12 Modern Spanish Sports Expressions to Sound Like a Fan

Sports are a huge part of Spanish-speaking cultures, especially soccer, basketball, and baseball. Knowing the right slang and expressions will help you connect with local fans, understand matches, and participate in conversations like a native. From thrilling victories to tough losses, here are 12 modern Spanish sports expressions you need to know to sound like a true fan.

1. ¡Estar en la banca! – To Be on the Bench

This expression refers to players who are not actively participating in a match. It’s also used metaphorically to describe someone left out of a group or situation.

• Example: Me pusieron en la banca en el equipo de fútbol. (They put me on the bench in the soccer team.)

2. Dar en el clavo – To Hit the Mark

This phrase means making the perfect move or decision, like scoring the winning point.

• Example: Con ese gol, dio en el clavo y ganaron el partido. (With that goal, he hit the mark and they won the match.)

3. Jugar con garra – To Play with Grit

 

“Garra” means grit, and this phrase is used to describe playing with determination, heart, and effort, even in tough situations.

• Example: El equipo jugó con garra y logró remontar el marcador. (The team played with grit and managed to come back.)

4. Meter un golazo – To Score an Amazing Goal

“Golazo” is a term for an incredible or spectacular goal in soccer that amazes everyone watching.

• Example: ¡Messi metió un golazo desde fuera del área! (Messi scored an amazing goal from outside the box!)

5. Ser un crack – To Be a Star Player

“Crack” is used to describe someone who is exceptionally skilled, particularly in sports.

• Example: Ese jugador es un crack, siempre marca goles importantes. (That player is a star; he always scores important goals.)

6. Ir ganando por goleada – To Win by a Landslide

This phrase describes a game where one team is winning by a large margin.

• Example: Estamos ganando por goleada, ya vamos 5-0. (We’re winning by a landslide; it’s already 5-0.)

7. Estar fuera de juego – To Be Offside

Originally a soccer term, it now also describes someone who is out of place or doesn’t understand what’s happening.

• Example: Estaba tan distraído que parecía fuera de juego. (He was so distracted that he seemed offside.)

8. Partido de infarto – Heart-Stopping Game

This describes a game that’s so intense it feels like your heart could stop from excitement.

• Example: El partido fue de infarto, ganaron en el último minuto. (The game was heart-stopping; they won in the last minute.)

9. Dejarlo todo en la cancha – To Give It Your All

This expression means putting in your maximum effort, similar to “leaving it all on the field.”

• Example: El equipo dejó todo en la cancha para ganar. (The team gave it their all to win.)

10. Caerse del podio – To Lose a Leading Position

This phrase describes losing a top position in a competition or ranking.

• Example: Perdieron dos partidos y se cayeron del podio. (They lost two matches and fell off the podium.)

11. Hacer tiempo – To Waste Time

In sports, especially soccer, this describes deliberately delaying the game to maintain a lead.

• Example: El portero hizo tiempo para que terminara el partido. (The goalkeeper wasted time so the game would end.)

12. Salir a matar – To Play Aggressively

This expression means playing with maximum intensity and effort to win at any cost.

• Example: Salimos a matar y ganamos 3-0. (We played aggressively and won 3-0.)

Conclusion

These 12 modern sports expressions will help you talk about games, players, and victories like a native Spanish speaker. Whether you’re watching a soccer match, cheering for a team, or discussing an exciting game, these phrases will make you sound confident and natural.