Top games to watch this weekend
Friday
Monza vs Juventus (Serie A)
Darmstadt vs Koln (Bundesliga)
Argentina vs Mali (FIFA U-17 World Cup third-place match)
Al Hilal vs Al Nassr (Saudi Pro League)
Saturday
Germany vs France (FIFA U-17 World Cup Final)
UEFA Euro 2024 Draw
Arsenal vs Wolves (English Premier League)
Newcastle vs Manchester United (English Premier League)
Real Madrid vs Granada (La Liga)
Lazio vs Cagliari (Serie A)
Milan vs Frosinone (Serie A)
Bayern vs Union Berlin (Bundesliga)
Famalicao vs Porto (Primeira Liga)
Lens vs Lyon (Ligue 1)
Cincinnati vs Columbus Crew (MLS)
Los Angeles FC vs Houston Dynamo (MLS)
América vs León (Liga MX)
Monterrey vs San Luis (Liga MX)
Corinthians vs Internacional (Brasileiro)
Atlético Mineiro vs Sao Paulo (Brasileiro)
USWNT vs China (Women's Friendly)
Sunday
Chelsea vs Brighton (English Premier League)
Liverpool vs Fulham (English Premier League)
Man City vs Tottenham (English Premier League)
Barcelona vs Atlético Madrid (La Liga)
Napoli vs Inter (Serie A)
Bayer Leverkusen vs Borussia Dortmund (Bundesliga)
Moreirense vs Benfica (Primeira Liga)
Le Havre vs PSG (Ligue 1)
Flamengo vs Cuiabá (Brasileiro)
Palmeiras vs Fluminense (Brasileiro)
Botafogo vs Cruzeiro (Brasileiro)
Feyenoord vs PSV (Eredivisie)
Pumas UNAM vs Guadalajara (Liga MX)
Tigres UANL vs Puebla (Liga MX)
Most-watched soccer games in the USA: November 20-26, 2023
The week of November 20 to November 26, 2023, saw the international break wrap up and club football resume. As a result, a mixture of the two comprised the list of most-watched soccer games in the USA.
The number one spot went to Mexico, with UniMas' coverage of El Tri's CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal against Honduras coming in at first. Just over 1.6 million average viewers tuned in as the North American powerhouses overturned a 2-0 deficit to draw 2-2 and win on penalties.
To no one's surprise, Brazil's showdown with Argentina also made the list. However, this fiery derby features at second, with Nicolas Otamendi's second-half header condemning the Selecao to their first-ever FIFA World Cup qualifying defeat at the Maracana. Just under 1.5 million average viewers — 1,499,000 average viewers, to be exact — tuned in to Telemundo to witness a cagey affair marred by violent clashes between police and traveling fans.
And wrapping things up is Manchester United's 3-0 win over Everton, which earned USA Network 564,000 average views. This game was memorable thanks to Alejandro Garnacho's breathtaking overhead goal past Jordan Pickford.
For a full breakdown of last week's most-watched soccer games in the USA, click here.
What are this weekend's must-watch games?
The Riyadh Derby is here! Al Hilal vs. Al Nassr live this Friday at 1 p.m. ET
The Riyadh Derby is finally here! While hosts Al Hilal will sadly be without marquee summer signing Neymar due to his ACL injury, Al-Za'eem remain top of the league with 38 points and should enter this clash with confidence. However, Al Nassr are only four points behind in second and boast an in-form Cristiano Ronaldo, with the Portuguese icon scoring 15 goals in 13 Saudi Pro League appearances this season. Will Al Nassr win this tie and move within a point of the league leaders or will their 12-game unbeaten run end? Don't miss this clash.
Newcastle vs. Man Utd, Chelsea vs. Brighton, and Man City vs. Tottenham headline Matchwek 14 in the Premier League
Matchweek 14 in the Premier League presents us with three exciting fixtures, the first being Newcastle vs. Manchester United live this Saturday on USA Network. Both teams enter this clash on the back of disappointing UEFA Champions League scores, with the Magpies drawing 1-1 away to PSG via a controversial penalty while the Red Devils threw away a two-goal lead twice to draw 3-3 at Galatasaray.
Meanwhile, Chelsea, who are reeling from their 4-1 loss at Newcastle last weekend, host Brighton in a crucial fixture. The Seagulls enter this tie on the back of their 1-0 victory over AEK Athens which booked their spot in the knockout round of the Europa League.
And finally, we have Tottenham's trip to Manchester City, live this Sunday exclusively on Peacock. The Cityzens drew at home to Liverpool over the weekend while Spurs suffered a disappointing 2-1 loss against Aston Villa, their third defeat in a row. Will the North London heavyweights lose four in a row? Don't miss this round.
Leverkusen vs. Dortmund live this Sunday at 11:30 a.m. ET exclusively on ESPN+
Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen are in for a tough test this weekend, with Xabi Alonso's men hosting Dortmund on Sunday. Wirtz and Co. are on an eight-game winning streak and have pulled two points clear at the top. Dortmund, meanwhile, recently beat AC Milan 3-1 at the San Siro to qualify for the UEFA Champions League round of 16 and will be aiming to take down the German top-flight leaders next.
Napoli vs. Inter Milan live this Sunday at 2:45 p.m. ET exclusively on Paramount+
From the Bundesliga to Serie A, defending champions Napoli host current league leaders Inter Milan. The Nerazzurri enter this game on the back of their comeback draw versus Benfica in the UEFA Champions League, fighting back from three-nil down to draw 3-3. Gli Azzurri, on the other hand, lost 4-2 to Real Madrid and are eight points behind in fourth in the Italian top flight. Osimhen and Co. thus need a win to keep up the pace in the Scudetto race.
Barcelona vs. Atletico live this Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN+, WatchESPN, and ESPN Deportes
And finally, we have Barcelona's showdown with Atletico. The two clubs are tied on 31 points, with the Catalan giants sitting in fourth behind third-placed Los Rojiblancos. Xavi's men have struggled recently, failing to win three of their last six matches. Simeone's men, meanwhile, are on a four-game winning streak as both sides need a victory to keep within touching distance of the top two, Real Madrid and Girona.
Although club soccer has gone on pause due to the last international break of 2023, there will still be plenty of games to watch in the women's game.
Here is all you need to know ahead of another weekend of women's soccer.
What to watch in women's football: December 1 to December 3
UEFA Women's Nations League
The UEFA Women's Nations League resumes this week, with key games including Germany, who are struggling to find their footing after a horrible World Cup that saw them exit at the group stages, taking on Denmark. Other big matches include England locking horns with the Netherlands, World Cup winners Spain battling Italy, Norway (with Ada Hegerberg back in the fold) hoping to pick up a much-needed win over Portugal, and France facing off against Austria.
NCAA
The 2023 NCAA Division I women's soccer competition is nearing its final stages, with two semi-finals taking place on Friday, December 1st. Things kick off with a clash featuring Florida State, who booked their spot at this juncture after cruising to a 5-0 win over Texas in the quarter-finals, and Clemson, who successfully battled to a tough 2-1 win over Penn State. That match will start at 6 pm EST and will be shown on TV on ESPNU while ESPN+ and fuboTV provide live-streaming options.
Following that match, Stanford will lock horns with BYU, with that semi-final kicking off at 8.30 pm EST. Both teams had to work hard to get here, with Stanford overpowering Nebraska following a tense match by a score of 2-1, while BYU played in arguably one of the most entertaining games in this competition as they edged out North Carolina in a seven-goal thriller. Friday's second semi-final will be shown on TV on ESPNU while ESPN+ and fuboTV provide live-streaming options.
International friendlies
There are also some international friendlies taking place this week, with one big game starring Canada and Australia. The Matildas made a very impressive run at this summer's World Cup and this game will be quite special as it marks the penultimate clash for veteran Canadian striker Christine Sinclair. Fans in the USA, Canada, and Australia can catch this game on TV and both by live-streaming. Make sure you check out our special broadcast page for specific details and kick-off times for this game.
Another huge match will star the USWNT and China. Although China have struggled to make inroads at World Cups as of late, the Steel Roses could still pose a tough test for a USA team who are now in transition after a poor showing at this summer's World Cup. The game will kick off at 3 pm on Saturday, December 2nd, with plenty of live-streaming and TV options for fans, which can be found here.
Top news in women's soccer
No respite for Napoli in their maiden season in the top flight… as Roma continue to cruise towards another Scudetto
Unfortunately for newly promoted Napoli, they just can't seem to catch a break. The Partenopei are still winless in Serie A, with zero points earned from their first nine matches, which makes them the only team in any of the biggest leagues in women's soccer yet to even earn a single point.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, Roma, who won their first Scudetto last season, continue to go from strength to strength. The Giallorosse have made a perfect start to the season, with nine wins from their first nine games to help Alessandro Spugna's team sit three points clear of the chasing pack on top of the table. Of course, Juventus, who have been a dominant force in Italian women's soccer over the past few years, will be looking to have their say as they sit in second spot, three points behind Roma, and will be hoping that the Giallorosse slip up at some point when the league resumes action later in December.
USWNT looking to get off the mark in crucial friendly against China
With Emma Hayes now being confirmed as the next USWNT coach, the Stars and Stripes will now focus on a crunch of double headers coming up. On Saturday, the team will face familiar opponents China, as many players will look to put on a good display for Hayes, who will take over the team once her current team, Chelsea, complete the 2023/24 season next year. The two teams will renew acquaintances on December 5th for part two of their doubleheader.
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.
MLS Cup - Preview for Eastern and Western Conference Finals on December 2, 2023
Only four teams remain in the battle to win the MLS Cup, and whatever destiny holds for these four clubs, the winners will be those who watch their games en route to the title.
Three former champions made it to the Conference finals, joined by the best team in the league who also happen to have the MVP for the 2023 season. With those credentials, all that is left to do is to gear up for the games, which will be held within a couple of hours between them on Saturday evening.
Without further delay, here are the main talking points to keep an eye on before both matches kick-off. We will guide you through each fixture in chronological order.
Cincinnati vs Columbus Crew - The winners of the 2023 Supporters' Shield welcome the two-time MLS Cup champions in a match that cannot be predicted as easily as you could expect. The Hell is Real Derby will have its highest stakes up until this moment in history, following a run that has seen Columbus beat Cincinnati in six of their previous 13 games. Meanwhile, the Orange and Blue club has beaten their visitors three times.
The big issue to sort out for Cincy's coach, Pat Noonan, will be how to stop Columbus' strikers from wreaking havoc on their defense, since the most recent game between these teams ended three-nil for Columbus, with a stellar performance by Cucho Hernández. The Colombian striker has hit his best form during the playoffs, and he will be keen on scoring one more time to lead the Crew to another MLS Cup battle. Meanwhile, Cincinnati will try to make their defense work as it has done during the playoffs, where they have only conceded once in three games.
Los Angeles FC vs Houston Dynamo - The 2022 MLS Cup champions return to defend their Western Conference throne against the Houston Dynamo, a club that went through a couple of tough ties to reach this stage. The Dynamo are no strangers to the Conference finals, as they won the MLS Cup twice, but it has been fifteen years since their last triumph and they want to end that drought right away.
As for the Black and Gold, Carlos Vela and Co. are unbeaten in three MLS Playoff matches, where they have conceded only twice (both in the same game) while seeing their strikers score seven goals. LAFC may have missed out on the top seed for this conference, but they found a way to host the conference title match and they will want to go back to the MLS Cup, where they will try to become the fourth team in league history to win back-to-back titles after D.C. United (1996-97), Houston Dynamo (2006-07), and the LA Galaxy (2011-12).
Biggest stories of the week
Cincinnati's defender Miazga suspended for rest of MLS playoffs
FC Cincinnati defender Matt Miazga, the MLS Defender of the Year, will miss his team's Eastern Conference final against the Columbus Crew after being handed a three-game suspension by the league on Wednesday.
A league statement said MLS had imposed the sanction, along with an undisclosed fine, for "misconduct" after the November 4 playoff game against the New York Red Bulls.
The Athletic and The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Miazga entered the officials' locker room at Red Bull Arena after his team's victory.
The MLS referees association, PSRA, while not naming Miazga or any other player, had said that "a player gained unauthorized entry into the officials' locker room" and had behaved "in an aggressive and hostile manner" before being removed by stadium security.
MVP Acosta, goal leader Bouanga named to 2023 MLS Best 11
Leading goal scorer Denis Bouanga and Most Valuable Player Luciano Acosta were among the MLS Best 11 players named on Tuesday by the league as the top men at their positions.
Luciano, an Argentine midfielder who helped spark FC Cincinnati to the regular-season title, was named for the third time to the Best 11 while French-born forward Bouanga, who plays for Gabon, netted 20 goals for defending champion Los Angeles FC and was among eight first-time players receiving the award.
Inter Miami's Lionel Messi, who only began playing MLS matches late in the campaign, was not among those selected even though the Argentine superstar led the squad to the Leagues Cup, an event featuring MLS and Mexican League clubs.
Newcastle boss Howe rues penalty decision in PSG Champions League draw
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe hit out at the decision to award Paris Saint-Germain a last-gasp penalty that denied his team a Champions League win over the French club on Tuesday.
The Premier League side were leading 1-0 at the Parc des Princes thanks to Alexander Isak's 25th-minute goal until Polish referee Szymon Marciniak awarded PSG a penalty deep in injury time following a VAR check for a handball by Tino Livramento.
The award appeared harsh, and Kylian Mbappe converted the spot-kick to earn PSG a 1-1 draw that changes the outlook for both clubs going into the final round of matches in Group F.
"In my opinion, it wasn't the right decision," insisted Howe as he spoke to reporters after the game.
Guardiola makes sarcastic Haaland joke as Man City striker sets UCL record in comeback win vs. RB Leipzig
Manchester City won their UEFA Champions League group on Tuesday in their penultimate game of this round, beating RB Leipzig 3-2 to move six points clear at the top with only one game left.
The Cityzens shockingly found themselves 2-0 down at home by the 33rd minute following a Lois Openda brace but Guardiola's men pulled off a remarkable comeback, one which was inspired by Erling Haaland's 54th-minute goal.
The Norwegian pulled one back for the home side, with Phil Foden and Julian Alvarez later getting on the scoresheet to complete the win. However, it was Haaland who made UEFA Champions League history in that game, becoming the fastest player in the competition's history to reach 40 goals.
As a result, the Norwegian superstar was one of several key talking points during the post-match press conference. However, Pep Guardiola gave a sarcastically hilarious response when asked for his thoughts on his 23-year-old forward.
"Again? I have to tell you again?" the Spaniard said.
Man Utd have to be "smarter" in Champions League, says Fernandes
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes criticized his side's lack of control in Champions League games after again blowing a two-goal lead to draw 3-3 at Galatasaray on Wednesday.
The English giants are on the brink of elimination at the group stage after winning just one of their opening five matches.
United must beat German champions Bayern Munich at home in their final Group A game and hope other results go their way to reach the last 16.
Other key headlines from the world of soccer
Veteran Neuer signs new Bayern deal aged 37
Experienced Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has signed a new contract keeping him at Bayern Munich until 2025, the Bundesliga champions announced on Tuesday. Neuer, 37, originally joined the Bavarians in 2011 before being named captain six years later.
He returned from 10 months out with a knee injury in October.
Football lawmakers back sin bin trial
Football's lawmakers have recommended the trialing of sin bins in the professional game as part of a groundbreaking bid to clamp down on player misbehavior.
Temporary dismissals of players for offenses such as dissent and tactical fouls were backed by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) at its annual business meeting in London on Tuesday. Sin bins were introduced at grassroots level in England in 2019 in an attempt to improve levels of respect and fair play.
Germany's Thiaw set for long lay-off with hamstring tear: AC Milan
Malick Thiaw is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines after AC Milan said on Wednesday that he had suffered a hamstring tear during their Champions League defeat to Borussia Dortmund.
In a statement, Milan said that Germany defender Thiaw underwent tests on Wednesday morning which showed a "severe musculotendinous tear of the biceps femoris in his left thigh".
