Soccer Matches to Watch this Weekend

1. Liverpool v. Chelsea (Sunday, 7:30am CT, Fox Soccer Plus).
If you have Fox Soccer Plus (or know your way around the internet) this is the match to catch this weekend. Chelsea is locked in a home stretch battle with Manchester United for the EPL title. Liverpool is without Spain international players Cesc Fabergas and Fernando Torres and is reeling from a loss to Spanish club Atletico Madrid in the Europa League semi-final. Will Liverpool answer the bell to derail Chelsea’s chances and secure a spot in next year’s Europa League and keep their outside chances of qualifying for the 2011 Champions League alive?

2. Sunderland v. Manchester United (Saturday, 10:30am CT, Fox Soccer Channel).
The other half of the race for the EPL title Manchester United look to secure three points against a mid table team. A win and it is time to pray that Liverpool pulls out a result. A United win and draw or loss by Chelsea will put United in the lead with one match left.

3. Manchester City v. Aston Villa (Saturday, 9:00am CT, Fox Soccer Channel).
This is the weekend to be an EPL fan. City and Villa are locked in a battle (with Tottenham and Liverpool) to secure 4th place in the EPL. Why does 4th place matter? 4th place gets you a spot in the UEFA Champions League tournament next year. City is hoping all their “well spent” resources pay off with a trip to European competition next year. Villa is enjoying a return to prominence and looking to look down the last Champions League spot. Only two points separates 4th and 7th place with two matches to go.

4. Villareal v.Barcelona (Saturday, 3:00pm CT, GolTV).
Let’s see, a reeling Villareal versus a very angry Barcelona team that saw their bid for back to back Champions League titles dashed by the special one and Inter Milan. I see a Barcelona route that should see a few highlight reel goals.

5. Borussia Mogengladbach v. Bayern Munich (Friday, Noon, ESPN Deportes and replaying on GolTV throughout the weekend).
Michael Bradley against the Champions League final bound Bayern Munich. Will the extra fixtures in the Champions League make Munich vulnerable to a loss here?
Happy viewing!