Top games to watch this week
Friday, October 28
Mallorca vs Espanyol (La Liga)
Werder Bremen vs Hertha BSC (Bundesliga)
Lens vs Toulouse (Ligue 1)
Saturday, October 29
Leicester vs Manchester City (English Premier League)
Bournemouth vs Tottenham (English Premier League)
Brighton vs Chelsea (English Premier League)
Liverpool vs Leeds United (English Premier League)
Valencia vs Barcelona (La Liga)
Napoli vs Sassuolo (Serie A)
Inter vs Sampdoria (Serie A)
Bayern vs Mainz 05 (Bundesliga)
Eintracht Frankfurt vs Borussia Dortmund (Bundesliga)
Benfica vs Chaves (Primeira Liga)
PSG vs Troyes (Ligue 1)
Flamengo vs Athletico-PR (Copa Libertadores Final)
Portland Thorns vs Kansas City Current (NWSL Final)
Sunday, October 30
Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest (English Premier League)
Manchester Utd vs West Ham (English Premier League)
Real Madrid vs Girona (La Liga)
Torino vs Milan (Serie A)
Los Angeles FC vs Austin (MLS Cup Playoffs - Western Conference Final)
Philadelphia Union vs New York City (MLS Cup Playoffs - Eastern Conference Final)
Pachuca vs Toluca (Liga MX final)
Monday, October 31
Elche vs Getafe (La Liga)
Hellas Verona vs Roma (Serie A)
Monza vs Bologna (Serie A)
Vitoria Guimaraes vs Famalicao
Tuesday, November 1
Porto vs Atlético (UEFA Champions League)
Bayer Leverkusen vs Club Brugge (UEFA Champions League)
Liverpool vs Napoli (UEFA Champions League)
Ranges vs Ajax (UEFA Champions League)
Bayern vs Inter (UEFA Champions League)
Viktoria Plzen vs Barcelona (UEFA Champions League)
Sporting vs Eintracht Frankfurt (UEFA Champions League)
Olympique Marseille vs Tottenham (UEFA Champions League)
Sao Paulo vs Atlético Mineiro (Brasileirao)
Wednesday, November 2
Real Madrid vs Celtic (UEFA Champions League)
Shakhtar vs RB Leipzig (UEFA Champions League)
Chelsea vs Dinamo Zagreb (UEFA Champions League)
Milan vs Salzburg (UEFA Champions League)
Man City vs Sevilla (UEFA CL)
Kobenhavn vs Borussia Dortmund (UEFA Champions League)
Juventus vs PSG (UEFA Champions League)
Maccabi Haifa vs Benfica (UEFA Champions League)
Flamengo vs Corinthians (Brasileirao)
Palmeiras vs Fortaleza (Brasileirao)
Thursday, November 3
Real Sociedad vs Manchester United (UEFA Europa League)
Feyenoord vs Lazio (UEFA Europa League)
Monaco vs Crveda Zvezda (UEFA Europa League)
Arsenal vs Zurich (UEFA Europa League)
Bodo/Glimt vs PSV (UEFA Europa League)
Real Betis vs HJK (UEFA Europa League)
Roma vs Ludogorets (UEFA Europa League)
Istanbul vs Hearts (UEFA Europa Conference League)
Cluj vs Ballkani (UEFA Europa Conference League)
FCSB vs West Ham (UEFA Europa Conference League)
Silkeborg vs Anderlecht (UEFA Europa Conference League)
Lech Poznan vs Villarreal (UEFA Europa Conference League)
Most-watched soccer games in the USA: October 17-23,2022
Once again, a Premier League clash emerged as the most-watched game of the week, and to make matters even more interesting, the game in question became the most-watched of the season in the USA, which speaks volumes of the popularity of the English top flight in this country.
The game that caught over 900,000 average viewers last week featured Chelsea and Manchester United. The Blues seemed to be walking away with all the points, but a late goal by Casemiro saved a point for Erik Ten Hag's men. In fact, if you put together the Spanish and English broadcasts, this clash gathered over one million average viewers.
Curiously, and even with the MLS playoffs taking place, the second and third places in this battle for the rankings ended up going to Liga MX games that defined the teams that are going to play for the crown this week. The first one of those featured América, who were unable to beat Toluca and surrendered their spot as the favorite in the league. Meanwhile, Sunday's controversial match between Monterrey and Toluca also gathered over 600,000 average viewers, leaving a testament to the popularity of this competition one more time.
Let us have a look at the numbers last week brought us in terms of football games:
What are this week's must-watch games?
Liverpool vs Leeds live this Saturday at 2:45 p.m. ET on USA Network, NBC Sports, Telemundo Deported en Vivo, Universo, fuboTV, Sling, and SiriusXM
Liverpool are back in action in the Premier League this weekend as Klopp's struggling side take on Leeds in what should be a thrilling encounter. The Reds enter this tie on the back of their 3-0 victory over Ajax in the UEFA Champions League, a result which secured them a ticket to the round of 16. However, their most recent English top-flight game was last weekend's trip to Nottingham Forest, which ended in a shocking 1-0 defeat for the Merseyside giants. Leeds, on the other hand, are on a four-game losing streak as pressure continues to pile up on their manager Jesse Marsch. However, as the visitors showed against Arsenal a few weeks back, the Whites are capable of giving the best teams in the country a tough time.
Man Utd vs West Ham live this Sunday at 12:15 p.m. ET on USA Network, NBC Sports, Telemundo, fuboTV, Sling, and SiriusXM FC
For the third time running, Manchester United face another tricky Premier League test, this time locking horns with West Ham on Sunday. After their 2-0 victory over Tottenham and 1-1 draw with Chelsea, Ten Hag's men will look to maintain their momentum. The Red Devils recently beat Sheriff 3-0 in the UEFA Europa League and will want a second consecutive victory. The Hammers, meanwhile, recently beat Bournemouth 2-0 and are in 10th after enduring a horrendous start to the season. Unfortunately, Moyes boasts a horrible record at the Theatre of Dreams. Can Rice and Co. overcome the Red Devils? Tune in to find out.
LAFC vs Austin and Philadelphia Union vs New York City FC in the MLS Conference Finals live this Sunday
Only four teams remain in the race to make the MLS Cup final. However, before that can happen, the Conference Finals must first take place as LAFC prepare to face Austin while Philadelphia Union lock horns with New York City FC. Vela and Co. are the favorites in the Western Conference finale as the Los Angeles heavyweights, who won the 2022 MLS Supporters' Shield, look to get their hands on the MLS Cup crown for the first time. Steve Cherundolo's men beat LA Galaxy 3-2 in El Trafico in the semifinals but should be wary of the Texas outfit. The Union, meanwhile, are the no.1 seed – alongside LAFC – and boast the best defense this season while going undefeated at home this year. However, they will face the reigning MLS Cup champions. Catch the Western Conference final live on ABC, ESPN3, the ESPN App, fuboTV, and Sling TV while the Eastern Conference final will be aired on FOX Deportes, Fox Sports 1, the FOX Sports App, fuboTV, and Sling TV.
The group stage in Europe's club competitions comes to a wrap as Liverpool vs Napoli, Real Sociedad vs Man Utd headline the midweek action
The UEFA Champions League, Europa League, and Europa Conference group stage comes to a wrap this midweek, with two games, in particular, standing out. In the Champions League, Liverpool vs Napoli is the headline game as the Reds welcome the high-flying Italian giants in a match-up that will decide the group winner. Klopp's men have a huge deficit to overturn but crazier things have occurred at Anfield. However, that isn't the only decisive fixture. Club Brugge, who look to win their group ahead of Porto, take on a Leverkusen side seeking a third-placed finish and a route into the Europa League. Tottenham, on the other hand, visit Marseille knowing a defeat on the final day will dump them out of the competition. And finally, RB Leipzig and Shakhtar Donetsk lock horns, with the winner of this tie joining Real Madrid in the last 16.
As for the UEFA Europa League, Manchester United travel to Real Sociedad on the final day needing a considerable victory in order to overturn the three-point deficit and unfavorable head-to-head record. Given that the likes of Barcelona, Atletico, Sevilla, Juventus, and possibly AC Milan could enter the knockout round playoffs, winning this group will be crucial for both the Spanish and English heavyweights. The same is true for Arsenal, who recently lost 2-0 away to PSV. The Gunners enter their final fixture at home to FC Zurich needing to either match or better the Dutch giants' result in order to win their group. Meanwhile, Gakpo and Co. face a tricky away test against Bodo/Glimt in their Matchday 6 game.
We are back in full motion with some of the top leagues and tournaments in the women's football scenery, bringing more excitement to the screens.
The list of tournaments being played this week features the FA Women's Super League, the Frauen-Bundesliga, and the Women's Serie A in Italy. But even with those competitions taking place in the next seven days, there are some that will be even more eye-catching considering what will be at stake in each of them.
The real treats this weekend will come thanks to the international tournaments taking place. Yes, there will be a title match in one of the tournaments sanctioned by FIFA, and to top it all, the main club tournament for women's football in South America will also see a new team lifting the title.
Last, but not least, the main league in the United States will celebrate one more match for the crown, with one of the clubs returning to the big game and one about to make history if things go their way.
Have a look at the main activity that will take place this weekend when it comes to women's soccer.
FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup
The time has come to know the identity of the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup champions, with the possibility of watching one of the contenders becoming back-to-back holders. Spain will be facing Colombia one more time in the competition after their group stage meeting, where Spain claimed a narrow win, but even if the European side claimed a victory back then, things could be quite different this time around.
Prior to that match, the consolation match in the tournament will feature Nigeria and Germany, two teams that had shown impressive skills during their run in the tournament until they lost their semifinal ties. While some may believe Nigeria to be the favorites, Germany's tactics and strength could be enough to see them claim the third spot all to themselves.
2022 NWSL
It has all come down to this game in the 2022 NWSL season, with the Portland Thorns reaching the title clash one more time and with high hopes of taking the title home for the first time since 2017. On the other side of the pitch, the Kansas City Current make history after being able to fight for the crown during their second year in the league. It has been a magical season for both teams, and each side will try to show the brilliance that saw them reach the title match set to be held at Audi Field in Washington, D.C.
For those who like to predict how this clash might end based on what happened between these teams in the regular season, the Thorns have an edge over their rivals, as they won one and drew the other one against the Current. Will we see something of that sort during Saturday's clash?
2022 Copa Libertadores Femenina
The South American competition will keep fans on the edge of their seats with the title clash between Boca Juniors and Palmeiras this week. The Argentine side has already made history after reaching their first Copa Libertadores final, while Palmeiras continue with the tradition of having a team from that country for the fifth straight year in the tournament. Whoever is crowned in this game will become the title holders for the first time in the competition's history. Who'll come out on top?
Interested in more leagues? Visit our dedicated women's soccer page at LiveSoccerTV.com.
Biggest stories of the week
Details behind Cristiano's crunch talks with Ten Hag revealed as Portuguese star returns to Man United squad
Cristiano Ronaldo has been dominating the headlines recently, and for obvious reasons, with the Portuguese icon enduring a recent falling out with Manchester United and its manager Erik ten Hag.
The 37-year-old, who has been unhappy since the arrival of the Dutchman due to a lack of playing time, broke the camel's back during the Red Devils' recent 2-0 win over Tottenham. In that game, the former Real Madrid icon first refused to come on as a substitute before storming down the tunnel in the final minutes and leaving Old Trafford before the full-time whistle.
Ten Hag confirmed this shortly after the game and not too long after, the Premier League giants announced that the five-time Ballon d'Or winner would face punishment. He was dropped from the squad altogether for the Chelsea game and was forced to train with the kids instead of the senior players.
However, fast forward to today and Ronaldo is not only back in the squad, but the iconic goalscorer also returned to the lineup in their recent fixture, a 3-0 UEFA Europa League victory against Sheriff. But how did this come about?
The manager and the player sat down for crunch talks and have since buried the hatchet. Well-known journalist Fabrizio Romano gave insight into those meetings, revealing that Cristiano accepted full responsibility for his actions and was apologetic as that "was not the best way to act". Additionally, Ten Hag also understood Cristiano's situation and frustration after being relegated to the bench.
Several conversations took place, and after all those talks, the pair ended up shaking hands and made peace. The 37-year-old has now rejoined the group and even scored in Thursday's triumph.
"We know how complicated things got for Cristiano Ronaldo last week. He left Old Trafford early in the Tottenham game, so Erik ten Hag decided he had to be dropped. He decided together with the board, and Ronaldo was left out of Ten Hag's squad for the Chelsea game," Romano told Caught Offside.
"Cristiano understood it was not the best way to act. It's important to mention he's now back in contention for the first-team, we will see him get an opportunity again. He's 100% available. But what happened with his talks with Ten Hag? I'm told they have been in constant, direct contact, and it was positive. Ronaldo was really sorry, but also Ten Hag understood the player wanted to be involved more. They spoke about it, they had multiple conversations, and they decided to shake hands and now Ronaldo is back in the United first-team."
UN Ambassador calls for Iran to be kicked out of World Cup...and replaced by Italy
Although it has been said time and time again that politics has no place in sports, unfortunately, due to recent world events, it appears that the two worlds overlap more than many would like.
The conflict in Eastern Europe between Russia and Ukraine continues to wage on, and due to Russia's instigation and continued efforts to prolong the ongoing war, Russian football teams have been banned from international competition for the foreseeable future.
Meanwhile, Iran have been making headlines for all the wrong reasons. Whether it be the country, as per numerous reports, supplying drones to Russia to help Russian troops in the war effort in Ukraine or the nationwide protests that have been taking place following the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody, there are some who feel that Iran, like Russia, should be blocked from taking place in international football events.
Hundreds of people - some estimate close to 300 - have died in Iran due to protests after Ms. Amini's death, who, according to multiple reports, died on September 16th after being arrested about three days prior (on September 13th) for wearing her hijab "improperly". The death of the 22-year-old last month has sparked outrage worldwide and brought into focus concerns about the treatment of women in Iran as a widespread humanitarian issue that threatens to overshadow the national team as they prepare to take part in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar next month.
One individual vocal in their concerns is none other than Paolo Zampolli, an Italian businessman who currently serves as the Ambassador, Permanent Mission of Dominica to the United Nations.
In a letter written to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, the 57-year-old businessman, who built his career largely in the United States, noted that Iran's human rights issues should exclude them from the World Cup so as not to be a "negative political [distraction]."
Moreover, and not surprisingly, he advocates for Iran's spot to be taken by Italy, who currently are the highest-ranking side to miss out on the World Cup. The Azzurri failed to qualify for their second straight tournament after suffering a shock loss in the playoffs to minnows North Macedonia, and for the second consecutive World Cup, will have to watch the tournament from afar. The failure of Roberto Mancini's men to qualify sent massive shock waves throughout Italy, especially since the team had ended their long wait for continental glory by winning EURO 2020 in the summer of 2021.
In any case, it remains to be seen whether Iran; who are not expected to progress beyond the group stage as they face a stern test against England, the United States, and Wales; will be banned. Although, it can be assumed that with the World Cup being just around the corner, that actually coming to pass seems highly unlikely. Hosts Qatar have been accused repeatedly of human rights abuses, with some feeling that the tournament should go elsewhere. The protests and complaints have come to naught, and Qatar will be expected to put on a dynamic show as people convene from all over the world to attend the competition in November and December.
UEFA Champions League: Barca and Atletico eliminated as La Liga clubs hit new low
Barcelona and Atletico Madrid have been eliminated from this season's UEFA Champions League after failing to win their penultimate group games of the campaign. The pair's exit means that for the first in over a decade, only one club from the Spanish top-flight - Real Madrid - will feature in the knockout stage of the competition.
Ahead of the night's encounter, the Blaugrana knew that they had no chance of progressing to the next round after Inter Milan hit Viktoria Plzen for four in the early Group H affair. The test at Camp Nou proved to be pointless for Xavi's men who were humiliated further by Bayern Munich, conceding three goals in the encounter.
Over in Madrid, Atletico were also put to the sword by Bayer Leverkusen. Diego Simeone's men come back from trailing 2-1 in the first half to level the score in the second. However, they were cruelly eliminated after Yannick Carrasco missed a 99th-minute spot-kick before Reinaldo Mandava's rebounded header also came off the crossbar.
With those results, both clubs have been demoted to the Europa League, joining Sevilla whose elimination was confirmed on Tuesday night. Only defending champions Real Madrid remain as La Liga's representative in Europe's elite competition.
2023 FIFA Women's World Cup draw: USWNT get rematch vs Netherlands, England facing tricky bracket
The 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, which kicks off on July 20, is under a year away, and as a result, the draw for the group stage has been held. The 32 participants, expanded from 24 for the first time ever, were split into eight groups of four, and a few of those groups will hand some of the best nations a tricky test.
All eyes were on the U.S. women's national team, the defending world champions, and England, this summer's UEFA Women's Euro winners, as both nations will enter next year's tournament in Australia and New Zealand as the favorites.
While the Stars and Stripes should make it out of their group after being paired in Group E with Vietnam and the winners of the Playoff Group A (Cameroon, Thailand, or Portugal), the third opponents for Alex Morgan and Co. are the Netherlands. This means Vlatko Andonovski's side will get a rematch against the European outfit, whom they beat in the 2019 final during Jill Ellis' historic reign.
The Lionesses, on the other hand, were placed in Group D and will face Denmark, China, and Playoff Group B winners – one of Senegal, Haiti, or Chile. The European champions will thus fancy their odds of both making the round of 16 and winning their group. However, this places Beth Mead and Co. in a tricky situation as they will likely face the winners or runners-up in Group B.
What is unique about Group B? Former Australian player Heather Garriock labeled this the Group of Death as her nation, the Matildas, were drawn alongside Canada, Ireland, and Nigeria. The aforementioned North American giants won Gold at the recent Olympics and beat Australia twice in a row last month while the other two are capable sides and could thus pull off an upset or two.
And with England set to either face the winners or the runners-up of Group B in the round of 16, depending on whether Sarina Wiegman's ladies finish first or second, the Lionesses are all but destined to face Canada or Australia in the knockout stage.
Elsewhere, Group F promises to be a treat as Brazil and France are likely to go head-to-head for the top spot. Here are the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup groups in full:
Group A
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New Zealand
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Norway
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Philippines
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Switzerland
Group B
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Australia
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Republic of Ireland
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Nigeria
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Canada
Group C
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Spain
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Costa Rica
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Zambia
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Japan
Group D
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England
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Group B Playoff winner
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Denmark
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China PR
Group E
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USA
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Vietnam
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Netherlands
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Group A Playoff winner
Group F
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France
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Jamaica
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Brazil
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Group C Playoff winner
Group G
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Sweden
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South Africa
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Italy
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Argentina
Group H
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Germany
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Morocco
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Colombia
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Korea Republic
Other key headlines from the world of football
Juventus reportedly "tracking" Manchester City star
La Vecchia Signora are looking forward to the future despite their UEFA Champions League exit, and are always on the hunt for a bargain. Over the years, they have managed to bring in top players to Turin, some costing more than others, but certainly any time a top player's contract is set to expire, Juventus, along with other teams, will be eager to snap him up for free.
One player in this situation is Ilkay Gundogan. The 31-year-old has had his struggles with injuries, but that appears firmly behind him as he has been a consistent performer for Manchester City, where he has gone on to make nearly 270 appearances across all competitions and scored 51 goals since arriving from Dortmund in 2016.
The German international's contract is expected to run out next year, and according to reports, with no indication that City are intending to offer him another one, Gundogan could opt to ply his trade elsewhere for the 2023/24 campaign.
Juventus are one team that have been mentioned as being interested, but apparently, the Bianconeri could be facing competition from Turkish side Galatasaray, who are also apparently tracking Gundogan's situation.
Graham Potter and Matteo Kovacic make UCL history as Chelsea secure last 16 berth
Chelsea new boss Graham Potter and midfield star Matteo Kovacic have both entered the UEFA Champions League's record books for respective reasons following Tuesday night's win over RB Salzburg. The pair all had a role to play as the Blues marched on to the round of 16 with the 2-1 win in their fifth group stage encounter of the campaign.
Ahead of the match-up, Chelsea knew that a win would be enough to guarantee them a spot in the next round of the competition, and were successful in making their mark at the Red Bull Arena. They opened the scoring in the first half through Matteo Kovacic's stunner in the 23rd minute to assume the driver's seat going into half-time. With that goal, the 28-year-old Croatian midfielder became only the second player after his compatriot Luka Modric to score his first five UEFA Champions League goals under different managers.
The second half started off on a rather wrong turn for Chelsea as Junior Adamu restored parity for the hosts with his strike in the 48th minute. However, Kai Havertz's superb goal from 20 yards was enough to restore Chelsea's lead and snatch all three points for the visitors.
The result extended the Blues' unbeaten run under new boss Graham Potter to nine. Consequently, the former Brighton manager became the second Englishman to go undefeated in his first nine games as Chelsea manager in all competitions after William Lewis in 1906/07. He is also the first Chelsea manager to go unbeaten in their first four UEFA Champions League matches since Roberto Di Matteo in 2012.
Chelsea linked with move for Man Utd star Cristiano once again after public falling out with Ten Hag
It is no secret that Todd Boehly is a fan of the 37-year-old and enjoys a newly-found relationship with his agent Jorge Mendes. In fact, the billionaire co-owner wanted to bring Cristiano to Stamford Bridge during the summer but was met with opposition from then-head coach Thomas Tuchel.
However, Tuchel is no longer in charge of the Blues, and according to the Daily Mail, Boehly is ready to reignite his interest in the Real Madrid icon this winter when the transfer window opens back up.
Manchester United were open to bids for Ronaldo, one of their highest earners, during the summer. Unfortunately for both parties, no major European club tabled an offer for the goalscorer and he was thus forced to stay.
The Euro 2016 winner has wanted out of the Theatre of Dreams after their failure to qualify for the UEFA Champions League. His recent falling out with Ten Hag has only added fuel to the fire. However, it should be noted that Graham Potter's stance on this issue remains unclear.
