Top games to watch this week
Friday, April 14
Spezia vs Lazio (Serie A)
Rayo Vallecano vs Osasuna (La Liga)
Schalke 04 vs Hertha BSC (Bundesliga)
Toulouse vs Lyon (Ligue 1)
Saturday, April 15
Aston Villa vs Newcastle (English Premier League)
Chelsea vs Brighton (English Premier League)
Tottenham vs Bournemouth (English Premier League)
Manchester City vs Leicester City (English Premier League)
Cádiz vs Real Madrid (La Liga)
Bologna vs Milan (Serie A)
Napoli vs Hellas Verona (Serie A)
Inter vs Monza (Serie A)
Bayern vs Hoffenheim (Bundesliga)
Stuttgart vs Borussia Dortmund (Bundesliga)
Chaves vs Benfica (Primeira Liga)
Porto vs Santa Clara (Primeira Liga)
PSG vs Lens (Ligue 1)
Columbus Crew vs New England (MLS)
Toronto vs Atlanta United (MLS)
St Louis City vs Cincinnati (MLS)
Portland vs Seattle (MLS)
León vs Guadalajara (Liga MX)
Cruz Azul vs América (Liga MX)
Sunday, April 16
West Ham vs Arsenal (English Premier League)
Nottingham Forest vs Manchester United (English Premier League)
Getafe vs Barcelona (La Liga)
Roma vs Udinese (Serie A)
Sporting CP vs Arouca (Primeira Liga)
Marseille vs Troyes (Ligue 1)
LA Galaxy vs Los Angeles FC (MLS)
Monterrey vs Santos Laguna (MLS)
Monday, April 17
Leeds United vs Liverpool (English Premier League)
Celta vs Mallorca (La Liga)
Fiorentina vs Atalanta (Serie A)
Tuesday, April 18
Chelsea vs Real Madrid (UEFA Champions League)
Napoli vs Milan (UEFA Champions League)
Internacional vs Metropolitanos (Copa Libertadores)
Boca Juniors vs Deportivo Pereira (Copa Libertadores)
Athletico-PR vs Atlético Mineiro (Copa Libertadores)
Wednesday, April 19
Inter vs Benfica (UEFA Champions League)
Bayern vs Manchester City (UEFA Champions League)
River Plate vs Sporting Cristal (Copa Libertadores)
Flamengo vs Ñublense (Copa Libertadores)
Corinthians vs Argentinos Juniors (Copa Libertadores)
USMNT vs Mexico (Friendly)
Thursday, April 20
Roma vs Feyenoord (UEFA Europa League)
Sevilla vs Manchester United (UEFA Europa League)
Sporting vs Juventus (UEFA Europa League)
Union Saint-Gilloise vs Bayer Leverkusen (UEFA Europa League)
West Ham United vs Gent (UEFA Europa Conference League)
Fiorentina vs Lech Poznan (UEFA Europa Conference League)
AZ vs Anderlecht (UEFA Europa Conference League)
Nice vs Basel (UEFA Europa Conference League)
Atlético Nacional vs Melgar (Copa Libertadores)
Palmeiras vs Cerro Porteño (Copa Libertadores)
Most-watched soccer games in the USA: April 3-9, 2023
The viewership numbers for soccer matches aired in the USA between April 3 and 9, 2023 are in, and once again, Liga MX displayed its dominance by delivering two of the three most-watched games during the aforementioned timeframe.
However, unlike previous weeks, only one match on this list grabbed over one million viewers and that was Club America's crucial 2-1 win over league leaders Monterrey. To be precise, 1.1 million people tuned in to watch Liga MX's most successful club slash the visitors' lead at the top to seven points.
The Premier League features on this list, with Manchester City's 4-1 win over Southampton making the podium. Erling Haaland and Jack Grealish stole the show as Guardiola's men maintained their fight to defend their title. A total of 805,000 people tuned in to NBC to catch the action live as the Cityzens maintained pressure on league leaders Arsenal.
And finally, we have Tigres UANL's clash with Mazatlan, aired on Univision, as over 700,000 people watched the Mexican giants lose 2-1 on home soil. As a result, the Tigres remain mid-table in Liga MX.
What are this week's must-watch games?
Chelsea vs Brighton live this Saturday at 10 a.m. ET exclusively on Peacock
Chelsea, under newly-appointed caretaker boss Frank Lampard, will look to put an end to their awful slump as the London giants host Brighton this weekend. The Blues enter this clash on a five-game winless streak, having lost to Real Madrid in the 1st leg of their UEFA Champions League quarterfinal match-up recently, and have failed to score in their last four outings. Brighton, on the other hand, enter this game on the back of their controversial loss away to Tottenham, with VAR making a handful of errors in a defeat that could cost the Seagulls a top-four spot. Nonetheless, De Zerbi's men will look to bounce back immediately when they step out at Stamford Bridge.
West Ham vs Arsenal live this Sunday at 9 a.m. ET on USA Network, Telemundo, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, and the NBC Sports App
Fresh off of their frustrating 2-2 draw at Liverpool, Premier League leaders Arsenal prepare for another tricky away game, with Arteta's high-flying side facing West Ham this weekend. The Gunners threw away a 2-0 lead at Anfield to settle for a point and have thus seen their lead over second-placed Manchester City slashed to six points. The Hammers, on the hand, recently won at Fulham but remain in a disappointing relegation battle and will fight for their lives when the North London giants pay them a visit. Do not miss this clash.
El Tráfico is back! LA Galaxy host LAFC live this Sunday at 4:30 p.m. ET on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, Fox Network, Fox Deportes, Fox Sports Go, and the Fox Sports App
The always-exciting El Tráfico is back! Los Angeles' top two clubs face off this weekend as LA Galaxy prepare to host bitter rivals LAFC at the Dignity Health Sports Park. So far, these two clubs have been enduring drastically different seasons. The Black and Gold aren't top of the Western Conference but have won four out of their opening six games and thus sit in third. Greg Vanney's side, on the other hand, are yet to win any of their opening six fixtures, losing three and drawing three. As a result, the hosts are second from bottom in the table and will need to turn things around immediately if they are to salvage this season. However, a victory in El Trafico could just be the boost they're looking for!
The UEFA Champions League quarterfinals wrap up this midweek as Man City visit Bayern and AC Milan head to Napoli
The UEFA Champions League quarterfinals wrap up this midweek as the 2nd leg fixtures will be held this Tuesday and Wednesday. Manchester City's clash with Bayern Munich is one of the standout ties but after winning 3-0 in the first leg, the Cityzens are all but through to the semis. Can the German giants pull off a miraculous comeback at the Allianz Arena? Tune in to find out.
Two other exciting fixtures will take place in this round as Real Madrid visit Chelsea. The Blancos boast a 2-0 lead from the reverse fixture and will look to finish the business at Stamford Bridge. Meanwhile, reigning Serie A holders AC Milan travel to champions-elect Napoli after winning 1-0 in the first leg at San Siro. Spalletti will be without several key men, mainly Kim Min-jae and André-Frank Zambo Anguissa who are both suspended. However, Victor Osimhen should be back from injury, which will make things interesting.
All eyes on the Europa League quarterfinals this Thursday as Man United take on Sevilla and Sporting CP host Juventus
The UEFA Champions League isn't the only competition entering the semifinal round as the Europa League quarterfinals are set to wrap up as well. The standout game will be Sevilla vs Manchester United as the Red Devils look to bounce back from the disastrous first leg. Despite going 2-0 up in the first 21 minutes, injuries to Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez, and two calamitous own goals saw that fixture end in a 2-2 draw.
Elsewhere, Sporting CP host Italian giants Juventus after suffering a frustrating 1-0 loss at Turin, with the Portuguese club missing several opportunities to come away from that tie with something. Additionally, Jose Mourinho's Roma look to overcome a 1-0 deficit against Feyenoord when the Serie A side host the Dutch heavyweights.
With the international break now completed, all attention will turn back toward club soccer. Many of the world's top leagues in the women's game will get back underway this week, and we have all the info you'll need in order to closely track what your favorite players and teams are doing.
Here's all you need to know ahead of another exciting week of women's soccer.
NWSL
The newest season of NWSL is now in full swing, and matchday three kicks off with a tie featuring Portland Thorns and Houston Dash. Led by the strong early form of American international Sophia Smith, who has netted four times already this season, the Thorns presently sit top of the table having won their first two matches. Meanwhile, Houston have earned four points, with one win and a draw from their opening two ties.
Meanwhile, San Diego Wave, who are joint-tied for points with Portland Thorns but sit in second due to their slightly inferior goal difference, will aim to potentially leapfrog the current league leaders when they take on OL Reign on Saturday. Given that the Reign are the reigning NWSL Shield holders, this could be a really interesting match-up considering that the Wave have Alex Morgan, last season's top goal-scorer in their ranks.
It's been a really rough start for Orlando Pride, who are seeking their first win after a crushing 4-0 opening day loss to Portland Thorns and a recent 2-1 setback against new team Angel City. Marta and her colleagues will be looking for redemption when they face NJ/NY Gotham FC at home on Saturday. Like their upcoming hosts, Gotham have had a wobbly start to the 2023 season, albeit come into that contest in slightly better form having won their season opener 2-1 against Angel City.
Serie A (Women)
Although Roma's foray into the Champions League ended in disappointment as they were thrashed 6-1 on aggregate by Barcelona, the Giallorosse still have plenty to play for this season. With an eight-point lead over the chasing pack, Roma are on course to win the Scudetto, and will hope to further extend that lead when they travel to face Inter Milan this weekend.
Another game women's football fans will not want to miss will be third-placed Juventus welcoming Fiorentina on Sunday. The Bianconere are the reigning Scudetto holders, having won their fifth title last season, but now face a tough task if they hope to catch up to Roma who hold an eight-point advantage. They will be looking to make some progress in that task - and hope that Inter can also do them a favor - when they lock horns with the Viola, who are in the midst of a slump having lost two in a row.
Primera Division (Liga F)
Moving on to Spain, Barcelona remain firmly in control of the title race. The Blaugrana are the reigning title winners, having won it not just last season, but in all of the past three. With a whopping 101 goals scored and just five conceded, they certainly could break the record set last term, during which they scored 159 times and conceded just 11. Next up for Barcelona, who have won every single one of their 24 games so far, is a home tie against Atletico Madrid, who have been in excellent form with four wins from their last five games. Will the visitors be the first team to be able to nick a point - or perhaps more - off Barcelona this season?
Real Madrid, who suffered a wobble with two losses and a draw recently, will hope to continue their progress as they face Real Betis on the road. Las Blancas have earned 59 points so far, and for all intents and purposes, with the title race pretty much decided, they will be firmly focused on ensuring they can hold the likes of Levante at bay to secure second spot.
Finally, Levante, who are having one of their best seasons in recent times, will look to bounce back from a recent defeat when they host a relegation-threatened Villarreal this weekend.
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 8
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, Cincinnati and Seattle Sounders are now the best teams in their respective conferences, with New England and St. Louis City following them closely. While their games this week will be compelling to watch, the clash to determine the best team in this MLS season in California will have two title contenders battling each other in a quite popular fixture.
Elsewhere in the league, teams such as Atlanta United, Dallas, or the Columbus Crew will try to show the best possible form to keep themselves in contention to prove they are playoff material in the 2023 MLS season.
Without further ado, here's what you should keep in mind before Matchweek Eight kicks off.
How to watch Matchweek 8 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 CF Montreal vs D.C. United, where both teams will try to leave the lower half of the Eastern Conference with a win in this match. The other fixture available on linear TV channels needs no introduction as El Tráfico, most commonly known as Los Angeles Galaxy vs Los Angeles FC will be the other fixture fans will enjoy in regular outlets. These teams will play their game in hand from Matchweek 1, which got postponed due to harsh weather conditions in California. The rest of this week's games will be available to be streamed in over 100 countries via MLS Season Pass.
Top news of the week in Major League Soccer
MLS reveal investigation after alleged incident in New York vs San José clash
Reports coming in after the game between New York and San José revealed a disgusting situation where alleged offensive language was used by a Red Bulls footballer against one of his rivals. The league has already taken matters into its own hands to determine a possible sanction.
"Major League Soccer is aware of an incident wherein a New York Red Bulls player is alleged to have used language that violates league policy during the 54th minute of the New York Red Bulls vs. San Jose Earthquakes match. MLS has zero tolerance for abusive and offensive language and takes these allegations seriously. An investigation into this matter will begin promptly," the league stated in a press release.
Joshua Atencio claims Goal of the Matchday honors with first-ever MLS goal
It is not a common thing to see a player earning the top honor in the league with their first goal, but this week's award will show a different story, as Seattle Sounders' own Joshua Atencio will have an award to show for after his stunning kick from outside the box to lead the Rave Green to a 3-0 win over St. Louis City this past weekend.
Atlanta United's Brad Guzan out for 10-12 weeks due to knee injury
Veteran goalkeeper Brad Guzan has handed Atlanta United a major blow, as the shot-stopper will not be guarding the team's net due to an untimely MCL injury.
The player's recovery time will go from ten to twelve weeks, meaning that Guzan may be unavailable to play until mid-July, when the Leagues Cup between Liga MX and MLS clubs is unfolding.
Atlanta United will have to decide who will take Guzan's place until his return between Quentin Westberg and Clement Diop, two players who have played over 50 games in the competition.
For additional details regarding Major League Soccer's schedule, top scorers, and more, visit our bespoke MLS page here.
Biggest stories of the week
PSG's Galtier denies accusations of past racism
With PSG having been eliminated early from the Champions League, there are growing reports that Christophe Galtier could be on his way out of the Parc des Princes sooner than expected.
However, new reports have indicated that the French tactician is now facing a whole other issue. The 56-year-old, who plied his trade as a defender before moving into management, previously managed Nice for one season prior to being appointed on a two-year deal to coach PSG in 2022.
Due to a series of leaked emails, Galtier is being accused of using racist language when addressing several black and Muslim players on the books at Nice. The email exchange, which involved Nice sporting director Julien Fournier, highlights several racist comments that apparently Galtier made during his one year in charge of Nice from 2021 to 2022.
Naturally, Galtier has vehemently denied this and has threatened legal action in order to try to clear his name. As of now, PSG have apparently launched an internal investigation, but until that is resolved, it appears that Galtier will continue to remain in charge of the first team. Les Parisiens, who interestingly beat Galtier's former side Nice 2-0 last time out, are in action this weekend against Lens in a match that will pit first against second.
Erling Haaland sets new record with second-half goal vs Bayern
Another UEFA Champions League game for Erling Haaland has come and gone, and the Norwegian ace did not disappoint by adding another record to his resume.
The former Borussia Dortmund player had a score to settle with Bayern, and while at it, he earned a record that was previously owned by Mohamed Salah and Ruud Van Nistelrooy.
Prior to this game, Haaland and the aforementioned players had found the back of the net 44 times considering all competitions in a single season. On Tuesday, Haaland broke that tie with a well-placed volley to give Manchester City a compelling three-nil lead against Die Roten. As a result, the Norwegian is now the Premier League player with the most number of goals across all competitions in a single season (45).
Of course, this record would not have made any difference if Manchester City had not won the game. With Tuesday's victory, Haaland finally ended his winless run against Die Roten after eight chances.
Six Premier League clubs to partake in preseason tournament in USA
Plans are underway for six Premier League clubs to compete in a new preseason tournament across various cities in the United States. The tournament is expected to begin at the end of July and will give US fans the chance to witness Premier League action live.
According to the Athletic, the upcoming tournament is seen as an exciting opportunity to build on the growing interest in the Premier League in the United States. The North American country had previously planned to host an "enhanced" preseason tournament last year, aimed at setting up more meaningful matches between Premier League teams. However, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the tournament's cancellation. Nevertheless, this year's Summer Series is expected to draw similarities with the Premier League's Asia Trophy.
At moment, Chelsea have been confirmed as one of the teams participating in the tournament. They will be joined by Newcastle, Aston Villa, Brentford, and Brighton and Hove Albion, all of whom had impressive performances in the ongoing Premier League season. According to reports, Leeds United is in line to be named as the sixth team. However, the participation of the Peacocks is still contingent on them avoiding relegation to the Championship.
The inspiration for the tournament is said to have been drawn from the successful NFL games held in London and NBA fixtures played in Paris. The inclusion of Chelsea, now owned by American Todd Boehly, is expected to increase the excitement for tournament organizers as there is already a significant West London club following in North America. In addition, the competition is expected to provide a substantial revenue growth opportunity for the Premier League while also giving a considerable boost in interest from a US audience as the country prepares to host the 2026 World Cup.
Meanwhile, Manchester United has already confirmed their tour of the US for the first time in five years. They will face Borussia Dortmund and Wrexham in their warm-up matches. Arsenal is also heading to the US this summer and will play an MLS All-Stars team led by United great Wayne Rooney in Washington D.C. in July.
Two Bayern Munich stars reportedly involved in physical bust-up after 3-0 UCL defeat to Man City
Tuesday was a painful day for Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League. Not only did the German giants suffer a gut-wrenching defeat away to Manchester City in the first leg of their quarterfinal showdown, but two players later got into a physical altercation after the final whistle.
They were none other than Sadio Mane and Leroy Sane, with the Senegalese ace reportedly punching his teammate in the dressing room after the game in an altercation that initially sparked from an exchange of words on the pitch.
According to Bild, this all stems from an argument on the pitch late on in the defeat. In the 83rd minute, the former Liverpool winger ran into space for a through ball when the German attacker wanted his teammate to come short to receive the pace and link up.
This argument continued until the full-time whistle before Sadio confronted Leroy in the dressing room as the Senegalese ace wasn't pleased with how his comrade talked to him. Things quickly escalated, with Mane later punching Sane in the face and leaving him with a cut lip.
The other players quickly intervened to separate the two and that alone ended the physical altercation. Sane had to be taken out of the dressing room to calm things down and he had to be picked up privately in Munich after the team flew back from Manchester. Sadio, on the other hand, traveled with the team bus.
The Senegalese ace has since been suspended but it is just another issue for the Bundesliga giants to deal with. Additionally, this is not the first time Mane has been involved in a rumored incident as the summer signing allegedly fell out with former head coach Julian Nagelsmann after being dropped from the lineup.
The Bavarians, who were recently eliminated from the DFB Pokal, are all but out of the UEFA Champions League as only a miraculous comeback at the Allianz Arena can secure progression to the semifinal. As a result, Tuchel could have done without a fractured dressing room.
Other key headlines from the world of soccer
Simone Inzaghi matches Jose Mourinho's feat as Inter close in on UCL semifinal berth
Simone Inzaghi has successfully matched one of Jose Mourinho's Champions League milestones at Inter Milan after leading the Nerazzurri to a remarkable victory on Tuesday night. The 47-year-old Italian coach became the first manager of the Serie A club since Mourinho to win a Champions League quarterfinal tie.
In what was expected to be a potential win for Benfica, Inter came up strong and delivered the goods to complete the upset. The Nerazzurri arrived in Lisbon, Portugal, on the back of a poor run of form after failing to pick up at least a win in any of their past six games. However, they capitalized on Benfica's inefficiency to get into a promising position.
Nicolo Barella opened the scoring in the 51st minute, jumping to head home an excellent cross by Alessandro Bastoni past Benfica's goalkeeper Odisseas Vlachodimos. The Italian midfielder and his teammates then sealed a crucial win when substitute and on-loan striker Romelu Lukaku, scored from the spot after ex-Nerazzurri Joao Mario handled the ball in the Benfica area.
Liverpool pull out of Jude Bellingham race
Juge Bellingham has long been a target for Liverpool. The Premier League giants even opted against signing a midfielder last season in order to go all out for the highly-rated Englishman, whom Jurgen Klopp admires tremendously.
However, according to the latest reports, the Merseyside outfit have all but pulled out of the race for the Dortmund sensation. As revealed by the Daily Mail and well-known transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, the figures surrounding this deal have forced the English club to call off their pursuit of the teenager.
The former Birmingham starlet could cost £125-130M, and this does not include the player's wages—they too should be hefty—and a commission. As a result, Liverpool have decided to not pursue a deal under these conditions as they will prioritize an overhaul over one marquee signing.
Milan's Bennacer achieves huge milestone with goal against Napoli
On Wednesday, AC Milan and Napoli faced off for the second time in less than two weeks. This time, the stage was the Champions League quarterfinals, with both teams eager to book their respective spots in the semifinals of this year's competition.
Fresh off their 4-0 thrashing of Napoli in Serie A, Milan were determined to make a statement as the Rossoneri are back in the quarterfinals for the first time in over a decade. It took a while for Stefano Pioli's side to find a breakthrough, but the Diavolo finally grabbed the goal they desperately needed thanks to a brilliant effort from
In scoring the game opener, Bennacer now has written himself into the history books as the first Algerian international to score for Milan in the Champions League - as well as becomes just one of a handful of African players to find the back of the net for the Rossoneri in European club football's elite competition.
