Top games to watch this week
Friday, May 13
Pacos de Ferreira vs Benfica (Primeira Liga)
Wydad Casablanca vs Petro de Luanda (CAF Champions League)
Saturday, May 14
Porto vs Estoril (Primeira Liga)
Sporting CP vs Santa Clara (Primeira Liga)
Bayer Leverkusen vs Freiburg (Bundesliga)
Union Berlin vs Bochum (Bundesliga)
Arminia vs RB Leipzig (Bundesliga)
Monaco vs Brest (Ligue 1)
Rennes vs Olympique Marseille (Ligue 1)
Chelsea vs Liverpool (FA Cup final)
ES Setif vs Al Ahly (CAF Champions League)
América vs Puebla (Liga MX Quarterfinal 2nd leg)
Pachuca vs San Luis (Liga MX Quarterfinal 2nd leg)
Colorado vs Los Angeles FC (MLS)
Philadelphia Union vs New York RB (MLS)
Sunday, May 15
Atlético Madrid vs Sevilla (La Liga)
Cádiz vs Real Madrid (La Liga)
Getafe vs Barcelona (La Liga)
Real Betis vs Granada (La Liga)
Tottenham vs Burnley (English Premier League)
West Ham vs Man City (English Premier League)
Milan vs Atalanta (Serie A)
Cagliari vs Inter (Serie A)
Seattle Sounders vs Minnesota United (MLS)
Atlas vs Guadalajara (Liga MX Quarterfinal 2nd leg)
Tigres UANL vs Cruz Azul (Liga MX Quarterfinal 2nd leg)
Monday, May 16
Newcastle vs Arsenal (English Premier League)
Sampdoria vs Fiorentina (Serie A)
Juventus vs Lazio (Serie A)
Tuesday, May 17
Southampton vs Liverpool (English Premier League)
Caracas vs The Strongest (Libertadores)
RB Bragantino vs Estudiantes (Libertadores)
Peñarol vs Cerro Porteño (Libertadores)
Boca Juniors vs Corinthians (Libertadores)
Flamengo vs U. Católica (Libertadores)
Sporting Cristal vs Talleres de Córdoba (Libertadores)
Wednesday, May 18
Eintracht Frankfurt vs Rangers (Europa League Final)
Palmeiras vs Emelec (Libertadores)
Athletico-PR vs Libertad (Libertadores)
Nacional vs Vélez Sársfield (Libertadores)
Colón vs Olimpia (Libertadores)
Deportivo Táchira vs Independiente Petrolero (Libertadores)
Deportes Tolima vs América Mineiro (Libertadores)
Alianza Lima vs Fortaleza (Libertadores)
Philadelphia Union vs Inter Miami (MLS)
Los Angeles FC vs Austin
Liga MX: Semi-final 1
Thursday, May 19
Everton vs Crystal Palace (English Premier League)
Aston Villa vs Burnley (English Premier League)
Chelsea vs Leicester (English Premier League)
Atlético Mineiro vs Independiente del Valle (Libertadores)
River Plate vs Colo Colo (Libertadores)
Deportivo Cali vs Always Ready (Libertadores)
Liga MX: Semi-final 2
Most-watched football games in the United States: May 2-8, 2022
The ratings for last week's football games in the United States have finally seen the light, and it may come as no surprise to see the match between Real Madrid and Manchester City as the most watched fixture of the week in this country.
Los Blancos' matches in the continental competition have gathered quite a following in recent weeks, but last week's clash had over 1.4 million viewers when considering the numbers from English and Spanish-language broadcasters.
Unsurprisingly, two Premier League matches completed the top three viewership spots in the U.S., with Brighton's historic four-nil win against Manchester United coming close to one million viewers. The third spot for the most-watched game in North America belonged to the game between Liverpool and Tottenham, which concluded in a one-all draw.
What are this week's must-watch games?
Chelsea vs Liverpool in the FA Cup Final live this Saturday at 11:45 a.m. ET on ESPN+ and SiriusXM FC
The FA Cup final is upon us! Chelsea take on Liverpool this Saturday at Wembley Stadium in a repeat of the Carabao Cup final as the Blues look to get their hands on their only remaining shot at silverware while the Reds aim to maintain their pursuit of the quadruple. Klopp's side enter this tie on the back of a disappointing 1-1 draw at home to Tottenham and will need to bounce back while Tuchel's men, having recently beaten Leeds, will look to maintain their form after dropping points left, right, and center over the last month. It is uncertain who will win this showdown but what we can safely predict is that this will be an interesting clash!
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West Ham vs Man City live this Sunday at 9 a.m. ET on USA Network, Sling, Telemundo, fuboTV, and SiriusXM FC
While Liverpool are focused on the FA Cup final, Manchester City will look to strengthen their grip on the Premier League title. The Cityzens will be in action in the English top-flight on Sunday and will have the opportunity to pull six points clear of Klopp's side. Unfortunately, they will be traveling to West Ham and will thus be in for a tough time. Having failed to make the Europa League final, the Hammers will now give it their all to usurp Manchester United in the table and go sixth. A win over Guardiola's men will achieve that, but beating De Bruyne and Co. is easier said than done.
Newcastle vs Arsenal live this Monday at 3 p.m. ET live on USA Network, UNIVERSO, fuboTV, Sling TV, and SiriusXM FC
After their horrible 3-0 loss away to Tottenham in the North London Derby, Arsenal know they must bounce back immediately if they are to maintain their top four push. The Gunners remain a point ahead of Spurs in the race to secure UEFA Champions League football next season, but any slip-up in their two remaining fixtures could see Conte's men leapfrog them in the standings. Additionally, with Gabriel Magalhães and Ben White being fitness concerns and Rob Holding being suspended, Arteta could be without no center-back for the trip to Newcastle. Under Eddie Howe, the Magpies have been one of the better teams in the league this year and were already a daunting task for the north London giants. Do not miss this exciting fixture.
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The Eintracht Frankfurt vs Rangers UEFA Europa League Final live this Wednesday at 3 p.m. ET on Paramount+, TUDN, CBS, and fuboTV
The UEFA Europa League final will take place this week as Eintracht Frankfurt gear up to face Rangers on Wednesday in the ultimate game. Not only is a title at stake, but a spot in the UEFA Champions League is up for grabs as both sides look to make a long-awaited return to Europe's premier club competition. The Bundesliga side had a rough route to the final, beating Barcelona in the quarterfinals before seeing of West Ham in the semis. Nonetheless, their Scottish opposition had to be brilliant as well, beating the likes of Dortmund and – most recently – RB Leipzig in the knockout round. Who'll win the Europa League title? Make sure to catch the final.
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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 upcoming ties.
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 with the kind of games we could be witnessing in the upcoming days.
Let's have a closer look at what U.S. fans will be able to watch on TV or stream via their mobile devices.
Liga Iberdrola, Serie A, and Frauen Bundesliga matches live on ATA Football
Last week saw teams from all the top European leagues claim their respective titles, which will leave us with some of the most intense rivalries set to be played in the final weekend for most competitions.
Things will kick off with a couple of Serie A matches that will keep fans glued to their seats. One of them will be the Lazio versus Roma showdown, while the other will include Milan and Juventus ready to lock horns.
On Sunday, 2021-22 Frauen Bundesliga champions Wolfsburg will celebrate their crown by facing Bayer Leverkusen. To mix things up a bit more, how about watching a Liga Iberdrola clash between Barcelona and Atlético Madrid, with Las Blaugranas trying to end their domestic campaign with a perfect 30-0 record?
Whether you are a casual women's football fans or a hardcore supporter, all of these games will be available to watch live on ATA Football.
Saturday, May 14, 2022
Serie A - Lazio vs Roma at 6:30 a.m. ET
Serie A - Milan vs Juventus at 8:30 a.m. ET
Sunday, May 15, 2022
Liga Iberdrola - Barcelona vs Atlético Madrid at 06:00 a.m. ET
Frauen-Bundesliga - Wolfsburg vs Bayer Leverkusen at 8:00 a.m. ET
2021-22 NWSL season
The tournament continues this weekend with almost all teams playing their third game of the season just one week after the North Carolina Courage claimed the NWSL Challenge Cup. With only a few matches being played this season, this seems like a proper chance for all women's football fans to get to know the teams right from the start of the campaign and see which ones have a better chance to fight for the title when the tournament comes to an end in October.
Meanwhile, we leave you with an interesting set of NWSL games taking place this week.
Friday, May 13, 2022
Portland Thorns vs OL Reign at 22:30 p.m. ET
Saturday, May 14, 2022
NJ/NY Gotham FC vs North Carolina Courage at 19:00 p.m. ET.
Sunday, May 15, 2022
Washington Spirit vs Angel City at 17:00 ET
Keep track of the semi-finals in the Clausura 2022 tournament in Liga MX Femenil
The title match in the Women's Liga MX is fast approaching, and the possibility of a new final with Monterrey-based teams is once again there. This Monday, we will know the names of the teams that will get a chance to fight for the Clausura 2022 crown.
Friday, May 13, 2022
Pachuca vs Monterrey at 19:05 ET.
Tigres UANL vs Guadalajara at 21:05 ET
Monday, May 16, 2022
Guadalajara vs Tigres UANL at 20:00 p.m. ET
Monterrey vs Pachuca at 22:05 p.m. ET
2021-22 FA Cup final
Chelsea vs Manchester City on May 15, 2022 at 09:30 ET
For more details on games, standings, and news, visit our dedicated Women's Soccer page at LiveSoccerTV.com.
Biggest stories of the week
'UNFAIR': UEFA President criticizes some aspects of offside rule
VAR (Video Assistant Referee) has helped shape the game of football since its inception in the past few years - but there's been a fair share of controversy about the tech innovation.
Namely, when it comes to offsides and handballs - two calls that have shaped the outcome of matches due to goals being cancelled, allowed, and at times, penalties given or denied.
And now, Aleksander Čeferin, UEFA's current boss has admitted that VAR doesn't always get it right, and sometimes the technology is biased somewhat against players.
"[Initially], VAR was too slow, but now it's [become] a lot quicker", he noted in an interview with L'Equipe.
"However, the fact that there can be an offside by five millimeters [sic] is still an issue for me. You are penalized if you have a big nose or big feet, [for instance]."
The Slovenian lawyer has also been outspoken about the European Super League, which is still being pushed by Juventus, Barcelona, and Real Madrid - and it appears that, not surprisingly, he's not on board with that plan. In the past he has claimed that players who took part would be banned from major competitions such as the EUROS and the World Cup, but it remains to see if anything like that will actually happen.
Haaland's Man City release clause revealed: How much it is and when it will come into effect
Manchester City have completed the signing of highly sought-after striker Erling Haaland, beating the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona to the Norwegian superstar's signature. The Cityzens announced this deal on Tuesday, the day before their 5-1 thrashing of Wolves, thus bringing an end to months of speculation.
Several sources, including transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, revealed after the confirmation that Haaland's desire to move to the Etihad Stadium was not simply due to money. Manchester City have offered him £375,000 per week, which is what Kevin de Bruyne currently pockets, but the Dortmund ace could have earned this at Real Madrid as well.
Instead, the decision to join Guardiola's side was mainly due to the attractiveness of the ongoing project there. This season, the English giants look set to lift their fourth league crown in five years, showing their dominance.
Nonetheless, fans might start questioning Haaland's loyalty to his upcoming employers as rumors of a release clause in his Manchester City contract have emerged. This is according to Bild, with the tabloid claiming that the striker will have a €150M release clause (£128M/$156M) in his contract. Additionally, the report adds that this clause will come into effect after only two years, which would guarantee an early exit should he decide to join another club, i.e. Real Madrid or Barcelona.
However, as this is a rumor, it should be taken with a pinch of salt. City have secured his services until 2027 and it would be surprising to see the mega-rich club accept the idea of Erling leaving two years into his five-year contract. Nonetheless, like Haaland did when he agreed to join Dortmund, the 21-year-old could have just secured his escape route should he decide to leave the Etihad Stadium.
Xavi issues update on Araujo after Barca star leaves Celta Vigo game in ambulance
Barcelona head coach Xavi Hernandez has revealed that Ronald Araujo is conscious in hospital after being taken off the field in an ambulance prior to the Catalans' 3-1 win over Celta Vigo on Tuesday night. The 23-year-old Uruguayan defender was involved in a sickening collision of heads with teammate Gavi.
The incident occurred in the 62nd minute when the pair leaped to challenge for the ball inside their own half. Gavi escaped unharmed and required no significant medical attention. However, a wave of concern swept across the whole stadium when Araujo, who had initially seemed OK, suddenly fell to the ground in an attempt to run back towards his goal.
The players of both sides immediately called for medical assistance, while Eric Garcia rushed to put the defender in a fetal position to make him breathe properly as he appeared to be unconscious. Play was halted for close to eight minutes while the center-back received treatment, before he was transported to the hospital in the ambulance.
Following the conclusion of the game, Xavi confirm that Araujo had been stabilized and was conscious.
"Araujo is conscious, out of danger. [The] doctor tells us not to worry."
Incoming Man United boss reportedly has final say about Cristiano Ronaldo's future
At long last, there has been a major development for Manchester United fans who were wondering about Cristiano Ronaldo's future -or lack thereof- at Manchester United, and the report comes from a source close to the man that will be making that decision.
According to a report by The Telegraph, the Dutch boss has already spoken to his inner circle and to the Red Devils' hierarchy about Ronaldo's potential transfer away from the club in the offseason, but the tactician has asked the Old Trafford execs to do everything in their power to keep him around.
The player still has one more year left in his contract, but since the club have missed out on playing UEFA Champions League football next season, the thought of watching the Portuguese ace leave emerged among fans and experts. Now, with Ten Hag's request, the footballer could be set to extend his stay at the Theatre of Dreams until he is 38 years old.
In his return to Manchester United, the five-time Ballon d'Or has established himself as the team's top scorer across all competitions, having netted 18 goals in Premier League games while adding six more in UEFA Champions League. If this report is true, CR7 will not be around to play in the top European club competition for the first time in 20 years.
Other key headlines from the world of football
Bayern München ready to offer long-term deal to Liverpool ace
An article by Sky Sports Germany suggests that a meeting between Bayern's sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic and Sadio Mané's agent took place on Sunday. While the meeting started with Bayern's intentions to sign Konrad Laimer, the conversation switched to the Bundesliga champions' desire to sign the Senegalese ace.
Unlike Mohamed Salah, who's contract extension is about to be signed, Mané and his agents have not been called up by Liverpool's hierarchy to enter negotiations to extend his deal at Anfield. With that in mind, the player's representative opened up to search options for his client to continue his playing career.
The player's agent reportedly revealed to a source close to their entourage that the attacker is willing to start negotiating with other clubs, but he only asked his agent to keep all negotiations on hold until the end of the season, which will come after May 28, the day when Liverpool are set to play the UEFA Champions League final against Real Madrid.
The top 10 highest-paid athletes in 2022 revealed as Cristiano is ranked third
Forbes released its annual list of the highest-paid men's athlete during a one-year cycle, which includes "all prize money, salaries and bonuses earned between May 1, 2021, and May 1, 2022".
So who grabbed the no.1 spot? That honor went to none other than Messi, with the Argentine icon picking up a whopping $130M over the last 12 months. That figure is a pre-tax gross earning, securing him the top spot on Forbes' coveted list for only the second time, with the other coming in 2019. Despite his poor debut season in Ligue 1, the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner picked up $55M in endorsements to help him edge out bitter rival Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ronaldo, meanwhile, came in at third after earning $115M, a figure which could decrease over the next year should he remain at Old Trafford, as the Red Devils' failure to secure UEFA Champions League football for next season will result in his wages being cut. Nonetheless, the Euro 2016 winner is one of only three footballers to make this list, with the third being none other than Neymar. The Brazilian comes in at fourth, earning $95M despite being the highest-paid player at PSG.
Transfer: Barcelona "draw up three-man shortlist" of possible replacements for Sergio Busquets
Barcelona are reportedly considering three players who could succeed Busquets. The current contract of the 33-year-old defensive midfielder expires at the end of next season and the Catalans are eager to bring in a fresh pair of legs capable of being an understudy and potentially replacing the Spaniard when his time is up.
According to Diario Sport, there are three names that Barcelona are looking at in terms of finding the ideal candidate to replace Busquets. They are Martin Zubimendi (Real Sociedad), Aurelien Tchouameni (Monaco) and Ruben Neves (Wolves). Zubimendi is thought to be the favorite because Xavi is fond of the player and believes he is closest to Busquets in terms of expectations.