Games to Watch: Bonanza across MLS and Europe

New York City FC at D.C. United

7:00 p.m. Friday (UniMás)

A few weeks ago, New York City FC looked buried in the Major League Soccer playoff race. Yet they've suddenly risen into contention thanks to timely goals from formerly-vilified midfielder Frank Lampard. D.C., meanwhile, seems in the midst of collapse. They topped the East during the summer, but are now mired in a four-game winless streak. Defender Steve Birnbaum needs to step up to help right the ship.

Liverpool at Everton

8:30 a.m. Sunday (NBCSN, NBC Universo)

Those of you reading this in Philadelphia know that the forecast this weekend is for a lot of rain. Sunday's soccer slate will make you quite happy to plant yourself on the couch. This fabled crosstown rivalry kicks things off.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rogers is on the hot seat, and a loss will increase the pressure for him to be canned. On the other side of Stanley Park - the two clubs' homes are separated by less than a mile - Tim Howard has had some hiccups lately in Everton's net. If he struggles again this weekend, it could affect his status for next weekend's big U.S.-Mexico showdown.

PSV Eindhoven at Ajax

8:30 a.m. Sunday (Univision Deportes)

I admit don't often feature the Dutch league in this column. But now that Univision has quietly added a rights deal to bring the league to a major American television channel, it's worth paying attention.

You've probably heard of these two teams before, as they're part of the Eredivisie's Big Three along with Feyenoord. This game will feature some familiar names, including PSV's Andrés Guardado. You'll also see some top young prospects, such as Ajax's Viktor Fischer and Eindhoven's Adam Maher.

Manchester United at Arsenal

11:00 a.m. Sunday (NBCSN, Telemundo)

Sometimes, the English Premier League unfairly swallows up all of the space at the table where we discuss European soccer's influence on America. Then a game like this comes along, and even the most cynical among us have to admit that it's irresistible.

Manchester United is back in a familiar place: first place in the Premier League standings. Anthony Martial is justifying his status as the world's most expensive teenager - the Red Devils paid a $54.4 million transfer fee to Monaco to sign him - and that old swagger is coming back to Old Trafford.

Arsenal, meanwhile, seems all over the place. Alexis Sánchez's drive and flair have the Gunners in fourth place, but they're winless this season in the UEFA Champions League. Manager Arsène Wenger is likely to get an earful about it from the Emirates Stadium crowd.

So buckle your seatbelts for what should be another heavyweight slugfest.

Borussia Dortmund at Bayern Munich

11:30 a.m. Sunday (Fox Sports 2, GolTV Español)

It's dreadful luck for the Bundesliga that the season's first meeting of Germany's biggest clubs comes at the same hour as England's showdown of superpowers. To make matters worse, Fox Sports 1 has other live programming already scheduled in the time slot. So this game, with so many stars and so much attacking talent, is buried.

If you have Fox Sports 2 or Fox Deportes - Verizon FiOS just added the former, by the way, and in HD - you're in luck. If not, try a subscription to Fox Soccer 2 Go, the network's online streaming service. For your efforts, you'll get to see Europe's hottest goalscorer, Bayern's Robert Lewandowski, as well as a pile of other big names: Mario Götze, Thomas Müller, Arjen Robben and Dortmund's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Shinji Kagawa and Marcos Reus.

Real Madrid at Atlético Madrid

2:30 p.m. Sunday (beIN Sports, beIN Sports Español)

Atlético's rise in Spanish soccer over the last few years has produced some tremendous clashes with the big boys across town. Expect the same high-quality soccer this time around as Jackson Martínez and Antoine Griezmann lead los Colchoneros against Cristiano Ronaldo and Sergio Ramos' Real.

Marseille at Paris Saint-Germain

2:55 p.m. Sunday (beIN Sports Connect; tape-delayed on beIN Sports at 4:30)

Here's another great game that will be buried because of its kickoff time. French's signature rivalry serves up an unexpected twist this time, because Marseille is mired in 15th place through eight game. L'OM's lack of star power this season - the biggest name is probably midfielder Rémy Cabella - could be exposed in a big way by first-place PSG. Zlatan Ibrahimović, Ángel di María and what should be a raucous crowd at the Parc des Princes will be up for the occasion.

Houston Dynamo at FC Dallas

5:00 p.m. Sunday (ESPN2, ESPN Deportes)

The Texas Derby doesn't always get the same buzz as MLS' other rivalries, in part because this is the first year since 2010 that both teams are in the same conference. That might change this weekend. Houston, featuring forward Giles Barnes and former Union defender Sheanon Williams, needs a win to stay alive in the playoff race. Dallas, with playmakers Fabián Castillo and Mauro Díaz, also needs a win in the race for a first-round playoff bye.

Los Angeles Galaxy at Seattle Sounders

9:30 p.m. Sunday (Fox Sports 1, Fox Deportes)

After a summer swoon, the Sounders went undefeated in September. They're hitting stride at the perfect time, as the first-in-the-west Galaxy come to CenturyLink Field for what's always one of MLS' most glamorus matchups. If Seattle's Clint Dempsey and Obafemi Martins can outduel L.A.'s Robbie Keane, Giovani dos Santos and Steven Gerrard, it will send a message that will resonate for the rest of the season - and perhaps into the playoffs too.