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Games to Watch: NWSL title game, MLS, EPL, Serie A

Start off your weekend with a matchup between Major League Soccer's most entertaining teams.

Portland Timbers at Real Salt Lake

10:00 p.m. Friday (NBCSN)

Portland and Salt Lake City aren't Major League Soccer's biggest markets, but they're the homes of the league's most entertaining teams. Argentine playmakers Diego Valeri (Portland) and Javier Morales (RSL) are worth staying up late to watch.

Sunderland at Crystal Palace

12:30 p.m. Saturday (NBC)

U.S. national team forward Jozy Altidore scored his first goal for Sunderland in a cup game on Tuesday. He'll look for his first Premier League goal this weekend against a Palace team that has yet to win this season.

Lazio at Juventus

2:40 p.m. Saturday (beIN Sport)

Two of Italy's traditional powers clash in Turin. Dynamic forwards Carlos Tévez and Paul Pogba lead Juventus, the most decorated team in Serie A history. Lazio looks to German veteran Miroslav Klose for goals and one-name Brazilian Hernanes for midfield inspiration.

Portland Thorns at Western New York Flash

8:00 p.m. Saturday (Fox Sports 2/Fox Soccer Channel) 

The National Women's Soccer League championship game is full of stars. Delran native Carli Lloyd and teammate Abby Wambach lead Western New York against Portland's Alex Morgan, Christine Sinclair and Tobin Heath.

If the Flash win, the organization would accomplish an historic feat. Yes, it's just the first year of the NWSL, but the organization stayed in business after winning the last Women's Professional Soccer title. They've since won championships in the semi-pro WPSL and W-League. Winning the NWSL would represent a fourth crown in as many seasons spanning four different leagues.

Manchester United at Liverpool

8:30 a.m. Sunday (NBCSN, Telemundo)

Liverpool's unbeaten start to the season has the Anfield faithful dreaming of a return to past glories. United were held to a scoreless draw by Chelsea on Monday, but David Moyes' team still looks like a title contender. A big reason for that is star forward Wayne Rooney, who spurned a big-money bid from Chelsea to stay with the Red Devils.

Tottenham Hotspur at Arsenal

11:00 a.m. Sunday (NBCSN, mun2)

The first North London Derby of the season comes at a pivotal time for both teams. Arsenal have finished above Tottenham for 18 straight years, but Spurs' big summer signings – especially striker Roberto Soldado - have put that streak in jeopardy.

Arsène Wenger's team has twice as much cash on hand as every other EPL team, but Wenger and CEO Ivan Gazidis have refused to spend it. Beating Fehnerbaçe in the Champions League calmed Gunners fans' nerves, but a loss to their biggest rival would launch another tidal wave of anger.

D.C. United at New York Red Bulls

8:00 p.m. Saturday (NBCSN)

New York has MLS' biggest payroll, and one of its biggest stars in Thierry Henry. But the Red Bulls are stuck in a three-game losing streak, making for another maddening summer in the Big Apple. They'll look to get back on track in the 74th edition of MLS' oldest rivalry.

Chicago Fire at Houston Dynamo

3:00 p.m. Sunday (UniMás)

Both of these teams are direct threats to the Union's precarious hold on a playoff spot. Red-hot forward Mike Magee leads Chicago, while Brad Davis and Boniek García make Houston one of MLS' toughest teams to beat.