Bayern vs RB Leipzig, Manchester City vs Chelsea, Napoli vs Inter, Sporting CP vs Benfica, Brighton vs Manchester City, and Manchester United vs Chelsea comprise our list of must-watch games.

Top games to watch this week

Friday, May 19

Cádiz vs Real Valladolid (La Liga)

Freiburg vs Wolfsburg (Bundesliga)

Lyon vs Monaco (Ligue 1)

Saturday, May 20

Tottenham vs Brentford (English Premier League)

Bournemouth vs Manchester United (English Premier League) 

Liverpool vs Aston Villa (English Premier League)

Nottingham vs Arsenal (English Premier League)

Barcelona vs Real Sociedad (La Liga)

Atalanta vs Hellas Verona (Serie A)

Milan vs Sampdoria (Serie A)

Bayern vs RB Leipzig (Bundesliga)

Famalicao vs Porto (Primeira Liga)

Lille vs Marseille (Ligue 1)

Cincinnati vs Columbus Crew (MLS)

Philadelphia Union vs New England (MLS)

St Louis City vs Sporting KC (MLS)

Los Angeles FC vs SJ Earthquakes (MLS)

Monterrey vs Tigres UANL (Liga MX Clausura semfinal 2nd leg)

Guatemala vs New Zealand (FIFA U-20 World Cup)

USA vs Ecuador (FIFA U-20 World Cup)

Argentina vs Uzbekistan (FIFA U-20 World Cup)

Fiji vs Slovakia (FIFA U-20 World Cup)

Sunday, May 21

Manchester City vs Chelsea (English Premier League)

Valencia vs Real Madrid (La Liga)

Napoli vs Inter (Serie A)

Udinese vs Lazio (Serie A)

Augsburg vs Borussia Dortmund (Bundesliga)

Sporting CP vs Benfica (Primeira Liga)

Lorient vs Lens (Ligue 1)

Auxerre vs PSG (Ligue 1)

Club América vs Guadalajara (Liga MX Clausura semfinal 2nd leg)

Israel vs Colombia (FIFA U-20 World Cup)

Nigeria vs Dominican Republic (FIFA U-20 World Cup)

Senegal vs Japan (FIFA U-20 World Cup)

Italy vs Brazil (FIFA U-20 World Cup)

Monday, May 22

Newcastle vs Leicester City (English Premier League)

Roma vs Salernitana (Serie A)

Empoli vs Juventus (Serie A)

England vs Tunisia (FIFA U-20 World Cup)

France vs Korea Republic (FIFA U-20 World Cup)

Uruguay vs Iraq (FIFA U-20 World Cup)

Gambia vs Honduras (FIFA U-20 World Cup)

Tuesday, May 23

Real Valladolid vs Barcelona (La Liga)

Monagas vs Colo Colo (Copa Libertadores)

Atlético Mineiro vs Athletico-PR (Copa Libertadores)

Bolívar vs Barcelona (Copa Libertadores)

Aucas vs Racing Club (Copa Libertadores)

Medellín vs Nacional (Copa Libertadores)

Alianza Lima vs Libertad (Copa Libertadores)

Uzbekistan vs New Zealand (FIFA U-20 World Cup)

USA vs Fiji (FIFA U-20 World Cup)

Argentina vs Guaremala (FIFA U-20 World Cup)

Ecuador vs Slovakia (FIFA U-20 World Cup)

Wednesday, May 24

Brighton vs Manchester City (English Premier League)

Real Betis vs Getafe (La Liga)

Espanyol vs Atlético Madrid (La Liga)

Fiorentina vs Inter (Coppa Italia Final)

Liverpool vs Independiente del Valle (Copa Libertadores)

Patronato vs Olimpia (Copa Libertadores)

Cerro Porteño vs Palmeiras (Copa Libertadores)

Deportivo Pereira vs Boca Juniors (Copa Libertadores)

Argentinos Jrs vs Corinthians (Copa Libertadores)

Ñublense vs Flamengo (Copa Libertadores)

Melgar vs Atlético Nacional (Copa Libertadores)

Senegal vs Israel (FIFA U-20 World Cup)

Italy vs Nigeria (FIFA U-20 World Cup)

Japan vs Colombia (FIFA U-20 World Cup)

Brazil vs Dominican Republic (FIFA U-20 World Cup)

Thursday, May 25

Manchester United vs Chelsea (English Premier League)

Real Madrid vs Rayo Vallecano (La Liga)

Liga MX Final (First leg; teams TBD)

The Strongest vs Fluminense (Copa Libertadores)

Metropolitanos vs Internacional (Copa Libertadores)

Sporting Cristal vs River Plate (Copa Libertadores)

Uruguay vs England (FIFA U-20 World Cup)

France vs Gambia (FIFA U-20 World Cup)

Iraq vs Tunisia (FIFA U-20 World Cup)

Korea Republic vs Honduras (FIFA U-20 World Cup)

Most-watched soccer games in the USA - May 8-14, 2023

The past week in the battle for the ratings had interesting results to keep an eye on, but despite all the games that were played, one competition can be named as the biggest winner.

That tournament was with no shade of doubt, the UEFA Champions League, who managed to see the same game earning the top audience and the third-highest number of viewers. After all the numbers came in, the match between Real Madrid and Manchester City that ended in a one-all draw, gathered over 2,000,000 average viewers considering the English and Spanish broadcasts.

The runner-up spot for the past week went to a Liga MX playoff game, where América succumbed to Atlético San Luis but ended up making it to the next round thanks to their aggregate win. The first leg of this match also gathered quite a few viewers on Wednesday, even if fans were a bit busy celebrating Mother's Day in Latin America.

 

 

What are this week's must-watch games?

Bayern Munich vs RB Leipzig live this Saturday at 12:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+ and the ESPN App

The Bundesliga season is nearing its end, with Bayern Munich preparing for the final two games of the campaign. Unfortunately, Thomas Tuchel's side, who lead Dortmund in the title race by a mere point, face a tricky test in the penultimate game of the season as they host third-placed RB Leipzig. The visitors are pretty much guaranteed to qualify for the UEFA Champions League and thus do not have a lot left to play for. Nonetheless, Nkunku and Co. will look to hand Bayern Munich a huge blow in the title race as a slip-up from the Bavarians could see Dortmund move top of the table ahead of the final round. Don't miss this clash.

Bayern Munich, RB Leipzig, Bundesliga, Broadcast Listings 

Manchester City vs Chelsea live this Sunday at 11 a.m. ET on USA Network, Telemundo, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, the NBC Sports App, and nbcsports.com

Manchester City could be crowned champions before even taking to the pitch should Arsenal fail to beat Nottingham Forest, but the Cityzens will likely need to do the job themselves. Given their form, Guardiola's men should head into their clash with Chelsea with the expectation of winning and thus securing the Premier League title. Haaland and Co. enter this tie on the back of their 4-0 victory over Real Madrid, which secured the English giants their ticket to the UEFA Champions League final. Chelsea, on the other hand, have been struggling all season and will need a miracle in order to triumph at the Etihad Stadium.

Manchester City, Chelsea, Broadcast Listings, English Premier League 

Napoli vs Inter live this Sunday at 12 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network and Paramount+

The champions of Italy face Italy's first UEFA Champions League finalist since 2017. Inter Milan, who beat bitter rivals AC Milan in the semifinals during the midweek, travel to Scudetto holders Napoli in what should be an interesting showdown. The Nerazzurri are third in the table, and with three games left in the season, they must be wary of Lazio and AC Milan in the race to finish in the top four. Additionally, Inzaghi's men have a Coppa Italia final fast approaching and will wish to enter that tie with some confidence. However, winning at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium will not be easy.

Napoli, Inter Milan, Serie A, Broadcast Listings 

Sporting CP vs Benfica live this Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET on GolTV USA and GolTV Espanol

The Derby de Lisboa is always a heated fixture, but given what's at stake in Sunday's clash between Sporting CP and Benfica, this could be one of the most exciting editions of this rivalry in recent memory. The Eagles travel to their bitter rivals knowing that they can win the Primeira Liga on their enemy's home turf. Porto's result on Saturday could decide the title race but should the Dragons triumph, then a victory for Roger Schmidt's men would seal the deal in the penultimate round of the season. Meanwhile, Sporting CP are fighting a losing, but not yet over, battle to beat Sporting Braga to UEFA Champions League berth. Missing out on that and seeing your city rivals win the Portuguese league on your home ground would be painful for the Lions. Expect a grueling 90 minutes of soccer.

Sporting CP, Benfica, Primeira Liga, Broadcast Listings 

Manchester United vs Chelsea live this Thursday at 3 p.m. ET exclusively on Peacock

Depending on their weekend result, this could be the game in which Manchester United secure their return to the UEFA Champions League. The Red Devils face Bournemouth on Saturday and should Ten Hag's men beat the Cherries, then a win at home to Chelsea would put them on 72 points, which fifth-placed Liverpool cannot mathematically achieve this season. However, beating both Bournemouth and Chelsea won't be easy and will require top performances from Manchester United. The Blues, meanwhile, are languishing in 11th and could fall further behind by the time they visit Old Trafford. Nonetheless, Lampard's men will give it their all against the Red Devils and could deny Bruno Fernandes and Co. a top-four finish.

Manchester United, Chelsea, Broadcast Listings, English Premier League

This week in women's soccer, NWSL, Frauen-Bundesliga, FA Women's Super League, Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United, Bayern Munich, Wolfsburg 

Although the title race is over in Spain, the same can't be said for England and, to some extent, Germany. With just a few games remaining, there is still time for another dramatic twist in both the Women's Super League as well as the Frauen-Bundesliga. Meanwhile, in the USA, the NWSL is now up and running, with plenty of great games to keep fans entertained over the next few days.

Here's all you need to know ahead of another week of women's soccer.

Frauen-Bundesliga

Currently, Bayern Munich have a four point lead over the chasing pack with just a couple of games to go. That being said, the title race is not fully done just yet. Die Roten, who will be in action against Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday, could see that lead reduced if Wolfsburg beat struggling Meppen (who are just two points away from the drop zone) on Sunday.

At the moment, Turbine Potsdam are certain to return to the 2.Bundesliga. Despite giving their fans a brief glimmer of hope when they won back to back games - the first time they've won all season - Potsdam have since fallen by the wayside with three straight defeats keeping them at the bottom of the league table. They'll face an Eintracht Frankfurt side who have been in excellent form all season and who will still have hopes of potentially leap-frogging Wolfsburg into second place.

NWSL

Thanks to an impressive start to the 2023 season, Washington Spirit have been able to put a small gap between themselves and the rest of the table. The Spirit will certainly fancy their chances against an Orlando Pride side who are still struggling to get themselves out of their earlier season woes, and given that they are playing on Saturday, ahead of teams like OL Reign and Gotham FC, who interestingly will go toe to toe on Sunday, Mark Parsons's side could be as much as six points clear before that game gets underway.

OL Reign and Gotham FC currently sit in second and third respectively and are tied on 13 points. This game in fact does play into Washington Spirit's hands as one (or both) of their early title challengers are guaranteed to drop points this Sunday. Elsewhere, last-placed Chicago Red Stars will have to take on a Portland Thorns side who will be eager to get back to winning ways following their 2-1 loss to Houston Dash last time out. 

Women's Super League

Back on top of the table, Chelsea will look to take one step closer towards retaining their WSL title when the Blues face Arsenal in a derby clash this weekend. Emma Hayes's side come into this game having won their last five matches across all competitions, including edging out Manchester United 1-0 in the Women's FA Cup final in front of a record-breaking crowd. 

The Blues have only conceded once in those last five games, but Arsenal, who sit in third place on 47 points, have been in solid form themselves. Since their loss to Wolfsburg in the Women's Champions League semi-finals, the Gunners have won their last three matches. And while it's unlikely they will be able to storm to the league title with just two games remaining, they certainly could damage Chelsea's chances of making it a sixth WSL title if they can pick up a win this weekend.

Meanwhile, Manchester United, who are just two points behind the current league leaders, will aim to shake off their disappointment from losing the Women's FA Cup final and go all in in terms of knocking Chelsea back down to second spot. The Red Devils will also be involved in a derby clash of their own as they face fourth-placed Manchester City in what should be another great game on Sunday.

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 14

It's set to be an action-packed Saturday for MLS fans as all games from matchday 14 will be crammed into one day. The first six matches start at 19.30 EST (16.30 PST), followed by three with kick-off times at 20.30 EST (17.30 PST), two beginning at 21.30 EST (18.30 PST), and finally concluding with three more ties commencing at 22.30 EST (19.30 PST).

Here's all you need to know ahead of matchday 14 in MLS.

How to watch Matchday 14 in the 2023 MLS season

In the Eastern Conference, a three-point gap has now opened up between current leaders Cincinnati and the chasing pack, thanks to their recent 3-0 drubbing of Montreal midweek. As such, Cincinnati will hope to further extend their lead when they host Columbus Crew, who will come into this weekend's game having eased to a 2-0 victory over struggling LA Galaxy.

Speaking of the Galaxy, who have had an awful start to the 2023 season and sit in last place in the Western Conference, they will once again hope to start putting some positive results together when they travel to take on DC United. United also have found themselves in a rut, and will look to end their three game winless streak in front of their home fans.

Elsewhere, an interesting Floridian derby will be on the cards on Saturday when Inter Miami, who sit in 11th spot, welcome Orlando City, who sit in 10th. Just one point divides these two teams, and the hosts, who saw their three-match winning streak snapped following a 2-1 road defeat to Nashville, could leap-frog quite a few teams if they can turn things around this weekend.

Some fans, especially those in the USA and Canada, will be able to follow some of these games on TV. However, for those who can't access MLS games via TV or prefer a more flexible option, MLS Season Pass offers live streaming of MLS matches in over 100 countries worldwide.

Top news of the week in Major League Soccer

California set to get ANOTHER team after massive multi-million dollar deal

MLS, which is currently in its 28th season, has a total of 29 teams, with three based in Canada and the remaining 26 in the United States.

However, that is soon to change. A wealthy Egyptian investor by the name of Mohamed Mansour has reportedly offered over $500 million - or half a billion dollars - in order to purchase a new expansion club. As per reports, the team, which will be the 30th in the MLS franchise, will be set up in San Diego.

That means that California, who is also home to three other MLS teams, San Jose Earthquakes, Los Angeles FC and Los Angeles Galaxy, will have four teams in the same state starting in the next few years. 2025 is set as a potential date for San Diego's newest team to get up and running, and the team will play at the already-well known Snapdragon Stadium, which houses both San Diego college football as well as NWSL side San Diego Wave. 

Mansour's $500 million bid eclipses the mammoth $325 million that billion American hedge fund tycoon David Tepper paid to acquire the rights for Charlotte FC back in 2019.

Surprise player tops MLS's highest paid list...despite struggles to justify his hefty price tag

While MLS doesn't command the same kind of astronomical salaries seen in the Premier League, and to some extent, La Liga (namely Barcelona and Real Madrid), there are still some players with some wage packets that most people wouldn't scoff at.

However, a look at the highest paid players in American soccer's top flight may surprise some casual observers of the league, especially considering not all of them have exactly been value for the money.

Xherdan Shaqiri, who will be well known to fans from his stints with Bayern Munich and Liverpool, plus that brilliant goal scored for Switzerland at EURO 2016, was signed by Chicago Fire in 2022, and makes an estimated $8.2 million per season - which puts him at the top of the MLS income list. Despite an impressive debut season that saw him directly involved in 18 goals for the Fire, things haven't gone so well for the 31-year-old this time around.

To date, Shaqiri has yet to match this output, with just one goal contribution so far. The Fire presently find themselves struggling to get their campaign up and running, and find themselves near the bottom of their conference. Recently, the club, desperately seeking improvement, decided to sack manager Ezra Hendrickson, but they will need more than just a managerial change if they hope to turn things around. 

Make sure to check out our special Major League Soccer page here at LiveSoccerTV.com for full broadcast info, match updates, news, and more. 

Biggest stories of the week

Fans blame Ancelotti's tactics for poor display against Man City

It was not the easiest night for Real Madrid fans, but what they did manage to find quickly was the man that needed to take the blame for their blatant loss tonight: Carlo Ancelotti.

The Italian coach did not have an answer for Manchester City's tactics during the first half, which only ended two-nil thanks to a massive performance by Thibaut Courtois. Once the second half began, the skipper's choices to try and turn things around were not exactly what you would expect when a team is two goals behind.

With all that in mind, fans were not merciful when it came to identifying the culprit of this disappointing performance, which saw Los Merengues end their run for a second UEFA Champions League final in a row.

As mentioned before, the team's supporters -and some rival fans- did not hesitate to share their thoughts on what went down at Etihad Stadium today. Even Rio Ferdinand had something to say about Ancelotti's choices before the game, criticizing his decision to drop Rudiger to the bench.

With Ancelotti being tempted to join the Brazil national team after this season, it would not be a surprise to see the Italian coach leaving the club in the summer. Will this be the last European game for "Carletto" coaching Real Madrid? Only time will tell.

Sheikh Jassim launches dramatic last-gasp takeover bid to acquire Manchester United

Qatari billionaire Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani, has made a decisive last-minute bid to acquire Manchester United, with the aim to outmaneuver his rival Sir Jim Ratcliffe and bring an end to the lengthy takeover saga. In an extraordinary eleventh-hour move, Sheikh Jassim submitted a final, improved offer for the club, setting the stage for a potential total ownership deal.

Following three rounds of bidding last month, a deadline for final proposals was established. Initially, it appeared that Ratcliffe had the upper hand, as his proposal for United placed the club at a higher value than Sheikh Jassim's. In addition, the INEOS owner had extended an enticing offer to executive co-chairmen Joel and Avram Glazer, allowing them to retain a partial interest in the club for two to four years before exiting completely. This possibility appealed to the Glazer siblings, who expressed an interest in retaining ties to Old Trafford prior to their eventual sale.

While hopes were high that a preferred bidder would be chosen last week, negotiations have continued, with Sheikh Jassim seizing the opportunity today to make another decisive move in his quest to acquire control of Manchester United. According to The Times in UK, Sheikh Jassim is offering to buy 100% of the club now for a price nearer to 5 billion pounds ($6.31 billion).

Although the Qatari royalty's improved offer is believed to value the club less than Ratcliffe's, it desires full ownership and an immediate payment that would reduce United's estimated $670M in outstanding debt. Notably, the proposal also promises substantial investments to strengthen the playing contingent and renovate or rebuild Old Trafford.

Raine Group, a New York-based merchant finance firm renowned for managing Chelsea's sale last year, still remains in charge of overseeing the sale process. As discussions continue with all stakeholders, it is unknown how Ratcliffe's Ineos Group will react to this latest development. Ratcliffe's alternative proposal entails acquiring a 50 percent stake in Manchester United, allowing for a gradual acquisition valued at approximately £6BN.

With the transfer window approaching and United's roster in need of reinforcements, the outcome of these negotiations will unquestionably determine the future of one of the sport's most prestigious clubs. 

UEFA projects Women's Champions League to set new record

On June 3rd, Barcelona and Wolfsburg will lock horns in what should be an entertaining battle for the UEFA Women's Champions League title.

Impressively, the game is already setting records - and it's still a few weeks to go before the actual match kicks off.

According to reports, over 34,000 tickets have been sold for the June 3rd event, which will be staged in the Netherlands at Eindhoven's Philips Stadion.

This sets two major records. Firstly, it's the most sold for a game being played at the Philips Stadion since 30,000-plus (30,640, to be exact) were distributed for a friendly match between the Hollands and Australia back in 2019.

In addition, this marks the first time a Women's Champions League final has sold all available tickets since the event was renamed as the UEFA Women's Champions League back during the 2009/2010 season.

This news comes on the heels of the 2023 Women's FA Cup also setting a huge record, with 77,390 people reportedly in attendance at Wembley for last weekend's final between Chelsea and Manchester United. That established a new milestone for the highest-ever attendance at a women's domestic match in England.

Barcelona, who won their first Women's Champions League title in 2021, will be seeking to cap off another brilliant season by adding a European title to their collection, while Wolfsburg are hoping to win their first such trophy since the 2013/14 campaign.

The Premier League's Player of the Season and Manager of the Season nominees have been revealed

The Premier League season is nearing its end and as a result, the time to dish out the end-of-season awards has arrived. With three games left in the current campaign, the English top-flight has announced the nominees for their biggest individual prizes in 2022/23.

The first is the Player of the Season, with fans debating whether anyone could pip Erling Haaland to this accolade. The Norwegian sensation has been given the nod, to no one's surprise, and is joined by teammate Kevin de Bruyne but will face stiff competition from Arsenal's two nominees Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard.

The English winger's form has dwindled over the past few weeks, which was a contributing factor in the Gunners' title collapse, but he has still enjoyed a lovely campaign. Odegaard, meanwhile, could become the highest goalscoring midfielder in Premier League history (excluding penalties) if he finds the back of the net in any of the North London giants' two remaining fixtures.

Newcastle, who have been enjoying a brilliant campaign, have one representative in the form of Kieran Trippier. Wrapping up the list are England internationals Marcus Rashford and Harry Kane who have been spectacular for Manchester United and Tottenham, respectively.

Three of the Player of the Season nominees were also shortlisted for the Young Player of the Season gong and they are Haaland, Odegaard, and Saka. Arsenal got a third player nominated for this prize and that is Gabriel Martinelli, who has 15 goals under his belt this term. The remaining four slots were shared by Brighton and Newcastle, with Alexis Mac Allister and Moises Caicedo joining Sven Botman and Alexander Isak on the list.

And last but not least, the Manager of the Season nominees were also revealed, and to no one's surprise, Man City's Pep Guardiola, Arsenal's Mikel Arteta, and Newcastle's Eddie Howe all made the cut. They were joined by two mid-season appointments in the form of Brighton's Roberto de Zerbi and Aston Villa's Unai Emery, with both the Italian and Spanish tacticians doing remarkably well since joining/returning to the league. Fulham's Marco Silva was the sixth and final nominee in this category.

Bar the Young Player of the Season, it's hard to look past Manchester City for these individual awards. Haaland has scored a whopping 36 goals in the Premier League, 52 across all competitions, while Guardiola is on the brink of leading the Cityzens to the treble, a feat no other English club has achieved besides Manchester United.

Other key headlines from the world of soccer

Telemundo and Fox Sports to unveil new brand ahead of 2026 World Cup

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and the official broadcasters in the United States will make sure all fans in the country get the kind of coverage they deserve.

With that in mind, Telemundo and Fox Sports, who own the broadcast rights for the tournament set to be played in the USA, Mexico, and Canada, will present the #WeAre26 brand for the FIFA World Cup North America.

The ceremony will have some stellar appearances, including the presence of former USMNT international Alexi Lalas, two-time FIFA Women's Player of the Year winner Carli Lloyd, Emmy award nominee Ana Jurka, and Emmy award winner Andrés Cantor as part of Telemundo's team for the competition. Special guests from all three host countries will also participate in this event.

Fans across the United States will have the chance to watch this event both in English and Spanish, as Fox Sports 1 and Universo will air the content from the hour-long event simultaneously, starting at 10:45 p.m. ET on May 17.

The World Cup set to be played in 2026 will be the biggest single-sport event of all time, with three countries set to host 48 teams in sixteen cities. The title will be determined after 104 games have been played in the tournament.

OFFICIAL: Premier League striker Ivan Toney banned from football for eight months

Ivan Toney has officially been banned from football, the FA have announced. The Brentford striker has been slapped with a whopping eight-month suspension from the game following a lengthy investigation into breaches of the betting rule.

The 27-year-old striker was slapped with a whopping 262 charges of breaching the Football Association's betting rules. This emerged back in November, just before the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which the Brentford ace wasn't called up for.

This suspension goes into immediate effect, which means the Bees will be without their talisman forward for the final three games of the campaign. Thomas Frank will not be able to field Toney until mid-January as the punishment runs up to and includes 16 January 2024.

Ivan will be allowed to resume training only with his club in the final four months of his ban, which starts from September 17. This means the striker can work on his fitness in the build-up to his return.

Of the 262 initial charges, the FA withdrew 30 of them, with Toney admitting to the remaining 232 breaches. These breaches spanned four years, taking place between February 2017 and January 2021, and began when he was signed to Newcastle but on loan at Scunthorpe.