Borussia Dortmund currently holds a seemingly unsurmountable 11-point lead atop the German Bundesliga, but Bayern Munich will try to cut into that lead when the German powers clash today in one of the weekend's top matches.
Dortmund has been one of the most dominant teams in Europe this season, riding a team loaded with young stars who don't have the big names that their Bayern counterparts boast, but a stingy defense, dynamic attack and brutal consistency has allowed the club to build its double-digit lead. Bayern has seen the returns of Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben, but will still find it difficult to overcome a 13-point deficit. If Bayern is to make that turnaround, it must win today.
Today's schedule features several intriguing matches, including a potential Michael Bradley-Jermaine Jones battle when Aston Villa takes on Blackburn, as well as Mallorca taking on a Xavi-less Barcelona side.
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):
TODAY'S SOCCER ON TV
7:45am– Fox Soccer Plus- Swansea City vs. Leeds United
9:30am– ESPN3.com- Schalke 04 vs. Nuremberg
10am– Fox Soccer Channel- Wigan vs. Manchester United
10am– Fox Soccer Plus- Everton vs. Sunderland
10am– FoxSoccer.tv- Aston Villa vs. Blackburn Rovers
10am– FoxSoccer.tv- Newcastle vs. Bolton
10am– FoxSoccer.tv- Wolverhampton vs. Blackpool
Noon– Fox Soccer Channel- Aston Villa vs. Blackburn (Delayed)
Noon– Fox Soccer Plus- Wolverhampton vs. Blackpool
Noon– FoxSoccer.tv- Wigan vs. Manchester United (Delayed)
Noon– GolTV- Atletico Madrid vs. Sevilla
Noon– DirecTV- Sporting Gijon vs. Real Zaragoza
Noon– DirecTV- Espanyol vs. Real Sociedad
1pm– FoxSoccer.tv- Arles vs. Brest
1pm– FoxSoccer.tv- Monaco vs. Caen
1pm– FoxSoccer.tv- Stade Rennes vs. Lens
1pm– FoxSoccer.tv- Saint Etienne vs. Nice
1pm– FoxSoccer.tv- Sochaux vs. Montpelier
1pm– FoxSoccer.tv- Valenciennes vs. Lorient
2pm– ESPN3.com- Mallorca vs. Barcelona
2pm– GolTV- Bayern Munich vs. Borussia Dortmund (Delayed)
2:45pm- Fox Soccer Channel- Juventus vs. Bologna
3pm– FoxSoccer.tv- Bordeaux vs. Auxerre
3:15pm– ESPN3.com- SC Olhanense vs. FC Porto
4pm– GolTV- Deportivo La Coruna vs. Real Madrid
5pm– Fox Soccer Channel- Newcastle vs. Bolton (Delayed)
6pm– Azteca America- Jaguares vs. Chivas Guadalajara
6pm– Univision- Queretaro vs. Cruz Azul
6:15pm– GolTV- Nacional de Medellin vs. Millonarios
8pm– Telefutura- Pachuca vs. San Luis
8pm– Telemundo- Tigres vs. Puebla
10pm– Telefutura- Atlas vs. Monterrey (Delayed)
2011: So the best box to box US midfielder played today.
2009: the former best box to box US midfielder did not.
An observations that can’t be disputed.
Umm Altidore played every game at the end for Hull City, aside from the last game due to Red Card suspension.
As for Clark I agree, seeing as how deep the US is at mid. (to be fair Holden and Jones were injured).
Onyewu got the start because we didnt have a deep pool at center back.
Try not to overreact, considering it is literally his 2nd game available.
Fabio the smaller one.
What makes everyone here think that Americans shouldn’t have to fight for roster spots and playing time? Bradley hasn’t been with the team very long, let him earn his place.
Robben needs to stop with that nonsense. Really detracts from him as a player.
yeah agreed, I like Bundesliga. I think they just took that 4th CL spot over Serie A, right? It’s been in the making for a while, but I’m pretty sure it’s official now, with Napoli’s exit from Europa this week. Looking for a link now…
No, but I know about it, and been asked that before, ha. I hope it brings back good memories!
Everyone should remember that Michael Thomas is the guy who consistently is negative about M. Bradley and looks for every opportunity to put him down. And never brings anything smart to the conversation or conceeds anything good about MB90.
Michael Thomas is just a Bradley hater.
Bocanegra is getting forward much more than normal for Saint-Etienne vs Nice tonight.
RedLine55
Did you by any odd stretch of the imagination used to play the video game, Counter Strike?
I’m guessing you were trying to make us laugh, if so, well done sir.
So it is my opinion that Chicharito is have a great season? Or a fact that he is the best CONCACAF player at the moment.
Crazy game so far…
If you scroll up you’d see that I agree with you on the whole anti-american bias bit. It’s a total fabrication.
And when bradley’s loan went through and everyone assumed he would start immediately (because why else would villa take on his wages?), I suggested it was at least possible he was just cheap cover. Makoun and petrov were carrying minor injuries at the time.
I won’t be surprised if he remains in a bench role, but it’s not unthinkable that he would get a start in a congested fixture week while makoun is suspended.
Bundesliga is underrated when it comes to viewing.
Pires can’t go 90, at least.
not me. I want Bradley to play. Remember the WC when Onyewu, Clark, Altidore, and company came in with little to no minutes at the club level in the lead up, and recall how well they played in the tourney? I don’t want to Gold cup to be a repeat.
That said, I was happier when he was rumored to go to Turkey because I knew he would be playing. Sitting on the bench watching Reo-Coker and Pires doesn’t help Bradley, but the fact that he would be sitting there was certainly predictable.
Sorry you discredit my whole arugment but you might want to re-read my comment I said a combination of Jones/Edu/Bradley and even Torres is our best bet.
MEANING: the 2 central Mids, which in my plan, and I think everyone’s opinion, are both holding or defensive type of mids if you will
The obvious thing is we run a 4-2-3-1
And guess what all the guys you said would be on there with the exception of Edu, which is not a lock at CB, maybe but not sure?
The point is in a 4-2-3-1 Jozy is the lone Forward, Holden is the Center Attacking Midfielder in between the flanking and wing playing Donovan and Dempsey.
Then behind LD, Deuce & Holden you put Jones & Bradley or Jones & Edu or Jones and Torres.
I think Edu might get on the field as a CB if Bob feels he can deal with say a Guatemala or El Salvador? But for countries like Honduras & Costa Rica and even Mexico he might go with a guy like Goodsen or Ream? Vs teams like Jamaica with speed Edu might be the best option?
Bradley is not getting minutes and has played maybe 45 minutes since December? I can almost bet he won’t play vs City, at least not start and if he does it won’t be much based on the way he wasn’t even given time when game was secured today?
2 EPL games after that, if he gets little time, say not more than 20-35 mintues combined I don’t see how we don’t give Edu a shot to play alonside Jones or Torres some sub minutes vs Argentina & Paraguay?
He needs to be starting. He was starting in Germany so why would he transfer to a bigger team if he’s not going to play. Starting in germany > riding the bench in england
That was actually funny not in a lol but really funny. I want to see American players play, but coaches don’t hate them. It took forever for European players to make a name in the NBA and even now if they don’t cut it a lil bit, they’re gone. There is nothing wrong with proving yourself, but entitlement has not place in sports. So when all these writers say oh this guy should start, I ask based on what? The coach never said he would.
Your comment can also be taken as arrogant. Opinions are opinions.
You can give him credit. But we can poke fun too.
Sure it was sarcasm. Yeah I was pathetic. Just give credit where it’s due. What’s the need for sarcasm? Would you do that if it was a question about an American player we like? I’m not even Mexican, but the little pea is playing good football. That was simple to say.
In all fairness, Blackburn is not a good possesion team,I can see JJ getting a little frustrated with the flow (or lack of) of the game. Interesting if he is defensive mid, he is playing up on top alot, for him to do that he better have a team that can hold the ball which Blackburn can’t.
easy there, fella
(backs away slowly)
Yeah stop spitballin. I thought Makoun was back next game. When you wake up let me know. I can bet on it you were one of the dreamers saying Bradley would start when Makoun was sent off against Blackpool. Reo-Coker is a senior player at Villa and should play against Bolton. When Makoun returns he will take Nigel’s spot. No matter how much the comments from fans or writers on this blog try to write Bradley into a starting lineup, if he is not good enough he wont start and you stay disappointed with your “Houllier hates Americans!!” comments. So pathetic to even go there.
My goodness, this Dortmund – Munich game is awwwwesome so far! I won’t post the scores because it’s delayed on GolTV at 1, but I highly suggest checking it out. 20 min in so far.
Does Deuce play up top for Fulham at the moment? No. But that’s because Hughes plays HIS best players when he can…and that means Dembele, AJ, Zamora play up top when they’re available, moving Dempsey where he can hook up with them. This is NOT to say that Deuce isn’t at LEAST as good as those guys at THEIR job. It means that Dembele, AJ and Zamora are better up top than the middies that get put on when Deuce has to play up top.
Deuce has turned himself into a F/RM, and a good one at that.
My argument is to put our best players on the pitch, and that means, in order to get Jones, AND Bradley, AND Edu on the field, Demps moves up top, and Holden plays on the wing.
Perhaps then a 4-5-1:
Jozy
Holden/Deuce/Donovan
Jones/Bradley
Boca/Edu/Gooch/Dolo
Subs: Feilhaber, Agudelo, Bunbury/Mwanga?
Mentioning Torres, however, as a ‘best bet’ unfortunately tends to discredit the rest of your reasoned argument.
Really bad week for Ryan Nelsen. First his hometown gets destroyed by an earthquake then he gets red-carded. Feel for the guy. Maybe they’ll let him fly home if he isn’t playing.
There will be zero suspension. If he wasn’t punished by the ref, the FA won’t do a thing. Never have before. Rooney is the man. Quit the hate.
Lets give credit where and when it is due. This Mexican is playing great in his first season. He is also scoring goals. He scored twice in the World Cup against top oppositions, I don’t expect anything less in the Gold Cup a competition smaller than the World Cup. Also nine goals so far in 17 appearances (10 as a sub) is pretty impressive in your first season as a United player. He has scored crucial goals and winners for United Gold Cup won’t be any different.
hahah I literally laughed at loud at this comment
Yes, I must be in absolute fantasyland to even hope that bradley would play saturday.
Or maybe makoun will be serving the third match of his suspension, making it very unlikely that he starts ahead of anybody.
And perhaps houllier won’t want to have reo-coker play 3 matches in 7 days.
I don’t know, I’m just spitballin over here.
I’m not sure why everybody thinks Dempsey can just be forward? He is much more effective when he’s moved up there as the game progresses for fresher legs, like in June of 09 at the Confederations Cup when Jozy or Davies would come out or Casey and he would move up and Feilhaber would take the wing?
Does he really play UP TOP at Fulham? I know he’s been scoring a lot this year and already broke his EPL record and needs 1 to move past McBride as highest scoring American in EPL, and he’ll even hold my theory true that he’ll score 12 (Damn him for not making that PK vs Chelsea lol)
But it seems to me he just plays LM for Fulham all the time and drifts centrally or cuts in? Donovan and him on the wings to cut and overlap with Holden and a Combination of Edu/Jones/Bradley and even Torres are our best bets. Feilhaber is our Super sub until one of the forwards does the same?
Haha WOW. You have got to be kidding me.. Sarcasm? What a hateful and pathetic post.
Which da Silva?
That’s why they go by their first names…Fabio and Rafael
He doesn’t just get some starts, he gets EVERY MINUTE THERE IS, no matter the circumstances a friendly where we can see someone else, a Qualifier when he was in the dog house at Mochengladback because he was being benched by the Mgr due to discipline or fighting with coach (See August & September of 09 when Torres got NO minutes at Azteca where he’s used to playing and barely 15 in Salt Lake when we needed more creativity or at Trinidad, Bradley was MIA in all 3 of those games)
Or if people are simply in better form. Edu has also played in Champions League and Europa, don’t forget I’m pretty sure he has at least 4 starts in those 2 tournaments so that pretty much gets him more than enough minutes to pass over Bradley, and vs Man U and Valencia too! And Sporting Crystal.
Not saying it’s a problem, yet! But it looks like he won’t see a start vs City and the other 2 games? Well if he doesn’t see time I don’t know how he plays 90 or 180 mintues in NY & Nashville?
You must be so biased or know nothing about football to compare Chicharito to some MLS striker that nobody ever heard of. What a load of arrogance and ignorance to even mention both players in the same breathe. Chicharito is the best player from CONCACAF at the moment, you might not like it but you can’t do anything about it. To say he won’t do anything in Gold Cup when he scored two goals in the World Cup shows you are ignorant. You don’t know what you’re talking about.
Hate, Hate, Hate!
out of jealousy as always.
I’m a MB fan (like, shirtless pics of him all over my room, sleep in his jersey, spank it to the WC goal, etc) but it’s perfectly legitimate to say he shouldn’t start the friendlies if he ain’t playing at Villa.
I think we need our best players on the field, and that includes Bradley.
Because Bob loves a 4-4-2…
Jozy/Dempsey
Holden/Jones/Bradley/Donovan
Boca/Edu/Gooch/(Spector or Dolo)
Howard
Best players on the pitch. Sub in the young’uns for experience as the game progresses.
It took him 4 games so about a month or a month and a half into the season for him to break the line up finally and that occurred due to a pre-game injury, then 2 games after that he was not used, and after that he pretty much started every game in the Bundesliga but like 2 where he was a sub I believe.
He took about 6 games & weeks of training with the 1st team to claim the starting spot. But how long should it take him now? He’s a much more mature and experienced player having helped his team stay away from relegation twice and playing in both a WC and Confeds Cup. How long till we worry?
For whatever reason he couldn’t play vs Fulham I still think if he can’t beat the 3rd or even 4th guys in center mid there’s something to worry, in 3 weeks it will have been almost as much as the time he needed in Germany to fit in, but we play Argentina, can we really expect him to start with no questions asked?
yeah, you’d think so… but nothing’s really for sure with the FA. I wouldn’t be surprised if there is no suspension.
I would agree with you if either Edu or Jones were having a great season, or even starting and playing consistently, I would agree with you. However, as it stand right now bradley has 17 starts in bundesliga and 2 subs appearances. Edu has 13 and 7, and J Jones has a total of 14 starts with no subs between schalke and blackburn. He also hasn’t been playing as well as he can while at Blackburn which must be considered. They’ve all got about the same amount of PT this year (bradley probably has the most minutes) and bradley’s production is a bit better.
The point I’m trying to make is that no one is staking a claim for the position, and as the incumbent, bradley holds the inside track. He’ll get some starts and appearances and will probably go into the FIFA dates with as much PT as the other 2 guys. If he doesn’t see the field between now and the Argentina game? Well then he shouldn’t start.
Dream on. Petrov and Makoun along with Reo-Coker would play first before he sees the pitch.
2 goals of hernandez 1 Rooney 1 da silva
I get the same vibe too. It’s like their glad Bradley sits for the sake of saying ‘told you so”. It’s totally gay
Maybe some folk are gloating, but others are just pointing out the ridiculousness of the “americans get no love abroad” suggestions attached to any american who doesn’t make a starting XI.
That kind of complaining embarrasses american soccer fans.
For the record I like bradley a lot and was really looking forward to him going against jones. Hope to see him against holden in a week.
Alright so that didnt go as planned. Jones and company lose 4-1 and Mikey doesnt get off the bench. Idk which one would be considered worse.