It will probably take some time to reacclimate ourselves to what’s going in on in the world of club soccer, but fortunately, there is a headliner this week that will catapult you right back into the English power struggle.
Thursday’s EFL Cup Round of 16 battle features Liverpool and Manchester City’s respective returns to action since the month-long World Cup break, and the Reds will be hoping to shake off an uneasy start to their domestic campaign.
Manchester City, while probably more than ready to return, might be a little more focused on the return of Premier League play next week and could get caught napping if so.
The second round of Spain’s Copa del Rey also kicks off this week, where a field of largely lower division sides look to punch up as the major players like Real Madrid and Barcelona await their debuts in this year’s tournament.
American fans looking to cheer Venezia on in Serie B play have only had a few opportunities to watch this year, and the situation is becoming dire for Gianluca Busio, Tanner Tessman, and company as their side hovers just two points above the drop zone heading into Monday’s match against Perugia.
Scottish Premiership action rolls on with Aberdeen hosting Rangers on Tuesday before Celtic’s showdown with Livingston on Wednesday. Celtic grinded out a 1-0 victory at Pittodrie on Saturday while Rangers needed a second-half comeback to defeat Hibernian 3-2 on Thursday.
The UEFA Women’s Champions League group stage comes to an end this week with Chelsea’s Group A clash with Paris Saint-Germain serving as the headlining match.
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Here is a look at This Week’s Top 5 Matches to Watch, as well as a full rundown of This Week’s Soccer on TV and Online:
This Week’s Top 5 Matches to Watch
- Manchester City vs. Liverpool – Two of England’s dynamic attacking units return to action as favorites to advance in the Carabao Cup.
- Manchester United vs. Burnley – Vincent Kompany’s second-tier leaders face a daunting test at Manchester United.
- Aberdeen vs. Rangers – With Celtic sitting nine points clear at the top of the table, Rangers cannot afford a slip-up at Pittodrie.
- Genk vs. Anderlecht – Anderlecht’s league campaign has been rocky, but a cup upset over league-leaders Genk could prove to be a valuable spark.
- Chelsea (W) vs. PSG (W) – Chelsea welcomes PSG to London with top spot in Group A still up for grabs.
This Week’s Soccer on TV and Online
Monday
Copa por Mexico
8 p.m. – fuboTV, TUDN USA, Univision – América vs Toluca
10 p.m. – fuboTV, TUDN USA, Univision – Guadalajara vs Santos Laguna
English Championship
3 p.m. – ESPN+ – Wigan Athletic vs Sheffield United
Italian Serie B
2:30 p.m. – Fox Soccer Plus, fuboTV – Perugia vs Venezia
Tuesday
English League Cup
2:45 p.m. – ESPN+ – Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Gillingham
2:45 p.m. – ESPN+ – Southampton vs Lincoln City
2:45 p.m. – ESPN+ – Newcastle United vs AFC Bournemouth
2:45 p.m. – ESPN+ – Milton Keynes Dons vs Leicester City
Spanish Copa del Rey
1 p.m. – ESPN+ – CD Guadalajara vs Elche
1 p.m. – ESPN+ – Diocesano vs Getafe
3 p.m. – ESPN+ – Real Unión vs Mallorca
3 p.m. – ESPN+ – Sestao River vs Athletic Club
3 p.m. – ESPN+ – Guijuelo vs Villarreal
4 p.m. – ESPN+ – Atlético Paso vs Espanyol
Scottish Premiership
3 p.m. – Aberdeen vs. Rangers
Copa por Mexico
8 p.m. – fuboTV, TUDN USA – Pumas UNAM vs Necaxa
10 p.m. – fuboTV, TUDN USA – Atlas vs Mazatlán
Belgian Cup
2:45 p.m. – ESPN+ – Antwerp vs Standard Liège
Wednesday
English League Cup
2:45 p.m. – ESPN+ – Blackburn Rovers vs Nottingham Forest
2:45 p.m. – ESPN+ – Charlton Athletic vs Brighton & Hove Albion
3 p.m. – ESPN+ – Manchester United vs Burnley
English Championship
2:45 p.m. – ESPN+ – Coventry City vs. West Bromwich Albion
Spanish Copa del Rey
1 p.m. – ESPN+ – Saguntino vs Rayo Vallecano
1 p.m. – ESPN+ – Numancia vs Sporting Gijón
3 p.m. – ESPN+ – Arenas de Getxo vs Real Valladolid
3 p.m. – ESPN+ – Juventud Torremolinos vs Sevilla
3 p.m. – ESPN+ – Arnedo vs Osasuna
3 p.m. – ESPN+ – CD Coria vs Real Sociedad
Scottish Premiership
2:45 p.m. Celtic vs. Livingston
Belgian Cup
2 p.m. Club Brugge vs Sint-Truiden
2 p.m. Deinze vs Zulte-Waregem
2:45 p.m. – ESPN+ – Genk vs Anderlecht
UEFA Women’s Champions League
12:45 p.m. – YouTube – Olympique Lyonnais vs Juventus
3 p.m. – YouTube – Barcelona vs Rosengård
3 p.m. – YouTube – Bayern München vs SL Benfica
Major Arena Soccer League
7 p.m. – Twitch – Florida Tropics SC vs Baltimore Blast
Thursday
English League Cup
3 p.m. – ESPN+ – Manchester City vs Liverpool
Copa del Rey
1 p.m. – ESPN+ – Gernika vs Celta de Vigo
1 p.m. – ESPN+ – Cacereño vs Girona
3 p.m. – ESPN+ – Arenteiro vs Atlético Madrid
3 p.m. – ESPN+ – Real Oviedo vs Granada
Copa por Mexico
8 p.m. – fuboTV, TUDN USA – Toluca vs Cruz Azul
10 p.m. – fuboTV, TUDN USA – Guadalajara vs Tigres UANL
UEFA Women’s Champions League
12:45 p.m. – YouTube – St. Pölten vs Wolfsburg
12:45 p.m. – YouTube – Slavia Praha vs Roma
3 p.m. – YouTube – Real Madrid vs Vllaznia
3 p.m. – YouTube – Chelsea vs PSG