Photo by ISIPhotos.com
By RYAN TOLMICH
With the European season winding down, this weekend boasts a series of games with major title implications.
Starting in England, Liverpool look to hold on to their position atop the Premier League table when they travel to Norwich on Sunday. The Reds, who knocked off Manchester City last week to cement their status as league leaders, currently maintain a two point lead over Chelsea and a four point lead over City, which has a game in hand. Meanwhile, Chelsea host bottom-dwelling Sunderland ahead of next week’s potential title eliminator with Liverpool.
In other Premier League action, Manchester United head to Merseyside to take on fifth-place Everton, former home of United manager David Moyes. The Toffees have fared better than the Scotsman’s new employers, but the hosts face a must-win game with Arsenal currently occupying fourth by just one point.
Barcelona will hope to bounce back from their Copa del Rey loss to Real Madrid when they take on Athletic Bilbao Sunday. Lionel Messi and company currently find themselves four points behind leaders Atletico Madrid, who take on Elche.
In France, a pair of Champions League hopefuls will lock horns when Olympique Marseille takes on Lille. Lille currently sits safely in third place, while Marseille find themselves sixth with five points between them and the all-important fourth Champions League spot.
In other action, both MLS and Liga MX boast a full slate of games, while Serie A leaders Juventus take on Bologna and Bayern Munich look to bounce back from consecutive league defeats when they face Eintracht Braunschweig.
Here’s a rundown of this weekend’s soccer on TV:
THIS WEEKEND’S SOCCER ON TV
FRIDAY
2:30pm – Atletico Madrid vs. Elche – beIN Sports USA
2:30pm – Saint-Etienne vs. Rennes – beIN Sports Play
8:30pm – Morelia vs. Cruz Azul – ESPN Deportes
SATURDAY
7:45am – Tottenham Hotspur vs. Fulham – NBCSN
9:00am – Parma vs. Internazionale – beIN Sports USA
9:00am – Milan vs. Livorno – beIN Sports Play
9:00am – Udinese vs. Napoli – beIN Sports Play
9:30am – Eintracht Braunschweig vs. Bayern Munich- GOLTV USA
10:00am – Aston Villa vs. Southampton – NBC Sports Live Extra
10:00am – Cardiff City vs. Stoke City – NBCSN
10:00am – Newcastle vs. Swansea City – NBC Sports Live Extra
10:00am – West Ham vs. Crystal Palace- NBC Sports Live Extra
10:00am – Osasuna vs. Valencia – beIN Sports Play
12:00pm – Levante vs. Getafe – beIN Sports Play
12:30pm – Chelsea vs. Sunderland – NBC
12:30pm – Juventus vs. Bologna – beIN Sports USA
2:00pm – Real Sociedad vs. Espanyol – beIN Sports Play
3:00pm – Fiorentina vs. Roma – beIN Sports Play
4:00pm – Philadelphia Union vs. Houston Dynamo – MLS Direct Kick
4:00pm – Chicago Fire vs. New England Revolution – NBCSN
6:00pm – Colorado Rapids vs. San Jose Earthquakes – MLS Direct Kick
6:00pm – America vs. Queretaro – Univision
7:00pm – Vancouver Whitecaps vs. LA Galaxy – MLS Direct Kick
7:30pm – Columbus Crew vs. DC United – MLS Direct Kick
8:00pm – FC Dallas vs. Toronto FC – MLS Direct Kick
8:00pm – Santos Laguna vs. Chiapas – Univision Deportes
8:00pm – Pachuca vs. Puebla – Univision Deportes 2
8:00pm – Monterrey vs. Veracruz – UniMas
8:30pm – Sporting KC vs. Montreal Impact- MLS Direct Kick
9:05pm – Leon vs. Tigres UANL – Telemundo
9:30pm – Real Salt Lake vs. Portland Timbers – MLS Direct Kick
10:00pm – Atlas vs. Toluca – Univision Deportes
10:30pm – Chivas USA vs. Seattle Sounders – MLS Direct Kick
SUNDAY
6:00am – Almeria vs. Celta de Vigo – beIN Sports Play
7:00am – Norwich City vs. Liverpool – NBCSN
8:00am – Monaco vs. Nice – beIN Sports Play
9:05am – Hull City vs. Arsenal – NBCSN
9:30am – Nurnberg vs. Bayer Leverkusen – GOLTV USA
11:00am – Rayo Vallecano vs. Real Betis – beIn Sports Play
11:00am – Bordeaux vs. Guingamp vs. beIN SPorts USA
11:10am – Everton vs. Manchester United – NBCSN
11:30am – Stuttgart vs. Schalke 04 – GOLTV USA
1:00pm – Sevilla vs. Granada – beIN Sports USA
1:00pm – Pumas vs. Guadalajara – Univision
3:00pm – Barcelona vs. Athletic Bilbao – beIN SPorts USA
3:00pm – Olympique Marseille vs. Lille – beIN Sports Play
6:00pm – Atalante vs. Tijuana – Univision Deportes
US holds on for the W!
They play River Plate in the finals on Sunday. If you’re lucky like me, you can watch it at 4PM on Time Warner Cable Deportes (channel 481 in Santa Monica).
Fluminese get through on a late breakaway. Striker was through, but under pressure. Keeper keeps his cool and stands his ground!
Rubio has his PK blocked, but gets his own rebound and calmly puts it away!
US wins a penalty!
End of the first OT period still 2-2. Both teams had their chances, but the red card was a big momentum changer for the US.
Long shot leads to a long rebound that the US keeper finally gets to. Hasn’t looked extremely confident in the 45 minutes I’ve seen.
US player intercepts a pass about 40 yards from goal and the Fluminese defender takes him down (weakly). Second yellow get the Fluminese down a man. I believe its 10 v 10 now
A few minutes into the first period of OT. US look to be getting the better of play. Had a shot off the post and onto their third corner in a row.
Going into OT or PKs, or whatever is next. My espanol isn’t so great. Apparently the US playing down a man. Highlights show one of their players getting a second yellow for kicking the ball away when it was dead. Couldn’t tell who it was. Explains why they weren’t on the ball so much that 2nd half!
US finally gets broken down. RB dove in and really put the rest of the D in a bad spot. Nice job by the Brazilians to take advantage.
Late goal in the 92nd minute. US RB gets his ankles broken by the Fluminese attacker. The attacker gets to the touchline and picks out the striker for a diving header past the keeper to tie it up. Amazing!
US defense looking confident. Closing out the game, keeping their shape under pressure.
Dangerous free kick off a handball from the US RB. Just outside the side of the 18… Fluminese gets tricky and doesn’t get a shot off. US clears it away
US not holding onto the ball as much as I’d like, but handling the Fluminese attack pretty well for the most part. 84th minute, Fluminese starting to look a little desperate.
They showed replays of the goals. Rubio finished through the goalie off a cheeky pass from Zach Pffer on the first one. Not a strong showing by the keeper. Ben Spencer was all alone and headed home a ball from a set piece for the second. Fluminese goal came as a player hit a low cross through the middle to an open teammate. Not much the US keeper could do with it.
US midfield looks strong, no room to operate
U20 USMNT v Fluminese in Dallas Cup Semis – Time Warner Cable Deportes
US wearing their French looking uniforms. US is up 2-1 and seem content letting the Brazilians hold the ball and trying to keep them away from goal. Didn’t catch any of the goals… looks like a fun game.
Well… guess it’s early to rise Sunday morning after Brew Woo the night before to watch LFC v Norwich.
I usually watch at the pub with our standing Kop, but will have to watch in bed Sunday morning. Too early for me.
Come on you Redmen!