Welcome to the weekend! Club football is back after the international break, with exciting matches in Italy and England headlining the next few days. I`m Pardeep Cattry, bringing you the latest updates.
Key Football Fixtures
Here are some of the notable upcoming football matches:
- Bundesliga: Leverkusen vs. Bochum, Friday 3:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
- Championship: Sheffield United vs. Coventry, Friday 4 p.m. (Paramount+, CBS Sports Golazo Network)
- NWSL: Washington Spirit vs. Bay FC, Friday 8 p.m. (Amazon Prime Video)
- Bundesliga: Bayern vs. St. Pauli, Saturday 10:30 a.m. (ESPN+)
- NWSL: Orlando Pride vs. San Diego Wave, Saturday 12 p.m. (ESPN)
- Serie A: Juventus vs. Genoa, Saturday 1 p.m. (CBS, Paramount+)
- La Liga: Real Madrid vs. Leganes, Saturday 4 p.m. (ESPN+)
- MLS: Inter Miami vs. Philadelphia Union, Saturday 6:30 p.m. (MLS Season Pass)
- La Liga: Barcelona vs. Girona, Sunday 10:15 a.m. (ESPN+)
- FA Cup: Bournemouth vs. Manchester City, Sunday 11:30 a.m. (ESPN+)
- MLS: St. Louis City vs. Austin FC, Sunday 2:30 p.m. (Fox)
- Serie A: Napoli vs. AC Milan, Sunday 2:45 p.m. (Paramount+)
- NWSL: Angel City vs. Seattle Reign, Sunday 8 p.m. (CBS Sports Network)
Igor Tudor Takes Helm at Juventus
Juventus returns to Serie A action after the international break with a new coach, Igor Tudor, replacing Thiago Motta. Tudor`s debut match is set for Saturday against Genoa (1 p.m. ET, CBS and Paramount+). His main objective is to revitalize the team following Motta`s disappointing tenure, characterized by 13 draws in Serie A – equaling their total wins this season. The key question is how Tudor plans to turn the team`s fortunes around.
Many uncertainties surround Tudor`s first Juventus lineup, particularly in attack and midfield. Juventus` struggle to win is linked to their low goal-scoring record, with only 28 goals in 29 Serie A games. Attention will be on forwards Dusan Vlahovic and Randal Kolo Muani, who have scored nine and five league goals, respectively, but are yet to maximize their potential as a duo. Michael Lahoud from Morning Footy suggested Motta failed to get the best out of them, a challenge Tudor might overcome.
Lahoud commented: `Before Thiago Motta`s dismissal, a key question within Juventus was whether Randal Kolo Muani and Vlahovic could effectively play together. Motta attempted this, deploying Kolo Muani in wide positions, which I felt was a misuse of his versatility. I advocated for them to play as a front two, which I anticipate under Igor Tudor. Tudor`s approach is typically consistent, favoring a back three formation, often a 3-4-3. However, with Juventus` attacking midfielders, capable of supporting a front two, it might resemble a 3-5-2.`
The midfield setup is equally crucial, especially for USMNT players Weston McKennie and Timothy Weah. Both have played various roles under Motta. Weah often featured as a wing-back, while McKennie was versatile. His position under Tudor is unclear, though midfield, his natural role, remains a possibility, a position he played even under Motta.
Manchester City Aims for FA Cup Victory
The Premier League takes a backseat this weekend as the FA Cup quarterfinals take center stage. Manchester City is the sole `Big Six` team remaining, making the FA Cup their most probable trophy opportunity this season. However, they face competition from strong Premier League teams and a lower-league side with a remarkable cup run.
Manchester City faces Bournemouth on Sunday for a semifinal spot at Wembley. Despite an inconsistent season, City is favored, boasting world-class players like Erling Haaland and Kevin de Bruyne. However, Bournemouth, who defeated City 2-1 in November, exemplifies their strong season. Bournemouth, inspired by Newcastle United`s EFL Cup win, and with players like Justin Kluivert, aim to replicate Newcastle`s surprise success. This match could also be an audition for Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola, linked with the Tottenham Hotspur job.
Another notable game is Aston Villa against Preston North End, the last lower-league team in the FA Cup. Villa is heavily favored and views the FA Cup as a realistic silverware target, adding to their impressive season which includes Champions League quarterfinals qualification. Aston Villa could be a strong FA Cup contender, making Sunday`s match crucial for both teams.
Top Football Headlines
- WCQ Rewind: A recap of winners and losers from the latest international window in 2026 World Cup qualifying.
- Real Madrid Under UEFA Investigation: UEFA is investigating Real Madrid players (Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, Antonio Rudiger, Dani Ceballos) for `indecent conduct` after their win against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.
- Ancelotti to Coach Brazil?: Brazil considers Carlo Ancelotti for their national team coach, leveraging his relationship with Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo, ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
- Davies` ACL Injury Dispute: Alphonso Davies` agent and Canada Soccer disagree over responsibility for Davies` ACL tear, sidelining him for six months.
- U-23 USWNT Roster Announced: Gisele Thompson, Makenna Morris, and others selected for the U-23 USWNT camp, integral to Emma Hayes` 2027 Women`s World Cup preparations.
- Coventry City`s Promotion Ambitions: Coventry City, under Frank Lampard, aims for Premier League promotion playoffs.
- FIFA Club World Cup Prize Money: FIFA might award $125 million to the Club World Cup winner from a $1 billion prize pool, surpassing the 2022 World Cup`s $440 million.
- Carnell on Defending Messi: Philadelphia Union coach Bradley Carnell discussed defending Lionel Messi before their Inter Miami match.
- Gasperini Linked to Roma Job?: Gian Piero Gasperini of Atalanta is rumored to be moving to Roma, but caution is advised for both parties.
Betting Insights
Best Bets
- NWSL: Washington Spirit vs. Bay FC, Friday 8 p.m.
Pick: Washington Spirit to win (+130) – Despite Bay FC`s strong start, Washington Spirit, a league contender, is expected to bounce back at home after a loss to Kansas City Current. Their roster depth is impressive, even without Trinity Rodman. – Chuck Booth - La Liga: Real Madrid vs. Leganes, Saturday 4 p.m.
Pick: Real Madrid to score 2+ goals in the first half (+148) – Real Madrid needs to maintain pace with Barcelona in La Liga. A fast start at home against Leganes is anticipated to avoid dropping points, leveraging their squad depth for early and frequent goals. – Chuck Booth
For more betting tips and news, visit CBSSports.com`s betting section.
CBS Sports Golazo Network Highlights
- Morning Footy (Weekdays 8-10 a.m.): CBS Sports Golazo Network`s flagship morning show with soccer highlights, interviews, and storylines. Available as a podcast.
- Attacking Third (Monday, Thursday): Live studio show of the women`s soccer podcast, covering NWSL, USWNT, and European leagues. Wednesday live streams on YouTube at 11 a.m. ET.
- Call it What You Want (Monday and Thursday): Podcast with Jimmy Conrad, Charlie Davies, and Tony Meola discussing USMNT and US soccer. Live streams on YouTube Mondays at 1 p.m. ET and Thursdays at 6 p.m. ET.
- Scoreline (Daily): Daily show with global football news, results, match highlights, and top goals.
- How to Watch: CBS Sports Golazo Network is a free 24/7 soccer channel, streamable on CBS Sports app, Pluto TV, and Paramount+.
