When the Premier League schedule was released last summer, very few circled the Leicester City/Manchester United match on the calendar.
Yet, entering matchday 14, the Foxes and Red Devils sit atop the table as they prepare to face each other this Saturday at the King Power Stadium. Leicester City is led by Jamie Vardy, who leads the Premier League with 13 goals and with a goal against Man U will break the record of former Red Devil Ruud Van Nistelrooy by scoring in eleven straight league matches.
Vardy’s journey to the pinnacle of English football is worth a look. But the Leicester City are far from just a one-man show as Algerian Riyad Mahrez’s vision and pace have led to seven goals and six assists in the first 13 games. Leicester City will need production from both if they are to derail Manchester United’s eight-game unbeaten streak in all competitions.
United Manager Louis van Gaal will look to Captain Wayne Rooney, speedster Memphis Depay and passing wizard Juan Mata to press the Foxes defenses but the key to the Devils early season success is their back four and keeper David de Gea.
The United defenses have allowed a league low nine goals and are seeking their ninth clean sheet in the league. The matchup of offense versus defense can be seen this Saturday at 12:30 p.m. EST on NBC.
Other great matchups in England include Man City looking to right their ship after losses to Liverpool last weekend and Juventus in the midweek when they face Southampton at the Etihad on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. EST on NBCSN. \
Chelsea, fresh off of two straight victories will look to make it three in a row when they take the tube to White Hart Lane and face a resurgent Harry Kane and Tottenham Hotspur Sunday morning at 7:00 a.m. EST on USA. The football weekend in England concludes on Sunday at 11:15 a.m. EST when Liverpool welcome Swansea City to Anfield on NBCSN.
The Best Of The Rest Of The Weekend
In Spain, Real Madrid will attempt to pick up the pieces after their El Clasico debacle as they travel to Eibar on Sunday at 10:00 a.m. EST on beIN Sports. Barcelona return home to Nou Camp to face Real Sociedad and leading scorer Agirretxe at 10:00 a.m. EST on beIN Sports. Atletico Madrid, who leapfrogged their cross-town rivals into second place last weekend welcome Espanyol to the Spanish capital on Saturday at 12:15 p.m. EST on beIN Espanol.
In Italy, it is also 1st v 2nd as Inter Milan travels to Napoli on Monday at 1:00 p.m. EST on BeIN Sports. Juventus looks for their fourth straight league victory when they journey to Palermo on Sunday at 2:45 p.m. EST on beIN Sports.
In Germany, Bayern will look to remain undefeated in the Bundesliga as they host Hertha BSC and American John Brooks Saturday morning at 9:30 a.m. EST on Fox Sports 1. Elsewhere, Chicharito and Bayer Leverkusen will look to stretch Schalke 04’s winless streak to five matches when the two sides meet on Sunday at 11:30 a.m. EST on Fox Sports 1.
Heading west, in Mexico, the quarterfinals started during the week and conclude this weekend. Regular season leaders, Pumas, find themselves down 1-0 to Veracruz going into Sunday’s second match which can be seen on Univision Deportes at 1:00 p.m. EST. Chiapas look to overcome a 2-1 deficit when they welcome Tigres to southern Mexico for their second match on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. EST on Univision Deportes.
Leon has its work cut out due to a 4-1 loss at the Azteca against Club America on Wednesday. The clubs meet again Saturday night at 9:06 p.m. EST on Telemundo and NBC Universo. The weekend ends with a rematch between Toluca and Puebla where the series is knotted at 2-2. Their rematch can be seen on Sunday at 6:00 p.m. EST on Univision Deportes.
In the States, the MLS Conference Finals conclude on Sunday with the second matches between FC Dallas-Portland and NY Red Bulls-Columbus. Dallas will look to erase a 3-1 deficit when they welcome Portland to North Texas Sunday at 5:00 p.m. EST on ESPN while the Red Bulls will look to erase a 2-0 margin when the face Columbus Sunday night at 7:30 p.m. EST on Fox Sports 1.
