By ADAM TROXTELL
Real Madrid’s ability to challenge for the Spanish Primera Division title up to the end faces its biggest test in the pick of today’s action.
Los Blancos host fourth-place Valencia while seeking to overcome a two-point gap between themselves and top-of-the-table Barcelona. Los Che was victorious when the teams met back in January, sparking 2015 with a 2-1 win at the Mestalla.
Bareclona can move out of reach for the time being with a win against Real Sociedad earlier in the day.
Bayern Munich will attempt to bounce back from a rough midweek Champions League outing against Augsburg, who is attempting to overtake Schalke for an automatic Europa League spot.
Manchester United is also trying to solidify a European spot, though the Red Devils’ aim is for the Champions League when they visit London to take on Crystal Palace.
Later in the day, Tijuana battles struggling Leon while trying to cement a Liga MX playoff spot. Monterrey is also trying to sneak in with a win against mid-table Pumas.
If you will be watching any of today’s action, feel free to leave your thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below.
Enjoy the action (today’s soccer on TV schedule after the jump):
7:15 a.m. — beIN Sports USA — Ipswich vs. Norwich
7:45 a.m. — NBCSN — Everton vs. Sunderland
9:30 a.m. — GolTV USA — Bayern Munich vs. Augsburg
10 a.m. — NBCSN — Newcastle United vs. West Brom
10 a.m. — Premier League Extra Time — Aston Villa vs. West Ham
10 a.m. — Premier League Extra Time — Hull vs. Burnley
10 a.m. — Premier League Extra Time — Stoke vs. Tottenham
10 a.m. — Premier League Extra Time — Leicester City vs. Southampton
Noon — beIN Sports USA — Barcelona vs. Real Sociedad
12:30 p.m. — NBCSN — Crystal Palace vs. Manchester United
12:30 p.m. — GolTV USA — Stuttgart vs. Mainz
2 p.m. — beIN Sports USA/en Espanol — Real Madrid vs. Valencia
2:45 p.m. — beIN Sports USA — Milan vs. Roma
3 p.m. — DirecTV/MLS Live — Chicago Fire vs. Real Salt Lake
3 p.m. — ESPN3 — Ottawa Fury vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies
4 p.m. — DirecTV/MLS Live — Montreal Impact vs. Portland Timbers
4 p.m. — beIN Sports en Espanol — Athletic Bilbao vs. Deportivo La Coruna
5:30 p.m. — GolTV USA — Palmeiras vs. Atletico Mineiro
6 p.m. — Univision Deportes — Cruz Azul vs. Universidad Guadalajara
7 p.m. — DirecTV/MLS Live — D.C. United vs. Sporting KC
7 p.m. — DirecTV/MLS Live — Vancouver Whitecaps vs. Philadelphia Union
7:30 p.m. — DirecTV/MLS Live — Columbus Crew vs. Seattle Sounders
7:30 p.m. — ESPN3 — Jacksonville Armada vs. Indy Eleven
8 p.m. — ESPN3 — Minnesota United vs. Atlanta Silverbacks
8 p.m. — UniMas — Monterrey vs. Pumas
8:30 p.m. — DirecTV/MLS Live — FC Dallas vs. LA Galaxy
8:30 p.m. — ESPN3 — San Antonio Scorpions vs. Carolina RailHawks
9:06 p.m. — Telemundo — Leon vs. Tijuana
10 p.m. — UniMas — Atlas vs. America
Honestly, Brad Guzan has never looked all too impresive when suiting up for the Nats either. Now that he’s lost his starting spot, I think it’s pretty safe to say that Rimando is going to be our No. 1 heading into the Gold Cup.
OMRW,
I guess you did not see the 2009 Confederations Cup win vs Egypt where the US had to win 3-0 and did just that. And I guess you missed the Denver Snowbowl shut out in WC qualifying,for the 2014 WC, a game with terrible conditions for a keeper where Guzan kept a clean sheet.
I love Nicky but Guzan is a better keeper and always has been. Timmy went through a garbage period before the 2014 WC and bounced back.
Guzan was due for a slump. He’ll be back.
OMRW,
By the way I forgot to include this:
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/tim-sherwoods-message-aston-villa-9219849
Dier playing this bad…..does that mean Yedlin could see some more playing time.
I’m a little confused as to why and how Guzan lost his starting spot.
Mad e big mistake at the wrong time
Details of Guzan’s blunder(s), please? I missed this.
No shame to losing your place to Shay Given, though. Or so I think, haven’t seen him play in a couple years, but he used to be really damn good.
http://prosoccertalk.nbcsports.com/2015/04/25/video-guzans-colossal-error-gifts-aguero-and-man-city-an-easy-1-0-lead/
That was was HUGE blunder,…pathetic really,…especially for a team fighting the relegation battle. That said,…that fullback who gave hi that ball should be shot. There was no reason he couldn’t turn to play the ball up field,…he had all the time in the world.
Mistakes like that need to be punished, especially when a team is playing for its EPL status. That said,…it’s pity Brad made such a brutal mistake after putting up with such a long season. Nothing will ever top Tim Howard’s blunder against Porto. Would the ‘special one’ be so special if Timmy had not dropped Deco’s free kick? Would Timmy still be the ManU keeper?
Why are you confused? He played badly, so he got replaced. Very simple.
Chances are Given, who is a million years old ,won’t last. I would not worry about it though I’m sure Brad does.
So Fabian Johnson will definitely be playing Champions League football next year. However will he keep the same form through next season or will he lose his spot to a new signing because they are now in the Champions League? Time will tell . I still think Johnson is the best american player right now. If he plays regularly during Champions League play and they do well he will definitely be one of the top players to play for America.
I don’t think Johnson will lose it too a new player. Gladbach isn’t all that wealthy. I’m pretty sure they are selling Max Kruse so they will need a new striker. That’s where the money will go.
Johnson could lose his spot to a guy already on the team but… its hard to say who as Johnson was playing left midfield today but if he plays on the right Andre Hahn is more of true winger(and really fast). Johnson is likely the best US player but he also suffers from being very very good at almost everything but excellent at nothing.
Timmy Chandler scored… Huzzah
He clearly can play in the Bundesliga… I just wish it translated to the US team.
Frankfurt does play a little odd though.
They have score the 4th most goals(51) in the Bundesliga. They have also given up the most(60).
The bottom of the BPL table has been very interesting at the end of the year. Newcastle is plummeting; Sunderland may be doing just enough to get by; Leicester is winning every game.
Crazy way to end the year.
Leicester has what 6 wins of 7 now? I assume they win this one…
That’s amazing. I have watched a few of their games early in the season. They were never bad. They just didn’t seem to score for whatever reason. Now its the opposite it seems.
why all the hate for sunderland? they gave every opportunity possible to to an american player who clearly wasn’t good enough for the league
Because they are terrible, they deserve to go down. Also QPR and Hull. I just feel bad for Burnley. Oh and I kinda like Everton who they happen to be playing in this game.
They also have a guy who was recently brought up on statutory rape charges playing for them. Obviously I should love a team like that…..
why all the hate for sunderland? they gave every opportunity possible to to an american player who clearly wasn’t good enough for the league
Because we have a sub cultural of fans that want to blame everyone else until they’re blue in the face with absurdity.
increase has it right, jaime. under poyet, they were perhaps the worst-playing team i’ve ever seen in the epl (benny feilhaber’s derby might have them beat). he wanted to play a possession-based system, but they couldn’t move the ball up the field, so they simply hoped for 0-0 results.
and don’t mind old school. some people had the temerity to offer well-grounded rationales for altidore’s struggles at sunderland, and he just can’t let that stand.
oops–after re-reading your comment, i see i’ve probably just wasted my time responding to you. i’m assuming you also think di maria and falcao clearly aren’t good enough to play in the almighty epl.
Nate D,
Jozy and Wilfried Bony both were scoring a lot of goals in Holland around the same time.
At the time I thought it would have been interesting if Jozy went to Swansea and Bony went to Sunderland. It’s too bad that did not happen at least for Jozy
+1
How is this second goal going to stand… Fletcher tripped Stones with his hands on purpose. That’s the only reason that goal happened.
LOL. Everton. Who loses to Sunderland? Hell, who gets scored twice by Sunderland?
No idea… And what is Adam Johnson doing being allowed to play….
Where is the “LoL Sunderland” guy today? :-).
Under his bridge.
L………….O………….L……….. SUNDERLAND…..
For some reason, Sunderland always makes a run for safety during the final stretch.
Lordy, I wake up and Sunderland is winning. Everton… you are better than this.
it’s Jozy’s fault. lol…
Looks like Guzan has lost his job,….to Shea Given no less. Wow! Is that this works,…your center forward starts scoring goals and so you replace your GK?