Defending English Premier League champion Manchester City begin defense of their title today with a road trip to Newcastle to take on a Newcastle United side intent on pulling an upset.
City will face multiple challengers for their crown, and starting the season off with a road victory will be paramount. Newcastle underwent some roster changes that will make competing for a top seven place in the English Premier League difficult, but today should show us just where Newcastle can be expected to finish this season.
In Brazil, Palmeiras take on Kaka and Sao Paulo, while Spanish side Valencia and Italian side AC Milan face off in one of the final preseason friendlies over in Europe.
Here in America, D.C. United take on the Colorado Rapids in a match-up of aspiring playoff teams looking to break recent slumps.
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.
TODAY’S SOCCER ON TV
10:00 a.m. – Prussia Munster vs. Bayern Munich – ESPN 3
11:00 a.m. – Newcastle United vs. Manchester City – NBCSN
1:00 p.m. – Toluca vs. Pachuca – UniMas
3:00 p.m. – Bordeaux vs. Monaco – beIN Sports en Espanol
3:00 p.m. – Valencia vs. AC Milan – beIN Sports USA
3:00 p.m. – Palmeiras vs. Sao Paulo – GolTV USA
6:00 p.m. – Chivas Guadalajara vs. Santos Laguna – UniMas
8:00 p.m. – D.C. United vs. Colorado Rapids – Univision Deportes
Hope Ottowa takes the Scorps down a notch. Probly won’t happen though…
Just caught last few minutes of CSKA v Spartak, but there’s a ton of hacking and kicking.
Sounds great! DVRing that one. Gotta check it out.
Even if it was become of injuries to hand an 18 year old with no pro experience a start is significant and he looked pretty decent too. Very impressive stuff. These young players coming up are really surpassing my expectations.
Henderson’s pass to Sterling was very very nice. 40 yard pass through traffic, weighted perfectly so that Raheem only had to hit it first time.
The LFC v. Southhampton match was tense. Sturridge with a nifty flicked goal on LFC’s only good chance of the 2H. Credit to Southhampton for dictating good stretches of play.
Roger’s side was more restrained today in pace and attacking sequences (the opposition gets some credit for sure) compared to what we saw at Anfield last season. Glad both Sturridge and Sterling nothing off the mark.
Glad Sturridge and Sterling *got* off the mark.
I could tell it was the first match of the campaign. Players were visibly winded. The Saints got their tactics right, and caused some problems, but I’m glad that Rodgers saw it, and made the changes. 2 goals is good, and was enough to decide the match. I’ll expect a different roster next week against City though.
I think LFC can pressure City’s back line if we maintain the pace and incisiveness of the previous campaign. Plus Manquillo and Lovren are upgrades. Should be an exciting match. Sucks that it’s during a work day.
Anybody catch 18 year old Rubin Rubio’s debut for Utrecht? He went the full 90 in a 2-1 is all I know thus far.
He miss hit the ball that Utrecht scored on, was credited with an assist. Was good 1v1 against the defenders, played well by all accounts, twitter, big soccer etc.
Here is the assist
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x23wqtb_jens-toornstra_sport?start=1
Thanks!
Thanks for the video.
Glad to see him playing in the opener… Not much of an assist more like a wiff that somebody else took care afterwards.
Looking forward to more from him and a number of other young players this season..
I am expecting a big defeat at the hands of Man City because it always seems to happen recently. I will try not to overreact but I am not hopeful.