The race for the European places in Serie A is an intense one, and both Lazio and Napoli are aware that they can't afford any slip-ups at this point in the year. That will make their meeting in Rome today all the more intense, and therefore the top match of the day.
Lazio can put a hammer lock on third place with a victory today, on a day the club will honor the passing of team legend Giorgio Chinaglia. Napoli can catapult ahead of Lazi with a win at Stadio Olimpico, while also putting some space between themselves and the trailing pack in Serie A.
In Spain, Barcelona haven't quite given up on catching Real Madrid for the La Liga title, but a win today against Real Zaragoza will be vital to keep that chase alive. Barca also know that Real Madrid will face a tough test on Sunday against Real Madrid that could force a slip by Jose Mourinho's side.
In England, Clint Dempsey and Fulham take on streaking Bolton, with Tim Ream a good bet to face off against Dempsey. The Trotters have won three straight and will look to keep Fulham struggling on the road.
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
7am- Fox Soccer Plus– Kilmarnock vs. Celtic
7:45am- ESPN2– Sunderland vs. Tottenham
9am- Fox Soccer 2Go/ESPN3– AC Milan vs. Fiorentina
9:30am- ESPN3– Bayern Munich vs. Augsburg
9:30am- GolTV– Wolfsburg vs. Borussia Dortmund
10am- Fox Soccer Channel– Chelsea vs. Wigan
10am- Fox Soccer Plus– Liverpool vs. Aston Villa
10am- Fox Soccer 2Go– Bolton vs. Fulham
10am- Fox Soccer 2Go– West Bromwich Albion vs. Blackburn
Noon- Direct Kick– Montreal Impact vs. Toronto FC
Noon- DirecTV– Getafe vs. Sporting Gijon
Noon- DirecTV– Rayo Vallecano vs. Osasuna
Noon- DirecTV– Espanyol vs. Real Sociedad
12:20pm- Fox Soccer 2Go– Nottingham Forest vs. Bristol City
12:30pm- Fox Soccer Channel– Stoke City vs. Woverhampton
12:30pm- Fox Soccer Plus– Palermo vs. Juventus
1pm- Fox Soccer 2Go– Brest vs. Lille
1pm- Fox Soccer 2Go– Dijon vs. Nancy
1pm- Fox Soccer 2Go– Evian TG vs. Stade Rennes
1pm- Fox Soccer 2Go– Valenciennes vs. Toulouse
1pm- Fox Soccer 2Go– Ajaccio vs. Saint-Etienne
2pm- GolTV– Real Zaragoza vs. Barcelona
3pm- Fox Soccer Channel– Lazio vs. Napoli
3pm- Fox Soccer Plus– Lyon vs. Auxerre
3pm- MSG/Direct Kick– Columbus Crew vs. New York Red Bulls
3:30pm- ESPN3– Sporting Braga vs. FC Porto
4pm- DirecTV– Real Betis vs. Villarreal
4pm- ESPN– Sporting Kansas City vs. Los Angeles Galaxy
4:10pm- GolTV– Boca Juniors vs. Argentinos Juniors
7pm- Direct Kick– San Jose Earthquakes vs. Vancouver Whitecaps
7:30pm- Direct Kick– D.C. United vs. Seattle Sounders
8pm- GolTV– Irapuato vs. Pumas Morelos
9pm- Direct Kick– Real Salt Lake vs. Colorado
10pm- Azteca America– Club Tijuana vs. Atlante
10:30pm- Direct Kick– Portland Timbers vs. Chivas USA
3am- Fox Soccer Channel– Central Coast Mariner vs. Brisbane
In other news, the best player in the world not counting those born in Texas had a play worth checking out (besides his two goals and assist).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIwca7bGebY&feature=related
Bradley’s Goal:
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xpz06f_chievo-1-0-catania_sport
Troll along ……
ESPN has been listing him at forward for about a year now.
Dempsey is arguably the best player in the world
*wait for it, wait for it*
to be from Texas
Only van Persie has more fantasy points than Dempsey right now.
Espanyol con Messi
Quality Goals. Thanks for the link
Ray Hudson’s pre-game preparation is allegedly the following:
1. Fuels up with one can of cold light brew outside the studio.
2. Walks into the studio 10 minutes before kickoff to skim over notes prepared by the pxp man
Barcelona without Xavi and Iniesta is Espanyol
I mean, yeah, he gives other teams praise too but if Barca get scored on he shows his obvious bias like in today’s game: “You could smell this one coming like a big stinking fish” or something to that effect.
I am not the only one that thinks Ray Hudson subjectively commentates on Barca. Surely I am not. Surely others hear his bias.
Not that i care too much. Cuz I still prefer him to say, Twellman or Harkes. But Hudson’s high girly squeeling when Messi scores hurts my ears lol
Eh. Think he just praises brilliant plays. Barcelona keep providing.
Highlights:
http://blip.tv/europafoot/bolton-0-3-fulham-les-buts-6073469
And the most polarizing as well. I for one think he’s entertaining unless you’re watching a Barca game and you’re not a Barca fan. RayHudson makes no effort to hide who he supports.
For Deuce here ya go!
http://blip.tv/europafoot/bolton-0-3-fulham-les-buts-6073469
The commentator just referred to Messi’s “Liza Minelli cabaret performance.” He is the most interesting commentator on earth.
It’s actually spelled RvP.
Anyone have a highlight link of the Dempsey or Bradley Goals?