By IVES GALARCEP
Clint Dempsey and Tottenham will look to move a step closer to a European trophy today when they take on French side Lyon in Europa League Round of 32 action, which kicks off today throughout Europe.
The English Premier League is well-represented in the knockout rounds, with Liverpool facing a stiff test in one of today’s early matches as they take on big-spending Russian side Zenit St. Petersburg (Noon, Fox Soccer Channel). Tottenham faces Lyon in one of the day’s later match-ups (3pm, Fox Soccer Channel).
Chelsea won’t repeat as UEFA Champions League winners, but they will try to add another trophy by making a Europa League run, and Rafa Benitez’s side will start that quest today against Sparta Prague (1pm, Fox Soccer Plus).
There are quality match-ups not involving English teams as well, with Bayer Leverkusen taking on Benfica and Atletico Madrid meeting Rubin Kazan in some of the days’s more enticing clashes.
If you will be watching today’s Europa League action, please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below.
Enjoy the action (Today’s Europa League schedule is after the jump):
EUROPA LEAGUE Round of 32 First Leg Schedule
Noon- Fox Soccer Plus- Zenit St. Petersburg vs. Liverpool
Noon- DirecTV 481- Anzi vs. Hannover 96
1pm- Fox Soccer Channel- Sparta Prague vs. Chelsea
1pm- DirecTV 482- Dynamo Kiev vs. Bordeaux
1pm- DirecTV 483- Napoli vs. Pizen
1pm- BATE Borisov vs. Fenerbahce
1pm- Levante vs. Olympiakos
1pm- Bayer Leverkusen vs. Benfica
1pm- Ajax vs. Steaua Bucharest
3pm- Fox Soccer Channel- Tottenham vs. Lyon
3pm- Fox Soccer Plus- Newcastle vs. Metalist Kharkiv
3pm- DirecTV 481- Inter Milan vs. CFR Cluj
3pm- DirecTV 482- Stuttgart vs. Genk
3pm- DirecTV 483- Borussia Moenchengladbach vs. Lazio
3pm- Atletico Madrid vs. Rubin Kazan
3pm- FC Basel vs. Dnipro