Top Stories

Soccer Sunday: Your Running Commentary

Tottenham and Arsenal headline today’s soccer action, as the London clubs battle it out to qualify for next season’s Champions League.

The North London Derby will possess an extra intensity than it normally has, since both Tottenham and Arsenal are fighting to qualify for the Champions League. With only 11 matches remaining for both clubs, three points either way will be immense in the race to finish top four. Tottenham’s Gareth Bale will look to extend his phenomenal form, and Arsenal will have their hands full trying to contain the Welshman.

In Spain, Atlético Madrid will visit Málaga, where they will attempt to improve their away form on the season.

AtlĂ©tico sit atop the Spanish table in defensive statistics, and, despite having only five wins in 12 away matches, will be favored to win. Both clubs sit in the top four, with AtlĂ©tico in second place, leading rivals Real Madrid by one point, and Málaga in fourth, tied on points with Valencia, but leading in goal differential. Colombian striker Radamel Falcao will be fancied to score in his fifth match in a row, while Málaga’s young phenom Isco will look to be the difference maker for his side.

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

9am – beIN Sport en Español – Catania vs. Internazionale 

9am – beIN Sport – Fiorentina vs. Chievo

9:30am – GolTV – Hoffenheim vs. Bayern Munich

11am – Fox Soccer Channel – Tottenham Hotspur vs. Arsenal

11am – beIN Sport en Español – Málaga vs. Atlético Madrid 

1pm – Univision – Pumas UNAM vs. Guadalajara 

2:45pm – beIN Sport – Roma vs. Genoa

3pm – beIN Sport en Español – Real Sociedad vs. Real Betis

5pm – UniMás – LA Galaxy vs. Chicago Fire

7pm – Univision Deportes – Atlante vs. Toluca

7:30pm – ESPN2/ESPN3.com/ESPN Deportes – Portland Timbers vs. New York Red Bulls

10pm – MLS Direct Kick/MLS Live – San Jose Earthquakes vs. Real Salt Lake

Comments

  1. Twellman way off in his commentary. Olive was well marked on that goal. It was just a perfect ball. Is Twellman always full of it or is he just having a bad night?

    Reply
  2. Really excited to see if Zardes gets a runout in the Galaxy debut.Want to see if hes nt material like people have been saying.

    Reply
  3. Bradley on now. 40th minute.

    Pjanic rolled his ankle. BeIn’s feed died for a minute. When it comes back, first thing you see is a shiny bald head in the middle of the Roma box.

    Reply
    • Roma is looking for answers and given where MB plays ,if the defense is terrible (and my god it is), then at least some questions have to be asked about his role.

      I remember at the beginning of the year, nobody thought he would be a starter at first, if at all. A little rest, a little perspective will do him fine I think.

      Cheers,

      Reply
    • Andreazzoli’s selections are quite interesting. He’s really only playing two MFs. In this case, it’s DDR and Pjanic.

      Reply
  4. some of you guys seem to think that jozy is the problem all by himself for his MNT scoring record. i don’t know if you’re aware of this, but the midfielders provide the service….

    Reply
    • if Bradley was the coach still, and this was happening with a goal scoring American setting records for Euro club but not scoring for country, he’d get roasted as inept and unable to capitalize.

      Reply
      • funny. Bradley wouldn’t have gotten critcized for Jozy’s play because Jozy played much better in Bob’s bucket system. But Jozy wasn’t a record goal scorer when Bradley was coaching the Nats; still he performed much better.

        Bradley would get just about all the blame today for Jozy’s non-scoring for the Nats if he was the coach and Jozy was setting records like this…and rightly so.

    • The difference between him and Clint in a nutshell right there. Spurs fans are in love with Siggurdson though, so no big deal…

      Reply
      • +1 on Siggy love. I can understand that more than the Demps haters, he has scored some pretty important goals while Siggy has a fraction of that. I just don’t think Clint is as highly rated by English folks as by other people. You aren’t the highest scoring midfielder in the league on a mid table team if you’re shite. And considering they think Dembele is good enough for them…

    • As long as the ball leaves your hands before you punt it it’s legit. Might as well get an extra yard if you want. Seems like a lot of keepers do this.

      Reply
  5. Deuce will be fine, if Spurs make Champions League then they will have a full plate next year, he will definitely see minutes. Remember he is getting older but at a big club like Spurs being a 60th minute super sub is not bad for a 30 year old. I actually see him starting in the role Sigurdson is filling today. That would be the Spurs best line-up, with Defoe up top.

    Reply
    • +1 Daniel McGann: I think his game is improving at Tottenham, as evidenced by his superb volley goal with assist from Jermaine Jones for the USMNT against Honduras in February. Even if Tottenham does bring in a lot big talent this summer and he would lose his starting slot, chances are he can remain a top three sub next year at a top team going into WC 2014. And under a worst case scenario, such Tottenham not planning on using him, I imagine he would get sold or loaned out to a pretty a good team.

      And let’s not forget, Dempsey’s was only earning peanuts playing for Martin Jowl at Fulham and is now pulling down $7m per year. The move was the right thing for him and his family.

      Reply
      • “I think his game is improving at Tottenham, as evidenced by his superb volley goal with assist from Jermaine Jones for the USMNT against Honduras in February.”

        Give me a break. Clint was scoring goals like that in 2006.

        What changes when you make a step up in class is your consistency. Whatever you do well, you better do it all the time, every chance you get. Or maybe you won’t get another chance.

        Clint is doing that but we’ll see whether it’s good enough.

      • call me crazy folks, go ahead, but I’d play Clint on the left flank and let him pinch IF he worked his ass hard to defend and track back. Then I’d play Bale up top. Clint gets a lot of love playing in the hole, but I think he’s best outside and crashing the box and far post late. He was good at this for the Nats for years

    • Maybe, maybe not. But Deuce has got to help himself. He knew what he was in for when he moved to a club like Tottenham. He has consistently show throughout his career he has what it takes to overcome most adversity. I think in the long run it will be good for both his club and international career that he is being thus challenged.

      Reply
      • I’d like to agree, but recent performances leave me thinking he’s reached the ceiling of where his grit will take him.

      • In all honesty, I’m worrying about that myself. NOT because he isn’t good enough or even working hard enough; but I think maybe Tottenham and Deuce just aren’t great fits. They do NOT play the same kind of football it seems. Whenever he’s in the lineup it never feels natural, fluid. He’s clearly a good player and he does have that Texas swagger so I’m loathe to count him out, ever. I just have to believe he’ll make this a positive for him.

      • What looked bad for Deuce was Holtby being signed for so much money and doing well.

        Still, no one knows what Spurs will look like going into next year. If Bale goes all bets are off.

      • I think they need to give Demps more of a shot at Left mid. That’s where he played most of the time for fulham and with Bale’s free flowing role and Dempsey’s tendency to drift inside I feel like their interplay could be lethal. I think as much as we want Dempsey to be a number ten we should acknowledge that’s not really his strength. His strength is grit and making goals happen, and that’s a helluva of a strength to have. I’d like to see him on the left for the US if we stick with a 4-3-3. But I’d rather see us in a 4-5-1 or 4-4-2 until we have the players for a 4-3-3… /rant

    • Why? He wanted an opportunity for Champions League football. If the score holds, he is a little closer. Better players to compete with comes with the territory. He is injured, not sitting, at this point. The first half was a positive sign in that the team is up without relying on a Bale moment of brilliance. Both goals were from solid team play; good runs and good shots.

      Reply
      • This.

        He’s a 24 year old super star DM that can also make magic up front. AKA he’s solid footballing gold.

      • Agreed. When announcers on Univision give a player a nickname, and pronounce it with obvious enthusiasm, you know a player is golden.

      • Haha I like that.

        But yeah, he plays quick tiki-taka football as a very fast, 6’3 defensive midfielder and just recently captained Spain’s U21 squad to a euro championship.

        The kid has literally everything. Above average height, speed, world class technical ability, leadership and youth all combined together.

        He’s the next Patrick Vieira.

    • I agree. Baffling. And I think Bayern paying so much for Martinez screwed up things for Fernando Llorente’s move to Juventus. After Atletico Bilbao played tough with Bayern and got so much money for Martinez, I think after that they expected they could demand the sky for any other players and get it–and now Llorente is leaving in summer for free.

      Reply
      • It was a ton of money but you could hardly call it a mistake. It has worked out. Bayern paid more than he was worth but they got exactly what they wanted.

      • If you get exactly what you wanted in a player, which is extremely rare, then how can you say they paid more than he was worth?

        If they had spent less on another player to do the same thing and he was a bust that would be a complete waste of the money

  6. Man wat a great day of soccer today, I’m stoked! Just too bad I got church rt in the middle…suddenly I’m startin to feel sick, lol.

    Reply
  7. how is it that Japan and S Korea have a stranglehold on the Bundesliga? It’s nothing like say the Brazilian/Argentinian stranglehold in Serie A but still it’s quite impressive for those nations. Have to wonder why nations like Thailand or Vietnam or China doesn’t have the talent such as those 2

    Reply
    • Japan and South Korea have long established connections there.

      Yasuhiko Okudera played forward for Cologne, Hertha Berlin and Werder Bremen back in the late 70’s. There are likely good players in the countries you mentioned. They just have to get found and then connected.

      Reply
    • That guy is very right about the historical links. But also it must be said that comparatively Korea and Japan are leaps and bounds ahead of other East Asian countries in terms of their leagues. A Korean team has made the finals of the past 2 AFC champions leagues (which includes the Australian A-league) and Japan also traditionally does well in Asia. Their national teams aren’t too shabby either. What’s impressive to me in Korea’s case is how even though all men must serve two years in the military, they still produce as much talent as they do. They even have a military sponsored team in the K-league for some of the conscripted players to compete in, though it’s normally pretty bad. If you ever get the chance to take in a K-league game, do it. Beautiful fan atmosphere with chanting and flags, cheap tickets, and you can even bring in your own beer!

      Reply
  8. how about some support for Jozy. he’s in the running for top 3 goal scorers in Holland. at the moment he’s 4th but if he can keep his team in it he may finish the season with 22 goals or so

    Reply
  9. Johnson and Williams starting today v. Bayern Munich. The only question the commentators have is how much Hoffenheim will lose by.

    Reply
    • How is there no mention of this game ANYWHERE? Got some of my Mexican friends coming over to watch the game, hope I don’t end up with egg tacos on my face.

      Reply
      • Well, the Mexican youth teams are traditional powerhouses at this level and the game is in Mexico. I’d say you might want to find a bib to wear for the party.

      • Any word on who will be playing for us? Is Cuevas fit? Seem to remember him picking a knock, and besides Cropper did anyone else go back to their clubs?

        I might be the only one, but I think any time we play Mexico at any level it’s a big deal… Hope our boys come out to play

      • I see this will also be on GalavisiĂłn (they mentioned it during Pumas-Chivas). For some who might not have Fox Soccer.

  10. AZ has been slightly dominant, but on a freak ball from a deflection off the ref, while they were moving forward, RKC took the lead. Etiene Reijnen again was the one who didn’t clear the ball. It was a nice shot.

    Jozy has been looking good, lots of movement, with good passing. But for anyone who wonders why AZ is hovering just above the relegation zone, the first half encapsulates this season.

    Reply
  11. Some good match-ups today. I’m happy that I’ll be able to watch footy on Sunday evenings again, with the return of MLS.

    Reply
  12. Joe Gyau started for FC St. Pauli at VfR Aalen. 0-0 in the 82nd minute and Gyau still in and St. Pauli already has made three subs.

    Reply
      • St. Pauli won on a controversial late penalty to get the much needed three points. It was Gyau’s first start since, I think, October. He started as right-winger, and then switched to left-wing and then back and forth throughout the game. I thought he put in a solid performance in the context of a team that had major difficulties with midfield link-up. It appeared that St. Pauli Coach Frontzek, MB’s old coach at Gladbach, had instructed Gyau to focus a lot defensively. In the first half, he seldom strayed far from the midfield area and was constantly tracking back to help the fullbacks.

        He seemed to be lacking the confidence that he showed last autumn and, obviously, with the lack of game time was no doubt a bit rusty. But you can see the potential danger his speed offers. He simply needs to work 24-7 to improve his technique and skills in order to nail down a starting slot on the team. St. Pauli has the option to keep him for one more year after this season. (Although not sure if the option holds if Hoffenheim drops to the 2. Bundesliga, which is looking highly possible.)

        What is most important in this game is that St. Pauli won with him in the line-ups that St. Pauli Coach Frontzek, MB’s old coach at Gladbach, kept him in the whole game and instead pulled out the other youngsters who started, Gogia and Thy, who in previous games had been starting ahead of Gyau. But part of the reason Gyau got the start was injuries to Fin Bartels and Christopher Buchtmann.

    • Does not matter how many he score in Dutch league, but he can’t score for US in Concacaf then he still prove nothing

      Reply
      • Eddie Johnson might agree, but I think plenty of people would argue that scoring in Holland proves a lot more than scoring in CONCACAF.

      • My argument is he was scoring nada in Europe and not as good as he is now, yet still scoring for the USA. So he is better and scoring now but can’t score for USA? Is anyone scoring for the USA? I think we can’t judge Jozy fully based on the questions around the USA team itself.

      • Wondolowski’s situation has also remained constant, scoring in MlS but not for USA. But how can Jozy be and even better player now but not scoring like he was with the USA?

      • I don’t think the issue is IF he has scored for the MNT, it has to do him being hot at club level but really not making much of an impact at national level, and please don’t bring up stats of years past since the game is played in present tense.

      • I replied specifically to the above comment, which stated:

        “but he can’t score for US in Concacaf then he still prove nothing”

        That is not correct. He has scored plenty in CONCACAF. That statement does not leave it open to which years we include, it simply is a blanket statement that Jozy never scores in CONCACAF…which is not true.

        I would agree that Jozy needs to do that more consistently and with this team, in this year, with this coach. But it’s also plain as day that he hardly gets any good service playing for the nats. Until that changes (figuring out our midfield), the strikers will continue to struggle.

        So yes, I will bring up the past because the statement I responded to included the past. I am not a Jozy fan boy, I am not a Jozy hater. But I’m sick of having through scroll through the same lame statement on every thread.

      • Have people already forgotten that it was Jozy who rifled a shot past Iker Casillas to give us our biggest win as a national team?

        How much can a player impact the national team when he keeps getting dropped for his lack of fitness and unwillingness to put up with poor coaching?

        The quality of play across the board has declined under Klinsmann, not just Jozy.

Leave a Reply to WG Cancel reply