By DAN KARELL

With Chelsea secure at the top of the English Premier League, the battle for second place is heating up as we head towards the busy holiday season.

On Sunday morning, Southampton will have the opportunity to prove that their hot start is no fluke when they welcome high-spending Manchester City to the St. Mary’s Stadium. The Saints have impressively amassed 26 points so far this season despite losing five starters from last year’s squad.

New signing Graziano Pelle has stepped up in Rickie Lambert’s place and scored nine goals in all competitions, with big performances from Jose Fonte, Morgan Schneiderlin, and Victor Wanyama.

Man City are coming in firing on all cylinders after a late comeback gave them a 3-2 win over Bayern Munich in UEFA Champions League.

In Italy, the Derby della Mole takes place this weekend as Serie A leaders Juventus face crosstown rivals Torino. Torino have struggled after losing Alessio Cerci and Ciro Immobile last summer while Juventus are riding a five-match unbeaten run in all competitions.

In North America, playoff action continues with the second leg of the MLS conference finals as the New York Red Bulls take a 2-1 deficit up I-95 to the New England Revolution. In the Western Conference, the Seattle Sounders host the LA Galaxy, who hold a 1-0 advantage heading into the match. In the quarterfinals of the Liga MX playoffs, Club America takes on fellow Mexico City club Pumas UNAM with a one-goal advantage in favor of Pumas.

Here’s This Weekend’s Soccer on TV:

FRIDAY

2:30 p.m. – beIN Sports USA – Marseille vs. Nantes

2:30 p.m. – GolTV USA – SC Freiburg vs. Stuttgart

2:45 p.m. – beIN Sports en Español – Real Sociedad vs. Elche

6 p.m. – USSoccer.com – USA U-17 vs. England U-17

SATURDAY

1 a.m. – One World Sports – Brisbane Roar vs. Perth Glory

3:30 a.m. – FOX Sports Plus – Western Sydney Wanderers vs. Sydney FC

7:15 a.m. – beIN Sports USA – Charlton Athletic vs. Ipswich Town

7:45 a.m. – NBCSN – West Bromwich Albion vs. Arsenal

9:30 a.m. – GolTV USA – Hertha Berlin vs. Bayern Munich

10 a.m. – NBCSN – Manchester United vs. Hull City

10 a.m. – beIN Sports en Español – Getafe vs. Athletic Bilbao

10 a.m. – Premier League Extra Time – Liverpool vs. Stoke City

10 a.m. – Premier League Extra Time – Swansea City vs. Crystal Palace

10 a.m. – Premier League Extra Time – Queens Park Rangers vs. Leicester City

10 a.m. – Premier League Extra Time – West Ham United vs. Newcastle United

11 a.m. – beIN Sports USA – PSG vs. Nice

12 p.m. – beIN Sports en Español – Sassuolo vs. Hellas Verona

12:30 p.m. – NBC – Sunderland vs. Chelsea

12:30 p.m. – GolTV USA – Hoffenheim vs. Hannover 96

2 p.m. – beIN Sports USA – Malaga vs. Real Madrid

3 p.m. – NBCSN – New England Revolution vs. New York Red Bulls

4 p.m. – beIN Sports en Español – Celta de Vigo vs. Eibar

6 p.m. – Univision Deportes – Club America vs. Pumas UNAM

8 p.m. – Univision Deportes – Tigres UANL vs. Pachuca

SUNDAY

8:30 a.m. – NBCSN – Southampton vs. Manchester City

9 a.m. – beIN Sports USA – AC Milan vs. Udinese

9 a.m. – beIN Sports en Español – Cagliari vs. Fiorentina

9:30 a.m. – GolTV USA – Wolfsburg vs. Borussia Mönchengladbach

11 a.m. – NBCSN – Tottenham vs. Everton

11 a.m. – beIN Sports en Español – Sevilla vs. Granada

11:30 a.m. – GolTV USA – Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Borussia Dortmund

12 p.m. – beIN Sports USA – Juventus vs. Torino

1 p.m. – beIN Sports en Español – Cordoba vs. Villarreal

1 p.m. – Univision – Toluca vs. Chiapas

2 p.m. – GolTV USA – Fluminense vs. Corinthians

3 p.m. – beIN Sports USA – Valencia vs. Barcelona

6 p.m. – USSoccer.com – USA U-17 vs. Australia U-17

7 p.m. – Univision Deportes – Atlas vs. Monterrey

9 p.m. – ESPN – Seattle Sounders vs. LA Galaxy

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Which matches are you anticipating most? Think either the Red Bulls or Sounders can rally in the second leg? Will Southampton hold off Manchester City?

Share your thoughts below.