Top games to watch this week
Friday, May 6
Levante vs Real Sociedad (La Liga)
Inter vs Empoli (Serie A)
Genoa vs Juventus (Serie A)
Lille vs Monaco (Ligue 1)
Saturday, May 7
Chelsea vs Wolves (English Premier League)
Brighton vs Man United (English Premier League)
Liverpool vs Tottenham (English Premier League)
Real Betis vs Barcelona (La Liga)
Greuther Furth vs Borussia Dortmund (Bundesliga)
Benfica vs Porto (Primeira Liga)
Portimonense vs Sporting CP (Primeira Liga)
Cruz Azul vs Necaxa (Liga MX)
Monterrey vs Atlético San Luis (Liga MX)
Dallas vs Seattle Sounders (MLS)
Los Angeles FC vs Philadelphia Union (MLS)
Sunday, May 8
Arsenal vs Leeds United (English Premier League)
Manchester City vs Newcastle (English Premier League)
Villarreal vs Sevilla (La Liga)
Atlético Madrid vs Real Madrid (La Liga)
Hellas Verona vs Milan (Serie A)
Bayern vs Stuttgart (Bundesliga)
PSG vs Troyes (Ligue 1)
Feyenoord vs PSV (Eredivisie)
Puebla vs Mazatlán (Liga MX)
Guadalajara vs Pumas UNAM (Liga MX)
Austin FC vs LA Galaxy (MLS)
Monday, May 9
Fiorentina vs Roma (Serie A)
Belenenses vs Famalicao (Primeira Liga)
Germany vs Bosnia (UEFA U-17 Women's Championship)
Netherlands vs Denmark (UEFA U-17 Women's Championship)
Spain vs France (UEFA U-17 Women's Championship)
Finland vs Norway (UEFA U-17 Women's Championship)
Tuesday, May 10
Aston Villa vs Liverpool (English Premier League)
Valencia vs Real Betis (La Liga)
Barcelona vs Celta (La Liga)
Orland City vs Philadelphia Union (US Open Cup)
DC United vs New York RB (US Open Cup)
Sporting KC vs Dallas (US Open Cup)
Los Angeles FC vs Portland Timbers (US Open Cup)
Wednesday, May 11
Leeds United vs Chelsea (English Premier League)
Wolves vs Manchester City (English Premier League)
Sevilla vs Mallorca (La Liga)
Elche vs Atlético (La Liga)
Nashville SC vs Atlanta United (US Open Cup)
Seattle Sounders vs SJ Earthquakes (US Open Cup)
Juventus vs Inter (Coppa Italia)
Thursday, May 12
Tottenham vs Arsenal (English Premier League)
Real Sociedad vs Cádiz (La Liga)
Real Madrid vs Levante (La Liga)
UEFA U-17 Women's Championship: Semi-final 1
UEFA U-17 Women's Championship: Semi-final 2
Most-watched football games in the United States: April 25-May 1, 2022
It was an interesting week in terms of ratings for football games in the United States where things got back to normal with the UEFA Champions League claiming the two top spots. The "podium" included Manchester City twice, as the Citizens were the most-watched team in their game against Real Madrid and ended up in third position with their 4-0 win over Leeds gathering quite a lot of attention.
In terms of domestic leagues, Premier League matches continued to gather quite a bit of attention, but two games featuring Liga MX teams came close to hitting the 500,000-viewers mark. The first of those featured Pumas UNAM in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions League final against the Seattle Sounders, a game that would end in a 2-2 draw. The other one was the Liga MX clash between América and Cruz Azul, a match that ended in a goalless draw.
Speaking of MLS matches, Sunday's game between Nashville and the Philadelphia Union gathered over 240,000 viewers on ESPN, making it the highest-rated MLS match of the week.
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What are this week's must-watch games?
Liverpool vs Tottenham live this Saturday at 2:45 p.m. ET on USA Network, Universo, fuboTV, Sling Blue, SiriusXM FC, and Telemundo Deportes En Vivo
This is the first of two games involving Tottenham to make our list, as the north London giants gear up for a tricky trip to Anfield. Given that Conte's men are locked in a heated top-four race with Arsenal, Kane and Co. cannot afford a slip-up. Unfortunately, they'll be facing one of Europe's deadliest teams as Liverpool aim to beat Spurs in their pursuit of the Premier League title. League leaders Manchester City are a point ahead, meaning Klopp's men also cannot afford anything but a win. The Merseyside giants recently beat Villarreal to make the UEFA Champions League final and will now be focused on overcoming Tottenham.
Atlético Madrid vs Real Madrid live this Sunday at 3 p.m. ET exclusively on ESPN+
Real Madrid are officially the champions of Spain, meaning the only thing left to play for is pride. This derby comes on the back of Los Blancos' brilliant comeback victory versus Manchester City, with Rodrygo scoring twice in one minute to keep the Merengues in their UEFA Champions League semifinal tie before Benzema eventually won the game and a ticket to the final. Simeone's men, meanwhile, are fourth in the league and sit only three above fifth-placed Real Betis after winning only once in their last five outings. Who'll come away with bragging rights in this tie? Tune in to find out.
Juventus vs Inter live this Wednesday at 3 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network, Paramount+, and fuboTV
The Coppa Italia final is here! Serie A giants Inter Milan will get the opportunity to win one of two available silverwares this midweek as the Nerazzurri prepare to face Juventus in the ultimate game in the nation's domestic cup competition. Both sides will be in action in the Italian top-flight first, with Inzhagi's men taking to the field on Friday before the Old Lady's trip to Genoa later that same day, preparing the stage for a juicy Coppa Italia final. Will Lautaro and Co. get their hands on the trophy or will January signing Vlahovic led Allegri's side to victory over their bitter rivals? Don't miss this showdown.
Tottenham vs Arsenal live this Thursday at 2:45 p.m. ET on USA Network, Universo, fuboTV, Sling Blue, SiriusXM FC, and Telemundo Deportes En Vivo
Tottenham are back on our list, and for obvious reasons, as their highly-anticipated showdown with Arsenal is set to take place on Thursday. This will be one of the most crucial north London derbies ever as the result in this clash could determine who qualifies for the UEFA Champions League. If Spurs were to lose against Liverpool on Saturday and Arsenal beat Leeds over the weekend, then Conte's men will head into this tie needing a win and a win only to keep their top-four hopes alive. Arteta's crew, meanwhile, enter this tie having sealed precious victories over Chelsea, Manchester United, and West Ham. Mark your calendars for this exciting fixture.
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Continental and domestic tournaments will give fans a good reason to follow women's football matches across the globe. Here is a list of the most relevant showdowns.
The upcoming week in women's football will bring fans closer to decisive moments in the premier club competitions across the globe. Teams from England, Mexico, Italy and the United States will keep fans glued to their seats as crucial and exciting fixtures are on the horizon.
Some of the standout matches for the weekend will feature some of the most powerful teams in Europe, including Wolfsburg, Bayern München, Juventus, Roma, and Arsenal. When speaking about North America, the NWSL Challenge Cup will be crowning their champions, and if that was not enough, the teams that are set to play the semifinals of the Mexican top-flight next week will be determined.
Let's have a closer look at what U.S. fans will be able to watch on TV or stream via their mobile devices.
Fräuen Bundesliga, Liga Iberdrola, Serie A, and Barclay's FA WSL matches live on ATA Football
It will be a weekend to keep an eye on with some of the defining moments in the Fräuen Bundesliga. One more win could add one more title to Wolfsburg's resume, but Bayern will surely try to keep up the pressure with a victory on Friday against Bayer Leverkusen.
Elsewhere, the Women's Serie A could crown their champions this weekend if Juventus triumph in their game against Sassuolo. If the bianconeri cannot win their game, that will give Roma a slight option to win the titl, but they must claim a victory against Sampdoria to keep their hopes alive.
Last, but not least, Chelsea are one win away from winning the FA Women's Super League title. In the event of a loss or a draw, Arsenal could snatch the crown away from the Blues, who have not dropped any points in their last five games. Either way, the end of the English league will be one of the highlights of the weekend, and it will be live on ATA Football.
Friday, May 6, 2022
Frauen-Bundesliga - Bayer Leverkusen vs Bayern München at 1:15 p.m. ET
Saturday, May 7, 2022
Serie A - Juventus vs Sassuolo at 08:30 a.m. ET
Serie A - Roma vs Sampdoria at 08:30 a.m. ET
Sunday, May 1, 2022
Barclay's FA WSL - Chelsea vs Manchester United at 07:00 a.m. ET
Frauen-Bundesliga - Carl Zeiss Jena vs Wolfsburg at 10:00 a.m. ET
NWSL Challenge Cup
The tournament will crown a new champion this Saturday when the North Carolina Courage and the Washington Spirit lock horns over the weekend. Both teams will be gunning for a chance to make history when they enter Sahlen's Stadium in North Carolina, as neither one of these teams has even played the title clash in this tournament. The Courage defeated the Kansas City Current in the semifinals, while the Spirit claimed the spot in the title clash by beating the OL Reign in a grueling penalty shootout.
Saturday, May 7, 2022
North Carolina Courage vs Washington Spirit at 13:00 p.m. ET.
Keep track of the quarterfinals in the Clausura 2022 tournament in Liga MX Femenil
The first stage of the Liguilla began prior to the release of this report, but the return legs will all take place during the weekend, with teams such as Tigres, Pachuca, and Monterrey being some of those to keep in mind as potential winners of the competition.
Friday, May 6, 2022
Pumas UNAM vs Guadalajara at 19:00 ET.
Tijuana vs Monterrey at 22:00 ET
Sunday, May 8, 2022
América vs Pachuca at 19:00 p.m. ET
Monday, May 9, 2022
Guadalajara vs Pumas UNAM at 20:00 p.m. ET
Monterrey vs Tijuana at 22:00 p.m. ET
Biggest stories of the week
Salah and Kroos set Twitter ablaze once UEFA Champions League final rematch was confirmed
After Real Madrid's win against Manchester City was confirmed, Liverpool's Egyptian ace took to Twitter to voice his thoughts on the game. Judging by his words, Salah has not forgotten about the Reds' 3-1 loss to Los Merengues in the 2017-18 UEFA Champions League final, and he is ready to set the record straight against the Spanish titans.
For those who are unaware, Mohamed Salah had already "asked" to face Real Madrid in Tuesday's post-match interview with BT Sport. While his words went viral, this fact will be one to take under consideration for the next few weeks.
But just when we thought that would be all in terms of social media exploits, along came Toni Kroos to get the fire burning again. The German footballer, who once again proved his worth for Los Merengues on Wednesday, took to Twitter to share his emotions, posting laughing emojis. While he did not reply directly to Salah's tweet, the fact that it was posted so close to the Egyptian's words made fans guess about his intentions.
Liverpool and Real Madrid will face each other for the ninth time in UEFA Champions League history and for the sixth time in the past ten years. Out of those most recent five matches, Los Blancos have walked away with four wins, including the 2018 final Mohamed Salah was referring to. The most recent match between these clubs ended in a goalless draw back in April 2021.
Messi's reaction to Real Madrid's historic UEFA Champions League comeback vs Man City revealed
The kings of Europe Real Madrid took on Premier League giants Manchester City in the second leg of their semifinal tie on Wednesday and despite entering the final minutes with a 1-0 deficit, 5-3 on aggregate, meaning Ancelotti's men were headed for an exit, Los Blancos were able to turn things around.
Two dramatic goals from substitute Rodrygo in one minute – yes, ONE MINUTE – saw Ancelotti's side claw their way back into the tie in the final few minutes, forcing it into extra time. And five minutes into extra time, Karim Benzema netted the winning goal, scoring after being awarded a penalty to complete his team's unforgettable comeback, thus booking their ticket to the final where they will face Liverpool.
Even Lionel Messi could not hold back his reaction after watching this tie, with the Argentine sending a private message to close friend and fellow countryman Sergio Aguero in regards to the remarkable result. Manchester City icon Aguero, who was on ESPN alongside Oscar Ruggeri and Carlos Tevez to comment on the game, revealed to his co-workers for the day that La Pulga had sent him a text about the game. According to Marca's Santi Villahoz, the Premier League legend went on to disclose the content of the message.
"Leo is writing to me," Aguero told Tevez, as per the report, to which Carlos replied: "What is Leo saying?"
This came during the second half of extra time, meaning Real Madrid had already pulled off the comeback and simply needed to hold out, which they did, at the time of this message.
"Stop f**ing around, stupid... no way," Messi wrote to his close pal, Kun went on to confess.
That Santiago Bernabéu encounter will probably be talked about for years, but with a UEFA Champions League final showdown with Liverpool approaching, Ancelotti's men will have to swiftly shift focus to completing the season before preparing for their battle with Klopp's heavyweights.
TRANSFER TALK: Juventus reportedly looking at USMNT star to replace Dybala
With Paulo Dybala set to make his exit this summer, Juventus have already started looking to find replacements for the Argentinian attacker.
According to reports from Italy, namely Tuttosport, the Bianconeri are apparently tracking the situation around Christian Pulisic. Although the American international made history when he signed for approximately $73 million (£57.6 million), making him not just the most expensive American, but the most expensive North American overall of all time, he hasn't enjoyed as much first-team action as he would like, with just ten starts so far this season.
As such, the USMNT star could be looking to make a move this summer, with Serie A and Juventus being mooted as a potential destination. While nothing concrete has been discussed openly regarding fees and terms, should he opt to make a move, it would make him the second American signing by the Bianconeri, following the permanent acquisition of his USMNT teammate Weston McKennie last March.
That is, provided that McKennie, who's been out for the last couple of months following a broken foot, isn't himself on the move as some other reports claim that Tottenham, currently managed by Antonio Conte, are keen on his services.
Messi and Neymar left out of Ligue 1 Player of the Season shortlist
Paris Saint-Germain duo Lionel Messi and Neymar have been snubbed for Ligue 1's end of season awards despite being instrumental at the business end of the side's run-in for a record-equaling 10th league title. The pair have had a lackluster spell in the domestic campaign so far and were amiss when the list of nominees were revealed on Wednesday.
Last month, PSG rounded up the league title, dethroning Lille who ended their incredible successive run of win. While it was expected to be a formality for the French giants, the arrival of Lionel Messi and a few other marquee names significantly boosted the chances of Mauricio Pochettino's men.
With the recruitment of the Argentine, many expected Les Parisiens to finally stage a memorable run for the coveted UEFA Champions League. However, the quest hit a dead end as they were eventually eliminated by Real Madrid in the round of 16 stage. In the league, Messi has struggled for form, having only registered four league goals in 23 games while managing 13 assists. On the other hand, his partner in crime, Neymar Jr, has scored 11 Ligue 1 goals.
Despite the respective tallies of the duo, the UNFP (French Players' Union) has released the nominees for its 2021/22 awards, and Messi and Neymar were left off the list. Meanwhile, Kylian Mbappe was nominated for the Player of the Year award alongside Wissam Ben Yedder of AS Monaco, Dimitri Payet of Marseille, Lucas Paqueta of Lyon, and Martin Terrier of Stade Rennais. PSG head coach Mauricio Pochettino was also overlooked for the Coach of the Year award.
Other key headlines from the world of football
Liverpool reportedly looking to double current kit sponsorship deal
Off the pitch, Liverpool have also been quite busy, namely when it comes to negotiating their sponsorship deals. British banking corporation Standard Chartered has been the Reds' shirt sponsor for well over a decade, and now, according to English reports, Liverpool are looking to get an improved deal.
The English giants' current arrangement runs through the end of the 2022/23 campaign, and is worth approximately $201 million (£160 million). As this was signed as a four year deal, this averages out to about $50.2 million (£40 million) per season. Liverpool are apparently seeking a vastly improved deal that will see them double their earnings from this arrangement, and thus will earn them about $100 million (£80 million) each season.
As per the same report, Liverpool's stance on wanting improved terms comes from the fact that their kits are among the most sold globally, with some estimates putting sales at over 2 million during the current fiscal period. If the deal does go through, it will be the most expensive in world football. Real Madrid, Liverpool's upcoming opponents in this year's Champions League final, currently make about $73.6 million per annum from their current arrangement with Emirates.
Revealed: What Klopp told his players at half time to spark Liverpool's comeback win at Villarreal
Tuesday saw Liverpool visit Villarreal for the second leg of their UEFA Champions League semifinal matchup. Despite boasting a 2-0 lead, the Reds quickly threw away their advantage, conceding twice in the first half to enter the break on level terms. Fortunately for the Merseyside giants, Van Dijk and Co. turned things around in the second 45 minutes, as goals from Fabinho, Luis Diaz, and Sadio Mane earned them a comeback victory.
So what did Klopp say to his players during half-time to spark a drastic improvement on the pitch? Van Dijk opened up after the game about the dressing room talk, telling BT Sport that the German boss encouraged his men to show conviction, character, and to play football.
"He said 'play football, play the Liverpool way'," Van Dijk told BT Sport.
"He told us to play the way we've been playing basically all season, to get on the ball, have a lot of movement in the box and behind the high line, but also to show how much we really want to go to the final."
Ancelotti confirms retirement plans once Real Madrid gig is over
After winning each and every one of the top five European leagues, Carlo Ancelotti has finally spoken out loud about when he is ready to call it quits in his coaching career. The answer is quite simple for the Italian boss: he will end his tenure as coach once Los Blancos decide to part ways with the iconic tactician.
Speaking in an interview with Prime Video, the seasoned manager admitted that Real Madrid may be the last club he will ever be in charge of, even if that means he has to wait ten more years to retire from his profession.
"After this time at Real Madrid, yes, I will be retiring probably. If the club wants me here for ten years, then I will coach them for ten more years. But after that, I'd like to be around my grandchildren, take a trip with my wife. There are many things you leave aside when you choose this line of work. I have never been to Australia or to Rio de Janeiro. I'd like to visit my sister more often. Unfortunately I can't do that right now, so when I retire I will have a lot of these things on my plate," Ancelotti said.
