The match millions of soccer fans around the world have spent months waiting for is finally here. Barcelona vs. Real Madrid, otherwise known as 'El Clasico', is finally here and two of the best and most expensive collections of soccer talent in the world are set to do battle.
In one corner you have Barcelona and the attacking quintet of Lionel Messi, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Thierry Hand-ry. In the other corner, you have world record transfer Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Karim Benzema, Gonzalo Higuain and Iker Casillas. Those stars will be battling for first place in La Liga, along with the early edge in the battle for best team in Spain.
If you're more of an EPL fan then this weekend is also fun for you as well, with three high-quality battles. You've got the London Derby between Arsenal and Chelsea, the Merseyside Derby between Everton and Liverpool, as well as the battle of EPL surprises when Aston Villa faces Tottenham.
Those are just some of the quality matches you will be able to watch on TV this weekend. Here is a rundown of SBI's Top Ten Matches to Watch, as well a full schedule of the weekend's matches on TV. Enjoy:
SBI Top Ten Matches to Watch
1. Barcelona vs. Real Madrid. The showdown we've all been waiting for since Real Madrid spent a bazillion dollars on a new team. The star power will be unmatched and first place in La Liga will be on the line.
2. Arsenal vs. Chelsea. This London Derby features two teams playing excellent soccer in recent weeks. If Arsenal has title hopes, it needs to win this one.
3. Everton vs. Liverpool. The Merseyside Derby doesn't need any more subplots, but with Liverpool's struggles, and Rafa Benitez's tenuous job status, this edition could be even more dramatic than usual.
4. Inter Milan vs. Fiorentina. Inter is poised to run away with Serie A, but Fiorentina can keep Jose Mourinho's men in striking distance while moving closer to a Champions League place with a win. Nevermind the fact that Inter has never lost at home under Mourinho.
5. Aston Villa vs. Tottenham. Scoring nine goals was amazing, but Tottenham will find it slightly tougher going at Villa Park against Brad Friedel and Co. Expect an exciting display of attacking soccer.
6. Genoa vs. Sampdoria. Genoa got off to a disappointing start to the season, but a win against surprising Sampdoria can pull the club back into the Champions League pack in Serie A.
7. Manchester City vs. Hull City. Jozy Altidore has become a regular starter for Hull and has played well lately. Can he keep it going against the City tandem of Kolo Toure and Jolean Lescott?
8. Borussia Moenchengladbach vs. Schalke 04. This would have been the battle of Michael Bradley against Jermaine Jones if Jones weren't still recovering from ankle surgery. As it stands, Bradley's Moenchengladbach will look to push its unbeaten streak to five with a win or draw against a strong Schalke side.
9. Corinthians vs. Flamengo. Remember when Adriano and Ronaldo were key cogs in Brazil's unstoppable attack? Well, both have fallen off, but they are still scoring goals in Brazil, making this a good match for fans (and MLS scouts) to be watching.
10. Toluca vs. San Luis. Michael Orozco is the last American standing in the Mexican playoffs and his San Luis side will look to complete the series upset with a win or draw against a strong Toluca squad.
This Weekend's Soccer TV Schedule
SATURDAY
10am– ESPN2- Portsmouth vs. Manchester United
10am– Setanta USA- Manchester City vs. Hull City
10am– FSC- West Ham vs. Burnley
Noon– ESPN360.com- Udinese vs. Livorno
Noon– Setanta USA- Carlisle vs. Norwich
12:30pm-FSC- Aston Villa vs. Tottenham
12:30pm– GolTV- Borussia Moenchengladbach vs. Schalke 04
12:30pm– ESPN Deportes- AZ Alkmaar VVV Venlo
2pm– ESPN Deportes/ESPN360.com- Valencia vs. Mallorca
2:45pm– FSC/RAI- Genoa vs. Sampdoria
3pm– Setanta USA- Lens vs. Olympique Marseille
4pm– GolTV- Sevilla vs. Malaga
4pm– ESPN Deportes- Sparta Rotterdam vs. PSV Eindhoven
5pm– Setanta USA- Fulham vs. Bolton (Delayed)
5pm– FSC- Udinese vs. Livorno (Delayed)
6pm– Azteca America- Cruz Azul vs. Puebla
6:30pm– GolTV- Junior vs. Pereira
7pm– FSC- Wigan vs. Sunderland (Delayed)
8:15pm– GolTV- Deportivo Tolima vs. Atletico Huila
8:30pm– Setanta USA- Blackburn vs. Stoke City (Delayed)
10pm– Telefutura- Club America vs. Monterrey
2am– FSC- Sydney FC vs. Newcastle Jets
SUNDAY
5:45pm– Setanta USA- Kuban vs. Rubin Kazan
6:30am– ESPN360.com- Vitesse Arnhem vs. Ajax Amsterdam
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– 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
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Which matches will you be watching this weekend? Who do you see winning the Barcelona-Real Madrid clash?
Share your thoughts below.
What’s the point of ESPN buying the broadcasting rights to la liga if THEY WON’T SHOW THE BIGGEST GAME OF THE SEASON on ESPN or ESPN2.
(SBI-Pedro, they didn’t buy La Liga’s rights outright, they only scored a portion of the English-language rights, and if you’re GolTV, are you really giving up the biggest game of the year in that deal? Not really. ESPN did manage to get the game for ESPN Deportes as well as ESPN360.com.)
It’s hard to tell because Barcelona has the ball all the time. He must face the fewest shots in all of Europe.
Not a pub, but Barcelona/Madrid will be on at Costa Brava in PB San Diego. Owner Javier is GK from there. http://www.costabravasd.com/
Arsenal game will definitely be on at Shakespeare’s near airport and Oldtown.
http://www.shakespearepub.com/
Can anyone recommend a good pub to watch the Arsenal & Barcelona matches in San Diego, CA?
I agree. that will never work with this league.
BTF,
You so right about Valdes. At one point, Barca fans were asking for his head. They weren’t happy with his performance. But in all fairness, he’s has improved a bit.
Spector back in the starting lineup for the Hammers.
No MLS! How sad. It was a great season, except for the Galaxy loss in the MLS Cup, and I can’t wait until next year. I guess I’ll have to settle for Barcelona vs Real Madrid and Arsenal vs Chelsea.
If you watch enough Barca games, you will see that Valdes is really an average keeper. He is often shaky on crosses and doesn’t command his area very well. It’s tough to notice because the team in front of him keeps the ball so well and attacks relentlessly.
He is insane, with the whole MLS1 and MLS2 business……
Pompey on ESPN2 Saturday? Crap, I hate that damn bell.
Jim Conrad for MLS Commissioner now.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=702921&sec=mls&root=mls&cc=5901
Anybody find it weird that a Treble winning goalkeeper like Valdés can’t get capped for his country (Catalonia doesn’t count)? I know Casillas is the man right now, but not one cap, COME ON!
does anyone know what the hell is going on with mo edu? i read an article from some scottish paper saying he was due back in two weeks, and i read the article two months ago. what’s the deal?
Actually the game will be on American TV Ives, Channel SPT and RTP my friend
What a great thanksgiving weekend!
I’ll be watching Arsenal/Chelsea, Barcelona/Madrid, a nice 4 hour Sunday group.
Arsenal will need to show they can hang with a tough, physical, top quality side. More important than the result can they play against a physical side.
If Kaka’ doesn’t improve from the Zurich match, I don’t see them getting a result. He is not connecting with his team mates.
True statement.
Lesson learned: Don’t smart off to the SBI jefe.
Ives, I don’t understand how the huge match in Portugal tomorrow doesn’t make your top 10…SPORTING CP-SL BENFICA is one of the top 10 local derbys in all of soccer…You better fix that list of yours because this game is easily better than the ones you have listed after Inter-Fiorentina
(SBI- Danny, the Sporting-Benfica match wasn’t showing on any American TV that I could find, and in case you hadn’t noticed, each match in the Top 10 is a match on TV.)
Thierry Hand-ry? You can do better than that Ives.
(SBI-Sorry there comedy genius. I’ll try better next time.)
i c wut u did thar
my cable box has it on espn2
Thanks for doing this every week—much easier to find the listings of games all in one place here.
i agree. super lame.
According to ESPN website, they are showing Atletico-Espanyol game on ESPN2. Is this still accurate?
List above only has it on espn360.
pumped that el clasico will be on 360. hopefully we will get the best out of zlatan and messi, as both have been struggling with fitness (and arguably, form) of late.
Why is Fulham on Setanta? They must have figured out that a lot of USA fans want to watch Dempsey play so they put them on a pay channel 🙁