Los equipos empatan otra vez.

In Spanish, it is very common to use the definite article with plural nouns when talking about a specific set of things or a group understood from context.

So los equipos means the teams.

In a sports context, this usually refers to the two teams in the game that people are already talking about. Spanish uses the article more often than English does in cases like this.

Yes, this is a common point of confusion for English speakers.

Equipo usually means team in this kind of sentence, especially in sports:

• los equipos = the teams

Although equipo can sometimes relate to equipment in other contexts, here the verb empatan makes it clearly about teams competing in a game.

So in this sentence, equipos definitely means teams, not equipment.

Empatan is the third-person plural present indicative form of empatar.

That means it matches ellos/ellas/ustedes:

• ellos empatan = they tie / they draw

Because los equipos is plural, the verb also has to be plural:

• el equipo empata = the team ties
• los equipos empatan = the teams tie

Spanish often leaves out subject pronouns because the verb ending already shows who is doing the action.

Here, empatan already tells you the subject is they.

So instead of saying:

• Ellos empatan otra vez

Spanish normally just says:

• Los equipos empatan otra vez

The noun los equipos already makes the subject clear, so ellos would usually be unnecessary.

Yes. In sports, empatar means to tie or to draw, depending on the variety of English you use.

Examples:

• Empatan 1 a 1. = They are tied 1–1 / They draw 1–1.
• El partido terminó empatado. = The match ended in a draw.

In Latin American Spanish, empatar is a very normal verb for this idea.

This is a very useful distinction.

• empatan focuses more on the event or result: they tie / they draw
• están empatados describes the state: they are tied

So:

• Los equipos empatan otra vez. = The teams tie again / The teams are drawing again
• Los equipos están empatados otra vez. = The teams are tied again

In many real situations, both can be possible, but the nuance is slightly different:

• empatan = action/result in the game
• están empatados = current score situation

Otra vez means again or once again.

Yes, it is often very similar to de nuevo:

• Los equipos empatan otra vez.
• Los equipos empatan de nuevo.

Both can mean The teams tie again.

In everyday speech, otra vez is extremely common. Sometimes otra vez can sound a little more like again in the sense of yet again, depending on tone and context.

That is the most neutral word order here.

Spanish often places adverbs or adverbial expressions like otra vez after the verb:

• Los equipos empatan otra vez.

But other word orders are also possible:

• Otra vez los equipos empatan.
• Los equipos otra vez empatan.

These alternatives may sound more marked or emphatic. The original sentence is the most natural, straightforward way to say it.

Usually, yes.

The present tense in Spanish can describe:

• something happening now
• a current situation
• sports narration or commentary
• repeated actions, depending on context

So Los equipos empatan otra vez could mean:

• during live commentary: The teams tie again
• in a summary of repeated results: The teams tie again

Spanish present tense is often used in lively narration, especially in sports.

A simple Latin American-style pronunciation guide would be:

lohs eh-KEE-pohs ehm-PAH-tahn OH-trah behs

A few notes:

• equ in equipos sounds like ekee
• v in vez is usually pronounced very similarly to b
• the stress falls on:
  • eQUIpos
  • emPAtan
  • oTRA
  • vez is one syllable

Yes.

Without more context, Los equipos empatan otra vez could describe:

1. a specific moment in a game
   
   • they become tied again
2. a repeated pattern
   
   • these teams keep ending up tied

So the sentence can be interpreted as either:

• a live event
• a recurring result

Context tells you which meaning is intended.