The first leg of tonight's CONCACAF Champions League final between Real Salt Lake and Monterrey might be Wednesday's main course, but the afternoon provides quite the appetizer.
Barcelona and Real Madrid meet in the final of the Copa del Rey (3:30 p.m., GOLTV/ESPN3.com/ESPN Deportes) for their second of four meetings in an 18-day span. The silverware will be doled out at the Estadio Mestalla in Valencia, where Barcelona is in search of its 26th title and Madrid is seeking its 18th and first since 1993.
If the world's top club rivalry isn't your cup of tea, maybe the English Premier League is. Arsenal and Tottenham's North London derby (2:45 p.m., ESPN2/ESPN3.com) highlights a two-match slate, which also includes Chelsea-Birmingham (2:45 p.m., Fox Soccer Channel/Fox Deportes).
If you will be watching any or all of Wednesday afternoon's action, please feel free to share any thoughs, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below. Enjoy the games.
Playing and scoring regularly in any league is impressive…You dont have to get Gerosnobbish though.
Matthew Taylor put in a fine individual performance, according to Kicker magazine, and scored his 14th goal of the season in 28 matches to keep relegation-threatend Rot Weiss Ahlen safe in the 3.BL.
I don’t care what people say, the quality of football in the 3.BL is as good as the MLS. Taylor deserves at least a look during Gold Cup camp. 14 goals and 5th in league scoring? Are you kidding me? When was the last time any Yank abroad was among the Top 5 scorers in any league abroad? Did you say “never?” Pretty darn Impressive! Auf gehts Matthew!
(SBI-Actually, Michael Bradley was in the Top Five during his big year with Heerenveen for a good stretch.)
Yes plenty of teams have done it, BUT not against Barcelona. I acknowledge the spirit of what you are saying, but why would a team playing against Barcelona decrease their chance of winning by playing the style that arguably Barcelona plays better then anyone else bar none.
Except you don’t have to play bunker ball to win everything. Barca won everything playing their possession game, ManU did it in an entertaining manner. There is no reason Madrid can’t do it playing expansive, open football. They got the resources and the talent.
F. Well, I figured they’d take at least 1 of the 4. We had our chances. Been hit in the chin – lets see if we can smack back.
do you mean “AD” ?
GO RSL!!!
Weird, A has left this forum
The answer is easy soccer is no longer about “entertaining”. It is all about money
Winning = Money
Why would you risk all that money by playing to your opponents strengths???
It feels strange, but Madrid winning feels so disappointing. I not a fan of either team, but the negative, defensive soccer of Madrid pretty boring to me. Its a shame its rewarded.
they just won
Yeah it looks like it. But soccer is a game. Its meant to entertain. Why can’t Madrid simply beat Barca at their own game and outscore them?! Throw the kitchen sink at them! Beat them 5-4! They got the talent to do it!
You too Carvalho
I know you gt hit Ramos but dont roll around get up and win with integrity
Agree if hes gonna park the bus in big games he doesnt need 100 million to spend every year.
i would only guess it is because it works.
I don’t have a dog in this Barca-Madrid race, but why does Jose tell Madrid to play bunkerball? So much talent on that team and yet they play like some lower league scrubs going up against ManU. I think I’m actually hoping Barca wins this now. Just so this defensive, negative soccer fails.
I think “A” is the poster formally known as “AD”… a known know-it-at complainer. The ref has done fine
Hold your pants on this is going to be a fun 20 minutes
Just turned the TV on and Boooooooom, Ronaldo!
GOLAZZZZZZZO
WINNNNNNNNNNNNERRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
hopefully
Bam…Goal Ronaldo
funny i didn’t even say anything about madrid. anyway cheers, looking forward to more complaining.
How is he whining? The Madrid played kicked the Barca player in the crotch out of bounds.
There’s a dozen Madrid forums you can go to. Enjoy.
dude is there some barca forum you can go whine in.
Wow huge cheap shot to the groin, that should be a red card for Madrid.
If we ever see a game like the last 5 min for 90 min I might have a heart attack
well, they’re making all the plays down the stretch, all the attack is from RM
if arsenal would have tried that tackle they would have given up a penalty 🙂
Madrid no longer interested in playing football. They’ve parked the bus and are just taking out Barca players now.
he isnt that bad. At least he makes it more exciting to watch than many other non-spanish announcers.
This commentator on espn3 is terrible, first he wasn’t sure if the disallowed was offsides after 2 replays and then he couldn’t if ronaldo got fouled when it was clearly shown on the replay haha
they are in full defend and counter mode
one good thru ball and Adeybayor will have a chance, if they hold out.
my take
fingertip save Casillas…nice
Where is Madrids Midfield? No one is bring the ball up from the backfield
That dive and acting job from Mascherano made me sick.
no argument
I have to say Ronaldo makes every play look like a foul. Hard to tell at times except that he falls so often its hard to believe
look at these wild blasts from Barca…not their typical attack. weird
agreed, but the skill is still amazing.