By DAN KARELL
The Premier League returns this weekend, but the world’s eyes turn to Spain this weekend with Barcelona visiting Atletico Madrid.
La Liga-leading Barcelona have Lionel Messi back in tow but they face one of their toughest tests of the season at the surging Colchoneros on Saturday. Atletico have kept pace with Barcelona and are tied on points with the Spanish giants, leading to a much-hyped affair at the Estadio Vicente Calderon.
In England, Manchester United host Swansea City for the second time in a week as the Red Devils look to right their swaying ship. David Moyes’ side are coming off their third consecutive defeat with a 2-1 loss at Sunderland last Wednesday, but they’ll be hoping that one of their players can step up and lead the team in the absence of Wayne Rooney and Robin Van Persie. Americans would do well to pay attention to Sunderland vs. Fulham on Saturday as well, which could see Jozy Altidore take on his U.S. Men’s National Teammate Clint Dempsey.
Elsewhere in the world, Liga MX’s 2014 Clausura season rolls on with a number of high profile match-ups this weekend, including Cruz Azul hosting Santos Laguna, Club Tijuana facing Club America, and Morelia traveling to Toluca.
Here’s a rundown of this weekend’s soccer on TV:
FRIDAY
2:30pm – Montpellier vs. AS Monaco – beIN Sport USA
3pm – Granada vs. Real Valladolid – beIN Sport en Español
8:30pm – Querétaro vs. Pumas UNAM – ESPN Deportes/Azteca America
9:30pm – Universidad de Guadalajara vs. Mérida – GolTV USA
10:30pm – Club Tijuana vs. Club America – ESPN Deportes/Azteca America
SATURDAY
7:45am – Hull City vs. Chelsea – NBC Sports Network
10am – Tottenham vs. Crystal Palace – NBC Sports Network
10am – Athletic Bilbao vs. Almeria – beIN Sport en Español
10am – Fulham vs. Sunderland – Premier League Extra Time
10am – Everton vs. Norwich City – Premier League Extra Time
10am – Cardiff City vs. West Ham United – Premier League Extra Time
10am – Southampton vs. West Bromwich Albion – Premier League Extra Time
11am – AC Ajaccio vs. Paris Saint-Germain – beIN Sport USA
12pm – Celta de Vigo vs. Valencia – beIN Sport en Español
12:30pm – Manchester United vs. Swansea City – NBC
2pm – Atletico Madrid vs. Barcelona – beIN Sport USA
2pm – Bordeaux vs. Toulouse – Univision Deportes
4pm – Elche vs. Sevilla – beIN Sport en Español
6pm – Cruz Azul vs. Santos Laguna – Univision
6pm – Veracruz vs. Atlante – Univision Deportes
8pm – Tigres UANL vs. Pachuca – Univision Deportes
8pm – River Plate vs. Estudiantes – Fox Deportes
9pm – Club Léon vs. Atlas – Telemundo
SUNDAY
7:45am – Inverness CT vs. Dundee United – Fox Soccer Plus
9am – Cagliari vs. Juventus – beIN Sport USA
9am – AS Roma vs. Genoa – beIN Sport en Español
9:05am – Newcastle United vs. Manchester City – NBC Sports Network
11am – Evian TG vs. Olympique Marseille – beIN Sport USA
11am – Real Betis vs. Osasuna – beIN Sport en Español
11:10am – Stoke City vs. Liverpool – NBC Sports Network
1pm – Espanyol vs. Real Madrid – beIN Sport USA/beIN Sport en Español
1pm – Puebla vs. Monterrey – ESPN Deportes/Azteca America
1pm – Toluca vs. Morelia – Univision
2:45pm – Sassuolo vs. AC Milan – beIN Sport USA
3pm – Lille vs. Reims – Univision Deportes
3pm – Levante vs. Malaga – beIN Sport en Español
6pm – Chivas de Guadalajara vs. Chiapas – UniMas