February 2025 Archive — What mattered this month

February served up tight games, surprise results and a few big headlines beyond the pitch. If you missed the month, here’s a clear, quick rundown of what we published and why it matters — from Barcelona reclaiming La Liga’s summit to a mixed reception for Robert De Niro’s first big TV role.

Sports roundup: matches that shifted momentum

Barcelona edged Las Palmas 2-0 thanks to late magic from substitutes Dani Olmo and Ferran Torres. Barcelona held the ball for long spells but needed quick-thinking bench options to break a compact defence — a reminder that depth wins you titles.

At Estádio do Dragão, FC Porto and AS Roma drew 1-1 in a nervy Europa League first leg. Zeki Celik put Roma ahead late, and Francisco Moura answered for Porto. The game featured a red card for Bryan Cristante and forced tactical reshuffles after Paulo Dybala’s injury — a tie still very much open heading into the return leg.

Back in the Premier League, Manchester United were stunned 2-0 at Old Trafford by Crystal Palace. The result raises questions about United’s home form and squad health after a match that exposed tactical weaknesses and injury struggles.

Tottenham finally shook off a rough run with a 2-0 win over Brentford. Son Heung-min’s set-piece caused an own goal, and a late strike from substitute Pape Matar Sarr sealed the win. That result was less about flair and more about grinding out three points when it counted.

Injury, entertainment and transfer talk

Luka Doncic’s Lakers debut was pushed back by a lingering calf problem. His return was targeted for February 10, which kept fans and broadcasters waiting. That delay matters: a healthy Doncic changes the Lakers’ ceiling and the league’s balance of power.

On screens, Netflix’s Zero Day landed with mixed reactions. Robert De Niro’s TV turn drew attention, but critics called the plot predictable and the political themes handled too lightly. The series sparked debate: is star power enough when the story doesn’t deliver?

Off the field, transfer whispers kept people talking as Manchester City eyed Nico Gonzalez. The deal could trigger a €60m release clause and, because Barcelona included a 40% sell-on clause, Barca stands to gain around €24m if the move goes through. That kind of cash matters for clubs juggling budgets and sporting plans.

Want more detail on any of these stories? Click through to the full reports for match stats, manager quotes and transfer specifics. February packed movement and uncertainty — and those threads will carry into March.