Barcelona vs. Real Madrid, a match that needs no explanation.
The 263rd El Clásico kicks offs on Saturday at Estadio Santiago Bernabéu. While each side boasts plenty of talent and skill, one Argentine star’s status is still up in the air.
Lionel Messi has participated in training for Barcelona in the buildup to the contest, but it is still unclear whether he will start, come on as a substitute, or not play. With Neymar in superb form, the home side may not need Messi against Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema.
Across the continent, a bevy of matches are must-see, including Manchester City-Liverpool, Schalke 04-Bayern Munich and Juventus-AC Milan.
Meanwhile, Ligue 1 will continue its 2015-16 campaign on the heels of the Paris attacks from a week ago.
If you will be watching today’s soccer, 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):
SOCCER SATURDAY
ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE
7:45 a.m. — NBCSN/NBC Sports Live Extra/NBC Universo — Watford vs. Manchester United
10 a.m. — NBCSN/NBC Sports Live Extra/NBC Universo — Chelsea vs. Norwich City
10 a.m. — NBC Sports Live Extra — Everton vs. Aston Villa
10 a.m. — NBC Sports Live Extra — West Bromwich Albion vs. Arsenal
10 a.m. — NBC Sports Live Extra — Swansea City vs. Bournemouth
10 a.m. — NBC Sports Live Extra — Newcastle United vs. Leicester City
10 a.m. — NBC Sports Live Extra — Southampton vs. Stoke City
12:30 p.m. — NBCSN/NBC Sports Live Extra/NBC Universo/Telemundo — Manchester City vs. Liverpool
SPANISH LA LIGA
10 a.m. — beIN Sports Connect — Real Sociedad vs. Sevilla
12:15 p.m. — beIN Sports USA/beIN Sports en Español/beIN Sports Connect — Real Madrid vs. Barcelona
2:30 p.m. — beIN Sports Connect — Espanyol vs. Málaga
4 p.m. — beIN Sports Connect — Valencia vs. Las Palmas
4:05 p.m. — beIN Sports Connect — Deportivo La Coruña vs. Celta de Vigo
GERMAN BUNDESLIGA
9:30 a.m. — Fox Soccer 2Go — Borussia Mönchengladbach vs. Hannover 96
9:30 a.m. — Fox Soccer Plus/Fox Soccer 2Go — VfL Wolfsburg vs. Werder Bremen
9:30 a.m. — Fox Soccer 2Go — VfB Stuttgart vs. Augsburg
9:30 a.m. — Fox Sports 1/Fox Sports Go/Fox Soccer 2Go/Fox Deportes — Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Bayer Leverkusen
9:30 a.m. — Fox Soccer 2Go — Cologne vs. Mainz
12:30 p.m. — Fox Soccer Plus/Fox Soccer 2Go — Schalke 04 vs. Bayern Munich
FRENCH LIGUE 1
11 a.m. — beIN Sports Connect — Lorient vs. Paris Saint-Germain
2 p.m. — beIN Sports Connect — AS Monaco vs. Nantes
2 p.m. — beIN Sports Connect — Guingamp vs. Toulouse
2 p.m. — beIN Sports Connect — Montpellier vs. Reims
ITALIAN SERIE A
Noon — beIN Sports Connect — Bologna vs. AS Roma
2:45 p.m. — beIN Sports USA/beIN Sports en Español/beIN Sports Connect — Juventus vs. Milan
MEXICAN LIGA MX
6 p.m. — Univision Deportes/Univision — Club América vs. Pumas UNAM
8 p.m. — Univision Deportes — Tigres UANL vs. Cruz Azul
9 p.m. — NBC Universo/NBC Deportes en Vivo Extra — León vs. Dorados
10 p.m. — Univision Deportes — Chiapas vs. Pachuca
ENGLISH LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP
7:30 a.m. — beIN Sports USA/beIN Sports Connect — Bristol City vs. Hull City
10 a.m. — beIN Sports Connect — Leeds United vs. Rotherham United
DUTCH EREDIVISIE
2:45 p.m. — Univision Deportes — Willem II vs. PSV Eindhoven
If US fans are interested in seeing how the “beautiful game” is ideally played, they should watch the Barca-Real game. And if they’re further interested in how a game should be announced and appreciated they absolutely need to listen to BEIN announcer, Ray Hudson. Admittedly his descriptive approach will not be everyone’s cup of tea but the fact that not once in a game are we assailed by Taylor Twellman twaddle about formations, “pinching in”, etc is a major bonus. In fact, the entire BEIN announcing staff for La Ligament games concentrates on the skills and missteps of the individual players. That aspect of the game of soccer is totally ignored by the buffoons announcing MNT and MLS games. It’s no wonder that we can’t develop skill players when US fans have no idea what skills are needed!!!
He let in 4 today, but how is Keylor Navas doing for Real?
….he saved twice as many. What’ your point?
I think his point was that today may not have been a true indicator of Navas’ season, since the Real Madrid back line was still eating tapas.
think it was just an honest question, rob. real madrid could’ve used some of your defensiveness.
Yeah. Neymar, Luis Suarez, Iniesta… They hardy ever score agains anybody
he’s been very good–in my opinion, he’s been their best player so far this season.
F*** yeah Skrtel! Red Dragons finding their form under Klopp.
Master class from Barcelona, 3:0 up and without Messi.
Best club team in the world in the last decade.
Bercelona dismantling Real at the Bernadeu. Midfield battle isn’t even close.
I see Liverpool playing spoilers at Citeh so far.
Excellent noon time games.
Arsenal West Brom on USA