Champions League Quarterfinals Tue-Wed

chelsea_v_manuThe 1st leg of the UEFA Champions League Quarterfinals kick off on Tuesday and Wednesday this week. The 8 teams remaining will play their home-and-away series this week and next. The winners move on to the semifinals the last week of April and 1st week of May. The games are being broadcast on Fox Soccer Channel.

Tuesday, April 5th
REAL MADRID-TOTTENHAM (live) 1 pm.
INTER MILAN-SCHALKE (delay) 4 pm.

Wednesday, April 6
CHELSEA-MANCHESTER UNITED (live) 1 pm.
BARCELONA-SHAKHTAR DONETSK (delay) 4 pm.

I think the Chelsea vs ManU game might justify a late lunch at Farmer’s Gastropub on Wednesday. Feel free to join me!

La Liga Live On ESPN2 Sunday

Diego Forlan, Atletico de Madrid

Diego Forlan, Atletico de Madrid

Set your DVR for Sunday at noon when World Cup star Diego Forlan and his Atletico teammates will take on the Galactica’s of Barca.

Sunday 12 pm on ESPN2 – ATLETICO MADRID vs BARCELONA, Live!

From Goal.com La Liga Weekend Preview

Early-season pacesetters Atletico Madrid play host to reigning champions Barcelona Vicente Calderon this weekend.
Atletico are riding the crest of a wave at present having finished last season by winning the Europa League and reaching the final of the Copa del Rey and then starting the current campaign with a European Super Cup win over Inter Milan and back-to-back victories in La Liga.

Those two triumphs have left Quique Sanchez Flores’ side at the top of the Primera Division standings, level on six points with Valencia, and optimism will be growing in the Rojiblancos camp that they can push the big two of Real and Barca hard this season.
This weekend, therefore, offers Atletico the perfect chance to showcase their credentials with mighty Barca the visitors.

The two clubs have been involved in some epic battles in recent seasons, with the last seven league meetings between the two producing 39 goals.

Andres Iniesta is the God of soccer justice

I almost left early, since the game seemed to be in Chelsea’s control but I learned my lesson after Porto’s remarkable comeback in the quarterfinal round. Ah Barca!

Barcelona will face Manchester United in the Champions League Final on Wednesday May 27th. Take the afternoon off and come out and join us at a destination to be named soon.

FC Barcelona vs Red Bulls on ESPN2

From Soccer By Ives

ESPN has announced that ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes will air the August 6th (Wednesday) friendly between FC Barcelona and the New York Red Bulls at Giants Stadium. Game time is 6 pm Central.

Barcelona will be making its first appearance at Giants Stadium since defeating the Red Bulls in a friendly, 4-1, two years ago. Led by French star Thierry Henry and Euro 2008 standouts Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Carles Puyol, Barcelona’s star-studded squad is expected to draw more than 50,000 to the match.

Note – the US Women’s National team will open play at the Beijing Olympics that morning in a game against Norway scheduled for 6:30 am CDT. More on that later.