El Classico between a reeling Real Madrid and Barcelona leads the big games this weekend as they kick off at 10 am on Saturday on beIN Sport. El Classico is the biggest club game in the world and will be watched by over 2 million people worldwide. Manchester United will host Chelsea and American Christian Pulisic at 12:30 pm Saturday on NBC. Ok American Soccer Fans – We’ll get a chance to see if Pulisic can help pull the American market in a real game against a marquee team like United! Also at 12:30 pm on Sat on ESPN+ Dortmund and American Gio Reyna will host Schalke in one of the most heated Derby’s in Soccer. And Finally on Sunday – El Traffico – as LAFC hosts LA Galaxy on ABC at 3:30 pm. We have asked for Big Soccer games on Network TV folks – so here they are this weekend !! Will American’s tune-in to watch soccer over football?
Champions League is Back Tues/Wed – Group Stage Matchday 2
Ah it was great to have Champions League back (even in empty stadiums). Hugely exciting to have Champions League games with American’s not just playing but starting and playing important roles. Pulisic started for Chelsea on the right side but was mainly held in check in the 0-0 tie at home vs Spanish Side – but US Players in prominent roles on 9 of the teams. Gio Reyna had an assist in his game as he came on at the half of Dortmunds’ surprising 3-1 loss at Lazio. Adams played center back in a 5 man back line for RB Leipzig in their 2-0 win and of course Dest, 19, started for Barcelona in their 3-0 win. In total a new Record of 5 American’s played Tuesday here’s how they ended up. The best might have been GK Ethan Horvath who made a surprise start in goal for Club Brugge – he made 3 or 4 incredible saves to help them secure the 2-1 upset at Zenit. It was his first game in almost a year as he normally backs up Belgium star Simon Mignolet who had covid. Can’t wait to see how the American’s do this week! Here’s the standing’s after Matchday 1.
Man is there a team more dependant on one player than Real Madrid? In their second game without Center back and Captain Sergio Ramos – Real gave up 3 first half goals to an undermanned Shakkar team and honestly should have given up 2 or 3 more. They fought back for 2 in the 2nd half at home but the equalizer was overruled by VAR leaving Madrid with a first game lost at 3-2. The “marquee” matchup ended up being a dud as Champions Bayern Munich took control in the 2nd half at home to defeat Atletico 2-0. (sad not to have American Chris Richards-injured, or Canadian Alphonso Davies playing.)
I will give credit to CBS – the wrap around coverage on CBS Sports Network was pretty cool showing scores for all the games and goals and shots on replay every time one happened. Not bad coverage. Now if we can get the to cover the post game and pre game shows the way they are on CBS All Access all will be good. Again AA is fine I hate that you can’t go back and watch a goal you may have missed though. The Live only coverage with no ability to re-wind really sux for a PAID Service. But one step at a time I suppose.
GAMES ON TV
(American’s in parenthesis)
Sat, Oct 24
7:30 am Peacock Man City vs West Ham
9:30 am ESPN+ Bayern Munich vs Frankfort (Chandler)
9:30 am ESN+ RB Leipzig (Adams) vs Hertha Berlin
10 am NBCSN Fulham vs Crystal Palace
10 am beIN Sport Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona EL CLASSICO
12:30 pm NBC Man United vs Chelsea (Pulisic)
12:30 am ESPN+ Borrusia Dortmund (Gio Reyna) vs Schalke
3 pm Peacock Liverpool vs Sheffield United
3:30 pm ESPN+ Inter Miami vs Orlando City SC
Sun, Oct 25
10 am NBCSN Everton vs Southampton
12:30 pm NBC Wolverhampton vs New Castle
3pm ABC LAFC vs LA GALAXY – EL TRAFFICO
3:15 pm Peacock Arsenal vs Leicester City
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
(American’s in parenthesis)
Tuesday, October 27
Lokotomiv Moscow vs. Bayern Munich (Richards), 1:55pm, Galavision, CBS All Access and fuboTV
Shakhtar Donetsk vs. Inter Milan 1:55pm, UniMas, TUDN, CBS All Access and fuboTV (in Spanish)
Atletico Madrid vs. RB Salzburg, 4pm, Galavision, CBS All Access and fuboTV
Borussia Monchengladbach vs. Real Madrid, 4pm, UniMas, TUDN, CBS All Access and fuboTV (in Spanish)
Porto vs. Olympiacos (Champions League Group Stag, 4pm, CBS All Access, TUDNxtra (in Spanish) and fuboTV (in Spanish)
Marseille vs. Man City, 4pm, CBS All Access, TUDNxtra (in Spanish) and fuboTV (in Spanish)
Atalanta vs. Ajax (Mendez) 4pm, CBS All Access, TUDNxtra (in Spanish) and fuboTV (in Spanish)
Liverpool vs. Midtjylland 4pm, CBS All Access, TUDNxtra (in Spanish) and fuboTV (in Spanish)
Wednesday, October 28
Krasnodar vs. Chelsea (Pulisic) 1:55pm, Galavision, CBS All Access and fuboTV
Istanbul Basaksehir vs. PSG, 1:55pm, UniMas, TUDN, CBS All Access and fuboTV (in Spanish)
Sevilla vs. Rennes 4pm, CBS All Access, TUDNxtra (in Spanish) and fuboTV (in Spanish)
Brugge (Horvath GK) vs. Lazio 4pm, CBS All Access, TUDNxtra (in Spanish) and fuboTV (in Spanish)
Dortmund (Reyna) vs. Zenit 4pm, CBS All Access, TUDNxtra (in Spanish) and fuboTV (in Spanish)
Ferencvaros vs. Dynamo Kyiv , 4pm, CBS All Access, TUDNxtra (in Spanish) and fuboTV (in Spanish)
Juventus (McKinney) vs. Barcelona (Dest) , 4pm, UniMas, TUDN, CBS All Access and fuboTV (in Spanish)
Man United vs. RB Leipzig (Adams), 4pm, Galavision, CBS All Access and fuboTV
EUROPE
Clasico, Dortmund v Schalke – what to look out for in Europe this weekend
‘It won’t be the same’ – silent Clasico leaves fans feeling empty
Ibrahimovic defies Father Time to set up Milan’s derby victory 19mGabriele Marcotti
USA
Americans Abroad weekend preview
Juventus confirm USMNT’s McKennie recovered from COVID-19
- What could a USMNT Euro-based friendly roster look like?
- Beyond the hype, things look to be turning a corner for US player development
Americans Abroad: Pulisic returns; Reyna’s hat trick of assists; Dest debuts
Dest makes debut for Barcelona as first American player
Berhalter: Wouldn’t be happy if Sebastian Soto chooses Chile
Tobin Heath, Christen Press Manchester United jerseys outsell male counterparts
Report: Salzburg buys USMNT teen Aaronson from Philadelphia
MLS
Supporters’ Shield to be awarded following reversal of decision
LAFC vs. Galaxy: How many El Tráficos are too many for one season?
Twellman on why Galaxy are “soft” and LAFC are still most dangerous in West
Seltzer: Picking every game this weekend
Alonso: Miami-Orlando is more than a clasico, it’s a final
Zakuani: 3 things we learned from Seattle’s dramatic draw with Portland
Seattle ruin Portland’s “perfect game” but both rivals say draw is a good sign
Head injury subs in soccer moving closer to reality
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Champions League’s ultimate sleepers: RB Leipzig to win, Inter Milan to reach final, Sevilla to semis
UCL stats: Suarez’s 12 reasons to hate Bayern, Madrid’s misery without Ramos
Shock-tar! Real Madrid stunned in UCL opener
Porto boss slams Guardiola for touchline antics
Man City win UCL opener but will need to eliminate mistakes to finally reach the elusive summit
Liverpool win not ‘sunny, shiny’ football – Klopp
Liverpool’s win over Ajax steadied Klopp’s side after a rocky week
Late Hassan goal gives Olympiakos win over Marseille
Lukaku rescues late draw for Inter at home to Gladbach
Manchester City come back for 3-1 win over Porto
Zapata inspires Atalanta to comfortable win at Midtjylland
Rampant Coman stars as Bayern thrash Atletico
Liverpool hold on to win without Van Dijk
Zidane: ‘Bad game, bad night’ for Real Madrid
Eder Militao 3/10, Varane 4/10 as Real suffer shock UCL defeat to Shakhtar
Salzburg let Lokomotiv off the hook in 2-2 draw
UCL stats: Suarez’s 12 reasons to hate Bayern, Madrid’s misery without Ramos
Liverpool’s win over Ajax steadied Klopp’s side after a rocky week
Man City win UCL opener but will need to eliminate mistakes to finally reach the elusive summit
Rashford outdoes Neymar, Mbappe as Man United’s Paris hero again 3dMark Ogden
It’s time for Chelsea to start justifying its £220m summer spending spree with results 3dJames Olley
The Future of the CCL–in 2020 and BeyondBY BRIAN STRAUS
Indy 11 Falls to St. Louis Out of Playoffs – The Game Beckons Blogspot
The Ole BallCoach 