El Clásico, Man. City Liverpool, MLS Playoffs lead list of matches this weekend
What a weekend it will be around the world if you are a soccer fan!
There is a Clasico, a Classique, and a classic all on tap, and that is just on Sunday, as well as the return of the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs.
The MLS did a good job with the first round schedule, splitting up its six games into three days this weekend and Monday, with the Conference semifinals set for Thursday, Oct. 20 and Sunday, Oct. 23. If you are a fan of the American top flight, you are going to get a lot of action over the next few weeks.
Around the world, though, the biggest match on the calendar comes from Madrid, Spain, where defending La Liga and Champions League winner Real Madrid will host a suddenly wobbling Barcelona team.
According to the Surebets.bet site, Barcelona face a humiliating exit from the UEFA Champions League after a 3-3 draw to Inter Wednesday, which could then leave their record spend over the summer in tatters. But a league title might help assuage some fears: the two teams come into the contest even on 22 points after eight matches and are both unbeaten.
In the Premier League–and really, in mist of the major leagues around Europe–Sunday is just as big as it is in Spain. Leeds United, the new darling team of neutral Americans because of Brenden Aaronson, Tyler Adams, and Jesse Marsch, will host shock league leaders Arsenal. The Gunners can move four points clear of Manchester City with a win, until the Cityzens take the pitch 30 minutes down the road later in the morning against strugglers Liverpool. While Jürgen Klopp’s side sits 10th in the table, they did just put seven goals past Rangers in the Champions League midweek, while City had to settle for a scoreless draw in Copenhagen thanks in large part to VAR, a penalty miss, and a first half red card.
In Germany and France, there are also two high-profile matches for different reasons. Freiburg is flying high in the Bundesliga and the Europa League (4-0 winners Thursday over Nice), and get a chance to prove they are for real against the 10-time reigning champions. PSG will host Marseille in La Classique, with turmoil surrounding Kylian Mbappe and the French champions again.
How will the leagues look at the end of the weekend? That is a very interesting question.
TOP GAMES THIS WEEKEND
MLS PLAYOFFS OPENING ROUND
Saturday, Oct. 15: New York Red Bulls vs. FC Cincinnati, 12 p.m. EDT
Saturday, Oct. 15: Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Nashville SC, 3 p.m. EDT
Sunday, Oct. 16: Austin FC vs. Real Salt Lake, 3 p.m. EDT
Sunday, Oct. 16: CF Montréal vs. Orlando City, 8 p.m. EDT
Monday, Oct. 17: New York City FC vs. Inter Miami, 7 p.m. EDT
Monday, Oct. 17: FC Dallas vs. Minnesota United, 9:30 p.m. EDT
PREMIER LEAGUE
Friday, Oct. 14: Brentford vs. Brighton, 3 p.m. EDT
Saturday, Oct. 15: Tottenham vs. Everton, 12:30 p.m. EDT
Sunday, Oct. 16: Leeds United vs. Arsenal, 9 a.m. EDT
Sunday, Oct. 16: Manchester United vs. Newcastle United, 9 a.m. EDT
Sunday, Oct. 16: Liverpool vs. Manchester City, 11:30 a.m. EDT
LA LIGA
Sunday, Oct. 16: Real Madrid vs. Barcelona, 10:15 a.m. EDT
BUNDESLIGA
Sunday, Oct. 16: Bayern Munich vs. Freiburg, 1:30 p.m. EDT
LIGUE 1
Sunday, Oct. 16: PSG vs, Marseille, 2:45 p.m. EDT
