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.
The Ajax match is not being shown on 360.
It fell off when he awkwardly landed after his header against man u in the champions league final.
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.
Your friend is terrible in the game. Send me a game invite and you won’t smell my 18 using USA.
That’s the day Adidas launched the shoe. He was wearing it first and it was a marketing tool as well…
It’s at 9 pm on FSC.
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
Altidore dropped from squad today
“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.
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.
Jozy — now would be a good time to earn your pounds.
doesn’t Cherundolo play left?
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.
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.
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)
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
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
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!
I AM EMPLOYED AGAIN!
IT’S A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE!
add Sunday @ 11am on FSC: West Ham vs Chelsea
How is Kerrison looking?
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 : (
there’s a difference between FSC (fox soccer channel) and FSE (Fox Sports Espanol)…That should help explain the TV schedule
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.)
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?”
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.
they intend to split the screen and show both games. but since the first game will end in a Draw, they may not show the ending :d
Hahahaha!!
Any reason Messi is holding his cleat in the picture above? Hahaha, crazy Argentinian.
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.
ESPN2 not showing a Sunday La Liga game anymore? That would be a shame…I look forward to those games.
How is the Manchester City vs. Sunderland game an hour before the Estudiantes La Plata vs. FC Barcelona game on FSC?