Top games to watch this week
Friday, August 9
France vs Spain
Germany vs Spain
Sporting CP vs Rio Ave
Galatasaray vs Hatayspor
América vs Atlas
Atlanta United vs DC United
St. Pauli vs Atalanta
Newcastle vs Girona
Saturday, August 10
Manchester United vs Manchester City
Brazil vs USWNT
Porto vs Gil Vicente
Fenerbahce vs Adama Demirspor
Bayer Leverkusen vs Real Betis
Borussia Dortmund vs Werder Bremen
RB Leipzig vs PSG
Tottenham vs Bayern
Sunday, August 11
Famalicao vs Benfica
Flamengo vs Palmeiras
Liverpool vs Sevilla
Juventus vs Atlético Madrid
Chelsea vs Inter
Monday, August 12
Arouca vs Vitoria Guimarães
Tigre vs Godoy Cruz
Luton Town vs Burnley
Tuesday, August 13
Fenerbahce vs Lille
FCSB vs Sparta Praha
Unión Saint-Gilloise vs Slavia Praha
Rangers vs Dynamo Kyiv
The New Saints vs Petrocub
Gremio vs Fluminense
San Lorenzo vs Atlético Mineiro
Colo-Colo vs Junior
Huachipato vs Racing
RB Bragantino vs Corinthians
Wednesday, August 14
Real Madrid vs Atalanta
Peñarol vs The Strongest
Talleres Córdoba vs River Plate
Botafogo vs Palmeiras
Rosario Central vs Fortaleza
Palestino vs Medellín
LDU Quito vs Lanús
Al Taawon vs Al Nassr
Thursday, August 15
Athletic Club vs Getafe
Real Betis vs Girona
Ajax vs Panathinaikos
Servette vs Sporting Braga
Nacional vs Sao Paulo
Flamengo vs Bolívar
Libertad vs Sportivo Ameliano
Athletico-PR vs Belgrano
Boca Juniors vs Cruzeiro
Telemundo's Olympic Soccer Coverage Smashes Records in Men's and Women's Tournaments
The 2024 Olympic Games have proved to be a huge hit, and Spanish-language provider Telemundo is also seeing some impressive numbers on its platforms.
Both men's and women's soccer have posted significant upticks in viewership, especially during the group stages. Men's soccer saw nearly a 50 percent increase (48 percent) while women's soccer nearly tripled their viewership numbers, with a whopping 291 percent increase in viewers as compared to the last Olympic Games, which took place in Tokyo in 2021.
Notably, there was one group stage game that smashed several records. On July 28th, the USWNT took on Germany and cruised to a 4-1 victory. Over 730,000 people (731,000 to be exact) tuned in to that match, making it not only the most watched tie at the Paris Olympics but also the highest-rated match in soccer since the 2016 edition of the Olympics which was held in Rio.
Other highly watched games included:
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France vs Guinea (Men's Soccer) - 589,000 viewers on July 27th
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Spain vs Nigeria (Women's Soccer) - 534,000 viewers on July 28th
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New Zealand vs USMNT (Men's Soccer) - 503,000 viewers on July 27th
This trio of matches, along with the aforementioned USWNT-Germany tie, are four of the highest-rated soccer games since the 2016 Olympic Games.
In addition, Telemundo's corresponding live-streaming platforms have seen some excellent numbers. Over 50 million (51.1 million) minutes of content have been streamed so far, which makes the current Olympic Games the most streamed in the network's history and represents a whopping 632 percent increase when compared to the 2021 Olympic Games.
*Click here for the full article
What are this week's must-watch games?
France vs Spain live this Saturday at 12 p.m. ET on USA Network, Telemundo, Peacock, and nbcsports.com
While the 2024 Olympics does not end until August 11, the men's soccer tournament wraps up this Friday, with France locking horns with continental rivals Spain in the highly-anticipated gold medal match. The hosts aim to make the home crowd proud but should be in for a tough ride in this Parc des Princes showdown. Les Bleus overcame Egypt in the semifinals, needing extra time, while La Roja fought back from a goal down to beat Morocco in the penultimate stage as both sides look to win their first gold medal of the 21st century.
Brazil vs USWNT live this Saturday at 11 a.m. ET on USA Network, Telemundo, Peacock, and the NBC Sports App
While the men's Olympic Soccer tournament ends on Friday, fans of the women's game will have to wait until Saturday, with Brazil facing the USWNT in the gold medal match. Both sides reached the ultimate game on the back of tricky semifinal ties, with the Stars and Stripes overcoming Germany 1-0 while the South Americans surprisingly beat FIFA Women's World Cup champions Spain. As Canarinhas have never won gold before and will have to overcome the four-time gold medalist in what looks to be women's soccer icon Marta's final game for Brazil.
Man City face Man Utd in the Community Shield live this Saturday at 10 a.m ET on ESPN+ and the ESPN App
English soccer returns as early as this weekend, with the Community Shield taking place on Saturday. FA Cup holders Manchester United take center stage as they lock horns with rivals Manchester City. Guardiola's men are the Premier League champions but the Cityzens lost the last time they faced the Red Devils at Wembley. Do not miss this showdown.
Real Madrid vs Atalanta live this Wednesday at 3 p.m. ET on Paramount+, ViX, and CBS Sports Network
And finally, we have the UEFA Super Cup, with UEFA Champions League holders Real Madrid batting UEFA Europa League champions Atalanta in what promises to be an interesting clash. Los Blancos, who beat Dortmund in the Champions League final, enter this fixture on the back of a mixed U.S. preseason tour, losing to AC Milan and Barcelona before beating Chelsea. La Dea have not fared any better and will face the behemoth that is Real Madrid.
CBS Sports shares coverage plans for EFL tournaments starting this weekend
The start of a new season has come, and CBS users will be in for a treat when they realize the kind of soccer coverage available to them in terms of EFL competitions.
The English Football League will have 30 matches covered by its different platforms this month, including CBS Sports, CBS Sports Golazo, CBS Sports Network, and Paramount+. Some of the matches will be covered exclusively, but others will have joint coverage by one or more of these options.
Some of the games covered by the network will include classic teams such as Derby County, Leeds United, Middlesbrough, Sunderland, and trending teams such as Wrexham AFC, to name a few.
In addition to league coverage, the network will also include Carabao Cup matches right from the beginning of the tournament. The network has also prepared a special edition of CBS Sports Matchday for all days when they are set to cover games from all these competitions.
Coverage will kick off with a double-header on August 9 featuring Blackburn Rovers vs Derby County and Preston North End vs Sheffield United. Ten more games will be covered over the weekend across all platforms and channels.
*Click here for the full breakdown
TV Schedules for ESPN Deportes and Streaming info for ESPN+: August 8-12, 2024
With all soccer competitions making a comeback, it will be even more important to keep track of all platforms to see what they offer for fans in the U.S., and ESPN's platforms will not disappoint with their weekend schedule.
The network will divide its coverage between ESPN Deportes and ESPN+, with the Spanish-language channel covering some friendly fixtures and leaving the bulk of its coverage to ESPN+.
ESPN Deportes will see teams such as St. Pauli, Real Betis, and Bayer Leverkusen taking their screen, but ESPN+ will add to their coverage some of the hottest games of the weekend, including the FA Community Shield clash between Manchester United and Manchester City.
*Click here for the list of games being covered by the two ESPN platforms.
What to stream this week live on Fanatiz: August 8-12, 2024
It is not easy to keep track of as many soccer games, but with the help of Fanatiz USA, you will be able to follow the best leagues from South America and other territories.
The subscription service will offer over 55 matches to keep an eye on this week, with at least forty-five of those taking place over the weekend. Leagues such as the Brazilian Serie A, Argentina's Primera División, the Uruguayan top-flight, and Ecuador's Primera A will be among the impressive offers available on the platform.
Additionally, Fanatiz will feature the start of two rising European leagues: the Primeira Liga and the Turkish Super Lig. This season in Portugal's top flight will kick off with Sporting hosting Rio Ave. The defending champions will want to start on the right foot as they hope for back-to-back titles, something they have not been able to do since 1954.
As for the Turkish league, the competition will see Galatasaray ready to begin a new season after a historic run that ended with the yellow and red side claiming over 100 points. Their first rival of the 2024-25 campaign will be Hatayspor.
*Click here for the complete breakdown of Fanatiz's upcoming schedule
Biggest stories
Ten-man Miami edge Toronto 4-3 to advance in Leagues Cup
Matias Rojas scored twice and 10-man defending champion Inter Miami edged Toronto FC 4-3 in a Leagues Cup knockout stage opener on Thursday.
The hosts advanced to the last 16 against the winner of a Friday match between Sporting Kansas City and reigning MLS champion Columbus Crew.
Paraguayan midfielder Rojas opened the scoring in the third minute for Miami and compatriot Diego Gomez gave Inter a 2-0 lead in the 11th minute.
Italian striker Lorenzo Insigne converted a penalty kick for Toronto in the 15th minute, but Luis Suarez answered for Miami in the 20th minute, with the Uruguayan forward giving the hosts a 3-1 edge.
Inter Miami lost defender Hector Martinez to a red card in the 28th minute and the Canadian side had more than an hour to chase the tying goals with a man advantage. Read more…
Morocco outclass Egypt to take Olympic men's soccer bronze
The prolific Soufiane Rahimi scored twice and captain Achraf Hakimi netted a stunning free-kick as Morocco hammered Egypt 6-0 on Thursday to take Olympic men's soccer bronze.
Rahimi's brace took him to eight goals at the Olympics, cementing his status as the tournament's top scorer, while Abde Ezzalzouli, Bilal El Khannouss and Akram Nakach also scored in a comprehensive win at the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes.
Hakimi's late strike put the icing on the cake as Morocco claimed a first Olympic soccer medal and a first for North Africa.
Morocco, who beat Argentina in their opening group game and were eventually beaten by Spain in the semi-finals, had already defeated Egypt in the final of last year's Under-23 Africa Cup of Nations. Read more…
Portugal defender Pepe announces retirement at 41
Portugal veteran Pepe announced on Thursday in a video on social media he was retiring from soccer aged 41.
"I would like to thank you all," said the center-back as he cited the clubs he represented, as well as the Portuguese national team and his family.
"Everyone gave me the support I needed to leave with my mind at ease."
Pepe joined Portuguese side Maritimo at the age of 18 and went on to play for Porto, Spanish giants Real Madrid and Turkish club Besiktas. Read more…
Fulham defender Ream to join MLS club Charlotte
Fulham have agreed to let United States defender Tim Ream join Major League Soccer side Charlotte FC, the Premier League club announced Wednesday.
Ream joined the Cottagers from Bolton in August 2015 and went on to make 312 appearances in all competitions for the London team.
"When I walked through the Motspur Park doors in 2015, I would have never predicted what the following nine years would bring," Ream, 36, told Fulham's website. Read more…
Chelsea boss Maresca says rules to blame for academy talent exodus
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca said financial sustainability rules must be changed to discourage clubs from cashing in on academy graduates as Conor Gallagher looks set to join Atletico Madrid.
The England international would join Mason Mount, Lewis Hall, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Ian Maatsen, and Callum Hudson-Odoi as products of the Chelsea youth system to be sold over the past two years, while Armando Broja and Trevoh Chalobah are also expected to leave before the end of August.
Chelsea have needed to recoup funds after splashing well over £1 billion ($1.3 billion) in the past four transfer windows to revamp the squad under new ownership led by LA Dodgers co-owner Todd Boehly and private equity firm Clearlake Capital.
The sale of players who came through the academy is particularly helpful for clubs to comply with financial regulations as the full transfer fee is recorded as a profit in the books. Read more…
Man Utd's plan for Old Trafford revealed as INEOS and Co. eye new £2 billion 100,000-seater stadium
Manchester United are exploring building a new £2 billion 100,000 seater to replace Old Trafford as the men's team's home ground. However, according to a recent report, the English giants do not intend on totally abandoning the iconic Theatre of Dreams.
As written in the Daily Mail, the Red Devils prefer to keep Old Trafford even if the team relocates to a new stadium, which INEOS and Co. dream of being a 100,000 seater dubbed "the Wembley of the North".
In this scenario, the 114-year-old Old Trafford would not be bulldozed as initially thought. Instead, Manchester United would scale down the beloved stadium to preserve the club's history and turn it into the permanent home for the women's and academy teams.
As a result, the Theatre of Dream's capacity could be decreased from 75,000 to 30,000. Additionally, the Munich clock, the tunnel that pays homage to the 1958 air disaster, and the Sir Matt Busby, Sir Alex Ferguson, Jimmy Murphy, Bobby Charlton, George Best, and Denis Law statues would all remain intact. Read more…
Why Mikel Arteta recruited pickpockets to team dinner to teach Arsenal players an important lesson
Mikel Arteta has garnered a reputation for employing out-of-the-box methods as a manager to get his ideas across to the Arsenal players, with a recent report from the Athletic adding to this perception.
The well-known publication revealed a story regarding the Spaniard and how he invited pickpockets to a team dinner last season to ensure his men remained on guard throughout the season.
The professional pickpockets were tasked with going around the room and stealing as many personal items from the players as possible. Once the meal was over, the manager stood up and asked the Arsenal men to empty their pockets.
When the players realized personal items had gone missing, the Spaniard let them in on the secret and passed on an important lesson: be alert and on guard at all times. Read more…
Man City's Alvarez set to join Atletico in 95 million euro deal - reports
Julian Alvarez is set to depart Manchester City for Atletico Madrid according to widespread reports on Tuesday with the English champions set to bank a huge profit on the Argentine in a deal worth up to 95 million euros (£81 million, $104 million).
The 24-year-old cost City just £14 million when he signed from River Plate in January 2022 and his since enjoyed a meteoric rise, helping Argentina to World Cup and Copa America glory, as well as winning two Premier League titles and the Champions League at club level.
After initially returning to River on loan for six months, Alvarez scored 36 times in two seasons at City as Pep Guardiola's men became the first side ever to win four consecutive English top-flight titles. Read more…
Other headlines from the world of soccer
Henry "living a dream" as France reach Olympic men's soccer final
Thierry Henry won almost everything possible in a glittering career as a player and is now "living a dream" as a coach after leading hosts France to the final of the Olympic men's soccer.
France are aiming to win gold for the second time, 40 years after their triumph in Los Angeles, and will face Spain in the final after narrowly avoiding a shock defeat against Egypt on Monday. Continue reading…
Dutch midfielder Simons extends loan at RB Leipzig
Paris Saint-Germain's Dutch midfielder Xavi Simons has extended his loan at RB Leipzig by another year, knocking back reported interest from Bayern Munich.
PSG confirmed the loan on Monday but stressed that the deal is "without the option to buy". Continue reading…
AC Milan new maternity policy includes contract renewals
AC Milan announced on Friday a new maternity policy that guarantees automatic renewals in the final season contracts of its women's team, calling it a first among Europe's elite clubs.
A push for maternity rights in professional women's sports has gained momentum in recent years, with several sports governing bodies, including FIFA, and sponsorship brands introducing new policies. Continue reading…
