Games to Watch: EPL, Algarve Cup, CONCACAF Champions League

Sunderland at Manchester United

10:00 a.m. Saturday (NBCSN)

For all the rancor that has surrounded Louis van Gaal in his first season as Manchester United manager, the team is nonetheless in fourth place in the Premier League. Robin van Persie's goals and Ángel Dí María's assists have carried the Red Devils up the standings. Sunderland, meanwhile, continues to fight to avoid relegation. The Black Cats' hopes of staying up rest with striker Jermain Defoe, who returned home to England after a disastrous season with Major League Soccer's Toronto FC.

Manchester City at Liverpool

7:00 a.m. Sunday (NBCSN)

Five points out of first place with one-third of the season to go, City still believes it can make a run for the title. Sergio Agüero and company face a big test at Anfield. Former City star Mario Balotelli is finally scoring again after a long drought, giving the sixth-place Reds hope of a top four finish.

Chelsea vs. Tottenham Hotspur

10:55 a.m. Sunday (beIN Sports)

Given that Chelsea is trying to hold on to first place in the Premier League while also competing in the Champions League, the Capital One Cup final might not mean as much to José Mourinho and his players as it will to the Blues' fans. But it will mean the world to Tottenham players and fans alike, as Spurs haven't won a trophy of any kind since 2008. All eyes will be on Harry Kane, Tottenham's English wonderkid who has scored 23 goals in all competitions this season.

United States women vs. Norway

2:00 p.m. Wednesday (Fox Sports 1)

Hope Solo makes her official return to action for the U.S. women's national team after a 30-day DUI suspension as the annual Algarve Cup kicks off in Portugal. Dynamic midfielder Megan Rapinoe and stalwart defender Christie Rampone are also back from injury rehabs. The U.S. needs strong performances to calm fears of a slump as the World Cup looms...

... okay, it's more than a slump. A lot more, actually, and I know many of you know that already. If you're a regular reader the print version of this column, you've seen I don't have much space to work with. That's not anyone's fault - indeed, the point is to do short hits on the big stories in international soccer. Here on the blog, though, I can go into a bit more detail. And in this case, I will.

You saw the loss to France and how the U.S. was not just beaten, but outclassed. The U.S. won't play another team of that caliber until the World Cup itself, unless it draws Japan or Germany - or a rematch with the French - in the Algarve Cup title game.

That may well happen, and if you're a U.S. fan, you need to hope that it does. Even though the Americans could get routed again, something has to happen to really wake up the team to the fact that it just isn't good enough. And unless the tactics change, whether by adding a true defensive midfielder or forcing veterans like Abby Wambach to the bench, the odds of the U.S. winning it all in Canada will keep falling.

After facing Norway, the U.S. will face Switzerland on Friday, March 6 (12 p.m., Fox Sports 1), then wrap up group play against Iceland on Monday, March 9 (12 p.m., TV TBA). The classification round will be played on Friday, March 11 (time TBA, Fox Sports 1).

Pachuca at Montréal Impact

8:00 p.m. Tuesday (Fox Sports 2, Galavisión)

On Tuesday, the Impact became the first Canadian team in CONCACAF Champions League history to get a result on Mexican soil, holding on for a 2-2 draw at Pachuca. Now they come home to Olympic Stadium to try to become just the second team in MLS history to knock a Mexican team out of the competition.

Bayern Munich vs. Eintracht Braunschweig

2:25 p.m. Wednesday (ESPN Deportes, ESPN3.com)

The German Bundesliga is stuck with a poor TV contract in the U.S., but the German Cup is not. So take the chance to watch Bayern, because they might just be the best team in Europe. Led by Mario Götze, Robert Lewandoski, Arjen Robben and Thomas Müller, the Bavarians are a scoring machine. They've scored 23 goals in their last seven games combined. This third-round matchup with second-division Braunschweig should be easy pickings.