One of the advantages of the Premier League season starting a week later than some European leagues is that it gives us a chance, for one weekend at least, to watch other leagues that we necessarily wouldn’t have as much time for once the season kicks off.

And what better way to spend the weekend by watching the real life drama of The Damned United when Derby County play Leeds United at Elland Road in the Championship? If you’ve read the book by David Peace or watched the film starring Michael Sheen, you’ll know that when Brian Clough was manager of Derby, the team he wanted to beat more than any other was Don Revie’s Leeds United. A lot has changed since approximately forty years ago. But if you do get a chance, try and tune in to watch that one especially since Leeds will be fired up with their first game back in the Championship.

Leeds versus Derby isn’t the only must-see match this weekend. Here’s a pretty comprehensive list of the matches you can see on U.S. television this weekend:

  • Friday, 2:45pm ET: Norwich vs Watford, Fox Soccer Plus and FoxSoccer.tv
  • Friday, 8pm ET: AC Milan vs Panathinaikos, Fox Soccer Channel and FoxSoccer.tv
  • Saturday, 10am ET: Burnley vs Nottingham Forest, Fox Soccer Plus and FoxSoccer.tv
  • Saturday, 11:45am ET: Bayern Munich vs Schalke, GolTV
  • Saturday, 12:15pm ET: Leeds United vs Derby County, Fox Soccer Plus and FoxSoccer.tv
  • Saturday, 2:45pm ET: Heerenveen vs PSV Eindhoven, ESPN3.com
  • Saturday, 3pm ET: Paris-Saint Germain vs St. Etienne, Fox Soccer Channel
  • Saturday, 10:30pm ET: LA Galaxy vs Real Madrid, Fox Soccer Channel
  • Sunday, 7:30am ET: Cardiff City vs Sheffield United, Fox Soccer Plus and FoxSoccer.tv
  • Sunday, 10am ET: Chelsea v Manchester United, Fox Soccer Channel
  • Sunday, 3pm ET: Montpellier vs Bordeaux, Fox Soccer Plus and FoxSoccer.tv
  • Sunday, 6pm ET: FC Dallas vs Philadelphia Union, Fox Soccer Channel
  • Sunday, 9pm ET: New York Red Bulls vs Chicago Fire, ESPN2 and ESPN3.com

Obviously it’ll be very difficult to fit in all of these games. But the European soccer season will officially begin in many countries this weekend with plenty of games in the Championship, Ligue 1, and Eredivisie as well as preseason friendlies and, of course, Major League Soccer.

If you want a primer on the Championship, be sure to visit our sister site Championship Talk where there’s a preview of the season, an article on players to watch and more.

Also, the good news is that Ligue 1, after not being available in the States last season, is back and it’s new home appears to be Fox Soccer Channel as well as FoxSoccer.tv. Saturday’s game between PSG and St. Etienne should be a wonderful match to watch between two of the most famous clubs in France.