The slate of weekend soccer games shifts to the United States as the parity in Major League Soccer continues to stick out like a sore thumb. Entering the third week of the season, only four teams have won their first two matches thus far. Can they keep the good runs going or will they join others who have dropped points? Tottenham will also travel to Old Trafford and hope to win their third match on the bounce instead of reverting back to their roller-coaster form on the season while we close out with Serie A and its wide-open race for the scudetto.
Here’s what we’re watching this weekend:
5. New York Red Bulls vs. Minnesota United
Date: Sunday, March 13 | Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Live stream: ESPN+
Caesars Sportsbook odds: New York -150; Draw +280; Minnesota United +440
Why watch: The Red Bulls are one of the four remaining teams to have won their first two league games to start the season, but hosting the Loons will be a test to see what they’re made of. Lewis Morgan is coming off of a hat trick against Toronto and summer signing Luquinhas has arrived. This is a team that could get better by the season, but containing the attack led by Franco Fragapane and Emanuel Reynoso will be a tough test for the defense even with Aaron Long back in the fold. The Loons have drawn their first two games despite the attack being too good to be held to one goal per game.
4. Torino vs. Inter Milan
Date: Sunday, March 13 | Time: 3:45 p.m. ET
Live stream: Paramount+
Caesars Sportsbook odds: Torino +440; Draw +275; Inter -150
Why watch: Inter Milan will try to keep their heads up despite being eliminated in their Anfield win over Liverpool in the Champions League as the focus shifts on winning a second consecutive scudetto. The Serie A title race is a close one with AC Milan, Inter and Napoli only separated by three points. If any of them slip up, Juventus are waiting to pounce. The midfield duo of Hakan Calhanoglu and Nicolo Barella will be tough for Torino to deal with, but they do have one of the best defensive records in the league to combat the Nerazzurri. Only allowing 28 goals, Torino has the fourth-best defensive record in Italy and are the only team with fewer than 30 goals allowed not in the top five due to their lack of goal scoring. Can they get a signature win to end their run of bad form?
3. Chelsea vs. Newcastle United
Date: Sunday, March 13 | Time: 10:00 a.m. ET
Live stream: Peacock
Caesars Sportsbook odds: Chelsea -300; Draw +400; Newcastle +900
Featured Game | Chelsea vs. Newcastle United
Why watch: While the potential sale of Chelsea and looming issues with traveling to away games are dominating headlines, there are still soccer matches to be played. Meanwhile, Eddie Howe has relegation-threatened Newcastle United climbing the table with three wins on the bounce. Up to 14th in the league, they’re just about safe and that’s with Allan Saint-Maximin missing the last few matches due to muscular injuries. This is a match where if Chelsea slips up, Newcastle can make them pay unlike the Norwich side that Chelsea scraped by midweek.
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2. Seattle Sounders vs. LA Galaxy
Date: Saturday, March 12 | Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
TV: Fox | Live stream: fuboTV (Try for free)
Caesars Sportsbook odds: Seattle Sounders +118; Draw +230; LA Galaxy +245
Featured Game | Seattle vs. Los Angeles
Why watch: Two teams that should be near the top of the Western Conference square off. While the Sounders are struggling with injuries to Nicolas Lodeiro, Will Bruin and Raul Ruidiaz, they were able to dismantle Leon at home in Concacaf Champions League. Meanwhile, the Galaxy have left it late in their first two matches as their defense powered them to wins in each occasion. Raheem Edwards is proving to be a good addition to Greg Vanney’s side, but can they use form to their advantage to open an early points gap on the Sounders?
1. Manchester United vs. Tottenham
Date: Saturday, March 12 | Time: 12:30 p.m. ET
Live stream: Peacock
Caesars Sportsbook odds: Manchester United +115; Draw +245; Tottenham +235
Featured Game | Manchester United vs. Tottenham Hotspur
Why watch: Two teams that haven’t done well against top opposition meet in a critical clash to determine the race for top four in the Premier League. Antonio Conte has Tottenham singing a tune with nine goals scored in their last two matches, but things should be a little tougher against Manchester United even after the team fell flat in a 4-1 derby loss to Manchester City. Cristiano Ronaldo will be fit and available this weekend, but that could prove to be a distraction to United considering he only has one goal in eight Premier League appearances this calendar year.
Honorable mentions
(All times U.S./Eastern)
Friday, March 11: A game to watch in …
- Spain: Atletico Madrid vs. Cadiz, 3 p.m. (ESPN+)
- France: Lille vs. Saint-Etienne 3 p.m. (beIN Sports and fuboTV — Try for free)
- Argentina: Arsenal vs. Velez Sarsfield, 5:15 p.m (Paramount+)
Saturday, March 12: A game to watch in …
- MLS: DC United vs. Chicago Fire, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
- England: Brighton vs. Liverpool, 7:30 a.m. (Peacock)
- Spain: Villarreal vs. Celta de Vigo, 12:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
- Italy: Sampdoria vs. Juventus, 12 p.m. (Paramount+)
- Germany: Hoffenheim vs. Bayern Munich, 9:30 a.m. (ESPN+)
- France: Troyes vs. Nantes, 3 p.m. (beIN Sports and fuboTV — Try for free)
- Argentina: Sarmiento vs. Newell’s Old Boys, 5:15 p.m. (Paramount+)
Sunday, March 13: A game to watch in …
- MLS: Atlanta United vs. Charlotte, 4:30 p.m. (FS1 and fuboTV — Try for free)
- England: West Ham United vs. Aston Villa, 10 a.m. (USA and fuboTV — Try for free)
- Spain: Barcelona vs. Osasuna, 4 p.m. (ESPN+)
- Italy: Udinese vs. Roma, 1 p.m. (Paramount+)
- Germany: Bayer Leverkusen vs. Koln, 10:30 a.m. (ESPN+)
- France: PSG vs. Bordeaux, 8 a.m. (beIN Sports and fuboTV — Try for free)
- Argentina: Estudiantes vs. Boca Juniors, 8:30 p.m. (Paramount+)