By JUSTIN FERGUSON
Bayern Munich could add a new piece of silverware to their packed trophy case on Saturday — the FIFA Club World Cup trophy.
The defending champions of Europe have opened up a good-sized lead in the Bundesliga heading into the winter break, and they will finish off the calendar year in Morocco at the Club World Cup final. Bayern will take on tournament hosts Raja Casablanca, who knocked off North American champions Monterrey and South American champions Atletico Mineiro in what has been a Cinderella run to the final.
Back in Europe, second-place Liverpool can put extra pressure on title-hunting rivals Arsenal and Chelsea when they kick off the English Premier League weekend at home against Cardiff City. The midday slate of EPL matches includes red-hot Manchester City’s trip to Fulham and Manchester United’s home match against West Ham United. American fans will want to keep an eye on Brad Guzan and Aston Villa as they travel to face Geoff Cameron and Stoke City at the Britannia.
Elsewhere, Atletico Madrid look to continue their incredible run of form at home against Levante. In Germany, Borussia Dortmund will try to turn things around in their match against Hertha Berlin.
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):
7:15am – Celtic vs. Heart of Midlothian – Fox Soccer Plus
7:45am – Liverpool vs. Cardiff City – NBC Sports Network
9:30am – Borussia Dortmund vs. Hertha Berlin – GolTV USA
10am – Birmingham City vs. Nottingham Forest – beIN Sport USA
10am – Fulham vs. Manchester City – NBC Sports Network
10am – Manchester United vs. West Ham United – NBC Sports Live Extra
10am – Stoke City vs. Aston Villa – NBC Sports Live Extra
10am – Crystal Palace vs. Newcastle – NBC Sports Live Extra
10am – Sunderland vs. Norwich – NBC Sports Live Extra
10am – West Bromwich Albion vs. Hull City – NBC Sports Live Extra
10am – Villarreal vs. Sevilla – beIN Sport en Español
11am – Saint-Etienne vs. Nantes – Univision Deportes
11:30am – Guangzhou Evergrande vs. Atletico Mineiro – Fox Sports 2/Fox Deportes
12pm – Livorno vs. Udinese – beIN Sport USA
12pm – Real Betis vs. Almeria – beIN Sport en Español
12:30pm – FC Nurnburg vs. Schalke 04 – GolTV USA
12:30pm – Inverness CT vs. Aberdeen – Fox Soccer Plus
2pm – Reims vs. Ajaccio – Univision Deportes
2pm – Atletico Madrid vs. Levante – beIN Sport en Español
2:30pm – Bayern Munich vs. Raja Casablanca – Fox Sports 2/Fox Deportes
2:45pm – Cagliari vs. Napoli – beIN Sport USA
4pm – Granada vs. Real Sociedad – beIN Sport en Español