ASN WatchList
Hertha, Puebla, Barca Make Our Weekend WatchList
With the 2015 Major League Soccer still weeks away—and a strike looking more and more likely—you’ll have to gaze abroad to get your footie fix. Here are a handful of matches worth considering.
FREEZING TEMPERATURES ARE BLANKETING most of the country these days, which means you are officially authorized to stay inside and curl up with a soccer game or three. Here’s our curated guide to the most interesting matches on TV this weekend.
Michael Orozco has had a breakout season for Puebla (2-2-2, 8 points) making 20 appearances in the 2014-2015 Liga MX season. The 29-year-old defender has been loitering on the fringes of the U.S. men’s national team for years now and he needs to show up every week if he wants to make a depth chart charge past the likes of Matt Besler, Omar Gonzalez, John Brooks, and Jermaine Jones. A good performance against winless Morelia (0-3-3, 3 points) would be a step in the right direction.
Also keep an eye on former U.S. international Herculez Gomez. Puebla has scored just five goals this season and need more production from the forward position. Although he is 32-years-old, Gomez can still hit the back of the net with the best of them.
Manuel Pellegrini’s side is seven points behind Chelsea for first place in the Premier League. While it might be a bit presumptuous to say that this match is a must-win, the fact that it has dropped points four of their last five matches indicates that beating Newcastle should be a priority. A Tuesday date with FC Barcelona in the Champions League means this club must find their form fast. Trivia alert: Newcastle manager John Carver is the first-ever coach to go from managing an MLS side to managing a Premier League side. Aside from a couple of caretaker manager jobs, Carver’s first full-time head coaching job was with Toronto FC in 2008-2009. After a bad spell there, he came back to Newcastle and was named interim head coach in January. (He may not be a long-term option in the role, as he has recorded just one win in seven games. La Liga: Barcelona vs Malaga (9:45am; beIN Sport)
Neymar and Lionel Messi have combined to score 43 goals this season for Barcelona—more than every other team in La Liga other than Real Madrid. This two-man wrecking crew is worth a watch whenever they are on TV. That said, Malaga seems to be the only club that can actually contain Barcelona. Back in September Malaga held the Catalonian side to a scoreless draw. It’s a classic irresistible force — unmovable object showdown.
EPL: Chelsea—Burnley (10am; NBCSN)
EPL: Aston Villa-Stoke City (10am; NBC Sports Live Extra)
Brad Guzan will be taking on Geoff Cameron. Why isn’t this game being shown on NBCSN? Contact your local cable operator.
Liga MX: Monterrey-Queretaro (8pm; Univision Deportes)
Here it is—the battle of unsettled U.S. national teamers! On one side you have Julian Green, who has had all sorts of issues while on loan with Hamburg this season. It seemed to come to head this week Green reportedly refused to play for Hamburg’s U-23 team. Although both sides quashed the rumor and Green did score for the U-23’s against Halstenbrek-Rellingen, to say things have gone poorly for Green at Hamburg would be an understatement.
Meanwhile Fabian Johnson has had a bizarre season with Borussia Monchengladbach. While his form has generally been good—he has started in three of his clubs last five Bundesliga matches—his spat with coach Lucien Favre over positioning has led to unwanted friction.
Bundesliga: Wolfsburg—Hertha Berlin (11:30am; GolTV)
Central defender John Brooks has made significant strides this season, overcoming a reputation for immaturity and consistency along the way. With 15 league appearances so far this season, he is also gaining valuable experience in arguably the best soccer league on the planet. But Hertha Berlin (6-3-12, 21 points) is currently stuck in last place in the Bundesliga, having lost four of its last five matches. Second-place Wolfsburg has scored 46 goals this season and won’t make it easy on Brooks or Hertha.
EPL: Everton—Leicester City (9am; NBCSN)
Liga MX: Pumas—America (1pm; Univision)
La Liga: Elche—Real Madrid (2:55pm; beIN Sport)
Uruguay: Penarol—Juventud (5pm; Gol TV) What will you be watching this weekend? Tell us below. Sean Maslin is a freelance soccer writer. Follow him on Twitter.
Friday
Liga MX: Morelia vs Puebla (8:30pm; ESPN Deportes)
Michael Orozco has had a breakout season for Puebla (2-2-2, 8 points) making 20 appearances in the 2014-2015 Liga MX season. The 29-year-old defender has been loitering on the fringes of the U.S. men’s national team for years now and he needs to show up every week if he wants to make a depth chart charge past the likes of Matt Besler, Omar Gonzalez, John Brooks, and Jermaine Jones. A good performance against winless Morelia (0-3-3, 3 points) would be a step in the right direction.
Also keep an eye on former U.S. international Herculez Gomez. Puebla has scored just five goals this season and need more production from the forward position. Although he is 32-years-old, Gomez can still hit the back of the net with the best of them.
Also on Friday
Juventus-Atalanta (2:30pm; beIn Sport)Saturday
Manchester City vs Newcastle (12:30pm; NBC)Manuel Pellegrini’s side is seven points behind Chelsea for first place in the Premier League. While it might be a bit presumptuous to say that this match is a must-win, the fact that it has dropped points four of their last five matches indicates that beating Newcastle should be a priority. A Tuesday date with FC Barcelona in the Champions League means this club must find their form fast. Trivia alert: Newcastle manager John Carver is the first-ever coach to go from managing an MLS side to managing a Premier League side. Aside from a couple of caretaker manager jobs, Carver’s first full-time head coaching job was with Toronto FC in 2008-2009. After a bad spell there, he came back to Newcastle and was named interim head coach in January. (He may not be a long-term option in the role, as he has recorded just one win in seven games. La Liga: Barcelona vs Malaga (9:45am; beIN Sport)
Neymar and Lionel Messi have combined to score 43 goals this season for Barcelona—more than every other team in La Liga other than Real Madrid. This two-man wrecking crew is worth a watch whenever they are on TV. That said, Malaga seems to be the only club that can actually contain Barcelona. Back in September Malaga held the Catalonian side to a scoreless draw. It’s a classic irresistible force — unmovable object showdown.
Also on Saturday
Serie A: Sampordia–Genoa (2:30pm; beIN Sport)EPL: Chelsea—Burnley (10am; NBCSN)
EPL: Aston Villa-Stoke City (10am; NBC Sports Live Extra)
Brad Guzan will be taking on Geoff Cameron. Why isn’t this game being shown on NBCSN? Contact your local cable operator.
Liga MX: Monterrey-Queretaro (8pm; Univision Deportes)
Sunday
Bundesliga: Hamburg—Borussia Monchengladbach (9:30am; GolTV)Here it is—the battle of unsettled U.S. national teamers! On one side you have Julian Green, who has had all sorts of issues while on loan with Hamburg this season. It seemed to come to head this week Green reportedly refused to play for Hamburg’s U-23 team. Although both sides quashed the rumor and Green did score for the U-23’s against Halstenbrek-Rellingen, to say things have gone poorly for Green at Hamburg would be an understatement.
Meanwhile Fabian Johnson has had a bizarre season with Borussia Monchengladbach. While his form has generally been good—he has started in three of his clubs last five Bundesliga matches—his spat with coach Lucien Favre over positioning has led to unwanted friction.
Bundesliga: Wolfsburg—Hertha Berlin (11:30am; GolTV)Central defender John Brooks has made significant strides this season, overcoming a reputation for immaturity and consistency along the way. With 15 league appearances so far this season, he is also gaining valuable experience in arguably the best soccer league on the planet. But Hertha Berlin (6-3-12, 21 points) is currently stuck in last place in the Bundesliga, having lost four of its last five matches. Second-place Wolfsburg has scored 46 goals this season and won’t make it easy on Brooks or Hertha.
Also On Sunday
EPL: Tottenham—West Ham (7am; NBCSN)EPL: Everton—Leicester City (9am; NBCSN)
Liga MX: Pumas—America (1pm; Univision)
La Liga: Elche—Real Madrid (2:55pm; beIN Sport)
Uruguay: Penarol—Juventud (5pm; Gol TV) What will you be watching this weekend? Tell us below. Sean Maslin is a freelance soccer writer. Follow him on Twitter.
