If you woke up today wondering who won the game yesterday soccer fans are currently buzzing about, you probably missed a wild Wednesday. January 14, 2026, wasn't just another midweek slate of matches. It was a day where giants stumbled in the snow of Germany and London turned red during a chaotic Carabao Cup semifinal.
The biggest headline? Arsenal went into Stamford Bridge and basically dismantled Chelsea’s defensive reputation in a 3-2 thriller. But that's only half the story. From the high-stakes drama of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) semifinals to a bizarre upset in the Copa del Rey, yesterday gave us plenty to talk about at the water cooler.
Arsenal Silences the Bridge in Carabao Cup Semis
Look, London derbies are always tense, but this one felt different. Arsenal secured a massive 3-2 away win against Chelsea in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semifinal. Mikel Arteta’s squad looked like a well-oiled machine for about 70 minutes before things got a bit dicey.
Ben White opened the scoring early, nodding home a cross from Declan Rice in just the 7th minute. Honestly, Chelsea looked shell-shocked. It didn't get better for the Blues after the break when Viktor Gyökeres capitalised on a Robert Sánchez blunder to make it 2-0. When Martín Zubimendi added a third in the 71st minute, most people—myself included—thought it was over.
Then Alejandro Garnacho happened.
The kid single-handedly kept Chelsea in the tie. He bagged a brace in the final 15 minutes, including a thunderous half-volley that nearly took the net off. Arsenal holds the lead heading back to the Emirates, but Garnacho’s heroics mean the second leg on February 3rd is going to be absolute cinema.
Morocco and Senegal Punch Tickets to AFCON Final
The Africa Cup of Nations is reaching its boiling point. If you were looking for goals in the Nigeria vs. Morocco semifinal, you were disappointed for 120 minutes. It was a tactical chess match. Gritty. Intense. Sorta exhausting to watch.
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Nigeria’s defense was a literal brick wall. Morocco dominated possession but couldn't find a way through. It went to penalties—the ultimate heartbreaker. Morocco eventually triumphed 4-2 in the shootout at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium. They’ll face Senegal in the final after the Lions of Teranga edged out Egypt 1-0 in the earlier kickoff.
It’s the final everyone wanted. Morocco’s technical flair against Senegal’s raw power.
Bundesliga Chaos and Bayern's Road Trip
In Germany, the weather was cold but the offenses were hot. Bayern Munich travelled to Cologne and put on a clinic, winning 3-1. It wasn't quite as easy as the scoreline suggests, though. Cologne actually held them to a 1-1 draw until deep into the second half before Bayern’s depth eventually told.
The real shocker of the night? Hoffenheim absolutely demolished Borussia Mönchengladbach 5-1. You don't see Gladbach fall apart like that very often. Meanwhile, RB Leipzig kept their title hopes alive with a professional 2-0 win over Freiburg.
Who Won the Game Yesterday Soccer: All Major Results
To make it easier to track who came out on top, here is a breakdown of the scores across the major competitions from Wednesday, January 14, 2026.
English Carabao Cup (Semifinal First Leg)
Chelsea 2 - 3 Arsenal
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Africa Cup of Nations (Semifinals)
Nigeria 0 - 0 Morocco (Morocco wins 4-2 on penalties)
Senegal 1 - 0 Egypt
German Bundesliga
Wolfsburg 2 - 1 St. Pauli
FC Köln 1 - 3 Bayern Munich
RB Leipzig 2 - 0 Freiburg
Hoffenheim 5 - 1 Borussia Mönchengladbach
Italian Serie A
Napoli 0 - 0 Parma
Inter Milan 1 - 0 Lecce
Spanish Copa del Rey (Round of 16)
Albacete 3 - 2 Real Madrid (The upset of the season!)
Deportivo Alavés 2 - 0 Rayo Vallecano
Real Betis 2 - 1 Elche
Scottish Premiership
Falkirk 0 - 1 Celtic
Hearts 2 - 0 St. Mirren
The Real Madrid Disaster in Albacete
We have to talk about Albacete. Seriously.
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Real Madrid traveled to the Carlos Belmonte stadium for what everyone assumed would be a routine Copa del Rey win. It was anything but. Albacete, currently sitting in the second tier, played like their lives depended on it. They won 3-2, knocking the reigning kings of Europe out of the competition.
Madrid started a rotated squad, sure. But with the talent they had on the pitch, there's no excuse for conceding three goals to a Segunda side. It’s the kind of result that creates a "crisis" headline in Madrid for the next two weeks.
What This Means for the Weekend
The ripple effects from yesterday's games are huge.
- Arsenal's Confidence: Beating Chelsea away gives them massive momentum heading into a tough Premier League fixture against Nottingham Forest this Saturday.
- Bayern’s Pressure: Bayern continues to breathe down the neck of the leaders, and with Leipzig also winning, the top of the Bundesliga is a total logjam.
- The AFCON Final: Mark your calendars for the final between Senegal and Morocco. It’s a clash of styles that will likely determine the best team on the continent for the next two years.
Your Next Steps for Following the Season
If you’re trying to keep up with the breakneck pace of the 2025-26 season, don't just look at the scores.
Check the injury reports for Chelsea. Losing the first leg of a semi is bad, but they looked tired. If they don't rotate against Brentford this weekend, they’re in trouble. Also, keep an eye on the transfer market. With Real Madrid crashing out of the cup, expect Florentino Pérez to potentially accelerate some "summer" signings this month.
Stay tuned for the second legs of these cup ties and the resumption of the Champions League next month. The drama is only getting started.