WEEKEND SOCCER ON TV
League play begins this weekend in Italy and Spain with Juventus going for a record eighth consecutive title in Serie A and Spanish champion Barcelona looking to improve on a one-loss season in La Liga. Here are some of the most intriguing European matchups available this weekend on TV and streaming services:
La Liga: Barcelona cruised to a league championship and won Spain’s Copa del Rey, but a loss to Roma in the quarterfinals of the Champions League marred its 2017-18 season. It will open its new schedule Saturday at home against Alaves (BeIN Sports, 1 p.m. PDT). Meanwhile, Champions League winner Real Madrid will continue adjusting to life without Cristiano Ronaldo on Sunday when it opens its La Liga schedule at home against Getafe (BeIN Sports, 1 p.m. PDT).
Serie A: Speaking of Ronaldo, he’ll begin his first season in Italy on Saturday when Juventus travels to Chievo (ESPN+, 9 a.m. PDT). Afterward, Napoli, last season’s runner-up, starts the new season against Lazio (ESPN+, 11:30 a.m. PDT).
EPL: Arsenal, shut out by Manchester City last weekend in its first game in more than two decades without Arsene Wenger, travels to Chelsea on Saturday looking to give new manager Unai Emery his first victory (NBC Universo, 9:30 a.m. PDT). Chelsea opened its season by beating Huddersfield Town 3-0 in the EPL debut of coach Maurizio Sarri.