BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
English football returns with EPL coverage airing all season on ESPN
England's top level of football, the Barclays Premier League, returns to ESPN in August for another season of great action from one of Europe's toughest leagues. While at one point it appeared that Arsenal would finally break through for the top prize (not to be), or that Liverpool would claim their first league title in 24 years (also not to be), in the end it was gritty Manchester City finishing ahead of Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal to claim their second league title in the past three years.
Don't miss a goal with ESPN's weekend coverage of the English Premier League airing all season, LIVE and on short-turnaround. NOTES: A second match is featured each week, time TBD. Select games from England's Second Division also air throughout the season. Games not available to cruise lines; matches airing on short-turnaround/taped on ESPN Caribbean will air LIVE on ESPN2 Caribbean.
*Schedule: LIVE coverage
Aug 16 09:55am Barclays Premier League
Aug 23 07:40am Barclays Premier League
Aug 30 11:00pm Barclays Premier League (S)
*NOTE: English Premier League not available to cruise lines.
(S) Short-turnaround
More International Football - Spanish Primera División, Italian Serie A, German Bundesliga and Dutch First Division
The wait is over, as all the top European leagues kick off the new season in August. ESPN's season coverage spotlights four of the best: the Spanish Primera División, Italian Serie A, German Bundesliga and Dutch First Division.
The Spanish Primera División is known for an exciting, fast-paced brand of football that never disappoints. Last season saw upstart Atlético de Madrid push the league's two recognized powers, Real Madrid and Barcelona, off their championship perch. The title came down to the last day of the season, a match between Atléti and Barça for all the marbles, and Atlético held on to claim their first league title in 18 years. It doesn't get much better than that.
Italian Serie A continues to be one of Europe's most renowned leagues, boasting a long and storied history on the world football stage. Last season saw Juventus claim a third straight "scudetto" in dominating fashion, beating out second-place AS Roma by a whopping 17 points for the title. Roma enjoyed their best ever start in Seria A history, notching 10 wins in a row and 24 goals scored, but in the end it was only good enough for second place in the final standings. There's always this year...
There's pretty much general agreement that the German Bundesliga is currently one of the best leagues on the planet. Defending champions Bayern Munich just break record after record, last season winning the fastest-ever Bundesliga title, wrapping things up by late March. At that point they'd gone undefeated in 52 Bundesliga games. The record reached 53 before mid-table Augsburg brought it to an end in early April. Still, championship #24 clearly felt good for Bayern, and they return with #25 in their sights.
Fast and physical football from the Netherlands returns as well this month, as the Dutch First Division opens the new season. As one of the most highly-attended leagues in all of Europe, Dutch football holds a cherished place in many a fans heart. Last season saw famed Ajax take a fourth consecutive title, number 33 overall, although top rival Feyenoord wasn't far off the pace.
Catch weekend football coverage from around Europe airing LIVE and on short-turnaround throughout the season on ESPN; dates/times TBC closer to airdate.
MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER (MLS)
Airing LIVE on ESPN: the 2014 AT&T MLS All-Star Game
Major League Soccer (MLS), the top professional soccer league in the U.S., continues on ESPN in August, headlined by the 2014 AT&T MLS All-Star Game, hosted by the Portland Timbers at JELD-WEN Field and airing LIVE on ESPN on August 6. The MLS All-Stars will face one of the giants in world football as they take on Germany's Bayern Munich, the 2013 European champions and reigning Bundesliga champions.
Bayern currently boast a lineup of international superstars, among them France's Franck Ribéry, Arjen Robben of the Netherlands and Croatia's Mario Mandzukic, along with German national team stalwarts like Bastian Schweinsteiger, Mario Götze and Thomas Müller. This marks the first time the best of MLS take on a German Bundesliga side in the league's summer showcase, but the MLS All-Stars boast a 5-3-1 record against international competition and are certain to put on a rousing show for the fans.
ESPN's coverage of Major League Soccer airs all season, LIVE and on short-turnaround.
Schedule: LIVE coverage - Host team shown first
Aug 06 09:30pm 2014 AT&T MLS All-Star Game: MLS All-Stars vs. Bayern Munich
Aug 10 10:30pm Seattle Sounders vs. Houston Dynamo