From the WSL's return to a big batch of high-stakes matchups elsewhere, an exciting weekend of soccer awaits. I'm Pardeep Cattry with a check-in before the action begins.
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📺 Footy fix
All times U.S./Eastern
Friday, Sept. 29
🇪🇸 La Liga: Barcelona vs. Sevilla, 3 p.m. ➡️ ESPN+
Saturday, Sept. 30
🇮🇹 Serie A: Milan vs. Lazio, 12 p.m. ➡️ Paramount+
🏴 EPL: Tottenham vs. Liverpool, 12:30 p.m. ➡️ USA Network
🇩🇪 Bundesliga: Leipzig vs. Bayern 12:30 p.m. ➡️ ESPN+
🇺🇸 NWSL: Portland Thorns vs. San Diego Wave, 10:30 p.m. ➡️ Paramount+
Sunday, Oct. 1
🏴 WSL: Chelsea vs. Tottenham, 12:30 p.m. ➡️ Paramount+
🇮🇹 Serie A: Atalanta vs. Juventus, 12 p.m. ➡️ Paramount+
🇺🇸 NWSL: OL Reign vs. North Carolina Courage, 8 p.m. ➡️ Paramount+
🌑Make sure to check out our full slate of Champions League coverage ahead of next week's Matchday 2.
📺 What's on CBS Sports Golazo Network
☀️ Morning Footy (Weekdays 8-10 a.m.): Hosts Susannah Collins, Charlie Davies, Nico Cantor and Alexis Guerreros help fans get their day started on the network's flagship morning show with highlights, interviews and the biggest soccer storylines. Morning Footy is also available in podcast form, so you'll never have to miss an episode.
📦 Box 2 Box (Weekday afternoons): The news-driven show quickly recaps all the latest headlines from around the world with panelists previewing the top matchups of the day. Catch Box 2 Box on CBS Sports Golazo Network on the CBS Sports app, PlutoTV and Paramount+.
3️⃣ Attacking Third (Monday, Wednesday, Friday evening): The leading women's soccer podcast and social brand is now a live studio show. Watch Friday a 4 p.m. this week as our analysts break down the best highlights and analysis and share insider information for all things women's soccer.
👟 Kickin' It (Wednesday, 8 p.m.): CBS Sports Golazo Network's new unfiltered interview show returns Wednesday After Thierry Henry's blockbuster turn, Mat Turner is in the hot seat next episode. Hosted by Kate Abdo, Clint Dempsey, Mo Edu and Charlie Davies, the group chat candidly with the biggest names from the Beautiful Game and share their stories from on and off the pitch.
🥅 Scoreline (Daily): Scoreline is the newest place for fans to catch up on all the biggest news and results impacting global football, match highlights from the top soccer competitions and all the can't-miss goals from the day's action, starting Thursday and airing seven days a week.
📺 How to watch: CBS Sports Golazo Network is a free 24/7 channel exclusively dedicated to offering unparalleled coverage of all the top soccer competitions worldwide. You can stream for free on the CBS Sports app, Pluto TV and Paramount+.
⚽ The Forward Line
🏴 WSL returns
The European women's club soccer season is finally upon us, with this weekend's fixtures in the WSL taking center stage. Aston Villa will kick things off against last season's runners-up Manchester United, who aim to maintain space at the top of the table despite an up-and-down summer. They added Women's World Cup golden boot winner Hinata Miyazawa to their ranks and also boast England's Ella Toone and Katie Zelem, but lost Alessia Russo to Arsenal at the start of the window.
All eyes, though, will be on Chelsea. The team eye a fifth title in a row, and come with an improved roster that includes two Americans. Catarina Macario and Mia Fishel joined the Blues over the summer from Lyon and Tigres, respectively, and could combine success in London with spots on the U.S. women's national team Olympic roster as the team prepares for Paris. Macario and Fishel are just two parts of a stacked roster that has aspirations for domestic and continental glory, as Jordan Angeli notes on Morning Footy.
- Angeli: "I think [manager Emma Hayes] is going to utilize a 3-5-2 a lot more. [Macario and Fishel] fit into a 3-5-2 well. One plays centrally and then one can play up top next to Sam Kerr, the best goalscorer in the WSL. Ashley Lawrence is the difference maker here because when you play a 3-5-2, she can be on the right side and she just proved in the last two Canadian games with an assist in each of those games that she is a force to be reckoned with and I think if you're Emma Hayes, you're seeing that and you're saying, 'There's only one choice for me' because they have a plethora of really good players attacking-wise, [including] Lauren James."
You can catch this season's WSL action on CBS Sports, with Paramount+ showing Chelsea's opener against Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa's encounter with Manchester United. CBS Sports Golazo Network will also have the latter match. CBS Sports' platforms will also air a handful of women's club matches across Europe throughout the season, including Bayern Munich's match against Koln on Monday on CBS Sports Network.
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🔗 Midfield Link Play
⏭️ Ange's next big test with Spurs
Elsewhere in England, Tottenham Hotspur's clash with Liverpool is one of the most hotly anticipated matches of the weekend. Both sides remain unbeaten to start the Premier League season, and while Liverpool's strong start comes with limited surprise despite last season's struggles, Spurs are arguably the big story heading into this game.
There were few expectations on Tottenham when they hired Ange Postecoglou as the manager over the summer, but a run that earned him August's manager of the month honors and last week's 2-2 draw at Arsenal give the impression that they are here to compete amidst a dramatic rebuild. Postecoglou's ambitious, attack-first style was on full display against Arsenal and is a hit with fans and players alike, as his former player Alistair Johnston shares on Morning Footy.
- Johnston: "Tactically, he was just so clear with everything that he wanted to do and I think that Spurs are seeing that right now as well. It's a system that as a player, it's really enjoyable to be a part of, especially as a defender because he gives you chances. He gives you almost a longer leash with some things where generally as a defender, you're taught to play safe, don't take any risks. He was one that said, 'No, take risks back there. I want to play a beautiful brand of football and every once in a while, you're going to get burned, but at the same time, it's going to work, and if we stick to it, we're going to overpower teams and it's going to turn out really nice. We're going to win a lot of matches, we're going to score a lot of goals, and the fans are going to be super excited watching that kind of football.'"
The question for Spurs this weekend, then, is this: Do they have enough defensive command to keep an attack-heavy Liverpool at bay, or will the visitors' offensive quality overcome the challenge?
🔗 Top Stories
🎮 Grab the remote: EA Sports FC drops today! Here's what you need to know before playing.
🔴 Antony returns: Manchester United's Antony has returned to training and will be available to play amid investigations into alleged assault in both the U.K. and Brazil.
🆕 Bay FC hires coach: Former U-17 USWNT coach Albertin Montoya will be Bay FC's first head coach, who has local ties after coaching in the area for several years.
💰 Bribes in Barcelona?: Barcelona's offices were raided by police as the Spanish FA investigates the club for accepting more than $73 million in bribes.
🏆 Dynamic Dynamo: Houston Dynamo won the U.S. Open Cup over a Lionel Mess-less Inter Miami in a game that showcased the winners' resilience, the losers' reliance on Messi, and David Beckham's presence even as all eyes are on Messi.
🔮 Weekend preview: Tottenham and Liverpool could continue their unbeaten runs, Tyler Admas might make his Bournemouth debut, Vinicius Junior is back for Real Madrid ahead of an exciting weekend in La Liga, Emile Smith-Rowe is ready to step up for Arsenal, St. Louis City hope to continue their dream first MLS season, Miami return to their push for the playoffs, and a superclasico is on the schedule in Argentina.
⏪ Midweek catchup: Chelsea picked up a much-needed win, Victor Osihmen scored for Napoli but could still opt to leave soon, Kai Havertz is still struggling at Arsenal, things are already going wrong at Roma, and Tigres beat LAFC in the Campeones Cup.
🏟️ On the move: AC Milan might be moving out of the San Siro.
📺 Henry, Dempsey on potential: Thierry Henry and Clint Dempsey talk about what makes an elite athlete and overcoming pain on the latest episode of Kickin' It.
💰 The Back Line
💵 Best bets
- Serie A: AC Milan vs. Lazio, Saturday, 12 p.m.
💰 THE PICK: Milan to win 1-0 (+600) -- Milan are emerging as one of the top teams in Italy after a fairly strong start to the Serie A season, so the oddsmakers favor them to topple Lazio to continue a near-perfect league campaign. - EPL: Tottenham Hotspur vs. Liverpool, Saturday, 12:30 p.m.
💰 THE PICK: Darwin Nunez to score (+163) --With or without the start, Darwin Nunez has been in major goalscoring form so far this season. It's hard to bet against him while he's on this run, so expect him to be a contributor for Liverpool as they aim to continue their undefeated start to the season.
