Top Stories

Soccer Sunday: Your Running Commentary

 MessiLeo (Reuters) RonaldoCrist (Getty Images)
 

Christmas is still a month a way, but it will feel like Christmas to soccer fans today as they get treated to a loaded schedule of top matches, including the highly-anticipated Barcelona-Real Madrid showdown.

Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka will will take part in their first editions of 'El Clasico', as will Barcelona's Zlatan Ibrahimovic. It remains unclear whether Ronaldo and Barca star Lionel Messi will start due to slight injuries, but both are expected to play some role in this La Liga battle.

Barca-Real is just one of several marquee match-ups, including the Merseyside Derby between Everton and Liverpool, and today's other featured match, between London powers Chelsea and Arsenal.

If you will be watching today's action, please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below.

Enjoy the action (Today's TV schedule is after the jump):

SUNDAY'S SOCCER TV SCHEDULE

8:30am– Setanta USA- Everton vs. Liverpool

9am– FSC- Inter Milan vs. Fiorentina

9am– ESPN360.com- Cagliari vs. Juventus

11am– FSC/FSE- Arsenal vs. Chelsea

11:15am– Setanta USA- Kettering vs. Leeds United

1pm– GolTV/ESPN Deportes/ESPN360.com- Barcelona vs. Real Madrid

1pm– Telemuno- Toluca vs. San Luis

2:45pm– FSC/FSE/RAI- Catania vs. AC Milan

3pm– ESPN2/ESPN360.com- Atletico Madrid vs. Espanyol

3pm– Setanta USA- Olympique Lyon vs. Stade Rennes

4pm– GolTV- Corinthians vs. Flamengo (Delayed)

5pm– Azteca America- Morelia vs. Santos Laguna

6pm– Setanta USA- Everton vs. Liverpool (Delayed)

7pm– FSC- Wolves vs. Birmingham City

————

Comments

  1. Chelsea. Never seemed to panic and were content with simple deep defensive positions. 3-0, away from home, and a hold on the match? Wins my vote.

    Reply
  2. Ridiculous comment. You think Chelsea would still be this good if Drogba got hurt? They’d be a tough team to play still, but they’d be struggling to find goal just like Arsenal, even with Anelka still there. YOu can’t replace someone with van Persie’s finishing ability.

    Cheers to you, too.

    Reply
  3. Well, I think a side that has a better midfield, as does Barca, will not suffer as much when playing a man down. They can control possession and since they were a goal up, could kill the game with that possession. The situation favored them. I do see your point though that they did it with flair.

    As to Arsenal missing Van Persie, they have been repeatedly touted as the best attacking team in the EPL, and Van Persie is just one player. 3-0 at the Emirates takes the cake for me. Again, though…I’m biased.

    Cheers,

    Reply
  4. ehhh, i dunno. I think you need to take into account the fact that arsenal were missing their best attacker as well as their first and second choice left backs.

    That was a full strength madrid side, Barca were forced to play a man down for a half hour, and never looked worse for wear.

    Reply
  5. I’m wholly biased as a Chelsea fan but going to Emirates, winning 3-0, and never once looking threatened is more impressive than Barca winning 1-0 at home over Madrid.

    It was a good game for Barca but Madrid had the better of the game in the first 1/2, could have scored, and then the game could have different.

    Both good wins though.

    Reply
  6. Chelsea. Arsenal never had a chance to win that game. Barca game on the other hand would have been a lot different had Ronaldo scored in the first half. Still very impressive keeping the ball like that with a man down.

    Reply
  7. I’ll say it’s very close but Barcelona is slightly better. Then again, I have a soft spot for this Barcelona team. They play beautiful and I love to watch them play.

    Reply
  8. So here’s a question for SBI readers. Who came away looking more impressive today, Chelsea with its 3-0 win vs. Arsenal, or Barcelona beating Real Madrid 1-0 despite playing a man down for 27 minutes?

    Reply
  9. Messi did outplay Ronaldo, Attackin and in Defense….he frustrated the Madridistas, but only cuz he outplayed him today doesnt mean that he’s that much better, Messi and Roanaldo are two great players, u can compare and contrast but its too hard

    Reply
  10. I am not sure you can say that on a day where for all he did he did not create a chance. Ronaldo did a lot today after being out, and I am not really sure that you can say Messi outplayed Ronaldo.

    Reply
  11. Belenenses blew a 2-0 lead with a man advantage to draw 2-2

    Freddy Adu came in for the last ten minutes didn’t get many touches but played a perfect through ball in stoppage time that the striker missed wide by inches to win the game.

    Reply
  12. FINAL- Barcelona 1, Real Madrid 0. Not a bunch of goals, but a great match. Back and fourth, Madrid played the better first half, but Barcelona had the better of the second half despite playing a man down for 27 minutes. The rematch in Madrid should be great.

    Reply
  13. I love world class players and goals. That finish ain’t easy, no way. Zlatan timed that strike perfectly. Now c’mon Real and make this a game!

    Reply
  14. Anovato, did you complain this much in the semi-final of the champions league final against chelsea, when chelsea were denied about 5 penalty claims.

    Reply

Leave a Comment