By ADAM TROXTELL
For the first time since 2003, Juventus is looking to become the king of Europe.
The Italian champions face Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League final. In contrast, Barcelona seeks a third Champions League trophy in six years.
Giorgio Chiellini will no be reunited with Luis Suarez for the first time since the biting incident at last year’s world cup. The Juventus defender is out with a torn calf muscle, though Barcelona should have Andres Iniesta back after he shrugged off a calf injury.
The FIFA Women’s World Cup gets underway this afternoon, with hosts Canada playing China. New Zealand and the Netherlands square off in the late match.
International friendlies also dot the weekend. Argentina warms up for the Copa America against fellow South Americans Bolivia.
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):
2:45 p.m. — FOX — Juventus vs. Barcelona
5 p.m. — beIN Sports USA — Ecuador vs. Panama
5:15 p.m. — beIN Sports en Espanol — Colombia vs. Costa Rica
6 p.m. — GolTV USA — Uruguay vs. Guatemala
6 p.m. — Fox Sports 1 — Canada WNT vs. China WNT
7 p.m. — DirecTV/MLS Live — Philadelphia Union vs. New York City FC
7 p.m. — DirecTV/MLS Live — D.C. United vs. Toronto FC
7 p.m. — beIN Sports USA — Argentina vs. Bolivia
7:15 p.m. — beIN Sports en Espanol — Paraguay vs. Honduras
7:30 p.m. — DirecTV/MLS Live — Columbus Crew vs. Montreal Impact
7:30 p.m. — ESPN3 — Atlanta Silverbacks vs. San Antonio Scorpions
7:30 p.m. — ESPN3 — Carolina RailHawks vs. Minnesota United
7:30 p.m. — ESPN3 — Fort Lauderdale Strikers vs. Indy Eleven
7:30 p.m. — ESPN3 — Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. FC Edmonton
8:30 p.m. — DirecTV/MLS Live — Sporting KC vs. Seattle Sounders
8:30 p.m. — DirecTV/MLS Live — Chicago Fire vs. Orlando City
9 p.m. — Fox Sports 2 — New Zealand WNT vs. Netherlands WNT
10 p.m. — Fox Soccer Plus — Honduras U-20 vs. Germany U-20
10:30 p.m. — DirecTV/MLS Live — LA Galaxy vs. Vancouver Whitecaps
10:30 p.m. — DirecTV/MLS Live — Portland Timbers vs. New England Revolution
Yes Mike…. saw your “compact” posts yesterday. One aspect of the game and an important one, but……….. saying you will remain compact, practicing it/knowing how to remain compact, even being completely in synch as a team are one thing and something to aspire to. However, no matter how much you emphasize it- it can all go suddenly out the window if you are suddenly confronted with the reality that you are completely overmatched in skill and speed…
Barcelona is absolutely littered with an embarrassment in riches in unmatched speed, skill, smarts and tenacity all over the pitch. To say they won because they stayed compact is…… perhaps a bit of oversimplification.
+1
Anyone see how compact Barcelona played today? Despite the hype and pressure behind the game it is still a fundamental game needed to be played. Barcelona held it together. Juventus had moments of compact play and moments without. The results today and in the past speak for themselves and championship teams in the past in all competition. Compact play is not the best system in the world, but may just be the best fundamental system to build a foundation around. Get a clue yet USMNT?
Juve got stretched after their goal when it seems like they were going for the winning goal. And you can’t let that happen vs Barca.
So Barca made them pay.
In the US Netherlands game the US got stretched because they were behind for most of the game and had to attack. The Netherlands got stretched because they just like to attack maybe because they think they can outscore anyone.
The US Germany game should be interesting to watch from that standpoint.
Did anyone see the CL Final? Barca won, but that was a pretty intense final.
yea i caught the final hour but it was an exciting game for sure. billed as a game of stars and it lived up to it. i still think the ref should have called that penalty on Dani alves pulling down Pogba; definite turning point.
That call could’ve gone either way, but I lean toward it not being a penalty. There was also that Neymar elbow goal. I can see how that could’ve been a goal since it didn’t look intentional, but Barca’s attack proved too much.
Pogba fell/jumped into Alves. Good non call.