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This weekend’s soccer on TV (UPDATED)

Lionel Messi (Reuters)

To many soccer fans, FC Barcelona is already considered the best team in the world. On Saturday, Barca will have the chance to hold that title in an official capacity.

The European champions take on South American champions Estudiantes La Plata in the final of the Club World Cup, with the winner taking the crown as world's best. Barcelona is heavily favored, but the tournament has offered upsets in the past so the Argentine club cannot be ruled out.

Barca-Estudiantes is the marquee match-up in a weekend filled with good games from Italy to England. Whether it's AC Milan-Fiorentina, or Benfica-FC Porto, there is something for everybody this weekend.

Here are SBI's Top 10 Matches to Watch, as well as a rundown of this weekend's soccer on TV:

SBI's Top 10 Matches to Watch

1. Estudiantes vs. FC Barcelona. The title of 'Best in the World' goes to the winner of this Club World Cup final.

2. Benfica vs. FC Porto. This Portuguese classic should have plenty of goals and drama as both squads look to close ground on first-place Braga.

3. Fulham vs. Manchester United. Can Clint and the Cottagers send the Red Devils tumbling with an upset?

4. Fiorentina vs. AC Milan. This battle of Champions League sides would be higher up if not for Fiorentina's domestic struggles.

5. Arsenal vs. Hull City. Could Jozy Altidore's first EPL goal come against the Gunners?

6. AS Roma vs. Parma. The Romans can complete a steep climb back into the Top 4 in Serie A with a win against surprising Parma.

7. Deportivo La Coruna vs. Valencia. Deportivo can leapfrog Valencia into fourth place in La Liga with a win. 

8. Hamburg vs. Werder Bremen. These teams are tied for fourth in the Bundesliga, but can close to within three points of first place with a win in this Northern German clash.

9. West Ham vs. Chelsea. This London Derby looks like a blowout in the making, but you can never count out the Hammers.

10. Sevilla vs. Getafe. If you're looking for some entertainment, this match shouldn't disappoint.

This Weekend's Soccer on TV

SATURDAY

5am- FSC- Melbourne Victory vs. Sydney FC

7:45am- ESPN2- Portsmouth vs. Liverpool

8am-FSC- Pohang Steelers vs. Atlante (Club World Cup)

10am- Setanta USA_ Fulham vs. Manchester United

10am- FSC- Manchester City vs. Sunderland

10:15am- RAI- Vicenza vs. Torino

11am- FSE- Estudiantes La Plata vs. FC Barcelona

Noon- ESPN360.com/RAI- Bologna vs. Atalanta

12:20pm- Setanta USA- Nottingham Forest vs. Preston

12:30pm- FSC- Arsenal vs. Hull City

1:30pm- FSE- Arsenal vs. Hull City (Delayed)

2pm- GolTV- Sevilla vs. Getafe

2pm- ESPN Deportes- AZ Alkmaar vs. ADO Den Haag (Delayed)

2:45pm- FSC/RAI- Fiorentina vs. AC Milan

3pm- Setanta USA- St. Etienne vs. Olympique Marseille

3:30pm- FSE- Fiorentina vs. AC Milan (Delayed)

4pm- GolTV- Real Madrid vs. Real Zaragoza

5pm- FSC- Aston Villa vs. Stoke City

7:30pm- FSE- Manchester City vs Sunderland (Delayed)

SUNDAY

8am- ESPN360.com- Newcastle United vs. Middlesbrough

8:30am- ESPN360.com- NAC Breda vs. Ajax

8:30am- Setanta USA- Wolves vs. Burnley

9am- FSC/FSE/ESPN360.com- AS Roma vs. Parma

9am- ESPN360.com- Juventus vs. Catania

9:30am- GolTV- Hamburg vs. Werder Bremen

10:30am- ESPN360.com- Roda JC vs. PSV Eindhoven

11am- ESPN Deportes/ESPN360.com- Espanyol vs. Almeria

11am- DirecTV- Villarreal vs. Racing Santander

11am- DirecTV- Malaga vs. Mallorca

11am- Setanta USA- Lille vs. Le Mans

11:30am- ESPN360.com- FC Cologne vs. FC Nuremberg 

12:55pm- ESPN Deportes- Roda JC vs. PSV Eindhoven

1pm- GolTV- Tenerife vs. Atletico Madrid

2:45pm- FSC/FSE/RAI- Inter Milan vs. Lazio

3pm- ESPN Deportes/ESPN360.com- Deportivo La Coruna vs. Valencia

3pm- Setanta USA- Monaco vs. Lyon

3:15pm- ESPN360.com- Benfica vs. FC Porto

5pm- FSC/FSE- Everton vs. Birmingham City (Delayed)

6pm- GolTV- Medellin vs. Huila

10pm- Setanta USA- West Ham vs. Chelsea (Delayed)

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Which matches are you most looking forward to?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Ives,

    TV5 (French TV) usually offers a Ligue 1 “game of the week” on Saturdays.

    If my backwater digital cable package has it, I’m sure most others do.

    Reply
  2. Sorry Kyle, but Jorge Jesus (Benfica coach) has given him more than enough chances to prove himself and quite frankly he hasn’t taken those opportunities…His nonexistent in games and the other forwards behind him, who don’t get much playing time like Kerrison, have contributed more than him…Anyways rumors going around that he might go out on loan to either Liverpool or Olympiacos…I’ll just laugh if he ends up in Liverpool…His weak body wouldn’t even last a day in England

    Reply
  3. “doesn’t Cherundolo play left?”

    His usual position on the USMNT is right back. No idea if he always plays that position at Hannover 96.

    Reply
  4. Kerrison hasn’t really been given much of a shot to say he’s a bust Danny. The kid needs some time to adjust. I think Brazilians usually take a little while to get used to the European game and he’s like 20 years old.

    Reply
  5. As a Villa fan, I’m worried about the Stoke fixture. The Stoke match is where it all went pear-shaped last year and I can see it happening again.

    That said, I think we’ll knick it.

    Reply
  6. You’re not dumb, Isaac. Managers who get paid much more than you (i assume) have had the same idea…he’s actually played there multiple times over the past couple years with West Ham (and maybe once for the US in this capacity) when they’ve had injury issues. The outings were not spectacular, but not bad either. With more opportunities here I agree that he could be effective.

    Reply
  7. Does anyone else kind of want to see Jonathan Spector as a defensive midfielder? Not in the traditional Rico Clark sense but sort like Massimo Ambrosini where he’s considered a defensive midfielder in a trio along side a deep-lying playmaker(Pirlo) but also a central midfielder who can widen the field and provide service. Spector seems to fit that profile pretty well and I kind of feel like it’s something worth testing.

    ————————Altidore———————-

    —————Donovan————Dempsey————-

    —-Torres————–Bradley————Spector—-

    Bocanegra——–DeMerit——-Onyewu——-Cherundolo

    Kind of get what I’m saying or am I just making myself look even dumber?(the use of the word dumber notwithstanding)

    Reply
  8. First off thank you Ives for giving love to the Portuguese league lol and also I saw a commercial for the game and its being sponsored by Red Bull Arena lol…Way to reach out to the PorChops NYRB lol…

    Anyways Japan, Kerrison has been a bust…Hasn’t performed well at all and is soon going to be shown the door…Many Benfica fans were expecting him to be a solid option off the bench to replace Cardozo or Saviola in games, but he hasn’t offerd anything and thankfully his leaving the club soon

    Reply
  9. So i’m playing FIFA10, and my friend sends me an invite, i choose USA, and he chooses England (he’s of British descent) I win 3-0, with goals from Landon Donovan, Davies and Altidore……Donovan with a nice free kick

    Reply
  10. Ives, FSC was claiming that they have Chelsea v. West Ham. Sunday morning at 8AM did you over look this or did they change their schedule? BTW Congrats on the best soccer blog award! Keep up the great work!

    Reply
  11. OMG YES ESPN360.com is going to show the Benfica-Porto game…The regular Portuguese channel never shows Portugal’s big games live anymore since they want to make extra money by forcing fans to go to a bar and pay to watch the match…Anyways as a Benfica fan I should be happy about the huge match on Sunday, but right now Benfica are going through a injury crisis…Can you believe five of our starters are out for the game : (

    Reply
  12. there’s a difference between FSC (fox soccer channel) and FSE (Fox Sports Espanol)…That should help explain the TV schedule

    Reply
  13. So you guys are saying the Barcelona Estudiantes game isn’t shown on FSC at 11? Where did you find a schedule?

    (SBI-The match is on Fox Sports Espanol at 11am. Not sure when the replay is.)

    Reply
  14. That was after he headed in Barcelona’s second in the CL final over Man Utd. I don’t know why he pulled that off. “I didn’t even have to use these?”

    Reply
  15. Better yet, how is the Gooners/Hull City game going to come on at 12:30 if the Barca game starts at 11AM?

    Nevermind…I checked the guide, and the final is going to be shown on tape delay at 9PM.

    Reply
  16. Perhaps they are assuming it will be a blowout? ha… but in all seriousness my guide has the City/Sunderland game on for a comfortable 2 hours, beginning at 10EST.

    Reply

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