Real Madrid v Levante Preview, Prediction, TV Listings, Betting Odds La Liga 12 February 2012 -
The 90th Minute Soccer Blog
Real Madrid can extend their lead at the top of the table to ten points with a win as they host
Levante in the Spanish Primera Division (La Liga). The match will take place at the Estadio
Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid, Spain on Sunday, February 12, 2012.
Luis Suarez and Patrice Evra will face each other on the field for the first time since the
controversial racism charges against Suarez when Manchester United and Liverpool renew their
rivalry in today's marquee match-up.
Suarez will be key to the Reds chances of knocking off Manchester United in a vital match-up for
both teams.
While the marquee game of the weekend, Sunday's African Cup of Nations final between Zambia and
Ivory Coast, is not being widely televised throughout the United States, there is still plenty of
top-rate action to catch.
This weekend has the potential to be a landmark one for a number of Americans looking to make
their mark on the European game.
Friday, February 10
2:30pm Wolfsburg vs Freiburg ESPN Deportes, ESPN3
3pm Spain vs USA (beach soccer) Fox Deportes
4pm El Salvador vs Mexico (beach soccer) Fox Deportes
7:15pm Boca Juniors vs Olimpo GolTV
7:15pm Lanús vs San Lorenzo TyCSports
8pm Atlético Nacional vs Boyacá Chicó TV Colombia
9:10pm Morelia vs Santos Laguna Fox Deportes, Azteca America
9:45pm Universidad Guadalajara vs León GolTV
Saturday, February 11
7:45pm Manchester United vs Liverpool ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, ESPN3
9am Auxerre vs Lorient Fox Soccer 2Go
9am Evian TG vs Olympique Marseille Fox Soccer 2Go
9am Olympique Lyon vs Caen Fox Soccer 2Go
9am Montpellier vs Ajaccio Fox Soccer 2Go
9am Valenciennes vs Nancy Fox Soccer 2Go
9:30am Borussia Dortmund vs Bayer Leverkusen GolTV
9:30am Bayern München vs Kaiserslautern ESPN3
10am Everton vs Chelsea FSC, Fox Deportes
10am Sunderland vs Arsenal Fox Soccer Plus, Fox Soccer 2Go
10am Blackburn Rovers vs Queens Park Rangers Fox Soccer 2Go
10am Bolton vs Wigan Athletic Fox Soccer 2Go
10am Fulham vs Stoke City Fox Soccer 2Go
10am Swansea City vs Norwich City Fox Soccer 2Go
10am Peterborough United vs West Ham United Fox Soccer 2Go
12pm Udinese vs Milan Fox Soccer Plus, Fox Deportes, RAI Internazionale, ESPN3, Fox Soccer 2Go
12pm Racing Santander vs Atlético Madrid ESPN3
12:20pm Blackpool vs Portsmouth Fox Soccer 2Go
12:30pm Tottenham Hotspur vs Newcastle United FSC
1pm Brest vs Dijon Fox Soccer 2Go
2pm Osasuna vs Barcelona GolTV
2pm Ghana vs Mali (Africa Cup of Nations 3rd Place Match) Al Jazeera Sports USA
2pm Cobresal vs Colo Colo TV Chile
2:45pm Cagliari vs Palermo FSC, Fox Deportes, RAI Internazionale
3pm USA v New Zealand USsoccer.
WE'RE BACK! Ultras Alive returns this Monday February 13 at 10pm for it's 35th show and the first
one in 2012 with guests Gabriel Gabor Major League Soccer / Soccer United Marketing's (Twitter:
@MLSGabor )who will be promoting the Mexico vs Colombia game this coming February 29, 2012
We will also be giving out 2 tickets to the game so stay tuned on how you can win them.
This week's soccer programing on ESPN Deportes Miami 1210 AM
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7
COPA LIBERTADORES DE AMERICA
Chivas (MEX) vs Deportivo Quito (ECU)
Time: 9:00 PM – 12:00 AM ET
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8
COPA DEL REY - Spain
Valencia vs Barcelona
Time: 2:00 – 5:00 PM ET
COPA LIBERTADORES DE AMERICA
Nacional (ECU) vs Cruz Azul (MEX)
Time: 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM ET
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10
MEXICAN SOCCER LEAGUE (Clausura Season)
Morelia vs Santos
Time: 9:00 PM – 12:00 AM ET
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11
LA LIGA – Spain's Soccer League
Osasuna vs Barcelona
Time: 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM ET
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12
MEXICAN SOCCER LEAGUE
Tijuana vs Cruz Azul
Time: 2:30 PM – 5:30 PM ET
A big snowstorm hit England on Saturday, threatening to jeopardize the slate of matches set for
today, but the big headliner between Chelsea and Manchester United will go on as planned, and it
will serve as the marquee match of a busy day in the soccer world.
While the Super Bowl dominates the American sports landscape today, soccer fans here will have
plenty to choose from for their viewing pleasures, topped off with the big Chelsea-United
clash.
Clint Dempsey will try to keep his torrid hot streak in the English Premier League going against
a Manchester City side looking to hold on to first place in one of today's best matches.
The Cottagers are in need of points to move further away from the relegation zone, but earning
any in Manchester against a City side coming off a loss to Everton won't be easy.
Not too long ago, Chelsea and Manchester United were fighting each other for league titles and
UEFA Champions League superiority. Now, the Blues are just hoping to chip away at a 12-point table
deficit that keeps mounting by the week.
The two English giants battle Sunday at Stamford Bridge in a nationally televised game on the
Fox network, with United looking to maintain its place atop the league while dealing perhaps the
final blow to Chelsea's faint title hopes and forcing the club into a fight for a place in Europe
next season.
Friday, February 3
2:30pm Nürnberg vs Borussia Dortmund GolTV
8pm Altamira vs Irapuato GolTV
9:10pm Estudiantes Tecos vs Atlas Galavision
Saturday, February 4
7:30am West Ham United vs Millwall FoxSoccer.tv, Fox Soccer 2Go
8am Arsenal vs Blackburn Rovers ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, ESPN3
9am Cesena vs Catania RAI Internazionale
9am Roma vs Internazionale Fox Soccer Plus, RAI Internazionale, ESPN3 USA
9:30am Bayer Leverkusen vs Stuttgart ESPN Deportes, ESPN3
10am Wigan Athletic vs Everton FSC, Fox Deportes
10am Stoke City vs Sunderland Fox Soccer Plus, FoxSoccer.
With the transfer window shut, teams across Europe are moving forward with their new parts in
place.
Queens Park Rangers' newest signings Djibril Cisse and Taye Taiwo are in the starting lineup for
the club's match at Aston Villa, which has Robbie Keane in the starting lineup and Americans Brad
Guzan and Eric Lichaj ready on the bench.
Arsenal's season hasn't gone quite according to plan, but a win today against Aston VIlla in FA
Cup Fourth Round action could help ease some of the pressure being faced by Arsene Wenger these
days.
Wenger has been roundly criticized since the Gunners' loss to Manchester United last week, but a
win today might help ease some of that backlash.
Saturday, January 28
England FA Cup, Liverpool-Manchester United (7:30amET FSC): The most heated of
English rivalries?
African Cup, Ghana-Mali (2pmET Al Jazeera Sports USA)
Italy, Juventus-Udinese (2:30pmET FSC, ESPN3.
Friday, January 27
11am Niger vs Tunisia Al Jazeera Sports USA
2pm Gabon vs Morocco Al Jazeera Sports USA
2:30pm Hannover 96 vs Nürnberg ESPN3, ESPN Deportes
2:45pm Watford vs Tottenham Hotspur Fox Soccer Plus, FoxSoccer.tv, Fox Soccer 2Go
3pm Everton vs Fulham FSC
8pm USA vs Costa Rica concacaf.
A couple of big-name matchups in 2nd legs of domestic cup competitions coming up later
today:
Carling Cup semifinal Manchester City vs Liverpool 8:45pm CET / 2:45pmET /
7:45pm GMT (USA TV: FSC): We didn't see the 1st leg of this semifinal tie earlier this month,
which somewhat surprisingly went 1-0 to Liverpool at Anfield.
Today is one of those jam-packed days of soccer action that make you happy to be a soccer fan
with a full day with nothing to do but watch soccer.
There is something for everybody today, from the historic Arsenal-Manchester United clash, which
will be the first English Premier League match shown live on American network television, to this
morning's Manchester City-Tottenham tilt featuring two of the best teams in England.
It's Super Sunday due to the two big EPL North London-Manchester games, but there's also a
couple interesting La Liga matchups and an relevant Eredivisie matchup today:
Super Sunday, Jan 22
Netherlands, Alkmaar-Ajax (8:30amET ESPN Deportes, ESPN3.
None of today's matches are necessarily must-see; but if you must watch some football, here's
what we recommend:
Saturday, Jan 21
England, Norwich-Chelsea (7:30amET ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, ESPN3.com): Norwich
(and Swansea) have attracted attention as newly-promoted sides that have fought their way into the
top half the table.
None of today's matches are necessarily must-see; but if you must watch some football, here's
what we recommend:
Saturday, Jan 21
Chelsea's new Catalonian Makélelé?
England, Norwich-Chelsea (7:30amET ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, ESPN3.com): Norwich
(and Swansea) have attracted attention as newly-promoted sides that have fought their way into the
top half the table.
Landon Donovan is coming off an outstanding match in Everton's 1-1 draw vs. Aston Villa last
week, and he will look to post an even better performance against struggling Blackburn today.
Donovan will look to jump-start an offense that has has its share of struggles, but an offense
that could have a field day against struggling Rovers.
Friday, January 20
2:30pm Borussia M'gladbach vs Bayern München GolTV
2:30pm Sablé vs PSG ESPN3
8pm Altamira vs Universidad Guadalajara GolTV
8pm Mexico vs Guatemala Telemundo, CONCACAF, Sportsnet.ca
9:10pm Morelia vs San Luis Azteca America
10:30pm Dominican Republic vs USA Telemundo, CONCACAF, UniversalSports.
Yet another Clásico the two Spanish superpowers meet again today, in what will be their 8th
battle in the past 9 months (see table below). Real Madrid hosts Barcelona at the majestic
Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, for the first leg of their Copa del Rey quarterfinal
tie. Kickoff is at a very Spanish 10pm in Madrid, which corresponds to 4pmET/1pmPT here in the
US (where ESPN Deportes and GolTV will be televising the match, and ESPN3.
Real Madrid - Barcelona 4pm - GolTV/ESPN Deportes It's the Copa del Rey version of El Clasico, and
it's on two channels. Considering we're talking about a Real Madrid - Barca match-up on a Wednesday
in January, feel free to hype this one as much as you want. We'll ignore that it's the first in a
two-leg quarterfinal series and we get to do this all over again next week.
Thierry Henry has already made a dramatic return to Arsenal, but today he will have his chance
to try and top his game-winning FA Cup goal against Leeds by scoring in his first English Premier
League match of his comeback.
The Gunners take on Swansea City in what should be an entertaining encounter, and could bring us
Henry's first start since coming back to Arsenal.
Less than two months ago Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane were combining on a game-winning goal
that helped lead the Los Angeles Galaxy to an MLS Cup title. Today, the two will square off on the
other side of the planet as Donovan's Everton and Keane's Aston Villa do battle.
Manchester United will look to keep the heat on Manchester City by knocking off Bolton, which is
awaiting a work permit for newly-acquired defender Tim Ream.
Inter Milan seems to finally have found its form, and after winning five straight matches and
outscoring its last two opponents 9-1 and getting Wesley Sneijder back from injury, the club faces
bitter rival and first-place AC Milan with a chance to make a statement in Serie A.
The Milan derby is the highlight of the weekend slate across Europe, one that also includes an
Aston Villa-Everton game that will be of interest to U.
Friday, January 13
9:10pm Estudiantes Tecos vs San Luis Galavision
9:30pm Correcaminos UAT vs La Piedad GolTV
Saturday, January 14
10am Aston Villa vs Everton foxsoccer.tv
10am Blackburn Rovers vs Fulham foxoccer.tv
10am Chelsea vs Sunderland Fox Soccer Channel, Fox Deportes
10am Liverpool vs Stoke City Fox Soccer Plus, foxsoccer.
The FA Cup continues in full swing today, with the biggest match-up of the weekend featuring the
Manchester Derby.
Manchester City will look to take a step closer to defending their FA Cup title against a
Manchester United side that is coming off a painful loss to Newcastle in league play.
Major League Soccer announced it's schedule for the 2012 season. All of the 19 clubs will play
34 matches, 17 at home and 17 away, during 34 weeks. Within each conference, each club will play
the same number of in-conference and out-of-conference games.
All 323 matches will be televised live – 89 by national network partners ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN
Deportes, NBC, NBC Sports Network, and Univision (TeleFutura, Galavisión and Univision Deportes)
in the United States.
Major League Soccer released their full 2012 schedule today which will feature 89 nationally
televised games on the ESPN family and NBC family of networks. Univision will be the
Spanish-language broadcast partner for MLS.
The season and First Kick will be on Saturday, March 10th and feature five matches.
Photo by ISIphotos.com
Landon Donovan's return to Everton is the story of the day in American soccer, and he'll look to
make an immediate impact when the Toffees host Bolton at Goodison Park. Donovan has secured a place
in the starting lineup, as has goalkeeping stalwart Tim Howard, who is making his 250th Premier
League appearance.
At the time of this writing, no programming information was available for Fox Soccer Channel
for Saturday, December 31 and Sunday, January 1.
Friday, December 30
2:45pm Liverpool vs Newcastle United FSC
7:30pm Xelaju vs Comunicaciones (Copa Mesoamericana) Azteca America
9:30pm Jaguares vs Isidro Metpan (Copa Mesoamericana) Azteca America
Saturday, December 31
7:15am Leicester City vs Portsmouth FSP, foxsoccer.
There are only a handful of games across the soccer world on Thursday, but a pretty crucial one
is taking place at White Hart Lane, where Chelsea and Tottenham do battle in a London derby (3
p.m., ESPN2/ESPN3.com/ESPN Deportes).
Tottenham sits in third place in the Premier League, two points ahead of the Blues with a game
in hand.
Photo by ISIphotos.com
With nearly full slates of action in the Premier League, Serie A and Ligue 1 and domestic cup
play on the docket as well, plenty is on the line across Europe today.
A number of Americans are in action across the continent, as Clint Dempsey looks to keep his
goal-scoring form going at Craven Cottage against Manchester United, while goalkeepers Tim Howard
and Brad Guzan aim for clean sheets against Swansea City and Arsenal, respectively.
Kickoff from the DW Stadium at 8:00PM GMT/3:00PM EST
Ways to Watch:
Live on Sky Sports 1 in the UK and ESPN3.com in the US.
Match will also run on delay on ESPN Deportes at 9:00PM EST (thanks to Jake for
the tip).
Wiziwig.
Serie A on Fox Soccer: Udinese - Juventus at noon. EPL on Fox Soccer: Fulham - Manchester United at
3pm and Newcastle - WBA at 5pm. Fox Soccer Plus has Manchester City - Stoke at 2:30pm. ESPN
Deportes has Aston Villa - Arsenal at 6pm along with Atletico Madrid - Albacete in Spain's Copa del
Rey at 2pm.
Serie A on Fox Soccer: Cagliari - Milan at 2:30pm. Ligue 1 on Fox Soccer Plus: Nancy - Marseille at
3pm. Copa del Rey on ESPN Deportes: Real Madrid - Ponferradina at 2pm and Sevilla - San Roque de
Lepe at 4pm. All Times Eastern
Friday, December 16
2:30pm: Bayern München vs Köln - ESPN Deportes, ESPN3
Saturday, December 17
1:30am: Newcastle Jets vs Sydney FC FSC
9:30am: Freiburg vs Borussia Dortmund GolTV
10am: Everton vs Norwich City FSC (5pm on Fox Deportes)
10am: Blackburn Rovers vs West Bromwich Albion foxsoccer.
Bundesliga on ESPN Deportes: Bayern Munich - Koln at 2:30pm ET.
Copa del Rey on ESPN Deportes: Ponferradina - Real Madrid at 2pm and San Roque - Sevilla at 4pm.
Serie A on Fox Soccer: Genoa - Inter Milan at 2:30pm. All Times Eastern
