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Soccer Saturday: Your Running Commentary

MauroBoselliClubLeon1-PachucaFinal2014 (Mexsport)

By RYAN TOLMICH

Liga MX is back underway Saturday with the start of the Mexican league’s Apertura campaign joining a full slate of MLS games to highlight the day’s soccer action.

Liga MX’s return is headlined by back-to-back-champions Leon, who return to action on the heels of a magical Clausura run. Rafa Marquez and co. will begin their title defense against the last non-Leon title-winner, America. Elsewhere, last season’s runners-up Pachuca take on reigning CONCACAF Champions League winners Cruz Azul, while Santos Laguna takes on Veracruz.

Meanwhile, MLS boasts a slate of seven games, headlined by a matchup pitting reigning MLS Cup champions Sporting KC, who are undefeated in their past five contests, against the LA Galaxy. In other action, the New York Red Bulls host the San Jose Earthquakes, the Philadelphia Union visit the Chicago Fire and FC Dallas takes on the New England Revolution.

Finally, Saturday features a trio of big-name friendlies, as Barcelona take on Recreativo Huelva,  Liverpool visits Preston North End and the Seattle Sounders play host to Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur.

If you will be watching today’s matches, please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below.

Enjoy the action. (Today’s TV and web schedule can be found after the jump):

10 a.m. – Preston North End vs. Liverpool – NBC Sports Live Extra

2:40 p.m. – Recreative Huelva vs. Barcelona – beIN Sports USA

4 p.m. – Seattle Sounders vs. Tottenham Hotspur – ESPN 2

6 p.m. – Cruz Azul vs. Pachuca – Univision

6 p.m. – Veracruz vs. Santos Laguna – Univision Deportes

6 p.m. – Sporting KC vs. LA Galaxy – ESPN 2

7 p.m. – New York Red Bulls vs. San Jose Earthquakes– MLS Direct Kick/MLS Live

7:30 p.m. – Columbus Crew vs. Montreal Impact – MLS Direct Kick/MLS Live

8 p.m. – Monterrey vs. Universidad Guadalajara – Univision Deportes

8:30 p.m. – Chicago Fire vs. Philadelphia Union – MLS Direct Kick/MLS Live

9 p.m. – Leon vs. America – Telemundo

9 p.m. – Houston Dynamo vs. Toronto FC – MLS Direct Kick/MLS Live

9 p.m. – FC Dallas vs. New England Revolution – MLS Direct Kick/MLS Live

10 p.m. – Atlas vs. Tigres UANL – Univision Deportes

10 p.m. – Real Salt Lake vs. Vancouver Whitecaps – MLS Direct Kick/MLS Live

Comments

  1. Ref just gifted the Union a pk on an absolutely atrocious call. I don’t see how anyone could watch that and think it was a penalty.

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  2. New England is soft… on D.

    Also this game, they basically can’t deal with the fact Dallas has fast players and it gets them in awkward positions that really shouldn’t happen.

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  3. SKC 2-1 Galaxy

    SKC great at not giving any time on the ball to opponents, as a team they do it well, did it well tonight defending, and they’re very physical. Galaxy had a couple of good chances on the break but couldn’t convert. SKC games can be pretty choppy because of how they play defensively imo, but it works for them and they’re good at it and they’re at the top right now so tip of the cap

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  4. Galaxy bring on 17 year old home grown player Jamieson 70th minute or so. thought it would be for LD who has not played well imo

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  5. SKC the better team first 45, pressuring Galaxy back four on O and D and Galaxy slow to get numbers forward in attack when they were in the final 3rd. Arena switched LD up top and brought Gyasi out to the wing and the Galaxy now in a flat 4 instead of diamond, maybe happened at the 30-35 minute mark

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  6. 25 minutes in and Benny with beautiful goal. SKC looking to pressure Galaxy makeshift back four whenever possible. LD looks sluggish, perhaps his least effective minutes in a couple of months imo. we’ll see if he responds

    Reply
  7. how did Dempsey perform? why didn’t he stay at Spurs? he might have ridden the bench but would have had more opportunities

    Reply
    • AVB was very clear that Deuce wasn’t in his plans… So much so that he referred to him as “The Player”… He wouldn’t even use his name

      Reply
  8. Historically, Tottenham have been a lower tier side. They’re not very good. You should never cheer for them.

    Reply
  9. It would be great if they could have pre-season invitational tournaments with teams from different leagues. kind of like they do with NCAA basketball. That way you could kind of measure teams & leagues. These friendlies don’t really show much.

    But of course the teams would have to care about winning the thing for it to be worthwhile

    Reply
    • You mean like the International Champions Cup? Or maybe the Copa EuroAmericana? Not that teams take it that seriously…

      Reply
  10. I know it’s just the start of preseason, but how good is Tottenham considered? Should we think of them as top tier or middle tier in EPL?

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    • I guess it depends on how you define the tiers. Tottenham will not compete for a championship but they do compete for a Champion’s League spot. They do not have the same quality as Chelsea, Arsenal, City, or Liverpool, but they are better than the middle tier teams. You can either put them at the bottom of the top tier or top of the middle tier.

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    • Particularly this year, I think they’re a middle tier club. They’ve pushed for champions league in years past, but the top 4 have really gotten after signings this offseason, and Tottenham splashed all their Bale cash last year. Assuming Man U regains some form, Tottenham is looking at 6th place as a realistic goal. Probably better than Everton this year, since they lost some prized players, but still a step below the top.

      Reply
      • There is a big difference this year for me and it has to do with the new manager, he will bring the talent out of the players that were signed before last season and they will play attractive futbol.

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