Happy Weekend!
That means soccer/football games are upon us, of which need your attention.
So, you should be watching these games:
Saturday
West Ham vs. Arsenal, 8:30 AM EST. This London derby is sure to excite. West Ham is hungry to improve upon last season, while Arsenal wants to continue punching above their weight. And, if you watch this game, you can easily slide into the 12 PM EST Brighton vs. Liverpool game without having to help your roommates feed the fish. Prediction: UPSET for West Ham, 2-1 with an early Lacazette goal cancelled out by second half goals from Antonio and Arnautovic.
Nice vs. Bordeaux, 2 PM EST. Former NYCFC coach and France international Patrick Vieira's Nice take on American-owned FC Bordeaux, bought in Decemeber 2018 for a cool $114 million. Nice's Mario Balotelli will not feature, which should help the lower-placed Bordeaux, who need the points. Prediction: 0-1 "Les Girondins" (Bordeaux) with a late goal from Francois Kamano.
RCD Mallorca vs. Deportivo La Coruña, 2:30 PM EST. To continue with American-owned European clubs, Steve Nash & Co.'s Real Mallorca host Deportivo in this Segunda Division bash. RCD Mallorca boast a strong roster fighting for a playoff-berth in the uber-competitive Spanish Segunda. RCDM currently sit in 8th position, 6 points back of Deportivo, who sit in 3rd. Places 1 and 2 in the league earn automatic promotion, while places 3-6 fight for one spot in a contentious playoff. Predition: 2-0 Mallorca, with an early goal from speedy-winger Lago Junior and a late goal from midfield-maestro Salva Sevilla.
Sunday
Real Betis vs. Real Madrid, 2:45 PM EST. Normally, Real Madrid would not be on the obscure list because of their usual-league dominating form. This year is different! Ten points back from leading-Barcelona and having already fired the first coach of the season--who signed controversially after being fired by the Spanish RFA for agreeing to coach Real Madrid on the eve of Spain's first world cup game--Real Madrid need points more than Carmelo Anthony's stat-line. Meanwhile, Betis sit right behind Madrid in 6th place and boast the likes of Giovani Lo Celso, Andres Guardado, and Cristian Tello, to name a few. Prediction: 1-3 Real Madrid.
Toluca vs. Puebla, 1 PM EST. Toluca has earned 3rd place in the Liga MX, and just bought Emanuel Gigliotti from Independiente (Argentina) to bolster its already-strong goal-scoring. In contrast, Puebla, DaMarcus Beasley's former club, sit in 10th, needing some goal-scoring help. US international Jose Francisco Torres is in the ranks, but currently injured. Prediction: 3-0 Toluca. Estadio Nemesio Diaz is an exciting fortress that proves too difficult for opposing clubs.
So grab some sunflower seeds and a coca-cola and tell your mom/significant other that no day this weekend is good for you to go shopping!
