldo playing today?

<a href="https://bolavip.com/en/soccer/is-cristiano-ronaldo-playing-today-for-al-nassr-vs-al-zawraa-in-2025-afc-champions-league-two-matchday-6">Everything points to Cristiano Ronaldo being involved in today’s match</a>, as he has been named in the squad and is expected to be part of the starting lineup for Al Nassr against Al Zawraa. The Portuguese star is set to return after weeks of strategic rotation designed to manage fatigue, with head coach Jorge Jesus stating clearly, “Cristiano Ronaldo will be there for the game against Al Zawraa,” leaving no doubt about his availability for this group stage finale.

Al Nassr confirmed lineup!

Al Nassr have officially confirmed their starting lineup for today’s match against Al Zawraa, with Cristiano Ronaldo included in the XI and wearing the captain’s armband.
Confirmed lineup: Bento Krepski; Sultan Al-Ghannam, Abdulelah Al-Amri, Ali Lajami Saad, Abdullah Al-Khaibari; Marcelo Brozovic and Angelo Gabriel; Kingsley Coman, Wesley Teixeira, Joao Felix, and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Al Zawraa confirmed lineup! 

Al Zawraa have confirmed their starting XI for today’s match against Al Nassr: Jalal Hassan; Kadhim Raad Mohammed, Bajad M., Akam Hashem, H. Falah; Nasib, Hassan, Karar Nabel, Nizar Mahmoud Al-Rashdan; Mahdi Al-Humaidan, Ibrahim Tomiwa.
&nbsp;

Recent head-to-head results

<ul>
<li>October 1, 2025 – AFC Champions League Two: Al Zawraa 0–2 Al Nassr</li>
<li>April 23, 2019 – AFC Champions League: Al Zawraa 1–2 Al Nassr</li>
<li>April 8, 2019 – AFC Champions League: Al Nassr 4–1 Al Zawraa</li>
</ul>
Al Nassr have won all three recent meetings in continental competition.

Teams on the field ahead of kickoff

The teams are already on the pitch completing the final pre-match formalities, with kickoff just minutes away at Al-Awwal Park.

0' - Game is underway! (0-0)

The match is officially underway at Al-Awwal Park, with Al Nassr and Al Zawraa getting the final group stage clash rolling in Riyadh.

2' - Early fouls set the tone (0-0)

Just one minute into the match and two fouls have already been called. Al Zawraa committed the first infringement on Angelo of Al Nassr, before Angelo responded moments later with a foul of his own on Hasan as the tempo quickly picked up.

7' - Al Nassr control possession early (0-0)

Al Nassr are controlling possession in the opening minutes and continue searching for space to create damage in the final third. However, the first shot of the match belongs to Al Zawraa, as Mahdi recovered the ball and played a deep pass down the left flank to Al-Humaidan, whose effort sailed well over the crossbar.

10' - Cristiano Ronaldo tests his range (0-0)

Cristiano Ronaldo takes a long-range effort from outside the penalty area for his first warning of the match, but the shot rises well over the crossbar.

13' GOOOOOAL OF AL NASSR (1-0)

Al Nassr strike first after a brilliant team move. A sharp passing sequence ends with an unstoppable one-two between Angelo Gabriel and Kingsley Coman, freeing Coman inside the box, where he finishes calmly to give Al Nassr the early lead.
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">🚨🚨| GOAL: KINGSLEY COMAN PUTS AL NASSR AHEAD!! Al Nassr 1-0 Al Zawraa<a href="https://t.co/dkFlJzrIFt">pic.twitter.com/dkFlJzrIFt</a>— CentreGoals. (@centregoals) <a href="https://twitter.com/centregoals/status/2003861780670673402?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 24, 2025</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

19' GOOOOAL FOR AL NASSR!! (2-0)

Al Nassr double their advantage after a sequence of relentless pressure. Wesley produced a spectacular run down the flank and delivered a cross toward Cristiano Ronaldo, but Al Zawraa’s defense cleared the danger at the last moment. The resulting corner, taken by Brozovic, fell back to Wesley at the edge of the area, and he unleashed a powerful, unstoppable strike to make it 2-0.
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">🚨🚨| GOAL: WESLEY DOUBLES THE LEAD!!! Al Nassr 2-0 Al Zawraa<a href="https://t.co/bne55aGyZH">pic.twitter.com/bne55aGyZH</a>— CentreGoals. (@centregoals) <a href="https://twitter.com/centregoals/status/2003863385503678743?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 24, 2025</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

26' - Al Nassr push for a third (2-0)

Al Nassr are looking to take full advantage of the momentum and the blow dealt to Al Zawraa as they hunt for a third goal. Al Nassr continue to exploit the right flank, with Wesley emerging as the most dangerous and unbalancing player on the pitch in an outstanding performance so far.

29' - GOOOOAL FOR AL NASSR! (3-0)

After sustained pressure in search of a third goal, Al Nassr capitalize on a corner kick. Joao Felix forced the set piece with a deflected shot, then delivered the corner himself, where Abdulelah Al Amri rose to finish and extend the lead.

36' - Al Nassr survive Al Zawraa’s best chance (3-0)

Al Nassr are let off the hook after Al Zawraa create their clearest opportunity of the match. Hasan produced a strong individual move and forced the goalkeeper into a sharp save, deflecting the ball out for a corner kick that ultimately came to nothing.

42' - Al Zawraa push before halftime (3-0)

Al Zawraa are looking to pull one back in the closing minutes of the first half to stay in the match. All Zawraa are trying to hold possession, but a lack of precision in the final third continues to stall their attacks.

44' - GOOOOOAL OF AL NASSR (4-0)

Al Nassr strike again with a moment of pure quality. Wesley burst down the flank and cut the ball back into the middle, where Cristiano Ronaldo produced a sublime chipped assist over the defense. Joao Felix timed his run perfectly and finished with a delicate chip of his own, extending the lead in emphatic fashion.
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">🚨🚨| GOAL: JOAO FELIX MAKES IT FOUR WITH AN ASSIST FROM CRISTIANO RONALDO!! Al Nassr 4-0 Al Zawraa<a href="https://t.co/nE1lVEsnsS">pic.twitter.com/nE1lVEsnsS</a>— CentreGoals. (@centregoals) <a href="https://twitter.com/centregoals/status/2003869622706356546?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 24, 2025</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

45' - Halftime at Al-Awwal Park (4-0)

The first half comes to an end in Riyadh with Al Nassr firmly in control. Al Nassr head into the break with a commanding four-goal advantage after a dominant opening 45 minutes.

45' - Substitutions for Al Zawraa (4-0)

Al Zawraa make changes before the start of the second half as Hasan Abdulkareem and Karar Nabel leave the match, with Qasim Majid and Hayder Abdulkareem coming on in an attempt to shift the momentum.

45' - Second half is underway (4-0)

The second half gets underway at Al-Awwal Park, with changes for both sides. Al Nassr have also made a substitution, as Cristiano Ronaldo exits the match and Mohammed Marran comes on to lead the attack.

50' - GOOOOOAL OF AL ZAWRAA! (4-1)

Al Zawraa pull one back with a well-worked move. Substitute Qasim Majid split the defense with a perfectly weighted through ball, sending Ibrahim Gbadamosi in on goal, where he finished with composure to cut into the deficit.

56' - GOOOOOAL FOR AL NASSR! (5-1)

Al Nassr respond immediately to restore their four-goal cushion. Saad Al Nasser delivered the assist, Joao Felix smartly let the ball run with a clever dummy, and Kingsley Coman arrived to finish with class and complete his brace.
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">🚨🚨| GOAL: KINGSLEY COMAN WITH A BRACE FOR AL NASSR!! Al Nassr 5-1 Al Zawraa<a href="https://t.co/PUnINTy70w">pic.twitter.com/PUnINTy70w</a>— CentreGoals. (@centregoals) <a href="https://twitter.com/centregoals/status/2003877403710706033?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 24, 2025</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

62' - Substitutions for both teams (5-1)

Both teams make changes as the match continues. For Al Zawraa, Faisal Alhumaidan leaves the field and Bani Hani comes on. Al Nassr also rotate their lineup, with Joao Felix, Kingsley Coman, and Brozovic exiting, while Haroune Camara, Ali Al Hassan, and Rakan Al Ghamdi are introduced.

68' - Al Zawraa look to close the gap again (5-1)

Al Zawraa are attempting to cut the deficit once more. While signs of fatigue and frustration are visible, the Al Zawraa know goal difference could still prove decisive in the race for qualification. Al Nassr also made another change, with Angelo Gabriel leaving the match and Nader Al Sharari coming on.

72' - Al Nassr maintain control despite changes (5-1)

Despite the changes, Al Nassr continue to apply constant pressure and do not allow Al Zawraa to move the ball forward comfortably. The spaces being left open are creating dangerous situations, and the psychological impact of the scoreline is clearly evident as the match enters its later stages.

77' - Substitution for Al Zawraa (5-1)

Al Zawraa make another change as Nizar Mahmoud Al Rashdan leaves the match and Ali Sadeq comes on in the latter stages.

82' - Substitution for Al Zawraa (5-1)

Another change for Al Zawraa as Ibrahim Gbadamosi exits the match and Murad Mohammed comes on as they continue to adjust in the final minutes.

87' - Al Nassr see out the match (5-1)

The match is practically decided, with Al Zawraa showing little intent to reduce the deficit. Al Nassr remain in full control, continuing to dominate possession and game management.

90' - Full time at Al-Awwal Park (5-1)

The match ends with a comprehensive victory for Al Nassr over Al Zawraa. Cristiano Ronaldo shines with key assists as Al Nassr complete a dominant display to close out their AFC Champions League Two group stage campaign.

Thanks for joining us!

Al Nassr defeated Al Zawraa 5-1 in the 2025–26 AFC Champions League Two, with Cristiano Ronaldo providing key assists and Kingsley Coman scoring a brace in a dominant performance.
You followed every moment of this exciting match here, on Bolavip.
Thanks for staying with us, and see you next time!

Cristiano Ronaldo, Al Nassr make triumphant return with 5-1 win over Al Zawraa: Highlights and goals - Bolavip US

&lt;p&gt;The spotlight returns to continental action as &lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/al-nassr&quot;&gt;Al Nassr&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;, led by coach &lt;strong&gt;Jorge Jesus&lt;/strong&gt;, host &lt;strong&gt;Al Zawraa&lt;/strong&gt; in &lt;strong&gt;Matchday 6&lt;/strong&gt; of the &lt;strong&gt;2025 AFC Champions League Two&lt;/strong&gt;. While both teams have already secured qualification, the fixture has drawn attention for reasons beyond the standings. Follow &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/soccer/al-nassr-vs-al-zawraa-live-cristiano-ronaldo-set-for-2025-afc-champions-league-two-debut&quot;&gt;Al Nassr vs Al Zawraa live&lt;/a&gt; with us!&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;At the center of the discussion is &lt;a href=&quot;https://bolavip.com/en/topic/cristiano-ronaldo&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Cristiano Ronaldo&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt;, who has yet to appear in the competition after an early agreement with the coaching staff to manage his workload. That plan was designed to limit fatigue during a demanding stretch of the season.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;p&gt;However, &lt;strong&gt;the 28‑day pause in domestic competition has shifted the dynamics&lt;/strong&gt;. With Saudi league play on hold due to the national team’s Arab Cup commitments, Al Nassr &lt;strong&gt;now view this match as a chance to regain rhythm and rebuild competitive sharpness&lt;/strong&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;Cristiano Ronaldo starts, makes AFC Champions League Two debut&lt;/h2&gt;



&lt;p&gt;Cristiano Ronaldo &lt;strong&gt;is starting&lt;/strong&gt; for Al Nassr today, &lt;strong&gt;being the team’s captain&lt;/strong&gt; against Al Zawraa. Al Nassr head coach &lt;strong&gt;Jorge Jesus had already anticipated in his pre‑match press conference that Ronaldo would play&lt;/strong&gt;, affirming his inclusion in the squad after weeks of strategic rotation aimed at managing fatigue. &lt;em&gt;&lt;strong&gt;“Cristiano Ronaldo will be there for the game &lt;/strong&gt;against Al‑Zawraa tomorrow (today),&lt;strong&gt;”&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/em&gt; he said. After resting the previous games, CR7 is &lt;strong&gt;making his debut&lt;/strong&gt; in the 2025-26 AFC Champions League two today.&lt;/p&gt;



&lt;figure class=&quot;wp-block-image size-full&quot;&gt;&lt;figure class=&quot;image&quot;&gt;&lt;img loading=&quot;lazy&quot; width=&quot;1920&quot; height=&quot;1080&quot; src=&quot;https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.bolavip.com/webp/en/full/BUS_20251224_BUS_550709_ronaldo-alnassr_5b35258d.webp&amp;amp;width=1920&amp;amp;height=1080&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; class=&quot;wp-image-550712&quot;&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;&lt;figcaption&gt;Cristiano Ronaldo and players of Al Nassr celebrates victory after winning the Saudi Pro League match. Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images&lt;/figcaption&gt;&lt;/figure&gt;



&lt;h2&gt;Al Nassr lineup vs Al Zawraa today&lt;/h2&gt;


        &lt;div class=&quot;wp_fsn_relatedlinks&quot; id=&quot;BUS#/soccer/fifa-confirms-good-news-for-cristiano-ronaldo-and-al-nassr-ahead-of-transfer-window&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;


&lt;p&gt;Here’s the &lt;strong&gt;Al Nassr starting XI for today’s AFC Champions League Two Matchday 6 clash&lt;/strong&gt; against Al Zawraa: Bento, Sultan, Amri, Saad, Khaibari, Brozovic, Angelo, Coman, Wesley, Joao Felix, Ronaldo.&lt;/p&gt;


        

        

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