La Liga is back! Sevilla vs Real Betis ushers in the return of the Spanish top-flight, Barcelona and Real Madrid in action this weekend
La Liga is finally back! Having been forced into suspension back in March due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Spanish top-flight will be making its much-awaited return on Thursday, June 11 with a 4 PM ET derby clash between Sevilla and Real Betis. Los Hispalenses' showdown will be an interesting one as they are the third-placed club, trailing league leaders Barcelona by 11 points, and could thus put pressure on the country's top two sides should they triumph on Matchday 28.
Sevilla vs Real Betis welcomes back La Liga!
Speaking of the Blaugrana, they will be resuming their title defense on Saturday. All eyes will be on club captain Lionel Messi, with the Argentine ace enduring a dip in form in the games leading up to the suspension only to then pick up an injury upon returning to training. Both the club and manager Quique Setien stated that the six-time Ballon d'Or winner is fit for Saturday's game, however. The Catalan giants will be taking on Mallorca, a club in the midst of a relegation battle.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid will have to wait until Sunday for their first league game since the suspension. Their opponent will be Eibar, another club hovering alarmingly close to the danger zone. The question of the hour is whether Los Blancos will be firing on all four cylinders from the get-go or stumble. Zidane's men lost their last La Liga fixture, suffering a 2-1 defeat at Real Betis back in early March, and have won only once in their last five ties in all competitions (D1, L3). Will Los Merengues be able to hit the ground running? Tune in to find out.
Coppa Italia semi-final clash between Juventus and AC Milan welcomes back football in Italy
Similar to Spain, football will also be making a return in Italy. However, unlike their European counterpart, the domestic league will not be the competition to usher back the beautiful game for the Italians. Instead, Coppa Italia will get things back underway with the best possible fixture: Juventus vs AC Milan.
Two of the country's biggest clubs will locks horns in the first of two semi-finals, with a ticket to the ultimate game being at stake. The first leg of this tie was played prior to the COVID-19 shutdown, with that game ending in a 1-1 draw. Portuguese icon Cristiano Ronaldo scored for the Bianconeri to earn them the draw and the upper hand heading into the return leg. The Old Lady have not lost a home game to the Rossoneri since March 2011 and haven't suffered defeat in Turin against the Milan giants in the Coppa Italia since June 1985. Will that run come to an end? Don't miss this game.
Milan preparing for the Juve showdown. Will they beat the Old Lady to make the Coppa Italia final?
The other semi-final encounter is Napoli vs Inter Milan. Despite boasting the home advantage in the first leg, the Nerazzurri fell to a 1-0 loss and will have to pull off a comeback if they wish to keep their Coppa Italia dream alive. As for the Partenopei, they were on a five-game unbeaten run prior to the halt in play and will be keen on maintaining that form when they host Conte's side.
Super Lig 2019/20 season gets back underway, Bayern vs Gladbach headlines Matchday 31 in the Bundesliga
Super Lig is yet another European top-flight set to return, with the Turkish first division heading back into action on Friday, June 12. One of the most interesting games in the upcoming Matchday that will be aired in the U.S. is Galatasaray's showdown with Rizespor. The Lions, who are third in the standings, will be taking on the league's 16th-placed club. Fatih Terim's side have one goal in target and that is to catch table-toppers Trabzonspor, whom they trail by three points.
Elsewhere, the Bundesliga is gearing up for Matchdaya 31. One of the standout fixtures in this round is Bayern Munich vs Borussia Monchengladbach, a showdown between the league leaders and fourth-placed club. The reigning German top-flight champions have not lost a single game since early December, boasting a 19-game unbeaten run. They recently beat Frankfurt in the DFB Pokal to make the German cup final and will be keen on another Bundesliga victory.
Key headlines from world football
MLS returning on July 8 with World Cup-style Orlando tournament
Major League Soccer will be making its return on July 8 but the competition will be back in a unique format. The league organizers have announced a special World Cup-style format in the wake of coronavirus, with this new tournament deciding the regular season points, a Concacaf Champions League berth, and $1.1M in prize money. A draw will be held, with the 26 MLS clubs being split into six groups – three for the Eastern and Western Conferences each.
MLS to return with a new format on July 08
Dele Alli hit with one-match ban over coronavirus joke
Dele Alli has been hit with a one-game ban by the FA over a joke about COVID-19 and the virus' outbreak. As a result, he will miss Tottenham's Premier League clash vs Man Utd.
Top events to watch until Sunday, June 14:
Thursday, June 11
3:30 PM ET
MLS Is Back Tournament Draw
Match details, result and original broadcast info
MLS Is Back Tournament Draw
June 11, 2020 3:30pmThis match has ended. Below are the original Live broadcast details for this match.
Live TV coverage and streaming in United States
4:00 PM ET
Sevilla vs Real Betis (La Liga)
Match details, result and original broadcast info
This match has ended. Below are the original Live broadcast details for this match.
Live TV coverage and streaming in United States
Friday, June 12
12:30 PM ET
Dynamo Dresden vs Hamburger SV (Bundesliga 2)
Match details, result and original broadcast info
This match has ended. Below are the original Live broadcast details for this match.
This match was not broadcast in United States
International Coverage:
Germany: Sky Sport Bundesliga 1, Sky Sport Bundesliga 2, Sky Go Deutschland
Ireland: discovery+, discovery+ App
Switzerland: Sky Sport Bundesliga 1, Sky Sport Bundesliga 2
United Kingdom:
12:30 PM ET
Sandhausen vs Arminia Bielefeld (Bundesliga 2)
Match details, result and original broadcast info
This match has ended. Below are the original Live broadcast details for this match.
This match was not broadcast in United States
International Coverage:
Germany: Sky Sport Bundesliga 1, Sky Go Deutschland, Sky Sport Bundesliga 3
Switzerland:
2:00 PM ET
Fenerbahçe vs Kayserispor (Turkish Super Lig)
Match details, result and original broadcast info
Fenerbahçe 2 - 1 Kayserispor
June 12, 2020 2:00pmÜlker Stadyumu Fenerbahçe Şükrü Saracoğlu Spor Kompleksi (İstanbul)This match has ended. Below are the original Live broadcast details for this match.
Live TV coverage and streaming in United States
2:30 PM ET
Hoffenheim vs RB Leipzig (German Bundesliga)
Match details, result and original broadcast info
This match has ended. Below are the original Live broadcast details for this match.
Live TV coverage and streaming in United States
3:45 PM ET
Juventus vs Milan (Coppa Italia)
Match details, result and original broadcast info
This match has ended. Below are the original Live broadcast details for this match.
Live TV coverage and streaming in United States
4:15 PM ET
Sporting CP vs Paços de Ferreira (Liga Portugal)
Match details, result and original broadcast info
This match has ended. Below are the original Live broadcast details for this match.
Live TV coverage and streaming in United States
Saturday, June 13
6:00 AM ET
Suwon Bluewings vs Gangwon (K League 1)
Match details, result and original broadcast info
This match has ended. Below are the original Live broadcast details for this match.
Live TV coverage and streaming in United States
8:00 AM ET
Espanyol vs Deportivo Alavés (La Liga)
Match details, result and original broadcast info
This match has ended. Below are the original Live broadcast details for this match.
Live TV coverage and streaming in United States
9:30 AM ET
Wolfsburg vs Freiburg (German Bundesliga)
Match details, result and original broadcast info
This match has ended. Below are the original Live broadcast details for this match.
Live TV coverage and streaming in United States
9:30 AM ET
Fortuna Düsseldorf vs Borussia Dortmund (German Bundesliga)
Match details, result and original broadcast info
This match has ended. Below are the original Live broadcast details for this match.
Live TV coverage and streaming in United States
9:30 AM ET
Hertha BSC vs Eintracht Frankfurt (German Bundesliga)
Match details, result and original broadcast info
This match has ended. Below are the original Live broadcast details for this match.
Live TV coverage and streaming in United States
11:00 AM ET
Celta de Vigo vs Villarreal (La Liga)
Match details, result and original broadcast info
This match has ended. Below are the original Live broadcast details for this match.
Live TV coverage and streaming in United States
11:00 AM ET
Racing Santander vs Lugo (Spanish Segunda Division)
Match details, result and original broadcast info
This match has ended. Below are the original Live broadcast details for this match.
Live TV coverage and streaming in United States
12:30 PM ET
Bayern München vs Borussia M'gladbach (German Bundesliga)
Match details, result and original broadcast info
This match has ended. Below are the original Live broadcast details for this match.
Live TV coverage and streaming in United States
1:30 PM ET
Leganés vs Real Valladolid (La Liga)
Match details, result and original broadcast info
This match has ended. Below are the original Live broadcast details for this match.
Live TV coverage and streaming in United States
3:45 PM ET
Napoli vs Internazionale (Coppa Italia)
Match details, result and original broadcast info
This match has ended. Below are the original Live broadcast details for this match.
Live TV coverage and streaming in United States
4:00 PM ET
Mallorca vs Barcelona (La Liga)
Match details, result and original broadcast info
This match has ended. Below are the original Live broadcast details for this match.
Live TV coverage and streaming in United States
Sunday, June 14
8:00 AM ET
Atheltic Club vs Atletico Madrid (La Liga)
Match details, result and original broadcast info
This match has ended. Below are the original Live broadcast details for this match.
Live TV coverage and streaming in United States
8:30 AM ET
IFK Göteborg vs Elfsborg (Swedish Allsvenskan)
Match details, result and original broadcast info
This match has ended. Below are the original Live broadcast details for this match.
Live TV coverage and streaming in United States
9:30 AM ET
Mainz 05 vs Augsburg (German Bundesliga)
Match details, result and original broadcast info
This match has ended. Below are the original Live broadcast details for this match.
Live TV coverage and streaming in United States
11:00 AM ET
Deportivo La Coruña vs Sporting Gijón (Spanish Segunda Division)
Match details, result and original broadcast info
Deportivo La Coruña 0 - 0 Sporting Gijón
June 14, 2020 11:00amEstadio Abanca-Riazor (A Coruña (La Coruña))This match has ended. Below are the original Live broadcast details for this match.
Live TV coverage and streaming in United States
12:00 PM ET
Schalke 04 vs Bayer Leverkusen (German Bundesliga)
Match details, result and original broadcast info
This match has ended. Below are the original Live broadcast details for this match.
Live TV coverage and streaming in United States
1:30 PM ET
Real Madrid vs Eibar (La Liga)
Match details, result and original broadcast info
This match has ended. Below are the original Live broadcast details for this match.
Live TV coverage and streaming in United States
2:00 PM ET
Rizespor vs Galatasaray (Turkish Super Lig)
Match details, result and original broadcast info
This match has ended. Below are the original Live broadcast details for this match.
Live TV coverage and streaming in United States
4:00 PM ET
Real Sociedad vs Osasuna (La Liga)
Match details, result and original broadcast info
This match has ended. Below are the original Live broadcast details for this match.
Live TV coverage and streaming in United States
