Top games to watch this week
Friday, January 26
Almería vs Deportivo Alavés (La Liga)
Cagliari vs Torino (Serie A)
Eintracht Frankfurt vs Mainz 05 (Bundesliga)
Lyon vs Rennes (Ligue 1)
Sheffield Wednesday vs Coventry City (FA Cup)
Chelsea vs Aston Villa (FA Cup)
Bristol City vs Nottingham Forest (FA Cup)
Tottenham vs Man City (FA Cup)
Tijuana vs Guadalajara (Liga MX)
Bolivia vs Ecuador (CONMEBOL Olympic Games Qualifying)
Brazil vs Colombia (CONMEBOL Olympic Games Qualifying)
Saturday, January 27
Las Palmas vs Real Madrid (La Liga)
Barcelona vs Villarreal (La Liga)
Juventus vs Empoli (Serie A)
Milan vs Bologna (Serie A)
Augsburg vs Bayern (Bundesliga)
Bayer Leverkusen vs Borussia Mönchengladbach (Bundesliga)
Everton vs Luton Town (FA Cup)
Fulham vs Newcastle (FA Cup)
Angola vs Namibia (AFCON 2023)
Nigeria vs Cameroon (AFCON 2023)
León vs Santos (Liga MX)
Necaxa vs América (Liga MX)
Paraguay vs Peru (CONMEBOL Olympic Games Qualifying)
Uruguay vs Chile (CONMEBOL Olympic Games Qualifying)
Sunday, January 28
Sevilla vs Osasuna (La Liga)
Atlético de Madrid vs Valencia (La Liga)
Lazio vs Napoli (Serie A)
Fiorentina vs Inter (Serie A)
Borussia Dortmund vs Bochum (Bundesliga)
Farense vs Porto (Primeira Liga)
PSG vs Brest (Ligue 1)
Liverpool vs Norwich City (FA Cup)
Newport County vs Manchester United (FA Cup)
Querétaro vs Tigres UANL (Liga MX)
Equatorial Guinea vs Guinea (AFCON 2023)
Egypt vs DR Congo (AFCON 2023)
Australia vs Indonisia (Asian Cup)
Tajikistan vs United Arab Emirates (Asian Cup)
Monday, January 29
Getafe vs Granada (La Liga)
Salernitana vs Roma (Serie A)
Blackburn Rovers vs Wrexham (FA Cup)
Cape Verde Islands vs Mauritania (AFCON 2023)
Senegal vs Ivory Coast (AFCON 2023)
Iraq vs Jordan (Asian Cup)
Qatar vs Palestine (Asian Cup)
Al Hilal vs Inter Miami (Friendly)
Estrela vs Benfica (Primeira Liga)
Sporting CP vs Casa Pia (Primeira Liga)
Brazil vs Ecuador (CONMEBOL Olympic Games Qualifying)
Colombia vs Venezuela (CONMEBOL Olympic Games Qualifying)
Tuesday, January 30
Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal (English Premier League)
Aston Villa vs Newcastle (English Premier League)
St. Pauli vs Fortuna Dusseldorf (DFB Pokal)
Mali vs Burkina Faso (AFCON 2023)
Morocco vs South Africa (AFCON 2023)
Uzbekistan vs Thailand (Asian Cup)
Saudi Arabia vs South Korea (Asian Cup)
Corinthians vs Sao Paulo (Campeonato Paulista Série A1)
Santos Laguna vs Puebla (Liga MX)
Guadalajara vs Toluca (Liga MX)
Uruguay vs Peru (CONMEBOL Olympic Games Qualifying)
Chile vs Argentina (CONMEBOL Olympic Games Qualifying)
Wednesday, January 31
Tottenham vs Brentford (English Premier League)
Man City vs Burnley (English Premier League)
Liverpool vs Chelsea (English Premier League)
Barcelona vs Osasuna (La Liga)
Atlético Madrid vs Rayo Vallecano (La Liga)
Hertha BSC vs Kaiserslautern (DFB Pokal)
Bahrain vs Japan (Asian Cup)
Iran vs Syria (Asian Cup)
Pumas UNAM vs Necaxa (Liga MX)
Olympique Lyonnais vs Slavia Praha (UEFA Women's CL)
Eintracht Frankfurt vs Rosengard (UEFA Women's CL)
SL Benfica vs Barcelona (UEFA Women's CL)
Thursday, February 1
West Ham vs Bournemouth (English Premier League)
Wolves vs Manchester United (English Premier League
Getafe vs Real Madrid (La Liga)
Al Nassr vs Inter Miami (Friendly)
Colombia vs Bolivia (CONMEBOL Olympic Games Qualifying)
Venezuela vs Brazil (CONMEBOL Olympic Games Qualifying)
Most-watched soccer games: January 15-21, 2024
The new MLS season is right around the corner, but until then, fans in the USA have still been treated to exciting soccer, spanning from the Mexican top flight to the beloved Premier League.
In fact, those two competitions snatched the top three spots on the list of most-watched soccer games last week. To no one's surprise, Liga MX claimed two of those three slots, including first place, which went to Univision's coverage of the Clausura showdown between Club America and Queretaro.
The Apertura holders triumphed 2-0 thanks to goals from Richard Sanchez and Julián Quiñones, with just under 800,000 average viewers tuning in to catch this fixture. The third spot also went to Univision; however, that match was a goalless draw between Atlas and Club Tijuana, with that tie garnering 664,000 average viewers for TelevisaUnivision's Spanish-language television network.
The second spot, meanwhile, went to a Premier League fixture. However, while Arsenal and Liverpool, two title favorites, enjoyed comfortable victories over Crystal Palace and Bournemouth respectively, the honor did not go to these fixtures.
Instead, it was Brentford's thrilling 3-2 victory over Nottingham Forest, a game that was headlined by Ivan Toney's much-awaited return from his eight-month suspension. The English striker scored a crucial first-half equalizer en route to the three points, with NBC raking in a lovely 762,000 average viewers.
What are this week's must-watch games?
Tottenham vs. Man City live this Friday at 3 p.m. ET exclusively on ESPN+
The action kicks off on Friday with a highly-anticipated FA Cup showdown between Tottenham and Manchester City, two of the most exciting teams to watch in the Premier League this season. The last time these two English clubs met, they played out a spectacular 3-3 draw filled with beautiful soccer and one controversial refereeing blunder. Which side will win this tie and progress to the FA Cup 5th round? Don't miss this match.
Barcelona vs. Villarreal live this Saturday at 12:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+ and ESPN Deportes
Spanish champions Barcelona return to action this weekend as the Catalant giants look to bounce back from their frustrating Copa del Rey exit. The Blaugrana were beaten 4-2 at Athletic Club and were dumped out of the competition as a result. Xavi's men remain eight points behind current leaders Barcelona and with questions being asked about the Spaniard's future, the manager cannot afford another slip-up when they host Villarreal this weekend.
Nigeria vs. Cameroon live this Saturday at 3 p.m. ET on beIN SPORTS CONNECT
All eyes will be on the Africa Cup of Nations starting this Saturday as the continental tournament enters the knockout stage. Two games in particular are must-watch ties, starting with Nigeria vs. Cameroon. The Super Eagles finished level on points with Equatorial Guinea in Group A but missed out on the top spot due to goal difference. As a result, Osimhen and Co. will face the Indomitable Lions who, despite their thrilling 3-2 victory over the Gambia on the final day, are yet to impress this tournament.
Senegal vs. Ivory Coast live this Monday at 3 p.m. ET on beIN Sports USA, beIN Sports en Espanol, and beIN SPORTS CONNECT
The other stellar AFCON 2023 showdown sees reigning champions Senegal take on hosts Ivory Coast in a clash between two continental powerhouses. However, only one of these two teams have impressed so far and they are the Lions of Teranga, with Mane and Co. being the only side to win all of their group-stage matches. The Elephants, on the other hand, won only once and were thrashed 4-0 by Equatorial Guinea in their final group-stage game but managed to scrape into the round of 16 as one of the four best third-placed teams.
Iraq vs. Jordan and Saudi Arabia vs. South Korea headline top live matches to watch in the 2023 Asian Cup round of 16
From the Africa Cup of Nations to the Asian Cup, Asia's continental competition also enters the round of 16, with several powerhouses fighting to win this coveted title. This stage will deliver two mouthwatering ties as Iraq and Jordan do battle in one bracket while Saudi Arabia and South Korea face off in the other. This means two heavyweights will bow out of the competition at the first hurdle. Fans in the USA can stream the action live on Paramount+ and, in certain games, CBS Sports Golazo.
Liverpool vs. Chelsea live this Wednesday at 3:15 p.m. ET exclusively on Peacock
And finally, we have a midweek Premier League showdown as Liverpool take on Chelsea in a rehearsal for February's Carabao Cup final. Anfield will be the venue as Klopp's men aim to beat the Blues to maintain their lead at the top. Pochettino's side, on the other hand, have been picking up form lately but will face the daunting task of visiting Anfield, a ground where no away team has won at in almost a year. Do not miss this showdown.
With all the major leagues - save for the NWSL - up and running, it's set to be another busy week ahead for fans of women's soccer.
Here is all you need to know ahead of another week of women's soccer.
What to watch in women's soccer: January 26th to January 28th
Frauen-Bundesliga
Things are starting to get very interesting in Germany. At the moment, Wolfsburg have moved into the top spot ahead of the league resuming action this weekend. Meanwhile, Bayern Munich were held to a surprise 1-1 draw against Nurnberg in their final game of 2023, but die Roten could reclaim the top spot in the table if they can beat Hoffenheim in their match on Saturday. Meanwhile, Wolfsburg, who are leading the table by just one point, will naturally aim to ensure they pick up all three points in their away game against Essen on Monday.
Women's Super League
Chelsea's win over Manchester United last weekend looks to have dealt a massive blow to the Red Devils' hopes of battling for the league title, but there are still two teams in contention to challenge the Blues for the Women's Super League title this season. The Blues currently have a three-point lead over the rest of the table and could extend that to six when they travel to face Brighton on Saturday. Meanwhile, Manchester City, who sit in second spot will look to keep up the pressure on the league leaders at the expense of a Tottenham side who have found some form as of late.
Elsewhere, Manchester United will aim to pick themselves up after a disappointing result last round and avoid losing a third consecutive league game when Aston Villa come to town on Sunday. And finally, Arsenal, who are in third, will need to secure all three points against Liverpool if they want to keep both Chelsea and Manchester City in their sights as the Gunners aim to remain in the title race.
Liga F
Over in Spain, Barcelona continue to lead the way thanks to their perfect start to the season. The Blaugrana continue to maintain a nine-point lead over the rest of the field and will certainly look to make it 14 wins out of 14 Liga F games when they travel to face Real Betis on Sunday.
While the title race looks pretty much decided, that certainly will not prevent Levante and Real Madrid from trying to close the gap. Both teams are on 30 points, which puts them nine behind Barcelona, and could narrow the gap to six if they win their games against Granada and Athletic Bilbao respectively.
What to watch in women's soccer: January 29th to February 1st
Serie A (women)
The latest round of Serie A ends with an exciting fixture, as Juventus, who sit in second on 33 points, take on Fiorentina, who are in third and have earned 31 points. Both teams were given a glimmer of hope following Roma's 2-0 loss to Inter which has seemingly changed the landscape in the Scudetto race.
UEFA Women's Champions League
The final group stage games will be taking place this week. While some groups have already been decided, others have not. Group C, which features PSG, Bayern Munich, Roma, and Ajax arguably is the one to watch as all four teams are still in contention to qualify for the next round, so fans will be in for a real treat as Bayern Munich (third, six points) take on PSG (first, nine points) at the same time as Ajax (second, seven points) are locking horns with Roma (last, five points). Both games will be played at the same time on January 30th.
Meanwhile, in Group D, Paris and Swedish side BK Häcken are still in contention to join Chelsea in the next stages. Paris, who are in third, will need to ensure they beat the Blues to secure their place, while BK Häcken will be looking to do likewise against an already-eliminated Real Madrid.
The state of play: What's the situation of the 16 teams featuring in the 2023-24 UEFA Women's Champions League
Who's qualified for the next round in the UWCL?
So far, Barcelona, Benfica, Lyon, Brann, and Chelsea have already secured their spots in the quarter-finals.
Who's been eliminated from the UWCL?
Real Madrid, Rosengård, Eintracht Frankfurt, St. Pölten, and Slavia Prague have been already eliminated from the UEFA Women's Champions League.
Which teams can still qualify for the next round in the UWCL?
Roma, Bayern Munich, PSG, Paris, Ajax, and BK Häcken are still in contention to qualify for the next round in the 2023/24 UEFA Women's Champions League.
Top news in women's soccer
Portland Thorns set to make record bid to sign Chelsea star
Although it's still a few months to go until the start of the 2024 NWSL season, one team is really keen on bolstering their squad as they hope to compete for titles in the upcoming campaign.
According to multiple reports, the Portland Thorns, who recently made waves due to their change in ownership, are set to break a league record in their signing of Chelsea's Jessie Fleming. The 25-year-old Canadian international has spent the last four seasons with the Blues, where she has made over 100 appearances and has won several titles, including three WSL trophies and three FA Cups.
Fleming, who usually plays as a midfielder but has also been deployed on the wing, is the subject of a record-breaking bid worth approximately $315,000 to prise her away from the WSL champions. She is expected to slot right into the starting XI as the Thorns, who finished in second place in the NWSL last season, look to find a solid option to replace 31-year-old American international Crystal Dunn, who left on a free transfer at the end of 2023.
Lauren James achieves impressive feat in Chelsea's win over Manchester United
Chelsea gave their fans plenty to smile about last weekend, as the Blues cruised to a 3-1 win over Manchester United to maintain their narrow lead at the top of the table.
Lauren James was arguably the standout performer for Emma Hayes's team. The English international netted a hat-trick - her second of this season - to fire her team to all three points. That brings her to ten goals in 10 WSL appearances, and in doing so, that game helped her achieve a pretty impressive feat.
Notably, her hat-trick, especially against Manchester United, is something that no player in the WSL had done before. In addition, she is also among the most prolific players when it comes to goals scored at Stamford Bridge (and that even includes the men's team).
Chelsea, who are the reigning WSL champions, will be hoping to successfully continue in their quest to retain their title as they travel to take on Brighton on Saturday.
Roma's perfect season comes to an end following surprise loss
The Giallorosse were hoping to have a perfect Serie A campaign as they aim to retain their Scudetto crown, but that all came to an abrupt end last round. The league leaders were beaten 2-0 by Inter, meaning that their 100 percent winning record has now ended, and that result certainly has given hope to other teams such as Juventus and Fiorentina as the title race has taken an interesting twist.
Roma are expected to bounce back in their upcoming Serie A game against Sampdoria and could reestablish their six-point lead over the chasing pack with a win there. However, both Juventus and Fiorentina surely will be keeping their eyes on the league leaders' performance in that game ahead of their own intriguing showdown on Monday.
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.
Broadcast and streaming guide to watch Inter Miami's full preseason tour
The new MLS season is just around the corner, and fans all over the world will be eager to find out what Lionel Messi can do in his first full campaign as a member of Inter Miami.
With that in mind, and to get the player in full gear for the competition, the club will celebrate a variety of friendly games in a tour that will include stops in Dallas, Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, and Japan.
Messi will be joined by Luis Suárez, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, DeAndre Yedlin, and Leonardo Campana on this tour. The ongoing preseason will also give coach Gerardo "Tata" Martino a chance to shape his squad for what will be a tough year for the Herons, which will see them play in four different tournaments (Major League Soccer, U.S. Open Cup, CONCACAF Champions Cup, and Leagues Cup).
Where can I watch Inter Miami's preseason matches?
All of Inter Miami's warmup matches will be available for fans to watch on Apple TV via MLS Season Pass. The service will allow users to follow all games in English and Spanish.
Which teams will Inter Miami face in their preseason tour?
Inter Miami have planned a preseason tour that includes games against El Salvador's National Team, FC Dallas, Al Hilal, Al Nassr, Hong Kong League Team, Vissel Kobe, and Newell's Old Boys.
When will Inter Miami's preseason tour start?
Inter Miami's preseason matches are already underway. The first match of their tour took place on January 19, when the Herons faced El Salvador's Team. The clash ended in a goalless draw.
When will Inter Miami's preseason tour end?
Inter Miami is set to put an end to their preseason matches on February 16, when the club hosts Newell's Old Boys at DRV PNK Stadium.
On what date will Inter Miami make their debut in the 2024 MLS season?
Inter Miami's first Major League Soccer game of the season is set to take place on February 21 against Real Salt Lake. This will be the opening match of the 2024 MLS season.
For more information on Inter Miami's preseason schedule, check out our broadcast guide in full here.
Biggest stories
Jurgen Klopp announces he will leave Liverpool at the end of the season
In what was a completely unexpected and shocking announcement on Friday morning, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp confirmed to the entire world that he will be leaving the club at the end of the season.
The German tactician, who arrived in Merseyside back in October 2015, made this bombshell announcement in an official video published on Liverpool's official social media accounts. The beloved manager, who is sat in front of a camera, reveals that this will be his final campaign with the Reds.
"I will leave the club at the end of the season," Klopp states in an emotional message directed to the fans. Read more…
CR7 vs Messi matchup handed serious blow due to Portuguese star's injury
One of the most anticipated games in the coming weeks could see its hype going down soon, as Cristiano Ronaldo's injury could pour cold water on his potential reunion against Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez.
Next month, Inter Miami and Al Nassr are set to face each other in a friendly match, which means that the Argentine legend and the Portuguese icon were supposed to lock horns as part of Inter's preseason tour.
Now, an untimely injury by Cristiano Ronaldo may prevent that reunion from happening, as the Portuguese ace will need to take time off to recover from a calf injury he picked up on his left leg. The player's recovery time is yet to be determined by Al Nassr's medical staff, but some facts hint that CR7 will not be around for the game. Read more…
Cristiano questions the credibility of the Ballon d'Or and The Best following Messi's controversial win
Cristiano Ronaldo has always been a man who wears his heart on his sleeve and in a recent interview with Portuguese sports newspaper Record, the iconic attacker did just that when commenting on Lionel Messi's controversial Ballon d'Or and The Best FIFA Football Award wins.
The 38-year-old, who was not even nominated for those two prizes despite finishing as soccer's top scorer in 2023, called into question the credibility of the beautiful game's two most prestigious accolades, echoing the growing sentiment among fans.
While frustration with these two awards is not new, things reached a new height when Messi beat Erling Haaland to the Ballon d'Or and The Best FIFA Men's Player award for 2023 despite the Norwegian outscoring La Pulga and winning five trophies – the Premier League, FA Cup, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup.
Ronaldo particularly took issue with his exclusion and questioned the decision to award Messi those accolades in all but words, highlighting his 54 goals for club and country in 2023 in comparison. Read more…
Zidane involved in Saudi Arabian plot to invest in Olympique Marseille
If things go as planned, Paris Saint-Germain will not be the only French club with big funds coming from Asian investors.
Speaking in a recent interview, a member of the Saudi Arabian royal family has spoken about their intentions to buy a stake in a Ligue 1 club. While the only options at the moment would be Monaco and Olympique Marseille, Abdullah Saad Abdulaziz Al Saud spoke specifically about Marseille and who would be their first option to lead the team.
The Prince admitted that the first option to invest their money would be L'Om, adding how he believes the club to have great potential for a successful investment.
Rumors about Zinedine Zidane being the top choice for the Saudi Arabian royal family as manager have been circling for quite a few years, and the Prince did not hold back with his thoughts on the French tactician. Read more…
Sevilla link up with IBM to create innovative way to recruit players
Sevilla might be struggling horribly in La Liga this season - with four consecutive losses from their past five games seeing them sitting just above the drop zone - but it is not all doom and gloom for them, either.
Los Hispalenses, who have dominated the Europa League since the turn of the 21st century, with their seven titles more than any other club in history, now appear to be taking advantage of the AI revolution that is disrupting industries across a wide range of sectors. The club have now entered into an exciting partnership with IBM to create a new product that aims to help improve the player recruitment process and synthesize key data in a streamlined and more efficient way.
According to reports, this new tool is called Scout Advisor and is heavily modeled off IBM's Watsonx, the tech giant's commercial generative AI and data platform that was launched in May 2023. In the case of Scout Advisor, it basically combs through massive amounts of data (specifically scouting reports) using natural language processing and analysis to pick up key player attributes that the club is seeking. Simply put, a member of the club working on identifying potential talent can input a few words and will receive tailored results without having to manually go through dozens and dozens of scouting reports. Read more…
Benzema set for crunch talks with Saudi club Al Ittihad as two Premier League giants make contact with the Frenchman
Karim Benzema's future remains up in the air despite having just joined the Saudi Pro League a few months ago. The French striker left Real Madrid for Al Ittihad in the summer of 2023 but fast forward to today and the 2022 Ballon d'Or winner is already seeking an exit.
According to Marca, the 36-year-old and his representatives scheduled a meeting with his employers on Wednesday to resolve this issue. However, with the player wanting to leave the Gulf nation only a few months after arriving, these crunch talks are expected to be difficult.
The former Los Blancos ace is reportedly yearning for a return to Europe. Furthermore, the Spanish publication goes as far as naming three European clubs that have contacted Benzema's entourage after he failed to report for duty in Jeddah following the New Year. Read more…
Klopp passionately defends Salah from criticism following controversial decision to return from AFCON 2023
Jurgen Klopp has passionately defended his player Mohamed Salah from recent criticism following the Egyptian national team captain's decision to leave their Africa Cup of Nations camp to return to Liverpool for treatment.
The 31-year-old left Anfield for his national side and led them onto the pitch for the first two games of the tournament. Unfortunately, the Premier League sensation suffered a hamstring injury in the second fixture, a 2-2 draw with Ghana, and was forced off before halftime.
Some have gone as far as questioning Salah's allegiance to his national team but Klopp has hit back at all these claims, stating that the attacker's decision to return was in the best interest of his country. Read more…
Guardiola aims jibe at Man Utd over Berrada switch
Pep Guardiola took a cheeky swipe at Manchester United as the Manchester City boss claimed his club's bitter rivals should name a stand after Omar Berrada if he revives their fortunes.
Berrada quit his role as City's chief football operations officer last weekend to become United's chief executive. The appointment is a major coup for United as Berrada has played a significant role in City's dynastic success under Guardiola.
But Guardiola has warned that his fellow Spaniard is no instant guarantee of success, saying: "We learned a lot from Omar and he's learned a lot from the club, and now he's gone to United.
"But Kevin De Bruyne is still in Man City, De Bruyne will play here. Erling Haaland will play here, so in the end it's not that simple. Otherwise, with the power of United, they would have done it before." Read more…
Other key headlines from the world of soccer
Serie A boss hints at taking league games to the United States
It has been a common practice for some European leagues to take games from some of their tournaments to other countries, and now, it seems that the next step would be to take league matches to other regions, such as the United States. The first league to take that approach could be the Italian Serie A, according to their president Lorenzo Casini. Continue reading…
Spain judge proposes Rubiales go on trial for World Cup kiss
A Spanish judge on Thursday proposed that disgraced former Spanish football chief Luis Rubiales be tried over the kiss he forced on Women's World Cup star Jenni Hermoso. In a ruling following his preliminary investigation, judge Francisco de Jorge of Spain's Audiencia Nacional top criminal court concluded that the kiss "was not consensual and was a unilateral and unexpected move" by Rubiales, who is facing charges of sexual assault and coercion. Continue reading…
