So with the Spanish League (La Liga) and the Italian Serie A back in play this weekend all of the major soccer leagues across the world are back on line including local colleges and high school. See previews below for the Serie A – will my precious Juventus win the league for a 5th straight time despite their shipping out Pirlo, Tevez and lots of other talent? (Buffon still minds the net). Will the Milans Inter or AC come back to relevance in a league they have dominated over the years? In Spain the La Liga has the usual suspects of Real Madrid and Barcelona battling at the top with Athletico, Valencia, and perhaps Sevilla battling for Champion’s League spots. The season kicks off Saturday but TV coverage starts Sunday as Athletico travels to Barcelona at 12:30 on beIN Sports.
The EPL is back for week 3 with a doozy of a game on Monday 3 pm as undefeated Liverpool travel to Arsenal on NBCSN. US Keeper Brad Guzan and Aston Villa face Crystal Palace Sat morning at 10 am on USA Network, while fellow keeper Tim Howard and Everton face Tottenham on NBCSN on Sunday at 10 am.
High School soccer has returned in Indy with multiple teams on the North side of Indy ranked – on the Girls Side its Fishers #1, Carmel #2, and Noblesville #3 while Brebeuf, Cathedral, Hamilton Southeastern and Guerin Catholic are all top 10. On the boys side the top 10 includes Zionsville at #3, Carmel at #6, Fisher’s #9, and Guerin Catholic #10. Carmel Girls have a 2 week home streak with games against Guerin 8/22, Fishers 8/29, Cathedral 8/29, and Pike 9/2. Catch the Carmel Invitational next weekend at Murray Stadium as 4 of the top 10 Girl’s teams in the state will play on Saturday 8/29. The Carmel boys are home 8/25 vs Ben Davis and again 9/3. Guerin Catholic boys has a string of 3 home games next week 8/25, 8/29 and 9/1.
Finally, congrats to the Indy 11 for their big win over Tampa Bay 2-0 on Wednesday night, it was actually the first win I have witnessed in person for our Indy 11. In case you haven’t been – here is quick goal video from the BYB section behind the goal – the only place to take in a soccer game in my opinion. The 11 move into a tie for 8th and take off on a 3 game road streak starting with Atlanta this Saturday night – catch the game on ESPN3 or these watch party locations.
LA-LIGA + Serie A-Spanish/Italian Leagues Start this Weekend on beIN Sports
Real Madrid Face Questions this Season ESPN FC
La Liga Points to Ponder – Sid Lowe ESPN FC
Player of the Year Candidates – Messi, Renaldo, Suarez, Gigi Buffon
Pique Gets 4 game Ban to Start Season
USA
US welcomes back Tim Howard and Beasley
US Olympic Qualifying Is Set – US to face Canada, Cuba and Panama
US Ream set to Join Fulham in Championship
US Ladies rock Costa Rica Again
American Exports – Tim Howards adds 127th EPL shutout while Cameron and Stoke tie Tottenham
American Exports – Bobby Wood and Bob Bradley both win MLSsoccer.com
EPL
Man City Routs Chelsea 3-0 Richard Jolly ESPN FC
Everton shine with Lukaku and Barkley
Something not Right at Chelsea? Iain MacIntosh EPSN FC
What is Mourinho’s Problem with Terry?
Chelsea steals Barca’s Pedro from Man U –
Predictions on this Weekends Games in the EPL ESPN FC
MLS/Indy 11
Indy 11 beat Tampa Bay 2-0 at home
Donovan Ricketts is LA Galaxy Renaissance man
MLS Sounders in Champions League Classic win
GAMES THIS WEEK
Sat, Aug 22
7:45 a.m., Manchester United vs. Newcastle NBCSN:
9:30 am Hoffenhiem vs Bayern Munich Fox Sports 1
10:00 a.m., TBD: Leicester vs. Tottenham, NBCSN
10 am Crystal Palace vs. Aston Villa, USA Network
Brad Guzan – Aston Villa at Crystal Palace (Saturday, 10 am on USA)
The US netminder pitched a pair of shutouts against Palace last season, but Villa failed to win the home game. Guzan has three clean sheet victories in his last five EPL road games, and his 1-0 win there last season snappe a Villas win drought at Selhurst Park that dated back to 1980.
Sunderland vs. Swansea, West Ham vs. Bournemouth, Norwich vs. Stoke City, NBCSports Extra
12:30 Hamburg vs Stuttgart Fox Sports 1
7:30 Indy 11 @ Atlanta ESPN3
Sunday, Aug 23
8:30 a.m., West Bromwich vs. Chelsea NBCSN
9:30 am FC Ingolstadt vs Borussia Dortmund Fox Sports 1
Alfredo Morales – Ingolstadt vs. Borussia Dortmund (Sunday, 9:30 am on Fox Sports 1)
Having thoroughly enjoyed Ingolstadt’s Bundesliga coming out party away from home last week, Morales & Co. bring the show home for the fans. Both the midfielder and his club will be getting their first look at Dortmund. The Audi Boys will go without key defender Danilo, while the visitors are set to arrive without someone the American ordinarily would have run up against repeatedly, midfield ace Nuri Sahin.
11:00 a.m., Everton vs. Manchester City NBCSN
Tim Howard – Everton vs. Manchester City (Sunday, 11 am on NBCSN)
After shutting down one of his favorite opponents at Southampton last weekend, Howard returns home trying to regain the upper hand in a series he had traditionally dominated until recently. Despite dropping his last three clshs with the Citizens, the Toffees backstop still holds a 10-7-2 all-time edge with six clean sheets thrown in for good measure. This time, Everton must go without star defender Leighton Baines.
11:00 a.m.,: Watford vs. Southampton Extra Time
11:30 am Monchengladbach vs Mainz Fox Sports 1
12:30 Athletico vs Barcelona beIN Sports
5 pm LA Galaxy @ NYCFC ESPN
Monday, Aug 24
3:00 p.m. Arsenal vs. Liverpool NBCSN
Tues, Aug 25 Champions League
2:45 pm FR Monaco vs Valencia Fox Sports 1
Wed, Aug 26 Champions League
2:45 pm Club Brugge @ Man United (1-3) Fox Sports 1
2:$5 pm Bayer Leverkusen vs Lazio Fox sports 2
Friday, Aug28
2:30 p.m., VfL Wolfsburg vs. Schalke 04 Fox Sports 1
Sat, Aug 29
7:45 am Newcastle vs Arsenal NBCSN
10 am Chelsea vs Crystal Palace USA?
Liverpool vs West Ham NBCSN?
Stoke vs West Brom, Aston Villa vs Sunderland NBC Sports Extra
12:30 pm Tottenham vs Everton NBC
12:30 pm Bayern Munich vs Bayern Leverkusen Fox Sports 2
2:30 pm Barcelona vs Malaga beIn Sports
7:30 pm Indy 11 vs Ft Lauderdale ESPN3
Sun, Aug 30
8:30 am Southhampton vs Norwich NBCSN
9:30 am Borussia Dortmund vs Hertha Fox Soccer
11 am Swansea vs Man United NBCSN
12 noon Roma vs Juventus (Italy) beIn Sports
3 pm Monaco vs PSG (FR) beIN Sports
5 pm Seattle Sounders vs Portland ESPN
7 pm New York Red Bulls vs DC United Fox Sports 1
9:30 pm Washington vs Portland Thorns NWSL Fox Sports 1
Fri, Sept 4
USA vs Peru Fox Sports 1
USA GAMES
Fri, Sept 4 USMNT vs Peru Fox Sports 1 (RFK)
Tue, Sept 8 USMNT vs Brazil ESPN (Foxsborough)
Thur, Sept 17 USWNT vs Australia Fox Sports 1 (Detroit)
Sun, Sept 20 USWNT vs Australia ESPN 2 (Birmingham)
Fri, Oct 9 USMNT vs Mexico – Fox Sports 1 – Confed Cup Playoff
Full EPL Schedule on NBC along with Capital One Cup + FA Cup
The Ole BallCoach 