Top games to watch this week
Friday, February 7
Rayo Vallecano vs Real Valladolid
Como vs Juventus
Bayern vs Werder Bremen
Nantes vs Brest
PSG vs Monaco
Porto vs Sporting
Man United vs Leicester City
Puebla vs América
Al Nassr vs Al Feiha
Huracán vs Tigre
Saturday, February 8
Real Madrid vs Atlético Madrid
Empoli vs Milan
Borussia Dortmund vs Stuttgart
Wolfsburg vs Bayer Leverkusen
Benfica vs Moreirense
Leyton Orient vs Man City
Brighton vs Chelsea
León vs Toluca
Cruz Azul vs Pachuca
Olimpia vs Inter Miami
Sunday, February 9
Sevilla vs Barcelona
Venezia vs Roma
Lazio vs Monza
Napoli vs Udinese
Angers vs Marseille
Sporting Braga vs Gil Vicente
Plymouth Argyle vs Liverpool
Aston Villa vs Tottenham
Alanyaspor vs Fenerbahce
Galatasaray vs Adama Demirspor
Monday, February 10
Inter vs Fiorentina
Mallorca vs Osasuna
Aruoca vs Rio Ave
Doncaster Dovers vs Crystal Palace
Trabzonspor vs Eyüpspor
Tuesday, February 11
Brest vs PSG
Man City vs Real Madrid
Juventus vs PSV
Sporting CP vs Borussia Dortmund
Monterrey vs Forge
Cruz Azul vs Real du Cap
Exeter City vs Nottingham Forest
Los Angeles FC vs América
Wednesday, February 12
Club Brugge vs Atalanta
Feyenoord vs Milan
Monaco vs Benfica
Celtic vs Bayern
Everton vs Liverpool
Guadalajara vs Cibao
Tigres UANL vs Real Estelí
Corinthians vs Santos
Flamengo vs Botafogo
Thursday, February 13
Fenerbahce vs Anderlecht
Unión Saint-Gilloise vs Ajax
Midtjylland vs Real Sociedad
AZ vs Galatasaray
Porto vs Roma
Molde vs Shamrock Rovers
Celje vs APOEL
Gent vs Real Betis
Kobenhavn vs Heidenheim
Omonia Nicosia vs Paphos
Pumas UNAM vs Cavalry
Al Ahli vs Al Nassr
What are this week's must-watch games?
Man United vs Leicester live this Friday at 3 p.m. ET exclusively on ESPN+
Manchester United return to action for the first time since their deflating Old Trafford defeat last weekend. The Red Devils were beaten 2-0 at home to Crystal Palace, their 11th loss of the Premier League season. Next up is an FA Cup 4th round showdown with Leicester as Bruno Fernandes and Co. look to replicate their 3-0 victory over the Foxes from November.
Real Madrid host Atletico in crucial Madrid Derby live this Saturday at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN+ and ESPN Deportes
This weekend's standout game is undeniably Real Madrid's battle with Atletico. This game is the first of two crucial fixtures for Los Blancos — more on the other game later — as Ancelotti's men aim to strengthen their grip on the Primera Division title. Vinicius Junior and Co. are top of the table, with Simeone's men only a point behind in second, meaning Saturday's result will go a long way in this season's La Liga title race.
Aston Villa vs Tottenham live this Sunday at 12:35 p.m. ET exclusively on ESPN+
Tottenham return to action just a few days after their embarrassing 4-0 loss at Liverpool in the Carabao Cup semifinal, crashing out of that competition thanks to a 4-1 defeat on aggregate. As a result, the pressure continues to mount on Ange Postecoglou as his injury-riddle side struggle to win matches. Aston Villa, on the flip side, look to bounce back from a dip in form, winning only once in their last five matches and will be keen on bouncing back in this 4th round FA Cup tie.
UEFA Champions League Knockout State Playoffs kick off on Paramount+, with Man City vs Real Madrid headlining the midweek fixtures
The first leg of the UEFA Champions League Knockout Round Playoffs kick off this midweek, with Manchester City's Tuesday showdown with Real Madrid taking center stage. The struggling Premier League giants progressed to the knockout stage by the skin of their teeth in what has been a disastrous season. Los Blancos, on the other hand, have regained composure following a tricky start and will look to eliminate Manchester City from Europe for the third time in four seasons.
However, this is not the only interesting UEFA Champions League to make our list. Bayern Munich take on Celtic while AC Milan visit Feyenoord on Wednesday. Additionally, continental powerhouses PSG and Juventus will also be involved, locking horns with Brest and PSV respectively.
Everton vs Liverpool live this Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. ET on UNIVERSO and USA Network
The final Merseyside Derby at Goodison Park is right around the corner, with Everton hosting Liverpool this Wednesday ahead of their move to the new Everton Stadium in 2025-26. David Moyes will want to deliver a memorable victory in what promises to be an emotional game. Fortunately, the hosts enter this game on a three-game winning streak. However, Liverpool are top of the league and recently thrashed Tottenham 4-0 in the second leg of their Carabao Cup semifinal. Do not miss this derby!
Porto vs Roma live this Thursday at 3 p.m. ET on Paramount+
And finally, we have Porto vs Roma as the Portuguese giants host the Italian side in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League Knockout Phase Playoff. Neither side performed well in the League Phase, with both winning only three games out of their first eight outings. The Giallorossi earned one more point than their rival, having lost only two games to their opponent's three. Which side will seize the early advantage? Tune in to Paramount+ to find out!
Follow the Madrid Derby, Bundesliga games, and more on ESPN+ and ESPN Deportes
The struggle to win La Liga, the Dutch Eredivisie, the Bundesliga, and other tournaments will be available for fans to watch this weekend and beyond thanks to the programming included on ESPN Deportes and ESPN+.
The Spanish-language channel and the streaming platform will team up to cover around forty matches from now until next weekend, which will include league games and FA Cup matches.
The main attraction this week will come from La Liga, where Real Madrid and Atlético go toe-to-toe with the top spot up for grabs. Los Merengues have a narrow one-point lead over their city neighbors, but if they are thinking about cutting their losses and drawing the game, they could open the gate for Barcelona to catch up in the title race.
Cup competitions will also be covered this week, with FA Cup games being available to follow on ESPN+. The fourth round of the tournament will see teams such as Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Tottenham aiming to claim a spot in the next round, with their games starting on Friday and coming to an end on Tuesday.
*Click here for the full list
Neymar's return to the Brasileirao and more on Fanatiz this week
Fanatiz USA continues to offer the best live soccer streaming content for its subscribers, with many of the most interesting leagues in Europe and other competitions to watch on its platform. Competitions such as Portugal's Primeira Liga, the French Ligue 1, and Turkey's Super Lig will be some of the tournaments that European soccer fans will be able to enjoy.
Nonetheless, the main attraction for all those subscribed to this platform will come from South America, as Brazilian ace Neymar goes back to where everything started for him. His first games with Santos in the Campeonato Paulista will be covered live on the streaming service, putting an end to a long spell on the sidelines due to an injury.
The streaming platform will also make available to its users some of the finest South American competitions, including the Primera División Argentina and the top-tier category in Uruguay, among others. Teams such as River Plate, Boca Juniors, Peñarol, and Vélez Sarsfield will be some of those that will have their matches covered by this service.
*Click here for the rest of the platform's programming for the rest of the weekend and beyond.
Biggest headlines
Liverpool 'too good' for sorry Spurs, says Postecoglou
Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou conceded his under-strength squad were no match for a rampant Liverpool as the Reds progressed to the League Cup final with a 4-0 win on Thursday.
Spurs had held a 1-0 first-leg lead but were blown away by the Premier League leaders as they conceded four times for the third consecutive game at Anfield.
Cody Gakpo, Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Virgil van Dijk were on target for Arne Slot's men, who will face Newcastle at Wembley on March 16 for the first silverware of the English season.
Postecoglou's hands were again tied by a mounting injury list, which was added to when Richarlison hobbled off in the first half. Read more…
Torres treble powers Barca past Valencia into Copa del Rey semis
Ferran Torres hit a hat-trick as Barcelona routed Valencia 5-0 on Thursday to cruise into the Copa del Rey semi-finals.
Fermin Lopez and Lamine Yamal were also on target for the record 31-time Spanish Cup winners as they swaggered to victory at an upset Mestalla stadium.
Earlier Real Sociedad progressed with a comfortable 2-0 win over 10-man Osasuna, joining Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid in a strong final four.
Former Valencia forward Torres took the plaudits with his treble inside 30 minutes, taking full advantage of Barca coach Hansi Flick's decision to rest striker Robert Lewandowski.
"We thought that it would be a very difficult game because here at Mestalla is always a hard ground to play," Torres told TVE. Read more…
Rashford doesn't see football 'way I see it', says Amorim
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim believes Marcus Rashford was unable to see football "the way I see it" before the unwanted England striker was shipped out of Old Trafford.
The 27-year-old Rashford fell dramatically out of favor with the Portuguese boss and spent seven weeks on the sidelines until he was loaned to Premier League rivals Aston Villa during the transfer window.
"I couldn't put Marcus to see the way you're supposed to play football and to train the way I see it," Amorim said on Thursday.
"And sometimes you have one player that is really good with one coach, and the same player with another coach is different." Read more…
Arteta 'disappointed' by Arsenal's failure to sign a new striker
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has admitted he is "disappointed" by the club's failure to sign a new striker before the transfer window closed on Monday.
Arsenal were unable to lure England forward Ollie Watkins away from Aston Villa after their £60 million ($75 million) bid was rejected last week.
Having failed to pivot to another deal after the Watkins snub, the Gunners ended the January window with questions about a forward line weakened by long-term injuries to Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka.
Ahead of Wednesday's League Cup semi-final second leg at Newcastle, Arteta conceded the lack of transfer activity was frustrating.
"We talked very openly about the intention to improve the squad if we had the capacity. With players with injuries, we've been impacted and we haven't achieved it," Arteta told reporters on Tuesday. Read more…
Man Utd confirm Martinez cruciate ligament injury
Manchester United on Thursday confirmed defender Lisandro Martinez had sustained cruciate ligament damage, which is likely to rule him out for the rest of the season.
The Argentina center-back, 27, was carried off on a stretcher after his left knee buckled late in Sunday's 2-0 defeat by Crystal Palace at Old Trafford.
"Manchester United can confirm that Lisandro Martinez suffered an injury to his cruciate ligament in Sunday's game against Crystal Palace," the club said in a statement.
"Assessment of the injury is ongoing to determine the appropriate course of treatment and the timescale for his rehabilitation.
"Everyone at Manchester United wishes Lisandro Martinez strength for a successful recovery and we will be supporting him every step of the way." Read more…
Barca avoiding 'excuses' after Real Madrid ref complaints: Flick
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said Wednesday his team would not hide behind "excuses" after rivals Real Madrid attacked Spanish refereeing following a surprise La Liga defeat.
Los Blancos were beaten 1-0 at relegation-battling Espanyol on Saturday and subsequently sent a furious letter to the Spanish football federation blasting the country's refereeing as "rigged" and "completely discredited".
Madrid were angry after Espanyol defender Carlos Romero avoided a red card for hacking down striker Kylian Mbappe and went on to score the winning goal.
"This (letter) is their choice, they do it like this, it's not our way -- I said no excuses and we will do it like that," Flick told a news conference ahead of Barcelona's Copa del Rey quarter-final at Valencia on Thursday.
"Every club has some reasons to say something. We're humans, it's normal in life, everyone makes mistakes." Read more…
Hermoso pressured to downplay kiss, brother tells Spain court
Jenni Hermoso's brother on Wednesday told the forced kiss trial of Spain's ex-football federation chief Luis Rubiales his sister was threatened with "consequences" if she did not downplay the affair.
Rubiales sparked worldwide outrage for the kiss on Hermoso after she had just helped Spain beat England in the 2023 Women's World Cup final in Australia.
The scandal forced Rubiales to resign in disgrace that year and has made Hermoso an icon of the fight against macho culture and sexism in sport.
Rafael Hermoso, the striker's older brother, said former women's national team coach Jorge Vilda asked him on the flight back to Spain to "convince" his sister to record a video with Rubiales to show she was not bothered by the kiss.
Vilda "told me that my sister was of a certain age, that she already had a career and that if she cooperated, things would go well for her", he told the National Court just outside Madrid.
"But that if she did not cooperate, there was no way of knowing what would happen," he continued." Read more…
Guardiola frustrated after 'fragile' Man City humbled by Arsenal
Pep Guardiola slammed "fragile" Manchester City for surrendering in the closing stages of their humiliating 5-1 defeat against title-chasing Arsenal on Sunday.
Guardiola's side crumbled to yet another dismal result in a woeful season as Arsenal ran riot at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
City had clawed their way back into the game when Erling Haaland's equalizer early in the second half canceled out Martin Odegaard's opener after just 103 seconds.
But the spluttering champions immediately handed the momentum back to Arsenal when Phil Foden's wayward pass was intercepted by Thomas Partey, whose shot deflected in off John Stones.
That was the spark for City's collapse as Myles Lewis-Skelly, Kai Havertz, and Ethan Nwaneri exposed the gaping holes in the visitors' defense. Read more…
Man City move for Gonzalez, Tel joins Spurs on deadline day
Manchester City signed Nico Gonzalez from Porto in the biggest move from Premier League clubs on Monday's transfer deadline day, while Bayern Munich's Mathys Tel headed to Tottenham on loan.
City's midfield frailties without Ballon d'Or winner Rodri, who is out for the season due to a serious knee injury, were exposed in a 5-1 thrashing at Arsenal on Sunday.
Pep Guardiola's men find themselves in a battle just to qualify for next season's Champions League, with the defending champions sitting fifth in the Premier League, 15 points behind leaders Liverpool.
City were also in need of reinforcements for a blockbuster Champions League play-off round tie against holders Real Madrid later this month.
Former Barcelona midfielder Gonzalez, 23, arrives for a reported fee of 60 million euros (£50 million, $62 million).
"This is the perfect opportunity for me at this stage of my career," said Gonzalez. Read more…
Other headlines from the world of soccer
Bayern's Davies extends until 2030, rebuffing Real Madrid
Alphonso Davies has extended his deal with Bayern Munich to 2030, the German club announced on Tuesday, with the Canada captain rebuffing reported interest from Spanish giants Real Madrid.
Wing-back Davies, 24, has won five Bundesliga titles and the Champions League with Bayern but had been linked with a move to Real, as his contract was set to expire in the summer. Continue reading…
Real Madrid great Marcelo announces retirement
Former Real Madrid left-back Marcelo announced his retirement from professional football on Thursday after a trophy-laden career.
The 36-year-old spent 16 years at Spanish giants Madrid, winning six La Liga titles and five Champions League trophies. Continue reading…
Fiorentina honor Bove by sweeping aside Inter Milan
Fiorentina honored Edoardo Bove in perfect fashion on Thursday by defeating Inter Milan 3-0 in a match that was stopped in December for the midfielder's on-pitch heart attack.
Raffaele Palladino's team are now fourth in Serie A on goal difference ahead of Lazio thanks to a deserved win over champions Inter earned thanks to a brilliant finish from Luca Ranieri and a Moise Kean double, all of which came in the second half. Continue reading…