BUNDESLIGA!!! To most American Soccer fans, the only chance to see teams from Germany play over the past few seasons was Champions League coverage or various legally-questionable sources online. That changes today as the FOX family of networks debuts its full Bundesliga coverage with Bayern Munich’s match against Hamburg on Fox Sports 2 at 2:30 p.m. EDT.
Bayern are seeking their fourth straight German league title. The title-holders welcome summer signee Arturo Vidal, while taking the field for the first time in 17 years without Bastian Schweinsteiger on their roster. Schweinsteiger moved to Manchester United over the summer.
Fox plans to give NBC’s coverage of the Premier League stiff competition as Fox Sports 1 will air 58 games, Fox Sports 2 will show 60 matches and Fox Deportes will carry 105 games in Spanish.
Bayern’s match begins a weekend overflowing with attractive early-season fixtures. For five great reasons to tune into the Bundesliga, click here.
In Spain, Barcelona, still humming from Tuesday’s thrilling 5-4 extra-time victory over Sevilla FC in the UEFA Super Cup will try to secure another trophy as they travel to Athletic Bilbao for the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup which airs on ESPNNEWS at 4:00 p.m. EDT. The second leg will be played August 17 at Camp Nou in Barcelona and will be shown on ESPN 2, starting at 5:00 p.m. EDT.
In England, the second gameweek starts early as Manchester United look to score a goal of their own for the first time this season against American keeper Brad Guzan and Aston Villa in a rare Friday fixture which will air on NBCSN at 2:45 p.m. ET.
The game of the week is slated for Sunday at 11:00 a.m. EDT as the last two Premier League winners face off on NBCSN. Chelsea, still smarting from last weeks tie at home to Swansea City, travels to the Etihad to take on Manchester City.
City is flying high after thrashing West Bromwich Albion last Monday 3-0 and will look to put some early season distance between themselves and Jose Mourinho’s squad. Chelsea will rely on backup goalkeeper Asmir Begovic to slow City’s charge as starting keeper Thibaut Courtois will miss the match after receiving a straight red card the first week of the season.
