The Manchester Derby stole all the headlines last week, but the focus in Europe returns to London this weekend as Arsenal and Chelsea renew their Derby.
Chelsea is coming off a disappointing derby loss to Queens Park Rangers, and will face an Arsenal side growing in confidence after a slow start to the season, thanks in large part to red-hot striker Robin Van Persie.
Saturday's schedule is loaded with high-profile match-ups in Europe, with Serie A featuring Roma-AC Milan and first-place Juventus taking on relegation zone inhabitants Inter Milan in the Derby d'Italia.
On the Americans Abroad front, Tim Howard takes on his former club, Manchester United, while Timmy Chandler will try to replicate the work of U.S. teammate Steve Cherundolo by beating Bayern Munich.
Saturday night's schedule features the best match-up of the MLS conference semifinals as Seattle takes on Real Salt Lake in a battle of West powers. 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):
TODAY'S SOCCER ON TV
7 a.m. - ESPN3.com/ESPN Deportes - Everton vs. Manchester United
7:45 a.m. - ESPN2/ESPN3.com - Chelsea vs. Arsenal
9:30 a.m. - ESPN3.com/ESPN Deportes - Bayern Munich vs. FC Nurnberg
10 a.m. - Fox Soccer Channel - Manchester City vs. Wolverhampton
10 a.m. - Fox Soccer Plus/FoxSoccer.tv - Sunderland vs. Aston Villa
10 a.m. - FoxSoccer.tv - Norwich City vs. Blackburn
10 a.m. - FoxSoccer.tv - Swansea City vs. Bolton
10 a.m. - FoxSoccer.tv - Wigan Athletic vs. Fulham
12 p.m. - Fox Soccer Plus/FoxSoccer.tv - Roma vs. AC Milan
12 p.m. - ESPN3.com/ESPN Deportes - Valencia vs. Getafe
12 p.m. - DirecTV - Villarreal vs. Rayo Vallecano
12:20 p.m. - FoxSoccer.tv - Burnley vs. Blackpool
12:30 p.m. - Fox Soccer Channel - West Brom vs. Liverpool
1 p.m. - FoxSoccer.tv - Ajaccio vs. Bordeaux
1 p.m. - FoxSoccer.tv - Brest vs. Lorient
1 p.m. - FoxSoccer.tv - Dijon vs. Marseille
1 p.m. - FoxSoccer.tv - Paris-St. Germain vs. Caen
1 p.m. - FoxSoccer.tv - Evian Thonon Gaillard vs. Auxerre
1 p.m. - FoxSoccer.tv - Montpellier vs. Nancy
2 p.m. - GOLTV - Barcelona vs. Mallorca
2:45 p.m. - Fox Soccer Channel - Inter Milan vs. Juventus
2:45 p.m. - ESPN3.com - FC Twente vs. PSV Eindhoven
3 p.m. - FoxSoccer.tv - Lyon vs. St. Etienne
4 p.m. - ESPN3.com/ESPN Deportes - Real Sociedad vs. Real Madrid
4 p.m. - GOLTV - Santos vs. Atletico Paranaense
7 p.m. - ESPN3.com - Boston College vs. Virginia
8 p.m. - GOLTV - Irapuato vs. Leones Negros
8 p.m. - Telefutura - Pachuca vs. Monterrey
8 p.m. - Telemundo - Tigres UANL vs. Santos Laguna
9:30 p.m. - Galavision - Atlas vs. Chivas de Guadalajara
10 p.m. - GOLTV - Ft. Lauderdale Strikers vs. NSC Minnesota Stars (delayed)
10 p.m. - Fox Soccer Channel - Real Salt Lake vs. Seattle Sounders
10 p.m. - Telefutura - Atlante vs. Morelia
Bad defending but good entertainment
Van Persie has hit a new level. whereas before he seemed spoiled and soft too often, his response to Arsenal’s new team and challenges this season has been impressive for sure, and I don’t particularly like Arsenal or RVP. but credit where it’s due
Inter and Juve is a firecracker… real end to end stuff!
No, I get what you’re saying. But on the first goal he stepped away from his mark. He gave up his position for no reason to step into space. If his athleticism is as poor as you say, he cannot afford to be less than perfect.
That said, I’m backing off being so pissed off at him. But I think it is a question whther or not he can get exposed
Messi with the first half hat trick. There goes that drought.
I don’t know how you can argue his positioning was poor. He got beat to two headers that he was slow to react to. The first should have been EASILY headed away. His vert leap was about 2 inches off the ground!!! The 2nd…he simply let Terry get a full step in front of him before reacting.
ANYONE who knew ANYTHING re Per could have told you he was an average aerial player. His backline positioning during the flow of the game is his strength…not his 1 vs 1 battle winning ability. That was my point.