By DAN KARELL
The Premier League returns this weekend, but the world’s eyes turn to Spain this weekend with Barcelona visiting Atletico Madrid.
La Liga-leading Barcelona have Lionel Messi back in tow but they face one of their toughest tests of the season at the surging Colchoneros on Saturday. Atletico have kept pace with Barcelona and are tied on points with the Spanish giants, leading to a much-hyped affair at the Estadio Vicente Calderon.
In England, Manchester United host Swansea City for the second time in a week as the Red Devils look to right their swaying ship. David Moyes’ side are coming off their third consecutive defeat with a 2-1 loss at Sunderland last Wednesday, but they’ll be hoping that one of their players can step up and lead the team in the absence of Wayne Rooney and Robin Van Persie. Americans would do well to pay attention to Sunderland vs. Fulham on Saturday as well, which could see Jozy Altidore take on his U.S. Men’s National Teammate Clint Dempsey.
Elsewhere in the world, Liga MX’s 2014 Clausura season rolls on with a number of high profile match-ups this weekend, including Cruz Azul hosting Santos Laguna, Club Tijuana facing Club America, and Morelia traveling to Toluca.
Here’s a rundown of this weekend’s soccer on TV:
FRIDAY
2:30pm – Montpellier vs. AS Monaco – beIN Sport USA
3pm – Granada vs. Real Valladolid – beIN Sport en Español
8:30pm – Querétaro vs. Pumas UNAM – ESPN Deportes/Azteca America
9:30pm – Universidad de Guadalajara vs. Mérida – GolTV USA
10:30pm – Club Tijuana vs. Club America – ESPN Deportes/Azteca America
SATURDAY
7:45am – Hull City vs. Chelsea – NBC Sports Network
10am – Tottenham vs. Crystal Palace – NBC Sports Network
10am – Athletic Bilbao vs. Almeria – beIN Sport en Español
10am – Fulham vs. Sunderland – Premier League Extra Time
10am – Everton vs. Norwich City – Premier League Extra Time
10am – Cardiff City vs. West Ham United – Premier League Extra Time
10am – Southampton vs. West Bromwich Albion – Premier League Extra Time
11am – AC Ajaccio vs. Paris Saint-Germain – beIN Sport USA
12pm – Celta de Vigo vs. Valencia – beIN Sport en Español
12:30pm – Manchester United vs. Swansea City – NBC
2pm – Atletico Madrid vs. Barcelona – beIN Sport USA
2pm – Bordeaux vs. Toulouse – Univision Deportes
4pm – Elche vs. Sevilla – beIN Sport en Español
6pm – Cruz Azul vs. Santos Laguna – Univision
6pm – Veracruz vs. Atlante – Univision Deportes
8pm – Tigres UANL vs. Pachuca – Univision Deportes
8pm – River Plate vs. Estudiantes – Fox Deportes
9pm – Club Léon vs. Atlas – Telemundo
SUNDAY
7:45am – Inverness CT vs. Dundee United – Fox Soccer Plus
9am – Cagliari vs. Juventus – beIN Sport USA
9am – AS Roma vs. Genoa – beIN Sport en Español
9:05am – Newcastle United vs. Manchester City – NBC Sports Network
11am – Evian TG vs. Olympique Marseille – beIN Sport USA
11am – Real Betis vs. Osasuna – beIN Sport en Español
11:10am – Stoke City vs. Liverpool – NBC Sports Network
1pm – Espanyol vs. Real Madrid – beIN Sport USA/beIN Sport en Español
1pm – Puebla vs. Monterrey – ESPN Deportes/Azteca America
1pm – Toluca vs. Morelia – Univision
2:45pm – Sassuolo vs. AC Milan – beIN Sport USA
3pm – Lille vs. Reims – Univision Deportes
3pm – Levante vs. Malaga – beIN Sport en Español
6pm – Chivas de Guadalajara vs. Chiapas – UniMas
Corona tears up the America defense, takes a fantastic shot…but no! It hits the post. Great stuff from Joe Benny Corona!!!
Wow then Corona springs Arce who puts it just wide!
Oh no! Castillo one on one with the keeper and shoots right at him. Save. Herc out. 0-0 71st
In Castillo’s defense, the GK took a good angle and Castillo was going for the near post and the GK got a glancing blow. It wasn’t exactly right at him.
Corona asks for a sub after getting hit pretty good. Arriola on for Corona. Corona being helped to the tunnel…
For those who didn’t see this, I doubt Corona’s injury is serious. He took a full body blow and will probably be okay with a good sleep and a day off, is my guess. He will have some bruises, but didn’t seem to hurt any joints or muscles.
Castillo with the assist/deflection. 1-0 Xolos!
Great moves around the box to get past the defenders by Corona. He’s looking like the Corona who tore up the Gold Cup. If he keeps playing like this, he may force his way back into consideration for Brazil.
Corona, Herc, and Castillo starting. Garza and Arriola on the bench.
Hey Impartial Observer, Waterlewd… Great News!! Xfinity (Comcast) which is my cable provider, DOES NOT carry “Premier League Extra Time” a.k.a. the consolation channel for those naive fans LIVING IN AMERICA, who wish to see American players plying their trade abroad. It’s OK… We’ll get the tablet device or the android mobile which (I assume) it’s better than watch the game on a 36″ or 42″ HDTV… Yoohoo!! NBC Sports Network… The king of STUPID broadcasting decisions!!
It’s ok NBC Sports, no one wants to see Dempsey vs. Altidore in a crucial relegation battle
It’s ok , …
NBC Sports makes the Extra Time channels available to all cable providers at no cost. Some cable providers carry it, others don’t. If people don’t get them, they should blame their cable provider. DirecTV and Uverse carry them.
AWESOME!! Then why not send the Spurs vs Crystal Palace game over there (Extra Time, Live Extra, whatever)? NBC Sports Network… UNsupporting American Soccer since 2012!!
OMG! Don’t be so lazy. All the games are available on NBC live Extra online.
All the NBC games are available online on NBC Live Extra. If you have an android device or a smart TV, you can also see it on your TV.
fortunately that roma game this weekend was on bein espanol, which I don’t get, and I guess it doesn’t matter anyway anymore.