Top games to watch this week
Friday, March 29
Cádiz vs. Granada (La Liga)
Benfica vs. Chaves (Primeira Liga)
Estrela vs. Sporting CP (Primeira Liga)
Lille vs. Lens (Ligue 1)
América vs. San Luis (Liga MX)
Saturday, March 30
Chelsea vs. Burnley (English Premier League)
Tottenham vs. Luton Town (English Premier League)
Aston Villa vs. Wolves (English Premier League)
Brentford vs. Man United (English Premier League)
Barcelona vs. Las Palmas (La Liga)
Lazio vs. Juventus (Serie A)
Fiorentina vs. Milan (Serie A)
Bayer Leverkusen vs. Hoffenheim (Bundesliga)
Bayern München vs. Borussia Dortmund (Bundesliga)
Estoril vs. Porto (Primeira Liga)
Lyon vs. Reims (Ligue 1)
Philadelphia Union vs. Minnesota United (MLS)
Charlotte vs. Cincinnati (MLS)
Inter Miami vs. New York City (MLS)
Nashville vs. Columbus Crew (MLS)
Al Nassr vs. Al Ta'ee (Saudi Pro League)
Pumas UNAM vs. Cruz Azul (Liga MX)
Sunday, March 31
Liverpool vs. Brighton (English Premier League)
Manchester City vs. Arsenal (English Premier League)
Girona vs. Real Betis (La Liga)
Real Madrid vs. Athletic Club (La Liga)
Marseille vs. PSG (Ligue 1)
Atlanta United vs. Chicago Fire (MLS)
Monday, April 1
Villarreal vs. Atlético Madrid (La Liga)
Lecce vs. Roma (Serie A)
Inter vs. Empoli (Serie A)
Portimonense vs. Sporting Braga (Primeira Liga)
Al Ahli vs. Al Ittihad (Saudi Pro League)
Tuesday, April 2
Newcastle vs. Everton (English Premier League)
West Ham vs. Tottenham (English Premier League)
Saarbrücken vs. Kaiserslautern (DFB Pokal)
Juventus vs. Lazio (Coppa Italia)
Benfica vs. Sporting CP (Taca de Portugal)
Millonarios vs. Flamengo (Copa Libertadores)
The Strongest vs. Gremio (Copa Libertadores)
Deportivo Táchira vs. River Plate (Copa Libertadores)
Universitario vs. LDU Quito (Copa Libertadores)
Columbus Crew vs. Tigres UANL (Concacaf Champions Cup)
New England vs. América (Concacaf Champions Cup)
Abha vs. Al Nassr
Wednesday, April 3
Arsenal vs. Luton Town (English Premier League)
Man City vs. Aston Villa (English Premier League)
Bayer Leverkusen vs. Fortuna Düsseldorf (DFB Pokal)
Fiorentina vs. Atalanta (Coppa Italia)
Botafogo vs. Junior (Copa Libertadores)
Colo-Colo vs. Cerro Porteño (Copa Libertadores)
San Lorenzo vs. Palmeiras (Copa Libertadores)
Alianza Lima vs. Fluminense (Copa Libertadores)
PSG vs. Rennes (Coupe de France)
Nacional Potosí vs. Boca Juniors (Copa Sudamericana)
Inter Miami vs. Monterrey (Concacaf Champions Cup)
Herediano vs. Pachuca (Concacaf Champions Cup)
Thursday, April 4
Liverpool vs. Sheffield United (English Premier League)
Chelsea vs. Manchester United (English Premier League)
Granada vs. Valencia (La Liga)
Caracas vs. Atlético Mineiro (Copa Libertadores)
Rosario Central vs. Peñarol (Copa Libertadores)
Talleres Córdoba vs. Sao Paulo (Copa Libertadores)
Most-watched soccer games in the USA: March 18-24, 2024
The 2023-24 CONCACAF Nations League came to an end over the weekend, with Sunday's final between continental powerhouses Mexico and the USA taking the crown for the most-watched soccer game in the USA last week.
In fact, this game sat handsomely at the top, with the showdown racking up an outstanding 2.3 million average viewers and a rating of 1.0 for Univision, far outperforming the previous final between the USMNT and Canada which garnered 1.82 million average viewers.
Tyler Adams and Giovanni Reyna got on the scoresheet to help the Stars and Stripes defend their crown again. It was also a victory for broadcasters thanks to the brilliant viewership numbers and growing popularity of soccer in the USA.
Interestingly enough, the CONCACAF Nations League final was also broadcast on TUDN, with their coverage grabbing the second spot in the list of most-watched soccer games in the USA last week. Just shy of half a million average viewers tuned in to this network while earning a rating of 0.20.
Given that there was an international break, it is no surprise to see an international friendly wrap up the top three, with that honor going to Brazil's 1-0 victory at Wembley over England. The Selecao, preparing for Copa America this summer, locked horns with one of the Euro 2024 favorites and came away with bragging rights thanks to a record-breaking winner from teenage sensation Endrick.
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?
Der Klassiker is back! Bayern Munich host Dortmund live this Saturday at 1:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+, ESPN, and ESPN Deportes
Der Klassiker is finally back! With the international break coming to an end and the Bundesliga resuming this weekend, all eyes will be on the Allianz Arena on Saturday as Bayern Munich look to make it back-to-back wins over Dortmund. The Bavarians won 4-0 the last time they faced BVB and will be aiming for something similar. Don't miss this tie.
Inter Miami vs. New York City live this Saturday at 7:30 p.m. exclusively on the MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
Will Inter Miami return to winning ways this weekend? A week after suffering a humiliating 4-0 loss away to New York Red Bulls, the Herons now prepare to face New York City. Tata Martino's men cannot afford another slip-up as their CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinal showdown with Monterrey is fast approaching. Fans will be sweating over the fitness of Lionel Messi as he is their go-to player for inspiration.
Manchester City vs. Arsenal live this Sunday at 11:30 a.m. ET on Peacock, NBC, and UNIVERSO
The standout fixture of this weekend — and possibly the entire 2023-24 Premier League season — takes place this Sunday as reigning English champions Manchester City host current leaders Arsenal. Only a point separates the two but with Guardiola's men sitting in third, they cannot afford to drop more points. The Gunners, meanwhile, go in search of their first win at the Etihad Stadium in nearly a decade. A victory would cement their title odds but Saka and Co. must overcome their recent nightmares.
Marseille vs. PSG live this Sunday at 2:45 p.m. ET exclusively on beIN Sports
Der Klassiker is not the only popular European derby taking place this weekend as Marseille host bitter rivals PSG in the latest chapter of Le Classique. The visitors remain top of the table, boasting a commanding 12-point lead over second-placed Brest. Marseille, on the flip side, are seventh in the standings and are facing an uphill battle to qualify for Europe. Fortunately, the hosts have an in-form Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for inspiration as the Gabonse face off against Kylian Mbappe.
Real Madrid vs. Athletic Club live this Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN+ and ESPN Deportes
La Liga leaders Real Madrid will be in for a tough ride this weekend, taking on Copa del Rey finalists Athletic Club in what promises to be a tricky 90 minutes of action. Ancelotti's men boast a whopping eight-point advantage at the top and have won their last two outings following a short hiccup from early February to early March. The visitors, on the other hand, are unbeaten in their last four matches and will want to add to this run when they arrive at Santiago Bernabeu.
Inter Miami vs. Monterrey live this Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET on Fox Sports 1, TUDN, and ViX
And finally, we have another Inter Miami game, this time a CONCACAF Champions Cup showdown with Liga MX side Monterrey. Messi and Co. reached the quarterfinals after eliminating Nashville in the previous round while the Mexican top-flight leaders dispatched Cincinnati. Rayados will be a stern test for Tata Martino's side in what should be an exciting battle.
What to watch and stream via ESPN's platforms on March 29-April1, 2024
We are about to enter the last days of the month, and we will do so with big soccer matches to follow thanks to ESPN's platforms and their impressive coverage including different leagues from all over the world.
The network will have massive coverage of games taking place both in the U.S. and Europe, with some of the finest competitions in that continent being aired for fans in North America to witness. All the action will kick off on Friday when La Liga will begin one more matchday with Cádiz vs Granada.
Saturday will be packed for all fans, with the highlights of ESPN's coverage being one more edition of Der Klassiker and the NWSL match between the Kansas City Current and Angel City. These games will be aired back-to-back, which means you will not even need to change the channel to witness them.
Sunday's matches will also feature some of the best teams in the world, including Real Madrid vs Athletic Club, Ajax, and Feyenoord. ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ will be in charge of covering those fixtures.
To see the fixtures list in full, click here
Liga MX - Preview and broadcast info for Match Day 13: March 29-31, 2024
We are down to the last five games for each Liga MX team, and while the battle for the top spot seems to be a matter of three teams, nothing can be left off the table in terms of which teams will make it to the play-in stage and eventually into the Liguilla.
Monterrey, América, and Toluca have proven to be quite dominant this season, with only five points between the league leaders (Monterrey) and the third (Toluca). As for those looking for the final spots to become playoff teams, Cruz Azul, Pachuca, and Tigres have the upper hand over the rest, while two of the league's "Big Four" face a major risk of missing out on the top ten spots.
Here are the main things to keep in mind ahead of this weekend's matches.
Broadcast and streaming info for Liga MX in the United States
This week's games will be available to watch in the United States via Univisión, TUDN USA, Fox Sports 2, and Fox Deportes. If you want to keep track of this competition on the go, ViX, Univisión NOW, TUDN App, TUDN.com, and FoxSports.com could come in handy.
Top games to watch
Monterrey vs Guadalajara - The current league leaders will face tricky opposition when they host Guadalajara, who have not been able to win any of their last three games. Nonetheless, the most popular team in Mexico has walked away from BBVA Stadium with either a win or a draw in their last four matches, meaning that a win for the visitors would come as no surprise. Another element to keep an eye on will be Chicharito's quest to score his first goal, a topic that is starting to make Chivas' fans a bit anxious due to the player's lack of luck in front of goal.
For a full preview of Matchday 13 in Liga MX, click here
For more information, kick-off times, stats, and standings visit our dedicated Liga MX page
Biggest stories
Olivier Giroud close to joining Major League Soccer club this summer
Reports in Italy suggest that one of the most prolific players in Serie A and one of Milan's most popular players, Olivier Giroud, will be joining a Major League Soccer club this summer.
The former Arsenal and Chelsea striker is reportedly in the final stages of a negotiation to join Los Angeles FC this summer, where an 18-month deal awaits as soon as he becomes a free agent. France's all-time top scorer will leave Milan as soon as the UEFA Euro comes to a close, and he is prepared to move to North America once Les Bleus' involvement in the competition is over.
Los Angeles FC will add Giroud to an already talented squad that includes Denis Bouanga, Sergi Palencia, Omar Campos, and Hugo Lloris, Giroud's former teammate with Les Bleus. Reports close to the negotiation state that Lloris' influence has played a huge role in Giroud's decision. Read more…
Kroos has reportedly made final decision on Real Madrid future
A report by AS suggests that the German midfielder has made a final decision on whether he will leave the club or stay for one more season. Luckily for the team's fans, the five-time UEFA Champions League winner will extend his stay at the Bernabeu for at least one more year.
Kroos' contract at Real Madrid comes to an end this summer, and while there was much speculation about his potential retirement, the player has told his inner circle he will continue to play for Los Merengues once he signs a contract extension with the Spanish giants.
Days ago, Kroos stated he would "take time" to analyze his future at Real Madrid, but the club has reportedly made him the kind of offer the player wanted, leading to a swift agreement that will be announced in the coming days. Read more…
Messi reveals what he would have done if Argentina failed to win the 2022 FIFA World Cup
The 2022 FIFA World Cup has gone down as the greatest moment in Lionel Messi's already iconic career. After four failed attempts, the Argentine icon finally got his hands on the most prestigious trophy in football following an unforgettable penalty shootout victory over France in the final.
However, after squandering the lead twice in the final, Argentina came achingly close to missing out on the title, which begs the question: what would Messi have done had La Albiceleste lost to France?
The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner has revealed the answer to that question in a surprise appearance on the Big Time Podcast. The 36-year-old opened up about an array of topics, ranging from his inevitable retirement to his heartbreaking exit from Barcelona. However, he had never before revealed what he would have done had Argentina failed to win the FIFA World Cup.
The Inter Miami ace admits that he would have left the national team had Qatar 2022 ended in heartbreak, which might not surprise everyone, as some expected the attacker to retire following the final regardless. Read more…
Brazil sensation Endrick makes history at Wembley with winning goal in England 0-1 Brazil
Brazil visited Wembley Stadium on Saturday in a highly-anticipated friendly, locking horns with England, regarded by many as one of the favorites to win this summer's European Championship.
The Selecao, who boast a wonderful head-to-head record against the Three Lions, came away from England's iconic stadium with a 1-0 victory, with wonderkid Endrick scoring a late winner past Jordan Pickford.
The 17-year-old was subbed on in the second half and slotted the ball into the back of the net in the 80th minute, only nine minutes after coming off the bench.
And with that, the Real Madrid sensation currently on loan at Palmeiras, made history, shattering two phenomenal records. First, the teenager, aged 17 years and 246 days old, became the youngest player to score for Brazil since Ronaldo in 1994. Read more…
Top 10 highest-paid players in Europe revealed as La Liga shockingly beats the Premier League to dominate this list
Highly regarded French publication L'Equipe has revealed the top 10 highest-paid footballers in Europe, with La Liga shockingly beating the Premier League on this list.
L'Equipe (per Marca) compiled this list on a per-month basis, and to no one's surprise, PSG superstar Kylian Mbappe came out on top, earning a whopping €6M every month at the Parc des Princes.
The French sensation has been at the heart of a transfer tug-of-war for ages and while the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner is expected to take a salary cut once he inevitably joins Real Madrid this summer, he currently earns nearly three times as much as the next best player on this list.
Who is the second-highest earner in Europe? That privilege goes to Bayern Munich star Harry Kane, at least on paper — more on that later. The English striker has been unstoppable in front of goal this season in the Bundesliga, scoring 37 goals and assisting an additional 12 in his debut season and proving to the Allianz Arena higher-ups that's he worth the €2.10M-per-month they pay him. Read more…
Newcastle's Tonali charged with alleged breaches of English betting rules
Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali has been charged with misconduct by England's Football Association relating to 50 alleged incidents of betting on matches, the governing body announced Thursday.
Tonali's multiple alleged breaches of FA rule E8 are said to have taken place between August 12, 2023, and October 12, 2023.
The 23-year-old has until April 5 to respond.
In October last year, it was announced Tonali would miss the rest of the season for club and country after FIFA, football's global governing body, ratified a 10-month ban by Italian authorities for breaching betting rules. Read more…
Other key headlines from the world of soccer
"Probably impossible" Alonso will be Bayern's next coach, says Hoeness
Honorary Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness admitted Thursday that bringing in-demand manager Xabi Alonso to the club was "probably impossible."
The Bayer Leverkusen coach, who spent three years in Munich as a player, is Bayern's number one target to replace Thomas Tuchel who will leave his post in the summer. Continue reading…
Spain prosecutors want Rubiales jailed for 2.5 years for World Cup kiss
Spanish prosecutors are seeking two-and-a-half years in jail for disgraced ex-football chief Luis Rubiales who is facing trial for kissing Spain midfielder Jenni Hermoso on the lips against her will, court documents showed Wednesday.
Prosecutors also want Rubiales, who has been charged with sexual assault and coercion, to pay at least 50,000 euros ($54,000) in compensation to Hermoso, they wrote in a document sent to Spain's Audiencia Nacional court, a copy of which was seen by AFP. Continue reading...
