By RYAN TOLMICH
As the week enters the ever-draining hump day, Wednesday’s full slate of quality games is sure to lift soccer fans through the midweek blues.
Serie A, La Liga and the Bundesliga all boast midweek action, with a handful of each league’s top teams taking the field.
Spain’s action is highlighted by Barcelona’s visit to Malaga and Atletico Madrid’s visit to Almeria, while Italian soccer sees a matchup between Juventus and Cesena before Roma collides with Parma. Finally, attack-minded Bayer Leverkusen take on Augsburg in Bundesliga action.
In England, powerhouses Chelsea and Manchester City will look to avoid major upsets as they take on Bolton Wanderers and Sheffield Wednesday in League Cup action.
Meanwhile, FC Dallas hosts the Seattle Sounders, while the New York Red Bulls and D.C. United both feature in CONCACAF Champions League action.
If you will be watching today’s matches, 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
1 p.m. – beIN Sports Connect – Nice vs. Lille
1 p.m. – beIN Sports USA – Montpellier vs. Monaco
2 p.m. – beIN Sports en Español – Almeria vs. Atletico Madrid
2 p.m. – beIN Sports Connect – Eibar vs. Villareal – beIN Sports Connect
2 p.m. – beIN Sports Connect –Â Rayo Vallecano vs. Athletic Club
2 p.m. – GOLTV USA – Bayer Leverkusen vs. Augsburg
2:45 p.m. – beIn Sports Connect – Â Chelsea vs. Bolton Wanderers
2:45 p.m. – beIN Sports Connect – Manchester City vs. Sheffield Wednesday
2:45 p.m. – beIN Sports Connect- Juventus vs. Cesena
2:45 p.m. – beIN Sports Connect – Parma vs. Roma
4 p.m. – beIN Sports Connect – Sevilla vs. Real Sociedad
4 pm – beIN Sports Connect – Granada vs. Levante
4 p.m. – beIN Sports USA – Malaga vs. Barcelona
6 p.m. – Fox Deportes – Caracas vs. Deportivo Capiata
7:50 p.m. – ESPN 3 –Â Zacatepec vs. Deportivo Tepic
8 p.m. – ESPN Deportes –Â Morelia vs Puebla
8 p.m. – Univision Deportes – Pachuca vs. Municipal
8 p.m. – Fox Sports 2 – D.C. Unites vs. Tauro FC
8 p.m. – Fox Deportes – Deportivo Cali vs Peñarol
9 p.m. – MLS Direct Kick- FC Dallas vs. Seattle Sounders
10 p.m. – Univision Deportes – CD FAS vs. New York Red Bulls
10 p.m. – Fox Soccer 2Go – Herediano vs. Club Leon
10 p.m. – ESPN Deportes –Â Tijuana vs Chivas de Guadalajara
Saer Sene. Please leave. Easily the worst player I have ever witnessed in a Red Bulls uniform. Makes me hate soccer.
Good job Dallas!
CCL: DC wins. NY should too down in El Salvador.
Oops
FREDDIE SAYS HELLO
whoa, we had a 20 minute Adu sighting today. hell hath frozen over.
Folks, where is all of the running commentary on the MLS Draft-Pick Draft? I need to know which Draft-Picks were drafted!!! This is MLS Draft-Pick Draft Day after all!!!! Where’s my blow-by-blow commentary?!?!?!?
The Purple Lions won the right to pick Leonardo first overall.
Lol, Joseph “Ghee-oh”
He’s shown pretty good decision-making so far
maui -m +j -i = Gyau
Gyau on!
Near assist!
Yes, I’m happy about a near assist.
positive impact is always a good thing, awesome to hear he did well out there.
Dortmund struggling again
Lucas Moura responds in the best way possible to sour grapes Jeremy Menez…
…and he would have had a first half brace if it weren’t for a very nice reflex kick save, too.
ream on the bench, no lichaj.
As for Johnson, I was under the impression that he was somewhat of a fringe starter at the moment, and that if everyone is healthy, he may well be on the bench.
He also played 90 minutes on Saturday, and it looks like they have several changes from the squad that played Cologne
Johnson has been playing all over the place for Gladbach. I wouldn’t worry too much about the play time but the random positioning isn’t gunna help him focus.
This is kind of what I was getting at. He hasn’t locked down a starting role at any one position, but since he can fill in anywhere, he’s been getting starts at various positions due to injuries/fatigue. I haven’t been following too closely with all of this though, so I’m sure others know more specifics
Fabian Johnson is on the bench and Julian Green nowhere to be found. Anyone know what’s going on with these two?
looks like John Brooks is not in the 18 either today
Hertha has been leaking goals but they did that when he wasn’t in the line up too. Coach is probably trying something different.
It is odd that he is totally out of the team. Even if he wasn’t playing well, you wouldn’t normally go from starter to completely gone.
My assumption when a player started and went 90 the previous game, and is then out of the lineup entirely, is that it’s to rest the player in question. Not always the case, but happens fairly often w/mid week games.
this makes sense, thanks
i know green got a bruised rib in training. not sure about fabian.
Green picked up a knock in training: http://www.espnfc.us/hamburg-sv/story/2052849/hamburgs-julian-green-bruises-ribwill-miss-borussia-monchengladbach-trip
my best guess is Johnson is getting a break.
Green has bruised ribs –
Good sign that Joe Gyau continues to make the bench for Dortmund