Top games to watch this week
Friday, January 13
Napoli vs Juventus (Serie A)
Aston Villa vs Leeds United (English Premier League)
Celta de Vigo vs Villarreal (La Liga)
Bayern vs Salzburg (Friendly)
Saturday, January 14
Manchester United vs Manchester City (English Premier League)
Brighton vs Liverpool (English Premier League)
Real Sociedad vs Athletic Club (La Liga)
Lecce vs Milan (Serie A)
Inter vs Hellas Verona (Serie A)
Marseille vs Lorient (Ligue 1)
Olympique Lyon vs Strasbourg (Ligue 1)
Sunday, January 15
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace (English Premier League)
Newcastle vs Fulham (English Premier League)
Tottenham vs Arsenal (English Premier League)
Almería vs Atlético (La Liga)
Real Madrid vs Barcelona (Supercopa de España Final)
Roma vs Fiorentina (Serie A)
Benfica vs Sporting CP (Primeira Liga)
Rennes vs PSG (Ligue 1)
Monday, January 16
León vs Necaxa (Liga MX)
Cádiz vs Elche (La Liga)
Empoli vs Sampdoria
Tuesday, January 17
West Brom v Chesterfield (FA Cup)
Accrington Stanley vs Boreham Wood (FA Cup)
Wolves vs Liverpool (FA Cup)
Leeds vs Cardiff City (FA Cup)
Wednesday, January 18
Crystal Palace vs Manchester United (English Premier League)
Milan vs Inter (Supercoppa Italiana)
Ceuta vs Barcelona (Copa del Rey)
Levante vs Atlético Madrid (Copa del Rey)
Sporting Gijón vs Valencia (Copa del Rey)
Villarreal vs Real Madrid (Copa del Rey)
Real Sociedad vs Mallorca (Copa del Rey)
Athletic Club vs Espanyol (Copa del Rey)
Real Betis vs Osasuna (Copa del Rey)
Thursday, January 19
Manchester City vs Tottenham (English Premier League)
What are this week's must-watch games?
Napoli vs Juventus live this Friday at 2:45 p.m. ET exclusively on Paramount+
The excitement begins on Friday with Italy's top two teams facing off in a highly-anticipated fixture. Napoli, who currently top the table, returned to winning ways just before their showdown with Juventus, beating Sampdoria 2-0 after suffering a 1-0 defeat at Inter. As for the Old Lady, they are currently on a spectacular eight-game winning streak, conceding zero goals during that run, and have thus turned their season around. Only seven points separate Allegri's men from Gli Azzurri, meaning a win at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona would take them within four points of the league leaders. Don't miss this clash.
The Manchester Derby is back! Catch Man Utd vs Man City live this Saturday at 7:30 a.m. ET on USA Network, Telemundo, and Telemundo Deportes
For the second time this season, Manchester United and Manchester City prepare to lock horns, with the Red Devils hoping for a different outcome this time around. In their previous encounter at the Etihad Stadium, Ten Hag's side found themselves 4-0 down by half-time and ended up losing 6-3. However, Manchester United have lost only once in the 10 league games that have followed and have won their last four top-flight fixtures. The Cityzens, meanwhile, have slipped up in three of their last eight matches and enter this clash on the back of their 2-0 Carabao Cup quarterfinal defeat to Southampton, highlighting the need for a bounce back.
Arsenal visit Tottenham in the North London Derby live this Sunday at 11:30 a.m. ET on Peacock
The Manchester Derby isn't the only major rivalry taking center stage as Arsenal prepare to visit Tottenham on Sunday. The Gunners are currently flying high in the Premier League, sitting top of the table with a five-point advantage over second-placed Man City. However, their most recent fixture saw Arteta's men draw 0-0 at home to Newcastle, meaning Saka and Co. must return to winning ways. Spurs, on the other hand, have won their last two games, beating Crystal Palace in the league and Portsmouth in the FA Cup to gain some momentum ahead of the North London Derby. However, recent results haven't gone Conte's way and they are now fighting for a top-four spot. Victory over the Gunners wouldn't only dent their rivals' title ambitions but also boost their odds of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League.
The Supercopa de Espana final live this Sunday at 2 p.m. ET on ESPN+, ESPN Deportes USA, and ABC as Real Madrid lock horns with Barcelona in El Clasico
El Clasico is returning to the big stage, this time in the Supercopa de Espana, as Real Madrid and Barcelona prepare to face off in the final in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Despite this being the likeliest match-up, both teams were made to work hard for their spots in the final. Los Blancos were taken to penalties after drawing 1-1 with Valencia while the Blaugrana needed a shootout as well, drawing 2-2 with Real Betis in the semifinals. Form favors Xavi's men as they are unbeaten in all but one of their last 11 matches. However, in the most recent edition of El Clasico, it was Benzema and Co. that triumphed, beating Barcelona 3-1 back in October. Make sure to catch this rematch live!
The fun doesn't end this weekend! Man City vs Tottenham and the Milan Derby headline the top matches to watch this midweek
Fortunately for everyone, the excitement does not end with the weekend as there are a host of interesting fixtures taking place this midweek, including Real Madrid's Copa del Rey showdown with Villarreal and Manchester United's Premier League trip to Crystal Palace. However, the two standout matches are Manchester City vs Tottenham on Thursday (live on Peacock) and the Milan Derby the day before (live on CBS Sports Network and Paramount+).
Depending on how the Manchester and North London Derbies pan out, the Cityzens' clash with Spurs could make or break their title defense. Should Guardiola's men drop points on Saturday and Thursday, league leaders Arsenal will be handed a golden opportunity to widen their gap at the top.
As for the Milan Derby, two of Italy's biggest clubs will face off on Wednesday in the Supercoppa Italiana, and just like the Supercopa de Espana, this tie will also take place in Saudi Arabia. AC Milan, the defending Serie A champions, will want to get the better of Inter, the Coppa Italia holders. The last time these two teams met, the Rossoneri triumphed 3-2, with Rafael Leao stealing the show. Expect another thriller!
Biggest stories of the week
The Best: Mbappé, Messi, and Benzema lead list of candidates to win the award
The awards season will kick off with a bang in terms of football accolades, and FIFA are ready to begin with that by letting the world know the names of the players nominated to become The Best in 2023.
The list of players are dominated by those who made a name for themselves in the FIFA World Cup, although club accomplishments were also taken into consideration to give a nod to some nominees. This year, and maybe unsurprisingly, Cristiano Ronaldo is not on the list, leaving Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski to battle with younger players such as Kylian Mbappé, Julián Álvarez, Erling Haaland, and more.
Here is the list of men nominated to win the award:
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Julian Alvarez (Argentina/Club Atletico River Plate/Manchester City)
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Jude Bellingham (England/Borussia Dortmund)
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Karim Benzema (France/Real Madrid)
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Kevin de Bruyne (Belgium/Manchester City)
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Erling Haaland (Norway/Borussia Dortmund/Manchester City)
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Achraf Hakimi (Spain/Paris Saint-Germain)
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Robert Lewandowski (Poland/Bayern Munich/Barcelona)
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Sadio Mane (Senegal/Liverpool/Bayern Munich)
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Kylian Mbappe (France/Paris Saint-Germain)
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Lionel Messi (Argentina/Paris Saint-Germain)
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Luka Modric (Croatia/Real Madrid)
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Neymar (Brazil/Paris Saint-Germain)
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Mohamed Salah (Egypt/Liverpool)
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Vinicius Junior (Brazil/Real Madrid)
The ceremony will also give out the award to the best coach of the recently concluded year. Lionel Scaloni will be there, but he will have some tough competition from some of the nominees. Here are the names of the managers in the running for this prize:
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Carlo Ancelotti (Italy/Real Madrid)
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Didier Deschamps (France/French national team)
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Pep Guardiola (Spain/Manchester City)
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Walid Regragui (Morocco/ Wydad AC/ Moroccan national team)
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Lionel Scaloni (Argentina/ Argentinian national team)
The Best Goalkeeper in the world will come from a list of elite players, which includes the winner of the UEFA Champions League and the infamous goalkeeper who over celebrated Argentina's win in the FIFA World Cup, among others:
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Alisson Becker (Brazil/Liverpool)
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Yassine Bounou (Morocco/ Sevilla)
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Thibaut Courtois (Belgium/Real Madrid)
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Ederson (Brazil/Manchester City)
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Emiliano Martinez (Argentina/Aston Villa)
Added to these awards, the women's categories will also grace the gala with some of the top names in the women's football scenery. Here are the categories and the nominees for each prize.
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The Best FIFA Women's Player: Aitana Bonmatí (Spain), Debinha (Brazil), Jessie Fleming (Canada), Ada Hegerberg (Norway), Sam Kerr (Australia), Beth Mead (England), Vivianne Miedema (Netherlands), Alex Morgan (USA), Lena Oberdorf (Germany), Alexandra Popp (Germany), Alexia Putellas (Spain), Wendie Renard (France), Keira Walsh (England), and Leah Williamson (England).
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The Best FIFA Women's Coach: Sonia Bompastor, Emma Hayes, Bev Priestman, Pia Sundhage, Martina Voss-Tecklenburg, Sarina Wiegman.
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The Best FIFA Women's Goalkeeper: Christiane Endler, Ann-Katrin Berger, Mary Earps, Merle Frohms, Alyssa Naeher, Sandra Paños García-Villamil.
NFL star Patrick Mahomes set to become Kansas City Current's co-owner
It is becoming a trend to see sports personalities from other disciplines investing their money in football teams, and the latest one has to do with one of the brightest stars in the National Football League landscape.
Reports coming in from Missouri have revealed a new investor risking his money with the Kansas City Current, as 27-year-old QB Patrick Mahomes will be joining the team as their new co-owner. Mahomes will "huddle up" with Angie Long, Chris Long, and Brittany Mahomes, the quarterback's wife, to try and take the team to the next height.
"We are really excited to see this becoming a family matter after including Patrick as an owner. He has been a massive support for us behind the scenes. We can't deny his passion for the Current and I am thankful to have him with us in this journey to become one of the best teams in the NWSL," Mahomes' wife, Brittany, stated in a press release.
Mahomes will join other colleagues such as Michael Schofield and Israel Idonije (Chicago Bears), former New York Giants player Eli Manning, and Carolina Panthers center Ryan Kalil as other NFL players to have their money invested in MLS or football franchises.
In the same presser, QB Patrick Mahomes shared his delight to be a part of the Current's future.
"I am very excited to join another club with championship caliber and to help them make history," Mahomes added.
The Most Valuable Player in 2018 will add the Kansas City Current to his portfolio of investments. The player also has a stake with Sporting KC in the MLS and with the Kansas City Royals in Major League Baseball, meaning that most of his earnings are already being used by the teams in the city where he lives to thrive in years to come.
MLS and Apple reveal list of broadcasters for the 2023 season
The partnership between Apple and the MLS is already making waves, and the cast of characters that will be in charge of broadcasting all the activity related to the top flight has been revealed by both the league and the company.
A host of the most relevant analysts and announcers in the United States will be in charge of airing the content related to the North American competition. The content for the league will be in Spanish and in English, and fans are already looking forward to their contributions to cover the MLS.
English coverage will be handled by personalities such as Kyndra de St. Aubin, Maurice Edu, Lori Lindsey, Danielle Slaton, Taylor Twellman (match analyst), Marcelo Balboa (match analyst), and Sébastien Le Toux. As far as studio coverage goes, Sacha Kljestan, Bradley Wright-Phillips, Diego Valeri, Liam McHugh, and Jillian Sakovits will take care of all things related to studio activity. To top it all, play-by-play dealings will see Max Bretos, Steve Cangialosi, and Jake Zivin as the main voices.
When it comes to Spanish coverage, Tony Cherchi, Pablo Ramírez, and Frederic Lord will be in charge of treating audiences with their analysis and play-by-play content.
The complete on-air broadcast team — which represents many of the industry's most qualified and compelling announcers — and the full production plan for MLS Season Pass will be announced prior to the start of the MLS 2023 season, which begins February 25.
"This talented group of men and women has taken part in the biggest moments across the soccer and sports landscape for the past decade; whether covering them on air or taking part in them as players, they have been at the center of building our sport in North America. We are excited to see how their diversity of experiences will elevate our coverage and storytelling across our live matches," MLS Commissioner Don Garber stated after the announcement.
Dortmund's Haller returns to action after completing cancer treatment
Last year, Sebastien Haller was dealt a huge setback as it was revealed that he had testicular cancer. Just 28 years old, the former Ajax striker had just signed for Borussia Dortmund as die Schwarzgelben sought to quickly replace Erling Haaland, who had left for Manchester City that same summer.
A health scan picked up the condition in July, meaning that Haller would have to take a break from football as he underwent treatment. Fortunately for the striker, he has now made a recovery after having to undergo two surgeries plus chemotherapy over the last six months. With the procedures being a success, he was able to return to training earlier this month and finally set foot on a pitch for the first time during Dortmund's friendly match against Dusseldorf in Marbella, Spain.
Haller, who plays his international football for the Ivory Coast, will be looking forward to being involved in Dortmund's first competitive match, which will take place in just under two weeks' time on January 22nd as they face Augsburg.
Currently, Dortmund sit sixth in the table, having lost their last two matches, and are nine points behind serial Bundesliga winners Bayern. It goes without saying that fans will hope that now that he's received a clean bill of health, Haller will be able to hit the ground running to help the team start working their way up the table.
Official: Gareth Bale announces retirement from football with an emotional message on Twitter
It is official: Gareth Bale, one of the greatest British footballers in history, has retired from the beautiful game.
The Welsh icon, aged just 33, has taken to social media to announce this decision, with the former Real Madrid superstar hanging up his boots at both an international and club level. This means Wales' 3-0 defeat to England at the 2022 FIFA World Cup was the final time Bale kicked a ball in a professional match.
Speculation was rife surrounding the attacker's future following Qatar 2022. With Euro 2024 being 17 months away and the player having left La Liga for the MLS, many began wondering whether the former Tottenham sensation would continue playing or draw the curtains on his career.
Sadly, Gareth has opted for the latter, bringing an end to what has been a remarkable career. Even during his time at Real Madrid, where the winger was often criticized by Los Blancos fans, he still helped the Spanish giants win three league titles and played a crucial role in four out of their five most recent UEFA Champions League victories. Additionally, he scored 106 times and assisted 67 goals in 258 appearances for Europe's defending champions.
"After careful and thoughtful consideration, I announce my immediate retirement from club and international football," the player wrote in his heartfelt message on Twitter.
"I feel incredibly fortunate to have realized my dream of playing the sport I love. It has truly given me some of the best moments of my life. The highest of highs over 17 seasons that will be impossible to replicate, no matter what the next chapter has in store for me.
"From my very first touch at Southampton to my last with LAFC and everything in between, shaped a club career that I have an immense pride and gratitude for. Playing for and captaining my country 111 times has truly been a dream come true.
"To show my gratitude to all of those that have played their part along this journey feels like an impossibility. I feel indebted to many people for helping to change my life and shape my career in a way I couldn't have ever dreamed of when I first started out at 9 years old.
"To my previous clubs, Southampton, Tottenham, Real Madrid, and finally LAFC. All of my previous managers and coaches, backroom staff, teammates, all the dedicated fans, my agents, my amazing friends and family, the impact you have had is immeasurable"
Gareth also went on to thank his parents, his sister, his wife, and his kids for their love and support throughout his professional career. While the former Premier League sensation wasn't adored throughout his time at Real Madrid, one place where he was always revered was with his national team, and for this reason, the now-former Dragons captain penned a separate letter specifically for the Welsh family.
"My decision to retire from international football has been, by far, the hardest of my career," the nation's all-time top scorer wrote in a separate message.
"How do I describe what being a part of this country and team means to me? How do I articulate the impact it has had on my life? How do I put into words the way I felt every single time I put on that Welsh shirt?
"My answer is that I couldn't possibly do any of those things justice simply with words. But I know that every person involved in Welsh football feels the magic and is impacted in such a powerful and unique way so I know you feel what I feel without using any words at all.
"My journey on the international stage is one that has changed not only my life but who I am. The fortune of being Welsh and being selected to play for and captain Wales has given me something incomparable to anything else I've experienced.
"I'm honored and humbled to have been able to play a part in the history of this incredible country, to have felt the support and passion of the red wall, and together have been to unexpected and amazing places."
"So for now I am stepping back, but not away from the team that lives in me and runs through my veins. After all, the dragon on my shirt is all I need. Together stronger!" the Welshman concluded.
During his time with the national team, the Dragons qualified for a FIFA World Cup for the first time in over half a century and went on a remarkable run at Euro 2016, making it all the way to the semifinals where they lost to eventual champions Portugal.
At club level, Bale got his hands on a whopping five UEFA Champions League titles, as well as three La Liga crowns, one Copa del Rey, and three FIFA Club World Cups. His final stint came in the MLS with LAFC where he lifted the MLS Cup and Supporters' Shield.
French FA president "steps back" from role following recent Zinedine Zidane controversy
Noel Le Graet, the president of the French Football Federation (FFF), is officially "taking a step back" from his role following his recent statement on national icon Zinedine Zidane.
The 81-year-old recently landed himself in hot water over his choice of words regarding the aforementioned Les Bleus legend, which was deemed disrespectful.
Zidane, who had been tipped to succeed Didier Deschamps as the national team boss after the 2022 FIFA World Cup, missed out on the prestigious role after the FFF opted the hand the current boss a new deal until 2026.
And when asked about this issue in an interview with RMC, Le Graet surprisingly decided to take shots at the former Real Madrid sensation, stating publicly that he never even considered Zizou for the job nor would he have even picked up a phone call from the three-time UEFA Champions League-winning manager.
"Who can make serious reproaches to Deschamps?" he said. "Nobody. He [Zidane] does what he wants; it's none of my business. I've never met him, we've never considered parting with Didier. He can go where he wants, to a club … If Zidane tried to contact me? Certainly not, I wouldn't even pick up the phone."
These comments sparked backlash, with star attacker Kylian Mbappe hitting back on Twitter, demanding respect for the 1998 World Cup winner, while Real Madrid issued a public statement in response to the ill-advised remark.
The 81-year-old later apologized but has since been forced to vacate his role. However, it should be noted that the Zidane controversy isn't the driving force behind this move, but rather the final nail in the coffin.
The FFF is currently in the midst of an investigation regarding sexual harassment, with Le Graet facing allegations of his own regarding his private conduct — which he has denied. As a result, both he and general manager Florence Hardouin have been taken out of their roles pending the investigation, with Philippe Diallo assuming both responsibilities on an interim basis.
"Noel Le Graet, in agreement with the executive committee of the FFF meeting today [January 11] in Paris, has chosen to withdraw from his duties as president of the Federation until the final communication of the audit carried out by the Ministry of Sports, and awaiting its analysis by the Comex (executive committee) of the FFF," the official statement read.
"The Comex of the FFF has also decided to lay off Florence Hardouin, general manager of the FFF, as a precautionary measure. As of today, Philippe Diallo, deputy vice-president of the FFF, will act as interim manager of these two functions."
Patrick Anton, the president of the FFF's National Ethics Council, recently called for Noel to step down following the Zidane controversy, arguing that in a time when calmness and serenity are needed, a change in leadership had to be taken.
"We urge the president of the French Football Federation to step down from his duties and resign from his job. We need to be strong but also calm, and unfortunately, we will not have that under his wing. We have to let our leaders know the rules that bind us together, and this time, our files show that he has gone over the line with this issue," Anton stated.
"We are not going to waste the good economic results by the FFF in recent years because of these statements that belong in the tabloids and not on the football section of a newspaper. President Le Graët's comments show he has lost clarity, and we need serenity to carry on. When he starts to talk, we do not know where he is going to end. He is a tired man, and ruling a Federation that has two million licenses means that you can't go around and lose your cool and serenity like he does," Anton added.
Other key headlines from the world of football
Major blow for USA and Chelsea as Pulisic expected to miss 'months'
Unfortunately, it's bad news for Chelsea and the USMNT as one of their key players has been ruled out for the long haul due to an injury.
On January 5, Chelsea faced Manchester City in the Premier League, during which the Blues lost 1-0 at home to Pep Guardiola's side. That wasn't the only major blow for Graham Potter, as Christian Pulisic limped off early in the first half and had to be eventually substituted.
Now reports indicate that the American international's injury, which appears to be a major knee issue, is much worse than previously thought. During a recent press conference, Potter admitted that Pulisic could expect to miss "at least a couple of months" of football, which means that he will not be back in action until March at the latest.
As a result, Pulisic is expected to miss close to ten matches for Chelsea. Additionally, the former Dortmund attacker isn't likely to be involved when the USMNT return to action this spring.
Arteta offers injury update on Arsenal star Bukayo Saka ahead of North London Derby
Due to the Gunners' lack of depth, Bukayo Saka was forced to start Arsenal's FA Cup match against Oxford United as the London giants wished to avoid back-to-back 3rd round exits. Unfortunately, after receiving a few rough tackles, the 21-year-old eventually dropped to the floor in the second half and could not complete the game.
After receiving medical treatment, the Hale End academy graduate limped off the pitch and was replaced by Emile Smith Rowe, the talented youngster returning from injury. However, it wasn't evidently clear whether Bukayo picked up a serious or short-term issue.
As a result, Mikel Arteta was quizzed on this topic after the final whistle and while the Spaniard did not confirm his winger's availability for this weekend's North London Derby, the manager offered the update Arsenal fans wanted to hear.
When asked by ITV Sport how the Three Lions ace was doing, Mikel offered a two-word relief. "He's fine," the Spanish tactician promptly replied.
TRANSFER TALK: Atletico Madrid reportedly looking at Barcelona striker
With Joao Felix having secured a loan move to Chelsea, Atletico Madrid have already turned their attention towards finding someone to replace the Portuguese international.
According to reports, Los Rojiblancos are closely monitoring the situation of Barcelona's Memphis Depay. The Dutch international has seen his playing time drastically reduced this season and has been linked with a move away from Camp Nou since the start of this current campaign.
Although Barcelona are a rival of Atletico Madrid, that certainly would not prevent the two sides from conducting business should a deal that benefits both sides be agreed upon. Barcelona are really hoping to shift some of their players as they hope to cut down on their wage bill, while Diego Simeone's team are in the hunt for some reinforcements, especially in attack, so on paper, this could be a potentially promising situation for both sides.
