Top Stories

Soccer Wednesday: Your Running Commentary

ArsenalDebuchyCazorlaCampbellChambers-ISI

Photo by ISIPhotos.com

By RYAN TOLMICH

The UEFA Champions League will conclude its playoff round Wednesday with five matches set to determine the remaining entrants into the tournament’s group stage.

Wednesday’s action is highlighted by Arsenal, who are set to host Turkish side Besiktas following a 0-0 draw in Turkey last week. The Gunners overcame the dismissal of star midfielder Aaron Ramsey last time out, but Arsene Wenger’s men will have to be strong defensively to avoid conceding costly away goals to Demba Ba and Beskitas.

Meanwhile, the CONCACAF Champions League features a pair of games as well, headlined by Mexican side Club Leon’s clash with Costa Rica’s C.S. Herediano. Fellow Liga MX side Pachuca will also be in action Wednesday with a visit to Guatemala’s Municipal, who won the tournament in 1974.

In other action, D.C. United takes on the LA Galaxy in MLS league play, while the Copa MX resumes when Chivas de Guadalajara takes on Zacatepec and Morelia takes on Celaya.

If you will be watching any of 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

2:45 p.m. Ludogorets vs. Steaua Bucuresti – ESPN 3

2:45 p.m. – Malmo FF vs. Red Bull Salzburg – ESPN 3

2:45 p.m. – Athletic Bilbao vs. Napoli – ESPN Deportes/ Fox Sports 2 

2:45 p.m. – Arsenal vs. Besiktas – Fox Sports 1

2:45 p.m. – Bayer Leverkusen vs. FC Copenhagen – ESPN 3 

2:45 p.m. – Branford City vs. Leeds United – beIN Sports USA

7:55 p.m. – Morelia vs. Celaya – ESPN Deportes

8:00 p.m. – Club Leon vs. CS Herediano – Univision Deportes

10:00 p.m. – Municipal vs. Pachuca – Univision Deportes

9:50 p.m. – Zacatepec vs. Chivas de Guadalajara – ESPN Deportes

10:30 p.m. – LA Galaxy vs. D.C. United – MLS Direct Kick

Comments

  1. sounds like Sunderland are going to get Ricardo Álvarez on loan, with option to buy if they stay up, from Inter Milan. creative/attacking midfielder who will hopefully help with Sunderland’s consistent problem of not getting the ball to their strikers.

    Reply
      • agreed, here is the tweet on the report:

        Tancredi Palmeri @tancredipalmeri · 2h
        Sunderland signed Inter’s Alvarez according to Sky Italy: 1m€ on for loan + 11m€ for automatic signing if Sunderland will stay in Premier

    • Wait what? An actual attacking mid? They got someone who isn’t just another defensive mid fielder. It only took them a year….

      Reply
      • How would you categorize Giacherrini?

        Or Ki Sung-yueng?

        Sunderland had a few. They did not perform.

        Didn’t they just sign Jack Rodwell this for this season? He was an attacking midfielder for Everton wasn’t he?

      • Ki was more of a ball circulator. Giacherrini hardly played. If Rodwell played an advanced role in the midfield for Everton, it was for his pressing, not his distribution.

      • Giacherrini was a left winger(ya never played) and Ki is similar to Kroos in that he just keeps the ball moving.

        I suppose I should have specified Central attacking mid. I think Sessegnon used to be that guy. Then mental fellow sold him and was never replaced.

      • Increase0,

        So you assume replacing good attacking midfielders, such as this Sessegnon, is that easy?

        Don’t you think Sunderland would have done that if they could have?

  2. There are some positive comments for a change about Jozy on the Sunderland messageboard, like this one:

    Really cannot work any harder without scoring I dont think, if he continues what he is doing he should be a starter as sets up goals and holds the ball well

    Reply
  3. “Adam Johnson seals the Black Cats’ progression to the third round, slotting home the rebound after Altidore powered through and forced a good save from Doyle.”

    Reply
  4. At lunch and SiriusXM FC had a halftime report from talkSport. They said not enough quality balls up to Jozy or Wickham. Said Wickham is playing way to wide and needs to pinch in closer to Jozy. They also said Spector coming on for the 2nd.

    Reply
  5. Cameron subbed out due to injury. great…

    38”
    Stoke City makes a sub: Steve Sidwell enters for Geoff Cameron. Reason: Injury

    Reply
    • Joe Prince-Wright ‏@JPW_NBCSports 3m
      Can confirm Geoff Cameron has suffered a groin/abdominal injury for Stoke. Nothing too serious. Shouldn’t impact any move. #USMNT #SCFC

      Reply
    • Spector subbed in (tactical)33′. Jozy has two shots: one off target, the other blocked. Sunderland has zero corners and zero shots on goal in the 68th minute. Nil nil.

      Reply
      • Gomez supposedly scored from the center circle in the 77th min. I’m skeptical but that is where Gamecast has marked the goal from.

      • They’re playing fast and loose with their assists. After a powerful run, jozy hit a decent shot from 15 yards out. Keeper blocked it toward the top of the box and another attacker finished it off.

Leave a Comment