What to Watch this Weekend
Will Brek Shea Start for Stoke City on Saturday?
For the better part of a decade Fulham was the Premier League team to watch for U.S. national team fans. Stoke could stake a claim to that title if Brek Shea becomes a regular alongside Geoff Cameron.
Plenty of leagues are still on hiatus, but more and more Americans are on the field. With a bevy of
options on your television screen, we guide you through the wilderness that is soccer on TV and
suggest the best matches to watch this weekend if you want to keep up with the U.S. national team.
FRIDAY
Santos v. América
10 p.m. (All times Eastern)
Univision Deportes
Oribe Peralta, the Mexican striker, will return, but U.S. forward Herculez Gomez should still start for
Santos, which is on a bit of a skid. The Guerreros haven’t won since January 25, accumulating just two
points in its last three games. América still sit in second but showed signs of weakness last weekend
when it drew with Toluca at the Azteca. Santos will hope to further exploit those weaknesses and get
three points at home.
SATURDAY
Fulham v. Stoke City
7:30 a.m.
ESPN2
As usual, Geoff Cameron will be in the starting XI for Stoke City, but we’ve grown accustomed to that. More
novel is the potential for Brek Shea’s Premier League debut. Shea has impressed in friendlies since
joining the Potters from FC Dallas in January. Tony Pulis says he’ll include Shea
in the team but isn’t tipping his hand about whether or not the winger will start at Craven Cottage, the
site of many glorious moments for Americans in the past.
Schalke v. Fortuna Dusseldorf
12:30 p.m.
GolTV
Didier Drogba? The only guy you need is Jermaine Jones–or at least that’s the theory after Jones
scored the equalizer in Schalke’s 1-1 draw with Galatasaray and its new additions, Drogba and Wesley
Sneijder. Schalke hasn't nabbed a win in its previous four league
matches, falling to ninth in the table. A win against Dusseldorf would cap a satisfying week for the
Royal Blues.
SUNDAY
Atalanta v. Roma 8:55 a.m. beIN Sport en Español Michael Bradley might not have played the full 90 of Roma’s last two Serie A matches, but he clearly still has a role with the team. He came on as the first substitute of Roma’s victory against Juventus just after Francesco Totti’s magnificent goal. This week gives Roma a chance to build off its win against the league leaders. Atalanta sit in 15th, six points clear of the drop zone. MONDAY West Ham v. Tottenham 3 p.m. ESPN2 Extend your weekend into Monday or just brighten up the start of your week with this one. Tottenham and Clint Dempsey are enjoying rival Arsenal’s missteps this month with Spurs tightening its grasp on one of the top four places. West Ham has had a better season than expected but have cooled off a bit in the new year. Tottenham are one of the best teams in the league away from home and will be favorites to win Monday. IF ONLY THERE WERE SOME WAY TO WATCH THIS GAME OF THE WEEK PRESENTED BY FREEFOOTBALLSTREAMZZZZZ.EU.NET.SKETCH.COM Bundesliga: Hoffenheim v. Augsburg (9:30 a.m., Saturday)— The chance to see U.S. national team fullbacks Fabian Johnson of Hoffenheim and Michael Parkhurst of Augsburg is enough to risk a virus. Throw in defensive midfielder Danny Williams, who is finding his way back on the field after some time on the bench. Both clubs are looking to avoid relegation, but chances are at least one will fall victim to the drop. It should be a match full of intensity with that risk looming. BEST OF THE REST Premier League: Arsenal v. Aston Villa (10 a.m., Saturday, Fox Soccer Plus)— Brad Guzan will be in goal for Villa and attempt to keep a clean sheet against a team that is still managed by Arsene Wenger–for now. Don’t forget it’s free Fox Soccer Plus preview this weekend. Liga MX: Cruz Azul v. Tigres (6 p.m., Saturday, ESPN Deportes)— Jose Torres and Tigres attempt to stay atop the league when they head to the capital. La Maquina Azul is still figuring out life without playmaker Javier Aquino, who headed to Villarreal in January. Liga MX: Tijuana v. Atlante (9:00 p.m., Saturday, Galavision)— Fresh off a Copa Libertadores victoria in Colombia, Edgar Castillo, Joe Corona, and the Xolos return home. They’ll try to start a new Estadio Caliente winning streak after América handed the team its first lost there in more than a year in its most recent home contest. NO U.S. ANGLE BUT... Premier League: Manchester City v. Chelsea (8:30 a.m., Sunday, Fox Soccer)— Big clubs clash with City hoping it can stay alive in the Premier League race. Eredivisie: Feyenoord v. PSV (6:30 a.m., Sunday, ESPN3, ESPN Deportes)—There’s a title race shaping up in the Netherlands. Last week Feyenoord slipped up against a team that was in the relegation zone. Have another slip up against the league leaders this week, and Feyenoord could be completely out of it. Serie A: Inter v. AC Milan (2:40 p.m., Sunday, beIN Sports en Español)— AC Milan is flying high after defeating Barcelona in the first leg of their Champions League tie. A victory against their rival who look vulnerable after losing its most recent league match would put AC Milan fans on cloud nine if they weren’t there already. So what are you watching this weekend? Which matches did we miss that we should tune in for? Jon Arnold (@ArnoldcommaJon) is a writer based in Arizona and ASN’s CONCACAF correspondent.
Atalanta v. Roma 8:55 a.m. beIN Sport en Español Michael Bradley might not have played the full 90 of Roma’s last two Serie A matches, but he clearly still has a role with the team. He came on as the first substitute of Roma’s victory against Juventus just after Francesco Totti’s magnificent goal. This week gives Roma a chance to build off its win against the league leaders. Atalanta sit in 15th, six points clear of the drop zone. MONDAY West Ham v. Tottenham 3 p.m. ESPN2 Extend your weekend into Monday or just brighten up the start of your week with this one. Tottenham and Clint Dempsey are enjoying rival Arsenal’s missteps this month with Spurs tightening its grasp on one of the top four places. West Ham has had a better season than expected but have cooled off a bit in the new year. Tottenham are one of the best teams in the league away from home and will be favorites to win Monday. IF ONLY THERE WERE SOME WAY TO WATCH THIS GAME OF THE WEEK PRESENTED BY FREEFOOTBALLSTREAMZZZZZ.EU.NET.SKETCH.COM Bundesliga: Hoffenheim v. Augsburg (9:30 a.m., Saturday)— The chance to see U.S. national team fullbacks Fabian Johnson of Hoffenheim and Michael Parkhurst of Augsburg is enough to risk a virus. Throw in defensive midfielder Danny Williams, who is finding his way back on the field after some time on the bench. Both clubs are looking to avoid relegation, but chances are at least one will fall victim to the drop. It should be a match full of intensity with that risk looming. BEST OF THE REST Premier League: Arsenal v. Aston Villa (10 a.m., Saturday, Fox Soccer Plus)— Brad Guzan will be in goal for Villa and attempt to keep a clean sheet against a team that is still managed by Arsene Wenger–for now. Don’t forget it’s free Fox Soccer Plus preview this weekend. Liga MX: Cruz Azul v. Tigres (6 p.m., Saturday, ESPN Deportes)— Jose Torres and Tigres attempt to stay atop the league when they head to the capital. La Maquina Azul is still figuring out life without playmaker Javier Aquino, who headed to Villarreal in January. Liga MX: Tijuana v. Atlante (9:00 p.m., Saturday, Galavision)— Fresh off a Copa Libertadores victoria in Colombia, Edgar Castillo, Joe Corona, and the Xolos return home. They’ll try to start a new Estadio Caliente winning streak after América handed the team its first lost there in more than a year in its most recent home contest. NO U.S. ANGLE BUT... Premier League: Manchester City v. Chelsea (8:30 a.m., Sunday, Fox Soccer)— Big clubs clash with City hoping it can stay alive in the Premier League race. Eredivisie: Feyenoord v. PSV (6:30 a.m., Sunday, ESPN3, ESPN Deportes)—There’s a title race shaping up in the Netherlands. Last week Feyenoord slipped up against a team that was in the relegation zone. Have another slip up against the league leaders this week, and Feyenoord could be completely out of it. Serie A: Inter v. AC Milan (2:40 p.m., Sunday, beIN Sports en Español)— AC Milan is flying high after defeating Barcelona in the first leg of their Champions League tie. A victory against their rival who look vulnerable after losing its most recent league match would put AC Milan fans on cloud nine if they weren’t there already. So what are you watching this weekend? Which matches did we miss that we should tune in for? Jon Arnold (@ArnoldcommaJon) is a writer based in Arizona and ASN’s CONCACAF correspondent.
