This weekend's soccer on TV

Well, the weekend is here and it is time to prepare you for one of the best schedules of matches you will see all season.

No fewer than five top-quality matches will be on display on Fox Soccer Channel and GolTV this weekend. Barcelona-Real Madrid and AC Milan-Inter Milan is the kind of doubleheader soccer fans dream of and it should keep most of us glued to our seats this weekend.

Now, without further ado. Here are this weekend's soccer matches on TV:

SATURDAY

10am- FSC- Portsmouth at Liverpool. Two weeks ago this would have been a can't-miss. Now, not so much. Both teams need this win to stop recent skids.

Noon- FSC- Wigan at Fulham. America's team begins the post-Lawrie era. I can see Carlos Bocanegra scoring a goal and showing off a 'Later Lawrie' t-shirt underneath.

2pm- GolTV- Valencia at Real Zaragoza. Two above average teams meet in what should be a more intriguing encounter. It gets lost among so many other more appealing matches.

2:30pm- FSC- Sampdoria at AS Roma. This was supposed to be Antonio Cassano's return to Roma with his new club but Cassano got a yellow card last week that will force him to miss the match (and yes, he cried like a baby when he got the yellow.) Does Cassano's absence create a spot for Gabriel Ferrari on the Sampdoria bench?

4pm- GolTV- Racing de Santander at Sevila. Speaking of bench, does Danny Szetela dress for this game? He hasn't seen much of the bench and none of the field (in league play). At least he should have a good seat for what should be a hard-fought encounter.

4:30pm- FSC- West Ham at Middlesbrough. A match-up of managers who are jealous of Fabio Capello. Yep, that's all I got for this game.

8pm- FSC- Parma at Genoa. Cheese vs. Salami in the Deli Derby. BE THERE! Okay, I made that up. Hey, if you want to see Honduran midfielder Jose 'Rambo' Leon work his magic for Genoa you might want to see this match.

SUNDAY

7am- FSC- Everton at Manchester United. Tim Howard makes his first start against the team that brought him to England. You can rest assured that Howard wants this one badly and I wouldn't be at all surprised to see him pull off one of those amazing performances that MetroStars fans grew accustomed so many years ago.

9am- FSC- AC Milan at Inter Milan. The fiery cauldron that is the San Siro will be awash in blue as one of the world's most intense rivalries is resurrected. This is an absolute can't-miss match (and by can't-miss, I mean you must see it, but not necessarily live. 9am on a Sunday is kinda early. HELLO TIVO)

11am- FSC- Chelsea at Blackburn. Brad Friedel will be out to make up for last week's five-goal disaster against Wigan. Chelsea is smarting from that donut against Arsenal. Something's gotta give.

11am- GolTV- Espanyol at Atletico Madrid. If Spanish soccer is more your spead then this should be one of the most entertaining of the weekend.

1pm- GolTV- Real Madrid at Barcelona. Now THIS is a can't-miss match. I know it's two days before Christmas but you had better not make plans. You need to see this one live, even if Barca won't have Messi. Thierry Henry and Wesley Sneidjer get their first tastes of 'El Clasico.' Can't wait to see the lineups.

2:30pm- FSC- Siena at Juventus. I seriously doubt any non-Juve OR non-Siena fans will be watching this one. Most of you will need a rest after all the quality action earlier on Sunday.

Share your thoughts on this weekend's matches below.

Comments

[Anthony Bouts]

Ives you missed Manchester United vs. Everton on sunday

[Bryan NH]

There's also the Everton @ Man U match Sunday at 7am on FSC.

[Hudsonland]

"Siena at Juventus. I seriously doubt any non-Juve fans will be watching this one."

Some of us are Siena fans, you know ...

[CRSvideo]

The Milan and Spanish derbies have this weekend surpassing last weekends list of matches. FSC has the Sunday 7:00am match? And its with Man U to boot? How'd Setanta let that happen? Despite some nice matches going on on Saturday I think I'm gonna have to miss them in order to get some last minute Christmas shopping in. The block of Inter - AC Milan at 9:00, Espanyol - A Madrid at 11:00, Barca - Real Madrid at 1:00 is just too much to pass up.

[EssEff]

Sunday 9am is early? Ives, I thought you had a kid. Just joshing. I know you are referring to those lucky youngsters in the Mafia. Hope that Deli Derby has some gabagoo. Lil bit, lil bit...

[Tim F.]

Are the three other top-quality matches:

Everton at Manchester United

Chelsea at Blackburn and

Espanyol at Atletico Madrid?

[CRSvideo]

Hey, I just realized that both Spanish derbies are being held in Barcelona. Wonder how many rich Barcelonans will catch the mini derby at the Olympic and then head on over to the Nou Camp to catch the big one. Gonna be a sick day in Barcelona.

[Jon G]

This could very well be he best weekend of soccer this year.

[Ives]

Touche Hudsonland, Touche.

[Dannyc58]

Spector should probably start at Center Back at West Ham this weekend (unless James Collins passes a fitness test)...

[furia yanqui]

Parma vs. Genoa = Prosciutto vs Salami

[Adam Nicholls]

This is going to be quite a weekend, really looking forward to the Milan derby actually. Milan have alot to prove.

[kpugs]

Anyone know if Everton vs. Man Utd. is REALLY on both Setanta and FSC?

This is a MONSTER tivo for me...if anyone can confirm it's only on ONE of those channels and would like to let me know, you can reach me at kpugs7@gmail.com.

Everything I can find says it's on both so I'm not too worried. But if anyone knows for SURE I'd love to find out. Thanks.

[YankatOxford]

I look forward to continental derbies far more than those in the EPL. Passion truly comes out in Spain and Italy from all quarters.

Sanchez's firing was inevitable, but I don't see Bocanegra making the blunder of showing some sort of t-shirt. He is a professional, and will be wanting to show the incoming manager what he is about.

First and foremost that means continuing the road back to EPL consistency, where Boca as well as the Fulham defense have struggled at times this year.

[Joamiq]

I will be up at 7:45 tomorrow for the North London derby!

[Joamiq]

Keane misses a penalty (for the first time that I have ever seen), Bendtner scores immediately, Arsenal wins 2-1, and I feel sick...

[YankatOxford]

Clint Dempsey equalizes for Fulham from 17 yards, with a cracking toe poke. His 5th league goal of the season. Bocanegra was partially culpable for conceding.
Fulham draw at home against Wigan 1-1.

[eric]

i don't know about setanta, but tim howard's grudge match is definitely on fsc. that kicks off a huge run, 7a - 1p, takes the sting out of no goltv action out of barcelona...

[Dannyc58]

http://www.whufc.com/page/News/0,,12562~1198249,00.html