By ADAM TROXTELL
Struggling Lazio looks to get back on track against AC Milan, which is similarly desperate for a win in the Serie A race for European spots.
Milan is winless in four games entering today’s test against the Biancocelesti on the road. Since winning the first meeting at the San Siro, AC Milan has fallen five points behind Lazio, who are now pushing for a UEFA Champions League spot.
A loss to Napoli last weekend makes this game even more important to Lazio. The Romans have just one point from their last two games after drawing with rivals Roma.
Top-flight action in England takes a break this weekend for the fourth round of the FA Cup. Manchester City and Liverpool try to avoid upsets when they host Middlesbrough and Botlon, respectively.
The U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team will try to book a place at the World Cup later this year in a do-or-die playoff against El Salvador at the CONCACAF U-20 Championships. The U.S. has won three straight after tying Guatemala and losing to Panama earlier the tournament.
If you will be watching today’s action, feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below.
Enjoy today’s action (Today’s soccer TV schedule after the jump):
7:45 a.m. – Fox Soccer Plus – Ross County vs. Celtic
10:00 a.m. – Fox Sports 2 – Birmingham City vs. West Brom
10:00 a.m. – Fox Sports 1 – Manchester City vs. Middlesbrough
10:00 a.m. – beIN Sports USA – Cordoba vs. Real Madrid
12:00 p.m. – beIN Sports USA – Elche vs. Barcelona
12:30 p.m. – Fox Sports 2 – Liverpool vs. Bolton
2:00 p.m. – beIN Sports en Espanol – Atletico Madrid vs. Rayo Vallecano
2:45 p.m. – beIN Sports USA – Lazio vs. Milan
4:00 p.m. – beIN Sports en Espanol – Villarreal vs. Levante
5:00 p.m. – Fox Soccer Plus – U.S. Under 20s vs. El Salvador
6:00 p.m. – Univision – America vs. Puebla
8:00 p.m. – Univision Deportes – Tigres UANL vs. Tijuana
9:06 p.m. – Telemundo – Pachuca vs. Queretaro
10 p.m. – Univision Deportes – Chiapas vs. Atlas
Old School you’re a smart guy and all, but when you throw out terms like: ‘Defoe is the second worst player ever. First? You guessed it…and by a long way.’ And then complain about ‘straw man’ arguments being used against you, you do yourself a disservice. All people are saying is that it may take a bit more than bringing in a (very) competent striker such as Defoe to bring Sinderland’s strike rate up…
DING DING DING…
Reams was terrific today. SOOO intelligent. Too bad he is just what the USMNT doesnt want. HE is intelligent,Anticipates beautifully but is not super big or super fast. The USA wants big, dumb and fast central defenders , so I guess that disqualifies him from USMNT call up
Dr. K,
What makes you think he always plays like this?
Maybe he watches Bolton play often. No need minimize opinions different than yours.
What makes you think my opinion on Ream’s play is different from his?
If you did you wouldn’t have questioned Ream’s consistency.
Mr. Troll,
There is no question about Ream’s consistency.
He is consistently good for Bolton and consistently inconsistent for the US.
Ream played very well vs Liverpool. That’s one game.
FA Cup ties are notorious for getting players on the underdog team to play over their heads so it’s a good idea to not get too crazy about this one good performance.
He has been playing very well at Bolton and that has earned him a spot in the USMNT picture but he hasn’t earned a regular spot yet.
That is probably because he has been inconsistent for the US, never really putting in a solid performance. But I’m sure he’ll get his shot soon.
The knock on Ream when he played for the Red Bull was that he was too often guilty of a moment of inattention during a game that would result in the opposition scoring. He has always been touted as a guy who can make great passes and sees things well. It is the moments of inattention that, I think, have kept him away from the USMNT. Omar G. while having a different positive set of traits does share Ream’s attention deficit and I wonder how much longer he will be with the USMNT.
Of course both those guys could improve their concentration (or maybe already have), but it remains a concern.
Just wanted to second Dr. K’s comment. Ream was really excellent, both in defense and in starting counterattacks. He comfortably moved over to left back when Wheater came in at the end of the game. A very nice performance.
Saw Morongo went thru the locker room after the upset and congratulated every city player. A class act never saw that coming from him
US U-20s still relegated to FSP or did Fox move them to a bigger network?
Yedlin called in for the U.S. friendlies
Sunderland update: Sunderland couldn’t score vs Championship side Fulham. Defoe did not score for the second game in a row. 150+ minutes of football at Sunderland and no goal. He must be the worst player ever…
Roker Report player ratings quoted saying: “Jermain had no good service today”. Sound familiar?
Reality update: Defoe has more goals in league play of a single season in both MLS play and EPL play than the person he was traded for.
When Defoe goes a stretch of scoring 3 goals in 40+ matches of league play, you’re given permission to try again at humor. According to this standard, Defoe is the second worst player ever. First? You guessed it…and by a long way.
Defoe scored goals at Tottenham — a team that was able to get him the ball in good positions. 40+ matches for Jozy at Sunderland. How many of those were starts? He should have probably had about two more than he scored based on sitters that he missed.
Funny how you think Defoe is such a great striker. Now you will be forced to concede that service is a huge determinant in how good a goal scorer can be. You glorifying Defoe because you hate Jozy so much is hilarious.
I can’t believe people try to justify jozys scoring record at Sunderland. He wasn’t good enough. Move on
Defoe has scored goals every place he went. Hence why Redknapp always signed him as a reliable striker when he would be hired at different clubs.
I’m amused as your suggestion that I consider Defoe a “great striker”, and the accusation of “hating” Altidore. Yet another straw man argument conjured by the apology crowd that denies reality.
More excuses and more diversion.
haha, wow my sarcasm was too thick for comprehension. i agree with all of you. relax. Old School, F, Kmac, GW.
sunderland don’t provide good service, regardless of striker, (name their last 10+ goal ST….).
Jozy was not good at Sunderland.
Defoe is a great talent, I’ve enjoyed watching him for years and always felt he got snubbed for the England WC team.
I do not forsee Defoe scoring very many goals (refer to first statement).
my comment was poking fun at people who rush to judge, not actually stating i believe those things.
you are good people, and gosh darn it, people like you.
have a good day
(spoiler alert: it was Steven Fletcher with 11…. in 2012-13– the year before Di Canio was hired. he then had 3 goals with injuries and has 4 goals this season being mostly healthy).
thanks for playing
“haha, wow my sarcasm was too thick for comprehension. ”
That was sarcasm?
Really?
yes….. “Sunderland update: Sunderland couldn’t score vs Championship side Fulham. Defoe did not score for the second game in a row. 150+ minutes of football at Sunderland and no goal. He must be the worst player ever…” was sarcasm– double entendre style, perhaps…..
“double entendre style”?
Really?
GW, yes, as in it has two meanings….. and to think, you generally come off as educated..
the two meanings: one- Sunderland don’t set up their forwards very well. two- sarcastically mocking those who would make such a judgment after 150 minutes of football.
would you like the cliff notes ?
O.S.- i think you missed my humor. I’m on your side, i was more so just making fun of the people who rush to judge. I know my statement was illogical. I do not follow the same judge-every-game-with-hyperole logic that some (SlowleftArm, Brett, etc) BUT Defoe had 11 goals right? Altidore had 9 for NYRB, hardy a huge distinction…. and jozy was 17.
I am very curious to see how many goals Defoe can score in the remaining games. my over under is 4.
DDfBL, DDfBL, DDfBL, you must be young and as pure as the driven f—ing snow; let a world-weary commenter clarify:
old school is not on your side. while you may value things like context and logic, old school considers these things merely ‘excuses’ to fit a ‘narrative’.
for whatever reason, old school will not rest until everyone agrees that GOALS=SUCCESS (again, no context or qualifiers, please); therefore, JOZY=SUCKS.
DDfBL,
Chelsea 2- Bradford City (League One) 4
It’s the FA Cup . Upsets happen on a regular basis in this competition.
Wow Heskey Senior’s playing in a big game at Anfield while Heskey Junior’s headed to Toronto
yeah, black people all look the same to me, too.
Heskey is 37 and still good enough to play for a Championship team.
Think just anyone could do that?
Tim Ream looking sharp on the ball early on.
Well done Bradford
That goal vs city is hilarious.
Funny stuff, Cristiano.