Top games to watch this week
Friday, April 7
Salernitana vs Inter (Serie A)
Lecce vs Napoli (Serie A)
Milan vs Empoli (Serie A)
Benfica vs Porto (Primeira Liga)
Sevilla vs Celta (La Liga)
Saturday, April 8
Freiburg vs Bayern Munich (Bundesliga)
Manchester United vs Everton (English Premier League)
Tottenham vs Brighton (English Premier League)
Southampton vs Manchester City (English Premier League)
Real Madrid vs Villarreal (La Liga)
Lazio vs Juventus (Serie A)
Nice vs PSG (Ligue 1)
Los Angeles FC vs Austin (MLS)
New York City vs Atlanta United (MLS)
Seattle Sounders vs St. Louis City (MLS)
León vs Cruz Azul (Liga MX)
América vs Monterrey (Liga MX)
Sunday, April 9
Liverpool vs Arsenal (English Premier League)
Rayo Vallecano vs Atlético Madrid (La Liga)
Casa Pía vs Sporting CP (Primeira Liga)
Lorient vs Marseille (Ligue 1)
Monday, April 10
Barcelona vs Girona (La Liga)
Cardiff City vs Sunderland (Championship)
Burnley vs Sheffield United (Championship)
Bristol City vs Middlesbrough (Championship)
Luton Town vs Blackpool (Championship)
Hull City vs Millwall (Championship)
Tuesday, April 11
Benfica vs Inter (UEFA Champions League)
Manchester City vs Bayern Munich (UEFA Champions League)
Violette AC vs León (CONCACAF Champions League)
Los Angeles FC vs Vancouver Whitecaps (CONCACAF Champions League)
Wednesday, April 12
Real Madrid vs Chelsea (UEFA Champions League)
Milan vs Napoli (UEFA Champions League)
Atlas vs Philadelphia Union (CONCACAF Champions League)
Thursday, April 13
Feyenoord vs Roma (UEFA Europa League)
Manchester United vs Sevilla (UEFA Europa League)
Juventus vs Sporting (UEFA Europa League)
Bayer Leverkusen vs Union Saint-Gilloise (UEFA Europa League)
Gent vs West Ham United (UEFA Europa Conference League)
Lech Poznan vs Fiorentina (UEFA Europa Conference League)
Anderlecht vs AZ (UEFA Europa Conference League)
Basel vs Nice (Europa Conference League)
Tigres UANL vs Motagua (CONCACAF Champions League)
Most-watched soccer games in the USA: March 27-April 2, 2023
The viewership numbers for soccer matches aired in the USA between March 27 and April 2 are in, and to no one's surprise, the Premier League has taken its spot on the podium. However, not only did the English top flight miss out on the number one seat, but the Premier League also failed to grab the runners-up slot.
The top two spots went to Liga MX, with Guadalajara's 3-3 draw with Atlas over the weekend garnering over one million views for Univision. However, while this showdown racked up the largest audience, it wasn't the highest-rated fixture on our list.
That honor goes to Club America's 2-2 draw with Leon, which is no.2 in the list of most-watched games. These two Mexican powerhouses shared the spoils live on Univision, with 1.069 million fans tuning in as the home side dropped two points after conceding a 94th-minute equalizer.
And finally, we have Manchester United's trip to St. James' Park, which rounds off our list, with this Premier League tie securing 631,00 viewers for USA Network. Unfortunately for the visitors, they weren't able to triumph as goals from Willock and Wilson condemned the Red Devils to a 2-0 loss.
What are this week's must-watch games?
O Clássico is back! Benfica host Porto on Friday at 1 p.m. ET live on GOLTV USA and GolTV Espanol in crucial Primeira Liga showdown
The action kicks off on Friday as Portuguese giants Benfica and Porto face off in the latest edition of O Clássico! This will be the most important tie of this season as a victory for the home side will all but end the title race. The Eagles currently top the table, and while there are eight games left this season, the hosts lead by a whopping 10 points. This means anything but a win would leave the Dragons with a huge gap to overcome in the final seven fixtures. The visitors have won three out of the last six editions of O Clássico but their run-in earlier this season ended in a 1-0 triumph for Roger Schmidt's side. Make sure to catch this fixture live on GolTV Espanol and GOLTV USA.
Tottenham vs Brighton live this Saturday at 10 a.m. ET exclusively on Peacock
Tottenham are back in action following their disappointing draw away to Everton on Monday, with the North London outfit facing another tricky test in their race to finish in the top four. Spurs, who are currently in fifth despite having played a game more than Manchester United and Newcastle, face fellow top-four hopefuls Brighton in what should be an exciting showdown. The Seagulls, who have become one of the most exciting teams in the league under De Zerbi, are four points behind Kane and Co. but have two games in hand on Stellini's men. Given their form, Brighton will fancy their odds of winning at Tottenham for the second season running.
Liverpool vs Arsenal live this Sunday at 11:30 a.m. ET exclusively on Peacock
This is the standout game of the weekend. Premier League leaders Arsenal gear up for a trip to Liverpool and Anfield, where the Gunners have failed to win at since 2012. Arteta's men currently sit eight points clear of second-placed Manchester City, but with the Cityzens facing relegation-battling Southampton the day before, that gap could be slashed to five should the North London giants stumble. Klopp's men, on the other hand, are facing an uphill battle to finish in the top four and qualify for the UEFA Champions League. After losing at City and drawing with Chelsea in their last two matches, the Reds return to Anfield knowing there is no more room for error.
The Champions League and Europa League return live on Paramount+ as Man City vs Bayern, Real Madrid vs Chelsea, and Man United vs Sevilla headline the midweek ties
European soccer returns this midweek with the UEFA Champions League and Europa League quarterfinal ties kicking off. All eyes will be on one fixture as Manchester City host Bayern Munich on Tuesday. The reigning champions of Germany and England face off for a spot in the semis, with the recently-appointed Thomas Tuchel set to go head-to-head with Guardiola in another crucial Champions League clash.
Elsewhere, Inter Milan and Benfica lock horns while AC Milan host fellow Italian heavyweights Napoli in another interesting fixture. However, the other key match-up sees Chelsea travel to Real Madrid as the struggling London giants, under newly-appointed caretaker Frank Lampard, look to pull off a miracle at the Bernabeu. Winning this competition will be the Blues only route to the Champions League next season but overcoming the reigning champions of Europe is easier said than done.
And finally, we have the Europa League, which also enters the quarterfinal stage this Thursday, with Manchester United hosting Sevilla in the standout fixture. Elsewhere, Juventus will face a Sporting CP side that knocked out Premier League leaders Arsenal in the round of 16 while Bayer Leverkusen host tricky Belgian club Union Saint-Gilloise.
Club soccer has gone on hiatus, meaning that fans of the women's game will have to wait a bit before being able to follow their favorite players featuring for some of the biggest leagues in the world, including the NWSL, Women's Super League, Frauen-Bundesliga, Serie A, and more.
However, if this news has you a bit worried about the lack of soccer, no worries. Friendlies, friendlies, and more friendlies is the theme for the next week or so, with all federations involved in different games to test out their strongest line-ups ahead of several major tournaments taking place later this year, including the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.
Here are some of the games you won't want to miss over the next week or so.
Friday, April 7th
Friday has plenty of intriguing ties taking place all day, including the following:
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Korea vs Zambia - kick off at 6.00 EST
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Australia vs Scotland - kick off at 8.15 EST
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Portugal vs Japan - kick off at 12.00 EST
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Netherlands vs Germany - kick off at 14.00 EST
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France vs Colombia - kick off at 15.10 EST
Saturday, April 8th
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USWNT vs Ireland - kick off at 14.30 EST
Tuesday, April 11th
Tuesday also will feature plenty of great games, including these:
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Italy vs Colombia - kick off at 10.30 EST
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Denmark vs Japan - kick off at 12.00 EST
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Germany vs Brazil - kick off at 12.00 EST
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Spain vs China - kick off at 12.00 EST
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Portugal vs Wales - kick off at 12.30 EST
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Sweden vs Norway - kick off at 12.30 EST
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Netherlands vs Poland - kick off at 14.00 EST
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England vs Australia - kick off at 14.45 EST
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France vs Canada - kick off at 15.10 EST
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USWNT vs Ireland - kick off at 19.30 EST
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.
Major League Soccer: Preview, news, and broadcast details for Matchday 7
We are almost reaching the ten-game border in this MLS season, but things will be a bit different this time around after the outcome of last week's games.
For starters, St. Louis' perfect run has come to an end, and it will be time to see what the expansion team is made of. Their clash against Seattle Sounders will be a major test for the new team in town, as the Rave Green are known for their drive and for their explosive attack.
Elsewhere in the league, Cincinnati FC will welcome the Philadelphia Union with high hopes to win their match. The away side is undergoing a dip in form since they have only won one of their last five league matches. That could be enough for the Eastern Conference leaders to build up their confidence ahead of this match, but the Union has shown previously they have what it takes to turn things around, especially after their deserved win in the CONCACAF Champions League.
Without further ado, here's what you should keep in mind before Matchweek Seven gets underway.
How to watch Matchweek 7 in the 2023 MLS season?
Fans in the USA and Canada will be able to watch select games on regular TV networks. The first one of those will be Los Angeles FC vs Austin, where the defending champions will try to extend their good form after beating Vancouver in the CONCACAF Champions League on Wednesday. Later that evening, Vancouver Whitecaps vs Portland Timbers will be another game being aired on TV, where both clubs will want to start to turn their seasons around after a poor start that has seen them combine for two wins in their six games. The rest of this week's meetings will be available to be streamed in over 100 countries via MLS Season Pass.
Top news of the week in Major League Soccer
Two players handed fines for embellishment after Matchday 6
One of the most despicable acts on a soccer pitch has to do with trying to fool the referee, and two players were not only caught red-handed, but they will also have to pay the price for their actions.
Orlando City's César Araujo and Minnesota United's Franco Fragapane have been fined for simulation/embellishment during Matchday 6. Araujo's actions did not have consequences in the game, but Fragapane saw Jared Stroud being booked after the alleged aggression, which made it even more adamant for the Disciplinary Committee to take swift action against the Argentine striker.
The fine both players will have to pay has not been disclosed.
Federico Bernardeschi claims Goal of the Matchday honors
It is not a common kick to see an Olympic Goal being scored, and that was exactly what earned Federico Bernardeschi last week's Goal of the Matchday.
The Italian ace scored his third goal of the season with this massive effort that came from a corner kick, and even if there are more goals scored this way, this one will be remembered fondly by fans in years to come.
LA Galaxy's Chicharito ready to make debut in 2023 season
The start of the season has been miserable for Los Angeles Galaxy, who are still seeking their first win of the season after five games. Now, the team's chances of success have drastically improved with the return of former Real Madrid and Manchester United striker Chicharito. The Mexican ace was sidelined with an injury for the first games, but his charm in front of goal will be put to good use by the struggling Los Angeles-based side.
The attacker is not expected to start right away for the Galaxy, according to coach Greg Vanney's words on his fitness levels.
"Playing for five minutes is different than playing 90 minutes. So it's just doing some of that. But he looks sharp, he looks good, getting repetitions in front of goal now because when you have a hamstring injury you can't do a lot of things obviously in front of goal at intensity and high speed," Vanney said.
For additional details regarding Major League Soccer's schedule, top scorers, and more, visit our bespoke MLS page here.
Biggest stories of the week
Chelsea reach agreement to appoint Frank Lampard as interim manager
Frank Lampard agreed to a sensational return to Chelsea for a second spell as manager on an interim basis. The former Chelsea midfielder has been put in temporary charge until the end of the season as the club seek a permanent replacement for Graham Potter, who was relieved of his duties on Sunday.
On Tuesday, Lampard was seen in attendance as Chelsea drew with Liverpool at Stamford Bridge. However, many fans did not make a big deal of the club's former boss' appearance despite being unassigned since vacating his post as the head coach of Everton. Little did they know that there was more to the former English midfielder looking on from the stands as 24 hours later, rumors emerged that he was being considered for the head coach role following the sack of Graham Potter.
Against Liverpool, Bruno Saltor supervised the Blues but he wasn't set to continue for long despite the initial anticipation. Lampard will now be on the touchline for the Premier League clash against Wolves at Molineux on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Julian Nagelsmann and former Barcelona and Spain boss Luis Enrique are among the contenders to take over the reins at the club. Chelsea are expected to take their time in the recruitment process and arrive at a decision later this summer.
Benzema makes history for Real Madrid with hat-trick in El Clásico
Real Madrid have made quite a statement in the return leg of the Copa del Rey semi-finals against Barcelona, where their main man stepped up to show his true colors in a crunch tie against their bitter rivals.
It will be a date that will live in history for Los Merengues, as Karim Benzema and Vinicius destroyed Barcelona's ironclad defense with four goals. The Brazilian ace scored the opener for Ancelotti's men, while Benzema capped an impressive performance by the Spanish capital side with a hat-trick in the second half of the clash.
The Frenchman, who scored his second hat-trick in four days (he bagged three against Valladolid in La Liga), managed to earn one more milestone in his magnificent career with the La Liga titans, with his goals matching a couple of records when facing the Blaugrana side.
The first one has to do with scoring a hat-trick against Barcelona in any venue, something that had been quite a hurdle to overcome for Los Blancos' footballers in almost 30 years. In fact, the last Real Madrid player to score three goals in one game against the Blaugrana was Ivan Zamorano in 1995.
Then, scoring a hat-trick against Els Culers at Camp Nou was no easy feat, and Benzema has joined some elite company with his performance today. The last Real Madrid player to pull this off was Ferenc Puskas way back in 1963.
After this performance, the Spanish capital giants will be playing the Copa del Rey final for the first time since 2014, when they defeated the Blaugrana side in the title clash...with Carlo Ancelotti as their coach.
Inter star Lukaku subject to horrible racist abuse during tense 1-1 draw with Juventus
It might be 2023, but unfortunately, some people clearly haven't gotten the memo that racist abuse isn't acceptable. On Tuesday, Inter and Juventus faced off in the Coppa Italia, with a spot in this season's finals at stake.
Given the rivalry between the two teams, such that any match featuring Juventus and Inter is referred to as the "Derby d'Italia" (Derby of Italy), it is only natural that the game would be full of tension from start to finish. However, Tuesday's game took a rather sour note as not only were three players sent off in the late stages, but Romelu Lukaku once again was the target of racist abuse from Juventus supporters.
The Belgian international is no stranger to this, which is quite disturbing given soccer making a lot of noise about trying to clamp down on racism through various initiatives. Yet, it eventually got to him, as following his converted penalty, he performed a "shut up" gesture to Juventus fans, which led to his dismissal (he had received a yellow card earlier on).
Lukaku is far from the first player to be the target of racist abuse in Italy. As recently as January, French defender Samuel Umtiti, who currently plays for Lecce, was reduced to almost tears due to the nasty behavior of some calcio supporters.
Inter and Roc Nation, the company that represents Lukaku, were quick to release statements in the aftermath, while Juventus finally released one of their own also criticizing the behavior of some of their supporters.
Araujo reveals reason behind his heated altercation with Vinicius Jr. in Barca's 4-0 El Clasico defeat
Wednesday saw Barcelona and Real Madrid face off in El Clasico, with these two Spanish giants locking horns in the 2nd leg of their Copa del Rey semifinal affair.
The Catalan giants triumphed at Santiago Bernabeu in the first leg and were thus seen as the favorites to go through. However, the unexpected occurred: Los Blancos demolished their bitter rivals at the iconic Camp Nou.
Karim Benzema grabbed a hat-trick en route to a 4-0 thumping while Vinicius Jr. also got on the scoresheet, breaking the deadlock just before half-time. Speaking of the Brazilian ace, not only was he deadly on the pitch, but the South American winger was also involved in several battles, both with and without the ball.
The Blancos ace was involved in altercations with Gavi and later Ferran Torres, with Ronald Araujo eventually enduring a spat with the Selecao star. The Barcelona center-back was even caught on camera shoving the 22-year-old to the floor after exchanging a few words, leaving many wondering about what was said.
Speaking after the game, Araujo revealed what caused his clash with the Brazilian, stating that the former Flamengo starlet was badmouthing his teammates throughout the 90 minutes instead of focusing on the game.
"I got a little heated because he was talking to my teammates the entire game, taunting them," the Uruguayan said, as per Mundo Deportivo.
"I've always said he is a great player who will get a lot better if he's only focused on playing. I'm always respectful, but he was talking a lot and I got a little heated."
Regardless, Vinicius Junior and Co. are through to the Copa del Rey final, where they will face Osasuna, while Barcelona missed out on a golden opportunity to win the double. Xavi's men remain 12 points clear at the top in La Liga and appear destined to win the league but have been eliminated from the domestic cup and Europe as well.
Next up for the Catalan giants is a home clash with Girona this weekend while Real Madrid prepare for a tricky week, with Ancelotti's men facing Villarreal on Saturday before hosting Chelsea for the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarterfinals.
Other key headlines from the world of soccer
UEFA announces who will host Women's EURO 2025 tournament
It might feel like the Women's EURO just ended, with England winning their first major title last summer, but now the focus has shifted towards the next iteration of the continental competition.
In 2025, the Lionesses will be one of 16 teams taking part and will be hoping to successfully defend their title. And now, it's been revealed who will host the 14th edition of the women's quadrennial football tournament: Switzerland.
A total of four countries (and groups) submitted bids: France, Poland, a Nordic consortium made up of Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Finland, and Switzerland. After three rounds of bids, the Swiss edged out the Nordic group by nine votes to four, thus giving them the chance to host the event for the first time.
This also means that Switzerland, as hosts, will not have to take part in qualifying for EURO 2025, which starts in February 2024 once the Women's Nations League finishes. To date, Switzerland have never progressed beyond the group stages at a Women's EURO competition, and so will hope that perhaps serving as hosts will give them the home pitch advantage they will really need in about two years' time.
Huge blow for Arsenal as key player will miss crucial Premier League trip to Liverpool
Arsenal are in the midst of a heated and unexpected title race, with the Gunners sitting eight points clear at the top with only nine games left to go. However, the North London giants face Liverpool next and will be without one of their star players.
That man is none other than William Saliba, the highly-rated young center-back who has established arguably the best center-back partnership in the Premier League this season alongside Gabriel Magalhães.
The 22-year-old had started every single top-flight game this campaign until he suffered a back injury in the UEFA Europa League showdown with Sporting CP at the Emirates Stadium. As a result, he has missed the club's last two games, 4-1 victories over both Crystal Palace and Leeds.
There was hope that the Frenchman would recover in time for the Anfield trip. However, according to Daniel Cutts, the sports news editor at The Sun, Saliba will play no part in Sunday's exciting showdown as the defender is still struggling with his issue and is yet to train properly.
Mourinho-CR7 reunion? Saudi chiefs offer mammoth bid to the Special One
The Special One, who has one more season in his deal with Roma, has started to get some interesting offers in his mail. The most interesting one, according to the Corriere dello Sport, has come from Saudi Arabia, where top Pro League executives are plotting to offer him over $120M for the next two seasons, which would make him the best-paid coach in the history of the game.
Mourinho has emerged once again as one of the top coaches in the world, as Roma fans and Serie A experts have seen him rise with the Italian capital team to win their first title in 15 years last season when he guided them to the UEFA Europa Conference League title. While the Portuguese tactician is reportedly interested in extending his deal with Roma, such a lucrative offer could change his mind.
The offer made by Pro League executives states that Mourinho could choose between three teams: first off, the Saudi Arabian National Team. The second and third options would be Al Nassr and Al Ahli, but coaching Al Nassr could come with the added bonus of a reunion between Mourinho and Cristiano Ronaldo, the best-paid player in the league.
It has been said that Mourinho's bosses at Roma have asked him to wait until the end of the season to discuss a contract extension. Both parties seem willing to keep working together, although missing out on the UEFA Europa League title or ending the Serie A season outside of UEFA Champions League spots could end Mourinho's commitment with the Giallorossi.
