Top games to watch this week
Friday, April 29
Sevilla vs Cádiz (La Liga)
Union Berlin vs Greuther Furth (Bundesliga)
Strasbourg vs PSG (Ligue 1)
Necaxa vs Guadalajara (Liga MX)
Mazatlán vs Puebla (Liga MX)
Saturday, April 30
Newcastle vs Liverpool (English Premier League)
Leeds United vs Man City (English Premier League)
Real Madrid vs Espanyol (La Liga)
Athletic Club vs Atlético de Madrid (La Liga)
Napoli vs Sassuolo (Serie A)
Spezia vs Lazio (Serie A)
Borussia Dortmund vs Bochum (Bundesliga)
Mainz vs Bayern Munich (Bundesliga)
Hoffenheim vs Freiburg (Bundesliga)
Marítimo vs Benfica (Primeira Liga)
Porto vs Vizela (Primeira Liga)
Real Salt Lake vs LA Galaxy (MLS)
Atlas vs Tigres UANL (Liga MX)
América vs Cruz Azul (Liga MX)
Sunday, May 1
Everton vs Chelsea (English Premier League)
Tottenham vs Leicester (English Premier League)
West Ham vs Arsenal (English Premier League)
Barcelona vs Mallorca (La Liga)
Juventus vs Venezia (Serie A)
Milan vs Fiorentina (Serie A)
Udinese vs Inter (Serie A)
Roma vs Bologna (Serie A)
Sporting CP vs Gil Vicente (Primeira Liga)
Marseille vs Lyon (Ligue 1)
Celtic vs Rangers (Scottish Premiership)
Los Angeles FC vs Minnesota United (MLS)
New York City FC vs San José Earthquakes (MLS)
Pumas UNAM vs Pachuca (Liga MX)
Monday, May 2
Manchester United vs Brentford (English Premier League)
Getafe vs Real Betis (La Liga)
Atalanta vs Salernitana
Leverkusen vs Eintracht Frankfurt (Bundesliga)
Borussia Mönchengladbach vs RB Leipzig (Bundesliga)
Tuesday, May 3
Villarreal vs Liverpool (UEFA Champions League)
Deportivo Táchira vs Emelec (Copa Libertadores)
Caracas vs Libertad (Copa Libertadores)
The Strongest vs Athletico-PR (Copa Libertadores)
Independiente Petrolero vs Palmeiras (Copa Libertadores)
Estudiantes vs Nacional (Copa Libertadores)
América Mineiro vs Atlético Mineiro (Copa Libertadores)
Wednesday, May 4
Real Madrid vs Manchester City (UEFA Champions League)
Colón vs Cerro Porteño (Copa Libertadores)
Talleres de Córdoba vs Flamengo (Copa Libertadores)
Deportivo Cali vs Corinthians (Copa Libertadores)
Always Ready vs Boca Juniors (Copa Libertadores)
Olimpia vs Peñarol (Copa Libertadores)
Deportes Tolima vs Independiente del Valle (Copa Libertadores)
Sporting Cristal vs Universidad Católica (Copa Libertadores)
Atlético Goianiense vs Defensa y Justicia (Copa Sudamericana)
Barcelona vs Lanús (Copa Sudamericana)
Seattle Sounders vs Pumas UNAM (CONCACAF Champions League)
Thursday, May 5
Eintracht Frankfurt vs West Ham (UEFA Europa League)
Rangers vs RB Leipzig (UEFA Europa League)
Roma vs Leicester City (UEFA Europa Conference League)
Marseille vs Feyenoord (UEFA Europa Conference League)
Fortaleza vs River Plate (Copa Libertadores)
RB Bragantino vs Vélez Sarsfield (Copa Libertadores)
Alianza Lima vs Colo-Colo (Copa Libertadores)
Most-watched football games in the United States: April 18-24, 2022
It was an interesting week in terms of ratings for football games in the United States, with all top spots in that ranking being occupied by Premier League matches.
Surprisingly, the match with the highest number of average viewers included Brentford and Tottenham, who played out a goalless draw last Saturday. The game with the second highest tally featured Liverpool and Everton, a game that ended with a two-nil win for the Reds. Last, but not least, supporters poured to watch Arsenal hosting Manchester United in an early kickoff game, with nearly 500,000 fans watching the Gunners claim a 3-1 victory over Ralf Rangnick's men.
One of the matches that stood out in this list was the NWSL game between the North Carolina Courage and the Washington Spirit. The NWSL match ended in an exciting two-all draw, but the real deal came for the Spirit, who qualified to the final stages of the competition at the expense of the Portland Thorns, the 2021 champions.
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What are this week's must-watch games?
Newcastle vs Liverpool live this Saturday at 7:30 a.m. ET on USA Network, Universo, Telemundo Deportes en Vivo, NUFC TV, fuboTV, Sling, and SiriusXM FC
With only five games remaining in the Premier League's heated title race, Liverpool are gearing up for another crucial fixture, this time a trip to none other than Newcastle. The Reds are in sizzling hot form, having beaten Manchester United and Everton domestically before triumphing 2-0 against Villarreal in the 1st leg of their UEFA Champions League semifinal matchup. However, Newcastle are flying high as well, winning seven of their last 10 games to go from relegation battlers to a ninth-placed side. Will the Reds drop points in this fixture? Tune in to find out.
West Ham vs Arsenal live this Sunday at 11:30 a.m. ET on USA Network, Telemundo, fuboTV, Sling, and SiriusXM FC
The top four race intensifies in the Premier League, with Arsenal, one of the favorites for UEFA Champions League football next season, set to take on London rivals West Ham in what should be an interesting fixture. The Gunners bounced back from a three-game losing streak to beat Chelsea and Manchester United in consecutive matches, leapfrogging Tottenham into fourth along the way. The Hammers, on the other hand, will have their Europa League semifinal showdown with Frankfurt, which they trail 2-1 from the first leg, in mind. Nonetheless, even when they rested several key players in their clash with Chelsea, David Moyes' men were still hard to beat. Don't miss this clash.
Real Madrid vs Man City headlines the top European games to watch this midweek as the UEFA Champions League semifinals wrap up
The European semifinals will wrap up this midweek, with the UEFA Champions League, Europa League, and Europa Conference League finalists set to be determined on Tuesday through Thursday. All eyes will be on Real Madrid vs Manchester City, the standout tie, as the Spanish and English giants battle it out for a spot on the ultimate stage. Ancelotti's side and Pep's crew played out a breathtaking 3-2 fixture in favor of the Cityzens in the first leg. However, with Los Blancos boasting the home advantage, Benzema and Co. will fancy their odds of pulling off a comeback.
The other semifinal tie will see Liverpool visit Villarreal, with the Reds boasting a 2-0 lead from the first leg and thus planting one foot in the final. Nothing has been decided in the Europa League as Eintracht Frankfurt boast a mere 2-1 lead over West Ham while RB Leipzig managed only a 1-0 triumph over Rangers in the first leg. Elsewhere, Marseille will take on Feyenoord in the Europa Conference League, having lost the first game 3-2, while Roma and Leicester will lock horns in Italy a week after their 1-1 draw at the King Power Stadium.
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We are reaching the crucial stages in some of the top women's football leagues across the globe. If you live in the U.S., here is where and how you can follow them.
The upcoming week in women's football will bring fans closer to decisive moments in the premier club competitions across the globe. Teams from Spain, the USA, Mexico, Germany and France will be taking center-stage to bring their best skills to the pitch.
During last week's matches, ratings in the United States showed that the match between the North Carolina Courage and the Washington Spirit became one of the most-watched live events in the country, which speaks volumes of the interest generated by the NWSL Challenge Cup. For this week, the follow-up to those games, some Liga MX Femenil matches and the conclusion of the UEFA Women's Champions League semi-finals will become the main topics of discussion among women's football lovers.
Let's have a closer look at what U.S. fans will be able to watch on TV or stream via their mobile devices.
UEFA Champions League, Serie A, and Barclay's FA WSL games live on ATA Football
It will be a weekend to remember with the return legs in the UEFA Women's Champions League semifinals. Barcelona get to their game with a comfortable 5-1 lead over Wolfsburg, while Lyon claimed a narrow 3-2 win against PSG. Added to those matches, ATA Football will also bring games featuring teams such as Chelsea, Arsenal, and Tottenham.
Saturday, April 30, 2022
Barclay's FA WSL - Manchester City vs Brighton at 06:30 a.m. ET
UEFA Women's Champions League - Wolfsburg vs Barcelona at 12:00 p.m. ET
UEFA Women's Champions League - PSG vs Olympique Lyon at 3:00 p.m. ET
Serie A - Fiorentina vs AS Roma at 08:30 a.m. ET
Sunday, May 1, 2022
Coppa Italia - Juventus vs AC Milan at 06:00 a.m. ET
Barclay's FA WSL - Arsenal vs Aston Villa at 09:15 a.m. ET
Barclay's FA WSL - Birmingham vs Chelsea at 13:45 p.m. ET
NWSL Challenge Cup
The tournament will crown a new champion after the Portland Thorns were eliminated from the title race, and now it will be up to the OL Reign, the Washington Spirit, the Kansas City Current, and the North Carolina Courage to determine the winner. Both semifinal ties will be held on May 4, leaving everything on the table for the title clash on May 7.
Wednesday, May 4, 2022
OL Reign vs Washington Spirit at 8:00 p.m. ET.
Kansas City Current vs North Carolina Courage at 10:00 p.m. ET.
Watch the final stages of the regular season in Liga MX Femenil in the U.S.
The last round of games in the regular season of Liga MX Femenil will give fans a chance to see what their teams are made of, starting with the clash between two favorites: Tigres and América. These teams are ranked third and fourth in the tournament, and their match should be a good test ahead of the Liguilla. On top of that, league leaders Monterrey will visit Guadalajara with the top spot in the competition up for grabs, as las Chivas are only three points behind las Rayadas, although their goal difference may be decisive in determining the top spot.
Friday, April 29, 2022
Atlético San Luis vs Querétaro at 18:00 ET.
Saturday, April 30, 2022
Cruz Azul vs Puebla at 13:00 p.m. ET
Sunday, May 1, 2022
Tigres vs América at 19:00 p.m. ET
Monday, May 2, 2022
Guadalajara vs Monterrey at 20:00 p.m. ET
Biggest stories of the week
New Man United manager Ten Hag keen on bringing in Ajax striker
Now that Erik ten Hag has been confirmed as Manchester United's new manager, speculations have started as to who will be in and who will be out once the Dutch tactician takes over this summer.
One player that has been linked with a move to Old Trafford is none other than Sebastien Haller. The 27-year-old certainly has been a standout player this season for Ajax both in the Eredivisie and in the Champions League. In the latter competition, Haller, who was born in France, but plays his international football for the Ivory Coast, set a new record by becoming the first player to score in seven consecutive matches in the Champions League.
And that's not all. On his debut, Haller scored four of Ajax's five goals as the Dutch powerhouse cruised to a 5-1 win over Sporting CP, making him the first player to score four on his debut since Marco van Basten did so for AC Milan back in 1992.
Although Ajax were unfortunately eliminated from the Champions League in the round of 16 after narrowly losing 3-2 to Benfica, Haller's goal-scoring exploits have garnered quite a bit of attention from clubs around Europe, and now there are reports that his manager could decide to bring him to Old Trafford once he moves over to England at the end of the season.
Haller will also be determined to prove himself after a very disappointing spell at West Ham, which saw him score just 14 times in 54 apps across all comps.
Considering that the Red Devils have been really struggling lately, Haller, who is priced at approximately $44 million (£35 million), could be an affordable option to boost their attack ahead of next season; however, Manchester United have also been linked with Benfica's Darwin Nunez, so it will be very interesting to see if either of these players end up featuring for the English giants next season.
Benzema reveals why he took a Panenka penalty against Ederson in Man City vs Real Madrid thriller
Karim Benzema continued his spectacular campaign, with the Frenchman scoring yet again in the UEFA Champions League to help his side to a slim 4-3 defeat in the first leg of their semifinal showdown with Manchester City.
In fact, the Blancos striker scored twice, netting in the first half to pull his team back into the game just as it appeared to be drifting away from them, before confidently converting a second-half penalty. His spot kick grabbed all the headlines as it oozed of confidence, with the 34-year-old executing an audacious Panenka over Ederson at such a venue.
This effort saw Benzema make the headlines, with fans and pundits alike praising the former Lyon ace for scoring such a goal. Interestingly, his Panenka came on the back of Real Madrid's league clash with Osasuna, with the Frenchman missing twice from the spot in that victory.
After the game, Karim spoke about that penalty and revealed what was going through his head when he stepped up to the spot. The Spanish Primera Division superstar revealed that it was down to one thing: his mental confidence. The striker told reporters after the final whistle:
"I always have it in my head that if you don't take a penalty, you will never miss a penalty.
"That's mental confidence and that's all. I have a lot of confidence in myself, so I do it and it turns out well."
Benzema would also go on to label his penalty a "cold blooded" effort, which is a take most would agree with. Nonetheless, what matters most is the score line as Real Madrid have a mere one-goal deficit to overcome in the second leg at the Bernabeu.
UEFA Champions League: Sadio Mane equals Didier Drogba's record as Liverpool edges closer to final
Liverpool forward Sadio Mane has equaled Didier Drogba's record as the African with the highest number of goals in the knockout stage of the UEFA Champions League. The 30-year-old attacker was on target as the Reds secured a 2-0 win over Villarreal to snatch the edge in the first leg of the semifinal tie between the pair.
Liverpool's mandate on Wednesday night was to break down the almost impenetrable wall of Villarreal and after almost an hour of trying, the Premier League side eventually had their breakthrough. First, it was Jordan Henderson who saw his cross deflect off Villarreal full-back Pervis Estupinan into the goal. 133 seconds later, Sadio Mane continued his fine goalscoring form by doubling the host's advantage with an assist from Mohamed Salah.
With the goal, the former Southampton forward took his goal tally at the knockout stage to 14, levelling the tally of former Ivory Coast international Didier Drogba as the highest scoring African at this stage in the history of the Champions League.
In terms of individual accomplishments, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp ended the night with one of his own. The German coach has now won each of his four home matches in Champions League semifinals – the joint-best 100% win rate at home in semifinals by any manager in the competition alongside Marcello Lippi and Ottmar Hitzfeld. The trio have all won four times.
PSG considering Premier League coach as Pochettino's replacement
Ligue 1 experts knew that Mauricio Pochettino's time at PSG's coach would end by the end of the season due to his failure to win the UEFA Champions League. Now, the French side have already lined up a list of replacements for the Argentine boss, although they might have to wait a bit to announce his successor if things go the way they had planned.
According to a report by Le Parisien, PSG had lined up Zinedine Zidane to replace Pochettino during the first month of the year, but since PSG did not fire the Argentine, Zidane has decided to snub all offers from the club while he waits for the French National Team's hot seat to be available, which will only happen after the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Hence, the team has decided to search for other alternatives, and the French media outlet has revealed that former Chelsea boss and Tottenham tactician Antonio Conte is the man they want to take over once Pochettino is axed.
Conte is still under contract with Tottenham until the end of next season, but if both parties agree to part ways, PSG would only be forced to pay a minimum amount for his services. The main problem for PSG is that Conte's only condition to take the job is not as appealing to them as the option to hire him.
The French newspaper has suggested that Conte requested to work with a new sporting director, which means that PSG must fire Leonardo. The reasons for Conte's wishes were not revealed by Le Parisien, but the newspaper has stated that Conte will not enter into any negotiations with the club until Leonardo is nowhere to be seen.
Furthermore, Conte reportedly wishes to know which of the team's top players will be around for next season, which means that the Italian tactician will not make any announcements until Kylian Mbappé sheds light on his future. The Frenchman is expected to reveal his decision about leaving the club or signing a new deal after May 21, which may also give the club some time to agree terms with Conte in both of those scenarios.
Be that as it may, Mauricio Pochettino seems to have no future at PSG, but it will take a bit more time for his current employers to sign his replacement.
Other key headlines from the world of football
Barcelona opt to extend and increase loan in order to finance stadium revamp
New reports now indicate that the Blaugrana have taken out an additional loan, which will become available in 2023. In addition, the club have extended their terms of their already existing loan.
As per these reports, Barcelona's initial funding secured from Goldman Sachs was approximately $860 million (€815 million), which they acquired via means of a bridge loan worth about $95 million (€90 million).
The COVID-19 pandemic made it trickier for Barcelona to pay back this initial investment, which was then extended twice to give them more time, from 2021 to February 2022, and now has been extended for a third time. In addition, that bridge loan has been doubled to approximately $190 million (€180 million).
Mourinho planning to spend big money to hire THREE Man United outcasts
The team Mourinho is ready to "raid" during the upcoming transfer window is none other than Manchester United. The Red Devils are expected to witness a massive overhaul in the next weeks, and the Portuguese coach has already asked his agents and Roma representatives to try and lure as much as three players to the Italian top-flight.
The first of those names is Nemanja Matic. The player's deal with the English club is about to expire, and hiring one of the most experienced midfielders in the world for his Roman project would be wonderful for Mourinho. The player was close to joining Jose this past winter, but Roma executives pulled the plug on the deal and decided to pursue his signing once he became a free agent. Now, it seems that it will only be a matter of weeks to finalize the deal.
The other two players included in the report by Calciomercato are Eric Bailly and Diogo Dalot. Right now, both players have been included in a list of footballers that could be sold during the summer window, but while the Special One has already shown interest in their services, the club will only part ways with them if new coach Erik ten Hag decides not to keep them around.
Liverpool receive huge boost as Jurgen Klopp officially signs new Anfield deal
Straight after Liverpool's 2-0 win over Villarreal in the UEFA Champions League 1st leg semifinals, the conversation quickly shifted to Jurgen Klopp's future at Anfield and whether the German will leave Merseyside if the Reds were to secure the quadruple. The former Dortmund boss was tipped to leave in 2024, with several sources believing he would call it quits before taking a one year sabbatical.
Fortunately, Liverpool fans received a huge boost the day after that Villarreal victory as the legendary manager officially signed a new deal at the club, agreeing to stay until 2026.
Additionally, the manager's closest staff members also committed to the Reds for another two more years. Klopp, who took over in 2015, has already led the Merseyside outfit to a UEFA Champions League, Premier League, UEFA Super Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup crown. This season, Salah and Co. are only one point behind English top-flight leaders Manchester City, have one foot in the UEFA Champions League final, have already lifted the Carabao Cup trophy, and are set to feature in the FA Cup final next month.
