So what's the best team in Europe you may not know much about? Unless you're a fan of Serie A, that team could be Lazio.
The Roman club boasts some of the best young talent in Europe, with players such as Brazilian playmaker Hernanes (pictured above) leading Lazio into the race for the Scudetto. Currently second to AC Milan in Serie A, Lazio has a chance to pull even with the leaders with a win today against struggling Inter Milan.
This weekend's soccer action features several intriguing match-ups in the English Premier League, including Clint Dempsey's visit to the Emirates to take on Andrei Arshavin, and Tim Howard leading struggling Everton against equally struggling Chelsea. Then you have Stuart Holden and Bolton taking on Nigel DeJong and Manchester City (assuming Holden can pass a fitness test on a nagging thigh injury).
If you'd like to get a glimpse of the future of American Soccer this will be a good weekend. The U.S. Under-17 national team plays two games this weekend, including tonight's match-up against Brazil.
Here is a rundown of This Weekend's Soccer on TV, as well as SBI's Top Ten Matches to Watch:
SBI's TOP TEN MATCHES TO WATCH
1. Lazio vs. Inter Milan. Lazio can pull even with a win against Inter, while Rafa Benitez's men desperately need a win to still stay within striking distance of AC Milan.
2. Villarreal vs. Sevilla. Red-hot Giuseppe Rossi and the Yellow Submarine take the field in what should be an entertaining La Liga battle.
3. Arsenal vs. Fulham. Clint Dempsey is carrying Fulham, but that job will be even tougher at the Emirates.
4. Manchester City vs. Bolton. If Stuart Holden is healthy and can start, we'll finally get that Holden-Nigel DeJong reunion.
5. Real Madrid vs. Valencia. How will Real Madrid react after that ugly loss to Barcelona?
6. U.S. U-17 vs. Brazil. The future of American soccer is on display, you know you want to watch.
7. Chelsea vs. Everton. Can Tim Howard put together one of his trademark amazing performances at Stamford Bridge?
8. Monterrey vs. Santos Laguna. The second leg of the Mexican League Final should be an exciting affair.
9. Saint Etienne vs. Bordeaux. Carlos Bocanegra leads surprising Saint Etienne against talented but underperforming Bordeaux.
10. U.S. Under-17 vs. Turkey. Another chance to see the best young talent at the beginning of the U.S. national team pipeline.
THIS WEEKEND'S SOCCER ON TV
TODAY
2:45pm- Fox Soccer Channel- Lazio vs. Inter Milan
4pm- ESPN2- Notre Dame vs. Ohio State (NCAA Women's Soccer)
6:30pm- ESPNU- Stanford vs. Boston College
7pm- Fox Soccer Channel- USA Under-17 national team vs. Brazil
SATURDAY
7:45am- Fox Soccer Channel- Ipswich Town vs. Swansea City
9:30am- GolTV- Eintracht Frankfurt vs. FSV Mainz 05
10am- Fox Soccer Channel- Arsenal vs. Fulham
10am- ESPN2- Chelsea vs. Everton
10am- Fox Soccer Plus- Manchester City vs. Bolton
Noon- GolTV- Levante vs. Atletico Madrid
Noon- Fox Soccer Plus- Chievo Verona vs. AS Roma
12:30pm- ESPN3.com- Schalke 04 vs. Bayern Munich
1:45pm- ESPN3.com- PSV Eindhoven vs. Heracles
2pm- ESPN3.com- Osasuna vs. Barcelona
2pm- Fox Soccer Plus- Blackburn vs. Wolverhampton (Delayed)
2:45pm- Fox Soccer Channel- AC Milan vs. Brescia
4pm- GolTV- Real Madrid vs. Valencia
5pm- Fox Soccer Channel- Birmingham vs. Tottenham (Delayed)
6:15pm- GolTV- Atletico Huila vs. Santa Fe
8pm- Fox Soccer Plus- Milwall vs. Scunthorpe United
11pm- Fox Soccer Channel- Wellington Phoenix vs. Adelaide United
SUNDAY
9am- Fox Soccer Channel- Fiorentina vs. Cagliari
9am- ESPN3.com- Parma vs. Udinese
10:30am- Fox Soccer Plus- Wigan Athletic vs. Stoke City (Delayed)
11am- Fox Soccer Channel- Sunderland vs. West Ham United
11am- DirecTV- Getafe vs. Mallorca
11am- ESPN3.com- Almeria vs. Real Zaragoza
11am- GolTV- Espanyol vs. Sporting Gijon
11:30am- ESPN3.com- Nuremburg vs. Borussia Dortmund
12:30pm- Fox Soccer Plus- Doncaster Rovers vs. Barnsley (Delayed)
1pm- ESPN Deportes/ESPN3.com- Villarreal vs. Sevilla
2pm- GolTV- Fluminense vs. Guarani de Campinas
2:45pm- Fox Soccer Channel- Catania vs. Juventus
3pm- DirecTV- Real Sociedad vs. Athletic Bilbao
3pm- Fox Soccer Plus- Saint Etienne vs. Bordeaux
4pm- GolTV- Bayer Leverkusen vs. FC Cologne
7pm- Fox Soccer Channel- USA Under-17 national team vs. Turkey
7pm- Telemundo- Monterrey vs. Santos Laguna
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What matches will you be watching?
Share your thoughts below.
Est ist sehr schoen! Aber, heute Bayern ist nichts gesehen bei GolTV. Bayern-Schalke is not on GolTV today. That game is Eintracht gegen Mainz at 0930. Bayern will be shown on ESPN3.com at 1230.
Auf gehts Bayern!
HA! this is laughably incredible. well done again gents!
Lets hope we get something besides watching soccer done this wknd people.
I think Osasuna vs. Barcelona is on ESPN Deportes, in addition to ESPN3.com.
Definitely gonna try and catch the Bayern Muenchen match. Gotta support die Roten. If i’m back at home on sunday i’ll probably watch the Bayer Leverkusen match too, just to enjoy the fact i found out i have GolTV
Definitely tuning in to the U-17 match tonight.
Because it is the Women’s Final Four. The Men’s Final Four will be next weekend. Some of the Men’s games this weekend will be shown at NCAA.com or you can search for university’s athletic site.
HAH the pictures today are great. Spector, this Lazio guy, and sepp blater/evil emperor palpatine are all funny.
Will be driving from LA to Phoenix on Sunday to see the U-17 play Turkey. Should be fun to see some of the up and comers.
USMNT 17 vs B
razil should on fox soccer channel
They’re both going to be on FSC (at 7pm).
I’m surprised that ESPN is showing womens NCAA soccer, but not mens. Whats the thinking behind that?
any way to watch the U17 game tonight
The photo should be put side by side with Spector’s from earlier today. It’s balletic.