Top games to watch this week
Friday, April 19
Athletic Club vs. Granada
Genoa vs. Lazio
Cagliari vs. Juventus
Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Augsburg
Nice vs. Lorient
Al Nassr vs. Al Feiha
Al Ahli vs. Al Hilal
Saturday, April 20
Wolves vs. Arsenal
Valencia vs. Betis
Heidenheim vs. RB Leipzig
Union Berlin vs. Bayern
Sporting Braga vs. Vizela
Manchester City vs. Chelsea
Fluminense vs. Vasco da Gama
Inter Miami vs. Nashville
Columbus Crew vs. Portland Timbers
Pumas UNAM vs. America
Sunday, April 21
Fulham vs. Liverpool
Deportivo Alavés vs. Atlético Madrid
Real Madrid vs. Barcelona
Monza vs. Atalanta
Borussia Dortmund vs. Bayer Leverkusen
Casa Pia vs. Porto
Sporting CP vs. Vitoria Guimaraes
Toulouse vs. Marseille
PSG vs. Lyon
Coventry City vs. Man United
Palmeiras vs. Flamengo
LA Galaxy vs. SJ Earthquakes
Monday, April 22
Sevilla vs. Mallorca
Roma vs. Bologna
Milan vs. Inter
Farense vs. Benfica
Tuesday, April 23
Arsenal vs. Chelsea
Lazio vs. Juventus
At. Mineiro vs. Peñarol
Colo-Colo vs. Alianza Lima
América vs. Pachuca
Wednesday, April 24
Everton vs. Liverpool
Man United vs. Sheffield United
Lorient vs. PSG
Monaco vs. Lille
Marseille vs. Nice
Atalanta vs. Fiorentina
Botafogo vs. Universitario
Libertad vs. River Plate
Bolívar vs. Flamengo
Columbus Crew vs. Monterrey
Thursday, April 25
Brighton vs. Manchester City
Cerro Porteño vs. Fluminense
Barcelona vs. Sao Paulo
Palestino vs. Millonarios
Fortaleza vs. Boca Juniors
Medellín vs. Defensa y Justicia
Most-watched soccer games in the USA: April 8-14, 2024
Club America enjoyed a fantastic week both on and off the pitch, with the Mexican giants beating Toluca 5-1 over the weekend to claim the title of most-watched soccer game in the USA on April 8-14, 2024.
This showdown, which helped the Eagles move three points clear at the top, secured Univision nearly one million average viewers, with 940,000 people tuning in to TelevisaUnivision's Spanish-language network.
This was not the only Liga MX fixture to make the top three, with the thrilling six-goal draw between Monterrey and Tigres UANL aired on Univision making the list. Los Tigres were 3-1 up at one point in this fixture but were forced to settle for a point, with an impressive 617,000 average viewers catching the action.
However, this match came in third, with Manchester United's clash with Bournemouth grabbing the runners-up spot on this list. NBC brought this Vitality Stadium fixture to the U.S. screens as the Red Devils inconsistency continued, drawing 2-2 to an audience of 857,000 viewers.
Lionel Messi's Inter Miami also made the list, but not the top three. However, that game — the second leg of their CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinal — ended in heartbreak, with the Herons losing 3-1 on the day (5-2 on aggregate). This tie garnered a healthy audience for TUDN, with 350,000 average viewers watching the MLS franchise bow out of the competition.
For a full breakdown of last week's most-watched soccer games in the USA, click here
What are this week's must-watch games?
Manchester City vs. Chelsea live this Saturday at 12:15 p.m. ET exclusively on ESPN+
After playing back-to-back exciting draws in the Premier League, including an eight-goal thriller in mid-November, Manchester City and Chelsea prepare to face off for the final time this season in their highly-anticipated FA Cup semifinal. Unlike the Blues, Guardiola's men overcame a tough Premier League side in the previous round, beating Newcastle 2-0 to make it to Wembley. The London giants, on the other hand, beat Leicester 4-2 in the quarterfinals and will be looking to the in-form Cole Palmer for inspiration against his former side.
Wolves vs. Arsenal live this Saturday at 2:30 p.m. ET on USA Network and UNIVERSO
Just days after their disappointing UEFA Champions League exit at the hands of Bayern Munich, Premier League title contenders Arsenal return to action in the English top flight, traveling to Wolves for a tricky test. The Gunners were beaten 1-0 at the Allianz Arena and are currently on a two-game losing streak, suffering a 2-0 defeat at home to Aston Villa before that. Wolves are winless in five but will be aiming to hammer the final nail in Arsenal's title aspirations.
Inter Miami vs. Nashville live this Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET exclusively on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
Inter Miami face Nashville this weekend in a repeat of last season's Leagues Cup final. Lionel Messi'side recently beat Sporting KC 3-2 to end their five-game winless run, with the Argentine ace grabbing a goal and an assist. Meanwhile, the visitors are winless in their last three outings and will be out for revenge when they face Tata Martino's side.
El Clasico is back! Real Madrid vs. Barcelona live this Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN Deportes and ESPN+
All eyes will be on El Clasico this weekend as Barcelona look to bounce back from their frustrating UEFA Champions League exit when they visit bitter rivals Real Madrid on Sunday. The Blaugrana were thrashed 4-1 at home to PSG (6-4 on aggregate) after having a man sent off en route to a quarterfinal exit. Los Blancos, on the flip side, progressed to the semifinals after beating Manchester City on penalties and will thus be high on confidence. Ancelotti's men have already beaten the Catalan giants twice this season and will want to make it three on the trot.
Milan vs. Inter live this Monday at 2:45 p.m. ET exclusively on Paramount+
Off to Serie A, Inter Miami prepare to face AC Milan this Monday in arguably the most crucial Milan Derby in recent memory. The reason is simple: if the Nerazzurri win this midweek, they will officially be crowned the champions of Italy. Inzaghi's men boast a 14-point lead over the second-placed Rossoneri and will lift the Scudetto with five games to spare should they triumph at the San Siro. Pioli's men, who are on a three-game winless run, which includes their UEFA Europa League quarterfinal exit at the hands of Roma, will do everything in their power to deny their city rivals the title for another week.
Premier League title race heats up as USA Network and Universo bring live coverage of crucial Arsenal vs. Chelsea and Everton vs. Liverpool midweek clashes
Two crucial fixtures in the Premier League title race will take place this midweek, with Arsenal hosting Chelsea on Tuesday while Manchester City visit Brighton on Thursday live on USA Network and Universo (both matches kick off at 3 p.m. ET).
The Gunners will be hoping to stabilize after losing back-to-back games against Aston Villa and Bayern Munich. Failure to beat Wolves on the weekend or Chelsea on Tuesday could severely dent their title hopes.
As for Manchester City, both Liverpool and Arsenal will have played twice by the time Guardiola's men visit the Amex, which means the Cityzens two title rivals could pull ahead before this tie. Haaland and Co. drew 1-1 the last time they visited the Seagulls, which is not ideal, but Manchester City have lost only once to Brighton since 2017 and should be confident of beating De Zerbi's crew.
Everton vs. Liverpool live this Wednesday at 3 p.m. ET on Peacock
Liverpool have struggled recently, crashing out of both the FA Cup and — more recently — the UEFA Europa League following defeats to Manchester United and Atalanta. This will also be Jurgen Klopp's final Merseyside Derby, with the German boss suffering only one defeat throughout his time at Anfield. Don't miss this exciting fixture.
MLS Season Pass on Apple TV: What to stream this weekend
One of the most interesting weekends in this Major League Soccer season will take place this weekend, and fans in the United States will be able to follow every bit of the action thanks to MLS Season Pass, the streaming service offered by Apple TV.
The platform will include all fourteen games in this MLS week for fans to watch, as part of the deal struck between Apple and the North American league in 2022.
This weekend, things will get going on Saturday with twelve games, all of them available on the streaming service. The first kickoff time will feature Columbus Crew vs. Portland Timbers, where the defending champions will try to end a four-game streak without a win. In that same time slot, Inter Miami vs. Nashville will see Messi and Co. trying to extend their lead at the top of the Eastern Conference against one of the lower-ranked teams in that zone.
The second time slot will include an all-Texan rivalry: Houston Dynamo vs. Austin, with the Dynamo trying to claim the top spot in the Western Conference. Another interesting fixture, Chicago Fire vs. Real Salt Lake, will see both teams adding one more chapter to their rivalry, which was recently spiced up by their U.S. Open Cup run-in.
For a full breakdown of what MLS Season Pass on Apple TV has scheduled for the next few days, click here
Here's all you need to know ahead of another week in women's soccer.
What to watch in women's soccer: April 19th to April 21st
NWSL
Matchday five of the 2024 NWSL season starts on Friday, April 19th with Orlando Pride vs. San Diego Wave. Both teams will naturally be aiming for all three points - the Pride recently picked up their first win of the season after narrowly edging out Utah Royals 1-0 while the Wave have yet to find their footing following a frustrating scoreless draw with Racing Louisville. Other key games taking place this round include Washington Spirit vs. NY/NJ Gotham, which will be shown on TV on CBS and live streamed on Paramount+ for fans in the United States, as well as Angel City vs. North Carolina Courage, which will be shown on CBS Sports Network.
UWCL
The semifinals of the 2023-24 UEFA Women's Champions League will kick off on Saturday, April 20th, and there are two mouth-watering clashes in store. First up is Barcelona and Chelsea, which will be live-streamed on DAZN USA for fans based in the United States. Keep in mind, though, this match has a really early kick-off (especially for viewers based on the West Coast) as it starts at 7:30 a.m. ET (4:30 a.m. PT), but given the history of both teams in this competition, it is safe to say many fans will not mind getting up bright and early to tune in.
The action continues later on Saturday with an all-French affair starring Lyon and PSG at 1 p.m. ET (10 a.m. PT). That match is also set to be live streamed on DAZN USA, and also is sure to be a great one especially given Lyon's status as the all-time holders of the UWCL as well as PSG's overall impressive performances in this competition this season.
WSL
Things are really starting to get very interesting in the battle for the WSL title. At the moment, Chelsea, who are the reigning champions, have reclaimed the top spot - but only just. The Blues are joint-tied with Manchester City on 46 points and are only ahead of the Cityzens due to a slightly better goal difference. However, Emma Hayes's team are not involved in WSL action until next month, which means that Manchester City, who will face West Ham on Sunday, have a great chance to leapfrog the Blues into top spot.
Elsewhere, Arsenal, who are in third place and six points behind the top two sides, will naturally look to keep up some modicum of pressure on both Chelsea and Manchester City by pushing for all three points against Leicester City. Meanwhile, Manchester United will be looking to regain some momentum when they host Tottenham but could find this to be a tricky tie as Spurs come into that game having won their last two WSL matches on the trot.
What to watch in women's soccer: April 22nd to April 25th
Frauen-Bundesliga
The latest round of Frauen-Bundesliga matches will conclude on Monday, April 22nd as league leaders Bayern Munich welcome Werder Bremen. Fans based in the USA can livestream that match on DAZN USA.
D1 Féminine
Moving on to France, there are plenty of D1 Féminine matches taking place midweek. A total of six matches are on tap on Wednesday, April 24th, with one highlight including an all-Parisian derby featuring PSG vs. Paris. Although eight points separate second-placed PSG from third-placed Paris, both teams will have plenty to play for in this match. Elsewhere, league leaders Lyon will be certainly fancying their chances at continuing their march towards the league title when they host a Guingamp side who are barely just above the drop zone.
Liga F
Meanwhile, Levante Las Palmas vs. Barcelona is also another match taking place in Europe on Wednesday, April 24th. Given the fact that the Blaugrana are once again cruising along in Liga F and have won all but one of their 23 league matches this season, it is safe to assume that the reigning Liga F champions should have no issues taking care of things here. Still, given that Barcelona will be involved in continental action in the UWCL just a few days prior - it will be interesting to see if their match against Chelsea will have any impact on player fitness heading into this contest.
Didn't find your favorite women's league on this list? No worries, as this is just a highlight of some of the exciting games coming up this week. Make sure to check out our special women's soccer page here at LiveSoccerTV.com for full broadcast info, match updates, news, and more.
What to watch and stream on ESPN's platforms this weekend
The upcoming weekend will certainly keep fans glued to their TVs or mobile devices, with all of them watching what ESPN will carry on its platforms in terms of soccer coverage.
The network will offer a variety of leagues and competitions featuring some of the top teams in Europe, including Manchester City, Chelsea, Manchester United, Barcelona, Real Madrid, and the recently crowned Bundesliga champions, Bayer Leverkusen.
Starting Friday, ESPN+ and ESPN Deportes will kick off their coverage with one La Liga match and a Bundesliga fixture. Both leagues will continue during the weekend, with ESPN 2 also being included in the mix and with the network covering Spain's big game between Real Madrid and Barcelona in English and Spanish.
Added to all league action being covered on these channels and its streaming service, the FA Cup semifinals will take center stage this week, starting with Manchester City vs. Chelsea on Saturday and featuring Coventry vs. Manchester United. The stage seems set to see a Manchester Derby in the final, but anything can happen in between to stop that classic clash from happening. With that in mind, it would be wise to follow ESPN+'s coverage of both matches.
For a full breakdown of what ESPN has scheduled for the next few days, click here
beIN Sports offering Copa Libertadores coverage in Portuguese within the USA
Fans in the United States will be able to follow this edition of the Copa Libertadores with a different flavor, as beIN Sports will introduce a new feature that will bring them closer to one of the most soccer-related cultures in the world.
The network will now include Portuguese commentary for fans to watch Copa Libertadores games where a Brazilian team is playing. The feature will be included in all games where Brazilian teams are involved via beIN Sports Connect, beIN Sports' unique streaming platform.
There are seven Brazilian teams involved in the group stage of the competition: Fluminense (Group A), Sao Paulo (Group B), Gremio (Group C), Botafogo (Group D), Flamengo (Group E), Palmeiras (Group F), and Atlético Mineiro (Group G). With one Brazilian club in all but one of the groups in the competition, there will be some interesting battles to witness in the first round and moving forward.
Visit our dedicated tournament page to know how to follow your favorite Brazilian team in the Copa Libertadores
Biggest stories
Rodri aims dig at Real Madrid after Man City lose to Los Blancos on penalties in UEFA Champions League quarterfinals
Manchester City have crashed out of the UEFA Champions League, with last season's treble winners losing to Real Madrid on penalties in a thrilling quarterfinal showdown. However, one Etihad Stadium player appeared frustrated with how the game panned out and aimed a dig at the Spanish giants following full-time.
That man is Rodri, who took issue with Real Madrid's approach to the game when questioned by reporters after the final whistle. According to the Spaniard, only one team wanted to play and that was the Cityzens.
To no one's surprise, Pep Guardiola's men dominated possession. However, after going 1-0 up (4-3 on aggregate) in the 12th minute through Rodrygo, Carlo Ancelotti's men decided to shut up shop and defend their lead. Read more…
Gundogan criticizes Barcelona teammate Ronald Araujo following red card in UCL home defeat vs. PSG
Barcelona midfielder Ilkay Gundogan gave another candid post-match interview following his team's gut-wrenching UEFA Champions League exit, with the experienced German taking aim at one teammate following the 4-1 loss.
That player was Ronald Araujo, the highly-rated center-back whose first-half sending-off sparked the Catalan giants' horrible collapse.
That player was Ronald Araujo, the highly-rated center-back whose first-half sending-off sparked the Catalan giants' horrible collapse.
Speaking after the final whistle, Gundogan bemoaned his side's performance and accused his team of digging their own grave. The German midfielder refused to be drawn into a debate over the referee's performance but he did touch upon Araujo's sending-off, arguing that his teammate should have done everything possible to avoid the red card. Read more…
Kylian Mbappé makes history with second half brace against Barcelona
Fans around the world knew that PSG needed Kylian Mbappé to show his worth in the key quarterfinal match against Barcelona, and luckily for them, the superstar did not disappoint with a stellar performance that included a new record for the Frenchman.
The former Monaco man was instrumental for Luis Enrique's plans on Tuesday, following a subpar performance in the first leg that included no shots on goal. In the second leg, Mbappé stepped up to deliver two goals for PSG, which eventually sealed their spot in the semifinals against Borussia Dortmund. On top of it, Mbappé added a milestone to his resume after finding the back of the net twice today.
Mbappé is now among the top ten scorers of all time in the continental competition, surpassing legends such as Filippo Inzaghi, Eusebio, Alessandro Del Piero, Sergio Agüero, and more. He is now level with none other than Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Andriy Shevchenko, who scored 48 goals in the tournament but needed way more games to accomplish the feat Mbappé earned today. Read more…
Lille chief slams Martinez attitude after penalty drama
Lille president Olivier Letang said Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez's attitude was not befitting a player of his caliber after the Argentina international earned his club a place in the Europa Conference League semi-finals.
Martinez saved penalties from Nabil Bentaleb and Lille captain Benjamin Andre as Villa won the shootout 4-3 following a 3-3 draw over the two legs.
The Villa stopper received a hostile reception throughout from Lille fans who had not forgotten his provocative celebrations after Argentina beat France on penalties in the 2022 World Cup final. Read more…
FA Cup replays scrapped from first round onwards
FA Cup replays will be scrapped from the first round onwards from next season as part of an agreement with the Premier League, the Football Association announced on Thursday.
The FA had already dropped replays from the fifth round onwards and said the move to ditch them altogether had been agreed "in light of changes to the calendar driven by the expanded UEFA (European) competitions".
From next season the Champions League will feature an extra 64 games, creating increased pressure on the domestic calendar.
The FA said all rounds of the FA Cup would now be played at weekends including the fifth round, which has been played in midweek for the past five seasons. Read more…
Other key headlines from the world of soccer
Nike's Germany kit deal "inexplicable", says Adidas CEO
The sum reportedly paid by Nike to lure the German football team away from its historic partner Adidas was "inexplicable", the CEO of the German sportswear giant Bjorn Gulden told AFP in an interview.
Defending the company's decision not to enter into a bidding war with its fierce US rivals, Gulden said the German sports outfitter would continue to go after major kit deals, including the franchise for France, but only if the price is right. Continue reading…
Nagelsmann to remain Germany national football coach till 2026
German national team coach Julian Nagelsmann has signed a contract extension to remain in post until at least the 2026 World Cup, the German Football Association (DFB) said Friday.
"This is a decision from the heart. It is a great honor to coach the national team," Nagelsmann said in a statement. Continue reading…
