Christmas is still a month a way, but it will feel like Christmas to soccer fans today as they get treated to a loaded schedule of top matches, including the highly-anticipated Barcelona-Real Madrid showdown.
Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka will will take part in their first editions of 'El Clasico', as will Barcelona's Zlatan Ibrahimovic. It remains unclear whether Ronaldo and Barca star Lionel Messi will start due to slight injuries, but both are expected to play some role in this La Liga battle.
Barca-Real is just one of several marquee match-ups, including the Merseyside Derby between Everton and Liverpool, and today's other featured match, between London powers Chelsea and Arsenal.
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):
SUNDAY'S SOCCER TV SCHEDULE
8:30am– Setanta USA- Everton vs. Liverpool
9am– FSC- Inter Milan vs. Fiorentina
9am– ESPN360.com- Cagliari vs. Juventus
11am– FSC/FSE- Arsenal vs. Chelsea
11:15am– Setanta USA- Kettering vs. Leeds United
1pm– GolTV/ESPN Deportes/ESPN360.com- Barcelona vs. Real Madrid
1pm– Telemuno- Toluca vs. San Luis
2:45pm– FSC/FSE/RAI- Catania vs. AC Milan
3pm– ESPN2/ESPN360.com- Atletico Madrid vs. Espanyol
3pm– Setanta USA- Olympique Lyon vs. Stade Rennes
4pm– GolTV- Corinthians vs. Flamengo (Delayed)
5pm– Azteca America- Morelia vs. Santos Laguna
6pm– Setanta USA- Everton vs. Liverpool (Delayed)
7pm– FSC- Wolves vs. Birmingham City
————
Daniel Alves:Achievement Unlocked Good Friend
Chelsea. Never seemed to panic and were content with simple deep defensive positions. 3-0, away from home, and a hold on the match? Wins my vote.
Ridiculous comment. You think Chelsea would still be this good if Drogba got hurt? They’d be a tough team to play still, but they’d be struggling to find goal just like Arsenal, even with Anelka still there. YOu can’t replace someone with van Persie’s finishing ability.
Cheers to you, too.
Well, I think a side that has a better midfield, as does Barca, will not suffer as much when playing a man down. They can control possession and since they were a goal up, could kill the game with that possession. The situation favored them. I do see your point though that they did it with flair.
As to Arsenal missing Van Persie, they have been repeatedly touted as the best attacking team in the EPL, and Van Persie is just one player. 3-0 at the Emirates takes the cake for me. Again, though…I’m biased.
Cheers,
ehhh, i dunno. I think you need to take into account the fact that arsenal were missing their best attacker as well as their first and second choice left backs.
That was a full strength madrid side, Barca were forced to play a man down for a half hour, and never looked worse for wear.
I’m wholly biased as a Chelsea fan but going to Emirates, winning 3-0, and never once looking threatened is more impressive than Barca winning 1-0 at home over Madrid.
It was a good game for Barca but Madrid had the better of the game in the first 1/2, could have scored, and then the game could have different.
Both good wins though.
Well done, sir!
Chelsea. Arsenal never had a chance to win that game. Barca game on the other hand would have been a lot different had Ronaldo scored in the first half. Still very impressive keeping the ball like that with a man down.
I’ll say it’s very close but Barcelona is slightly better. Then again, I have a soft spot for this Barcelona team. They play beautiful and I love to watch them play.
i’d have to say barca
you could not even tell they were a man down
So here’s a question for SBI readers. Who came away looking more impressive today, Chelsea with its 3-0 win vs. Arsenal, or Barcelona beating Real Madrid 1-0 despite playing a man down for 27 minutes?
Yes, really, i had to go outside to get sumthin from the car, and came back, 10 mins later, i found out Busquets got a Red, and i was like
WAAAAAT???
Messi did outplay Ronaldo, Attackin and in Defense….he frustrated the Madridistas, but only cuz he outplayed him today doesnt mean that he’s that much better, Messi and Roanaldo are two great players, u can compare and contrast but its too hard
Bob, I’ve always wondered: what do you do between international weeks? Besides reading SBI, that is…
If you didn’t see the red card, you would never know from play that Barcelona was down a man for twenty or more minutes.
I am not sure you can say that on a day where for all he did he did not create a chance. Ronaldo did a lot today after being out, and I am not really sure that you can say Messi outplayed Ronaldo.
Adu did all the hard work for his Belenenses player with the setup – and the teammate sliced it wide.
barcelona’s possession is outstanding, the individual skill of their players is something you rarely ever see
Belenenses blew a 2-0 lead with a man advantage to draw 2-2
Freddy Adu came in for the last ten minutes didn’t get many touches but played a perfect through ball in stoppage time that the striker missed wide by inches to win the game.
man, I wish I had the personal skills that the barcelona players have. It’s amazing how they can control the ball. The first touch is just amazing.
Did not live up to my expectations, but the build up was to blame, i guess. Taking off ronaldo killed madrid’s attacking purpose.
Josep Guardiola:Achievement unlocked Grind it Out
i would say that this game solidifies messi as the best player in the world, by a decent margin
he showed magic today
FINAL- Barcelona 1, Real Madrid 0. Not a bunch of goals, but a great match. Back and fourth, Madrid played the better first half, but Barcelona had the better of the second half despite playing a man down for 27 minutes. The rematch in Madrid should be great.
that was a ridiculous pass
casillas saves madrid from certain loss
90th minute- RED CARD for Lassana Diarra. A second yellow for taking out Messi.
89th minute- WHAT a pass from Alves to Messi, and a great save by Casilla stops it.
no way, keep us udpated
he appeared to be onside
Freddy Adu has been subbed in!
Hell has frozen over.
madrid skys a wide open goal from 4-5 yards
even a man down, barca’s possession is a head above madrid
so close!
what a build up
old man raul coming in
Puyol is a beast today.
messi is simply magical
so close on the header
It may actually help Madrid to diversify their attack by pulling CR7(9).
despite his form, CR7 was all of madrid’s attacking presence
even though he isn’t in the best form, he was the attack
that is a shocking decision
63rd minute- RED CARD BUSQUETS!! Real Madrid a man up now.
i love the decision to use zlatan as a supersub
yeah man, i thought they were some crummy calls
i love football, not just barca
I love world class players and goals. That finish ain’t easy, no way. Zlatan timed that strike perfectly. Now c’mon Real and make this a game!
Credit to Alves on that assist. His first touches of the game were nightmarish so to see him deliver that good a ball was a bit surprising.
Wow, I detest whiney Danielle Alves but that cross was…lovely. and Zlatan is a beast.
great cross by dani alves and great left-footed volley from close range from Ibra”cadabra”hemovic.
56th minute- GOAL BARCELONA!!!! Ibrahimovic with a beautiful volley blast off a great Alves cross in. Barcelona 1, Real Madrid 0.
Anovato, did you complain this much in the semi-final of the champions league final against chelsea, when chelsea were denied about 5 penalty claims.