Top games to watch this week
Friday, May 12
Mallorca vs Cádiz (La Liga)
Lazio vs Lecce (Serie A)
Koln vs Hertha Berlin (Bundesliga)
Lens vs Reims (Ligue 1)
Saturday, May 13
Leeds vs Newcastle (English Premier League)
Aston Villa vs Tottenham (English Premier League)
Manchester United vs Wolves (English Premier League)
Real Madrid vs Getafe (La Liga)
Spezia vs Milan (Serie A)
Inter vs Sassuolo (Serie A)
Bayern vs Schalke (Bundesliga)
Borussia Dortmund vs Borussia Mönchengladbach (Bundesliga)
Portimonense vs Benfica (Primeira Liga)
Sporting CP vs Marítimo (Primeira Liga)
PSG vs Ajaccio (Ligue 1)
Sunderland vs Luton Town (Championship playoff)
New York RB vs New York City FC (MLS)
Atlanta United vs Charlotte (MLS)
Inter Miami vs New England (MLS)
Houston Dynamo vs Seattle Sounders (MLS)
Monterrey vs Santos Laguna (Liga MX)
América vs Atlético San Luis (Liga MX)
Sunday, May 14
Everton vs Manchester City (English Premier League)
Arsenal vs Brighton (English Premier League)
Espanyol vs Barcelona (La Liga)
Bologna vs Roma (Serie A)
Juventus vs Cremonese (Serie A)
Porto vs Casa Pía (Primeira Liga)
Monaco vs Lille (Ligue 1)
Coventry City vs Middlesbrough (Championship playoff)
Toluca vs Tigres UANL (Liga MX)
Guadalajara vs Atlas (Liga MX)
LA Galaxy vs SJ Earthquakes (MLS)
Monday, May 15
Leicester vs Liverpool (English Premier League)
Real Betis vs Rayo Vallecano (La Liga)
Sampdoria vs Empoli (Serie A)
Estoril vs Arouca (Primeira Liga)
Vélez vs Rosario Central (Argentine Primera Division)
Tuesday, May 16
Inter vs Milan (UEFA Champions League semifinal)
Al Hilal vs Al Ittihad (Saudi Pro League)
Al Ta'ee vs Al Nassr (Saudi Pro League)
Istanbulspor vs Galatasaray (Super Lig)
Luton Town vs Sunderland (Championship playoff)
Wednesday, May 17
Manchester City vs Real Madrid (UEFA Champions League semifinal)
Middlesbrough vs Coventry City (Championship playoff)
Atlanta United vs Colorado Rapids (MLS)
Charlotte vs Chicago Fire (MLS)
Los Angeles FC vs Sporting KC (MLS)
Seattle Sounders vs Austin (MLS)
Thursday, May 18
Sevilla vs Juventus (UEFA Europa League semifinal)
Bayer Leverkusen vs Roma (UEFA Europa League semifinal)
Newcastle vs Brighton (English Premier League)
Basel vs Fiorentina (UEFA Europa Conference League semifinal)
AZ vs West Ham (UEFA Europa Conference League semifinal)
Fenerbahce vs Trabzonspor (Super Lig)
Most-watched soccer games in the USA: April 24-30, 2023
The viewership numbers for soccer matches aired in the USA on May 1-7, 2023 are in, and once again, Liga MX has beaten out competition from the Premier League. Two fixtures from the Mexican top-flight claimed the top spots on the podium but there was room for a game involving English clubs and that was Arsenal's thrilling showdown with Newcastle.
The top spot was claimed by the nail-biting showdown between Pachuca and Santos Laguna, which ended in a 4-4 stalemate, with the latter triumphing 4-2 on penalties. Just under one million people (960,000, to be precise) tuned in to Univision, which is just a bit more than the number of people that watched Univision's broadcast of San Luis' 3-1 win over Leon. A total of 942,000 people caught the action live, thus sealing the top two spots for Liga MX.
And finally, we have the Premier League. Arsenal visited St. James' Park and came away with a crucial 2-0 triumph over Newcastle which will push the title race into the final days of the season. Just under 700,000 people tuned in to USA Network to catch the action as goals from Martin Odegaard and a Fabian Schar own goal secured the three points for Arteta's men.
What are this week's must-watch games?
Arsenal vs Brighton live this Sunday at 11:30 a.m. ET on USA Network, Telemundo, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, NBC Sports App, and nbcsports.com
The Premier League season nears its end as Arsenal prepare for a last-ditch attempt to usurp Manchester City at the summit. Unfortunately, the Gunners are in for a tricky fixture this weekend with Arteta's men hosting De Zerbi's tricky Brighton side. The North London giants triumphed in their most recent outing, winning 2-0 away to Newcastle last weekend. The Seagulls, meanwhile, were thrashed 5-1 at home to relegation-battling Everton. Regardless, this will be an exciting showdown between two of the most in-form managers in the game.
Espanyol vs Barcelona live this Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN, ESPN+, and ESPN Deportes USA
Barcelona have the opportunity to pull off something spectacular this weekend: win the Spanish top-flight title at the ground of their bitter regional rivals Espanyol. The Blaugrana are currently 13-points ahead of nearest rivals Atletico Madrid, who recently leapfrogged Real Madrid in the table. This means a win in this Catalan Derby would either maintain or add to this 13-point lead with only four games left, thus securing Xavi's men the league crown. Regardless of whether this occurs on Sunday, Barcelona are all but guaranteed to win La Liga. However, winning at the home of your bitter rivals would make things sweeter.
Inter vs Milan live this Tuesday at 3 p.m. ET on CBS, TUDN USA, Univision, VIX+, Univision NOW, TUDN App, TUDN.com, Paramount+
The UEFA Champions League finalists will be decided this midweek as Inter Milan look to secure their ticket to the ultimate game. Standing in their way are bitter rivals AC Milan, but with the Nerazzurri boasting a 2-0 advantage from the first leg, Inzaghi's side are the odds-on favorites to progress. Goals from Dzeko and Mkhitaryan gave Inter this impressive lead, but with Rafael Leao set to return from injury for the second leg, expect the Rossoneri to give it their all in order to pull off an extraordinary comeback.
Manchester City vs Real Madrid live this Wednesday at 3 p.m. ET CBS, TUDN USA, Univision, VIX+, Univision NOW, TUDN App, TUDN.com, Paramount+
All eyes will be on this tie as reigning champions Real Madrid visit current favorites Manchester City in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League semifinal showdown. The earlier encounter ended in a thrilling draw, with goals from Vinicius Junior and Kevin de Bruyne earning a 1-1 stalemate at the Bernabeu. This means everything is left to play for. However, with Guardiola's men boasting the home advantage, they appear the favorites to go through. Do not miss this highly-anticipated showdown.
A cup final, and an intriguing relegation battle are among some of the fixtures that will be in store over the next few days in the women's game, and this guide will give you a great quick overview of what to expect from the NWSL, Liga F, and the FA Cup, plus where you can follow other games from around the world in women's football.
Here's all you need to know ahead of another week of women's soccer.
NWSL
The 2023 NWSL season is fully underway, and fans could see some changes in the league standings by the time the next round of matches finishes. Currently on top of the table are OL Reign, who will hope to stay ahead of the chasing pack when they face North Carolina Courage on Sunday. Meanwhile, Orlando Pride, who finished in 10th spot last season and started off this term with four consecutive losses, appear to have turned a corner with back to back wins against San Diego Wave and Racing Louisville. Will they be able to make it a third straight win against Gotham FC this weekend?
Primera División Femenina (Liga F)
Can anyone stop Barcelona? It doesn't look like it! The Blaugrana have already won the Liga F title with several games to spare, and now will look to make it two consecutive campaigns sans a loss when they host Athletic Bilbao on Saturday. The visitors have been in great form lately, and are the third-most in-form side as of late with four wins on the spin ahead of this game, but it's really hard to see them being able to keep that up against a Barcelona side who have been unstoppable all season.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid, who sit in second spot, will aim to continue their strong run and make it a sixth consecutive Liga F win against Levante on Sunday. The visiting team were in great form at various points this season, but have fallen well off the pace and have won just two of their last five heading into this upcoming game.
At the opposite end of the table, relegation candidates Alhama and Sporting de Huelva will be involved in a desperate scrap for points this weekend, while fellow relegation-threatened teams Villarreal and Deportivo Alavés will hope to improve their fortunes against Atletico Madrid and Real Betis respectively.
Women's FA Cup
On Sunday, the 53rd edition of the Women's FA Cup final will get underway as Chelsea and Manchester United battle for the coveted prize. The Blues come into Sunday's game as the reigning champions after beating Manchester City 3-2 in an entertaining final back in 2022, while the Red Devils have never made it to a final and are hoping to win their first such trophy in club history.
Chelsea, who were unfortunately eliminated from the UEFA Women's Champions League by Barcelona, have since rebounded with aplomb. Emma Hayes's side have cruised to comfortable wins in their last three WSL games to keep their foot firmly in the title race. Meanwhile, Manchester United have also been in excellent form leading up to this match, with five consecutive wins from their last five WSL games as they aim to stay ahead of the likes of Chelsea, Manchester City, and Arsenal in the battle for the WSL title.
With both teams in great form ahead of Sunday's match, this upcoming FA Cup final should be a real treat for women's soccer fans worldwide. Will Chelsea successfully defend their crown? Or will Manchester United clinch what would be a first title as they seek to start building their trophy collection?
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 info for Weeks 12 and 13
Things are getting pretty interesting in the 2023 MLS season, and this week will give fans a chance to see their favorite teams taking the pitch twice as a midweek batch of games will be played on Wednesday, May 17.
Last week's games witnessed the end of the unbeaten run by LAFC, who lost their first match of the season at the hands of the San Jose Earthquakes. Now, the entire landscape of both conferences could shift with the next games for each club, but both New England and Seattle Sounders will be keen on keeping their spots as the leaders for each pack.
Without further ado, here's what you should keep in mind before Matchweek 12 kicks off.
How to watch Week 12 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 the "civil war", New York RB vs New York City FC, with the away team closing in on the top spots of the conference and the Red Bulls desperate to leave the bottom of the standings. Later on Saturday, fans will also get to watch Portland vs Vancouver, a couple of teams that are separated by just two points in the Western Conference. Last, but not least, Los Angeles Galaxy vs SJ Earthquakes will mark the end of this weekend's clashes in style. The rest of the fixtures for the weekend will be available to be streamed in over 100 countries via MLS Season Pass.
How to watch Week 13 in the MLS season?
Midweek games will all take place on Wednesday, which will force fans to keep a close eye on where and how to keep track of the matches. Just like in the weekend, there will be three games to watch on regular TV networks, with the first one being Cincinnati vs Montreal. Later that day, Philadelphia vs D.C. United will see both teams trying to reach the top half of their conference. Lastly, Los Angeles FC vs Sporting KC will put an end to a massive day of action in the league. The rest of the fixtures for the weekend will be available to be streamed in over 100 countries via MLS Season Pass.
Top news of the week in Major League Soccer
Portland Timbers' Bravo bags Goal of the Week honors
Claudio Bravo wasted no time to score one of the best goals of the season and ultimately the best for the past week in the match against Austin. While the left-footed shot was only able to give the Timbers one point, the beauty of Bravo's finish will not be forgotten soon.
Nashville agree contract termination of club's record-breaking signing Ake Loba
It is not usual to see one of MLS' teams backing out on a move made to sign one of their players, but this time Nashville SC realized that their investment in Ake Loba did not go as planned. With that in mind, the former Monterrey player agreed to be released from the club to seek for pastures new.
Loba, who was out on loan with Liga MX's Mazatlán since January, failed to live up to the hype created by his arrival. Nashville paid Monterrey over $6M for his services, and after just two goals in 40 games, the Ivory Coast footballer will no longer occupy a Designated Player spot.
Chicago Fire exec speaks of reasons that led to Ezra Hendrickson's sacking
It has been a season of ups and downs for the Chicago Fire, which eventually caused the dismissal of Ezra Hendrickson as their coach. As surprising as this may be, the coach's exit was met with mixed reactions, which prompted Fire exec Georg Heitz to step up and reveal more reasons for Hendrickson's departure.
"A season can slip away quickly and we really thought that we had to change now. We were hopeful and we thought that the philosophies would be aligned. And I think in the past few months… we realized that the philosophies were not aligned anymore," the team's sporting director stated.
For additional details regarding Major League Soccer's schedule, top scorers, and more, visit our bespoke MLS page here.
Biggest stories of the week
Mourinho pours cold water on PSG transfer links ahead of Europa League clash
The links between José Mourinho and PSG have been heavily published for quite a while, but judging by the coach's words, none of those publications were close to becoming a reality.
Speaking ahead of Roma's match against Bayer Leverkusen in the UEFA Europa League semis, Mourinho decided to squash all rumors linking him to the French side, which may be quite disappointing for PSG supporters who wanted the Special One to join them this summer.
"If PSG are looking for me, they are yet to learn where I am. They have not spoken to me at all," Mourinho stated.
The Portuguese coach stated how happy he is coaching Roma, which may be a key factor to see him extending his stay at the Stadio Olimpico.
"I'm happy here, I can't hide it. I love people here, I have a great relationship with the owners, I'd be lying if I said something different. The players are fantastic, they have tremendous empathy among them. I can't say they are like my kids because I only have two, but it's pretty close," Mourinho added.
Asked if staying at Roma would deter him from accomplishing other goals in his career, Mourinho admitted he still has big ambitions when it comes to his coaching career, but he came clean about how relevant it has become for him to be in sync with the team he is leading.
"I can't say I am not happy. Sometimes I think about my frustrations and other times about my ambitions, but what matters to me right now is that I am happy and I work for people who are happy with me, that's the most important thing for me right now," Mourinho concluded.
PSG are reportedly ready to shake things up during the offseason after a failed run to win the UEFA Champions League. Unfortunately for them, it seems that their overhaul will not be led by Mourinho, if his words can be taken as a sign of things to come.
De Bruyne makes UCL history with goal vs Real Madrid
Kevin de Bruyne has proven to be quite reliable for Manchester City, and his new goal against Real Madrid certainly cements that reputation.
The footballer managed to send the ball into the back of Thibaut Courtois' net with a thunderous right-footed shot from outside the box to make things at the Bernabeu 1-1. While fans will certainly appreciate his contribution to this game, they will also heap praise on the footballer's timing to help the Cityzens in their quest for glory in the continental competition.
As of now, the Belgian footballer has been quite on point when it comes to score goals for Manchester City since he joined them, but to top it all, he has been key for the English club in almost every game he has been able to score in this tournament. The midfielder currently has 11 goals in the UEFA Champions League knockout round, the most by any Manchester City player in this competition's history, which is impressive given that he has scored a total of 14 goals in this tournament.
This goal will undoubtedly go down in history as one of the biggest for the Belgian, and who knows, it could also be crucial for their hopes to reach the final this year.
New footage confirms that the ball went out of play in build-up to Man City's equalizer
Real Madrid fans have been left fuming after a post-match footage revealed that Man City's equalizer should not have stood as the ball went out of play in the build-up to the goal. The Santiago Bernabeu faithful saw their side share give up a crucial lead in a 1-1 draw of Tuesday night's Champions League semi-final first-leg encounter.
It was a match of oddities, with Real Madrid taking the lead in the first half following City's dominance, and the latter getting a leveler in the second half despite the hosts having a better second half. The deadlock was broken in the 36th minute when Vinicius Jr hammered home his seventh goal of the campaign after a brilliant run and assist from Eduardo Camavinga against the run of play.
The second half started on a promising note for Real Madrid but it was Man City who were rewarded for their patience. Kevin De Bruyne levelled for City in the 67th minute with a strike similar to Vinicius'. However, the goal sparked controversy on the field and in the dugout of the host as the ball seemingly went out of play in the build-up of the goal.
Bernardo Silva had controlled the ball close to the touchline on right flank. However, his touch seemed to have been a tad heavy, forcing the ball to cross line. Ancelotti, who stood on the edge of his technical area a few meters away from the Portuguese midfielder, quickly signaled to the match officials that the ball had crossed the line but protest yielded no result. With play being continued, Real Madrid won possession but gave it away centrally, giving Jack Grealish and Ilkay Gundogan the chance to combine and set up De Bruyne for the goal.
According to BeIN Sports' 3D technology, the ball went out of the field.
Meanwhile, Carlo Ancelotti, in his post-match reaction, criticized referee Artur Soares Dias. Having received a booking for protesting the referee's decision on the touchline, the 63-year-old Italian coach reiterated that City's equalizer shouldn't have stood as the images he saw after the goal confirmed that the ball indeed went out of play.
"It looked like [the ball] was out," Ancelotti told Movistar. "And before that, there was a corner which [the referee] didn't give. The referee wasn't very attentive. He gave me a yellow card and I said 'Give them on the pitch, not off it!'
"It was out. It's not me saying it, the technology does," Ancelotti added in his post-match news conference. "It surprises me. They're small details, but the referee wasn't attentive. The players deserved more cards on the pitch, not [me] off the pitch."
Vinicius Jr equals Cristiano Ronaldo's Champions League record with stunner vs Man City
Vinicius Jr has entered Real Madrid's Champions League record books with his goal against Manchester City in Tuesday night's semi-final encounter. The 22-year-old hit a stunning long range goal to fire Los Blancos in front against the run of play in the first half, equaling Cristiano Ronaldo's record in the process.
City staged a very dominant start and had chances aplenty but could not break the deadlock. Against the run of play, Real Madrid propelled themselves into the driver's seat and it was Vinicius Jr who registered the crucial opener for the hosts. Camavinga broke away from his own half and passed to the Brazilian, who put his side ahead with a peach of a shot from just outside the area that fizzed past Ederson.
With the goal, Vinicius Jr equaled Cristiano Ronaldo's record of contributing to a goal in 11 consecutive Champions League starts. The winger has now scored seven goals in Champions League knockout matches – all have been against Manchester City (2) and Liverpool (5).
More worries ahead? Juventus scandal takes another twist
Earlier this season, Juventus were slapped with a 15 point deduction for financial irregularities, sending the Turin-based side tumbling down the table. Bianconeri fans were certainly and naturally quite worried, as it appeared that La Vecchia Signora could end up missing out on European football entirely.
However, Massmiliano Allegri's team have dug themselves out of a huge hole, and currently have risen to a very impressive second spot in the standings. That puts them ahead of both Inter and Milan, and while Napoli's first Scudetto win in over 30 years means that Juventus won't be on the winners' podium, the Bianconeri nonetheless are in good position to secure Champions League football for the 2023/24 season.
Or are they? According to reports, Juve's woes are not over just yet. Although they successfully got their 15 point deduction reversed following an appeal in April, it's only a temporary measure depending on the outcome of a new trial expected to be completed by the end of May.
In addition, depending on the findings from that trial, Juventus could still face a points deduction. While it's not expected to be the original 15, they could still see nine points removed from their overall tally.
At the moment, Juventus have accumulated 66 points. If they are deducted nine, that would reduce them to 57, putting them behind Lazio, Inter, AC Milan, Roma, and even Atalanta. They would fall from second to sixth in the table, which would still be enough to secure Europa League football, but would regardless be a rather disappointing outcome for the team and their fans.
Juventus are still involved in the Europa League, and could also qualify for the Champions League should they win European club soccer's second-tier competition. However, that's not a certainty, and it goes without saying that the Bianconeri will be nervously awaiting the results from this new development which should reach its conclusion in just a few weeks' time.
Other key headlines from the world of soccer
Sevilla FC Femenino end Barcelona's incredible 62-game winning streak in thrilling 1-1 draw
In a highly anticipated showdown in the F League, Sevilla FC Femenino made history by putting an end to Barcelona's dominant unbeaten streak, becoming the first team this season to achieve such a remarkable feat. The eagerly awaited clash took place on Matchday 26, a fixture that had been postponed earlier due to the Catalans' European encounter against Chelsea.
The wait, however, was rather worth it as the match proved to be a true spectacle, showcasing an intense battle between two formidable teams. Sevilla Femenino approached the game without any trace of fear, facing off against the already crowned champions of the F League. In Wednesday's match-up, the hosts adopted a pragmatic approach and waited for the perfect opportunity to strike, with the first half ending with both sides failing to find the breakthrough needed to open the scoring.
The second half began with Sevilla eager to achieve what no other team had managed thus far—a victory or a draw against the mighty FC Barcelona and their persistence paid off. Martín-Prieto showcased her brilliance in the 53rd minute, breaking the deadlock and igniting an eruption of joy among the home crowd.
There was almost the indication that for the first time since 2021, Barcelona were en route to losing their first-ever game in the league. However, that script was not to be as Ana-Maria Crnogorcevic ensured that at least, the unbeaten run remained intact with a fine finish in the 80th minute, marking the first time since June 2021 that Barca have been unable to clinch a victory.
Arsenal set new record for ticket sales at the Emirates this season
Arsenal's women's team, who were unfortunately knocked out of the Champions League semifinals by German outfit Wolfsburg, will now have the chance to play more games at the famed Emirates stadium next season. The Gunners usually play most of their games at a much smaller venue, with Meadow Park (with an approximate capacity of 4,500) serving as the home ground for both the women's team and Arsenal's youth teams. The Gunners also share the ground with semi-pro side Boreham Wood, who currently play in the fifth tier of English football.
Women's soccer has grown in popularity as of late, and this has been reflected in ticket sales. According to reports, Arsenal, who played three games at the Emirates this season, sold nearly 140,000 tickets, with about 53,000 coming from their North London derby clash against Tottenham alone back in September, and the remaining being sold during clashes against Chelsea and Manchester United.
With this encouraging news, Arsenal will now get to play five games next season at the Emirates in the 2023/24 season - something that will certainly delight supporters of the women's team who have hoped to see their favorite players getting to play in a much larger venue on a regular basis.
Next up for Jonas Eidevall's side, who won their sixth League Cup earlier this season, will be an away game against Brighton as they look to close the gap on third-placed Manchester City and secure a chance at featuring in the Champions League next term.
TRANSFER TALK: Juventus, Napoli linked with move for USMNT star
It's not been the easiest past few years for Christian Pulisic, with the American international struggling for form and fitness since making a mega-money move to Chelsea back in 2019. Upon signing with the Blues, Pulisic, who cost the London giants an estimated $73 million, became the most expensive North American signing of all time. Although things did start off brightly for the former Dortmund man, including becoming the second ever American to score a hat-trick and the first American to play in and win a Champions League final, it has not been going so swimmingly for the now 24-year-old for quite some time.
This season has seen Pulisic make just eight starts in the Premier League as Chelsea have gone through a managerial merry-go-round, and he is among several players expected to leave Stamford Bridge this summer. Despite reportedly being fit, he has not featured much since Frank Lampard returned, and according to reports, could be given a much-needed escape route with two Italian sides apparently closely tracking his situation.
Unlike Chelsea, who are currently in the bottom half of the table and have no real shot at featuring in the Champions League - or even the Europa League - next season, both Juventus and Napoli will be taking part in European competition in the 2023/24 term. The Partenopei are currently the champions of Italy after an impressive campaign that saw Luciano Spalletti's men win their first Scudetto in over 30 years, and this season saw them narrowly just miss out on the Champions League semi-finals after a historic run.
Juventus, meanwhile, are into the Europa League semifinals and have regained some of their lost ground after their 15 point deduction was overturned. The Bianconeri have had their ups and downs this season, but nonetheless look set to secure European football and are looking to overhaul their squad this summer
