New year, new you, but still loads and loads of great soccer.

The dawn of a new year brings one of the most exciting weekends of the English football season—even if it is spread over five days this time round—as the FA Cup reaches the third round stage.

La Liga also gets going again this weekend after their domestic hiatus, with both of Spain’s biggest sides facing tricky encounters away from home. We’ve also got a cracker of a Copa del Rey to look forward to later in the week as well.

All kickoff times are in Eastern time. Enjoy the games and enjoy your weekend!

Yeovil Town vs. Manchester United

Sunday, January 4, 10:30AM, FOX Sports 1 and FOX Soccer 2GO

The FA Cup has churned out some wonderful ties this year and arguably the best of the lot will be played at Huish Park on Sunday when League 1 Yeovil Town welcome the might of Manchester United.

Yeovil are currently in a poor run of form after three consecutive defeats from their last three outings, but you suspect Gary Johnson and his players will turn up their performance levels when the Red Devils come to town. With a meager capacity of circa 6,000, a host of United’s stars will be face some unfamiliarly humble surroundings and that could work in the favour of the third tier club.

United haven’t been particularly impressive on the road as of late either. They’ve drawn their last three outings away at Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur and Stoke City, and although a few individuals are beginning to capture some form, 45 minutes at White Hart Lane aside, Louis van Gaal’s side have yet to really kick into gear away from Old Trafford.

After United lost 4-0 to MK Dons in the League Cup earlier in the season, Van Gaal will surely field a very strong team for this one. With no European football to contend with during the coming months, this is the Red Devils’ best chance of silverware this season and subsequently, it’s a competition they should be taking very seriously indeed.

Valencia vs. Real Madrid

Sunday, January 4, 11:00AM, beIN SPORTS, beIN SPORTS Espańol & DishWorld

Real Madrid will be hoping to start 2015 how they finished 2014 as they go in search of a remarkable 23rd consecutive win. But there are few places in Spain that are more difficult to visit than the Mestalla, the home of an exciting and improving Valencia team.

Indeed, Los Che are currently in fourth place in the division behind the traditional top three. Nuno Santo has fashioned a squad that is dynamic, cohesive and especially tough to beat, at home in particular. Barcelona are the only side to have taken all three points away from the Mestalla this season, so Valencia will fancy their chances of catching Madrid on the hop.

It’s tough to see anyone stopping the Los Blancos machine, though. Carlo Ancelotti’s team have struck a magnificent balance in recent weeks and have scythed through opponents with insouciant ease. To win 22 games in a season is impressive enough, but to have achieved that landmark before the halfway point is staggering.

Whenever these two teams meet it’s worth a watch and the early indications from the start of the season suggest this one could be a cracker. After a festive break, expect two quality sides that are refreshed and ready to make an impression in 2015.

Real Sociedad vs. Barcelona

Sunday, January 4, 3:00PM, beIN SPORTS, beIN SPORTS Espańol & DishWorld

David Moyes faces his biggest test so far as Real Sociedad manager, when he comes up against Barcelona at the Anoeta. The Blaugrana are currently a point behind league leaders Los Blancos, but will have an exceptional chance to capitalise should the Madrid outfit slip up against Valencia earlier in the day.

Sociedad may be languishing down in 14th place in the La Liga standings having won just three of their 16 games. But this is a team that seems to raise it’s game when the top sides come to town and Luis Enrique will be well aware that La Real have already toppled Atletico and Real Madrid at the Anoeta.

Barcelona know that there’s no room for lapses however. Given Madrid’s sparkling recent form it’s vital that the Blaugrana cling onto their coattails and capitalise when they do slip up. But with Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez spearheading their charge as we head into 2015, surely they will have too much for a side that have struggled to find any defensive fortitude.

Sociedad will have excellent memories of this fixture from last season, a game that they won 3-1 thanks to a fine display from Carlos Vela. You suspect that if the hosts are to going to get anything at all from this game their Mexican star will have to be at his very best once again.

AFC Wimbledon vs. Liverpool

Monday, January 5, 2:55PM, FOX Sports 1 and FOX Soccer 2GO

Steven Gerrard will be hoping to sign off his final season as a Liverpool player with some silverware and the FA Cup could well be his best chance of doing so. But the Reds have been handed a far from straightforward tie in the third round in what’s a repeat of the 1988 final.

The Reds lost that final in shock circumstances to a diligent and determined Wimbledon team and 27 years on, the club’s current crop are going to have rekindle that kind of spirit if they’re to get the better of the men from Merseyside. The League 2 side are in pretty decent form coming into his one however and they’ll fancy their chances against a Liverpool team that have been inconsistent throughout the season.

Indeed, the Reds threw away a two-goal lead at home to Leicester City in their last Premier League game and it’s vital they don’t showcase similar levels of complacency against their fourth tier opponents, who will surely be looking to take any opportunity they can with gumption.

Liverpool should have far too much for the home side, but Neil Eardley’s team have players that have shown throughout this season that they can be a threat. Their attacking pair of Matt Tubbs and Adebayo Akinfenwa are certainly players worth keeping a lookout for when the action gets underway at Kingsmeadow.

Atletico Madrid vs. Real Madrid

Wednesday, January 7, 3:00PM, beIN SPORTS, beIN SPORTS Espańol & DishWorld

Atletico Madrid were the last team to beat their city rivals in a competitive match and Diego Simeone’s side will know it’s vital they get a result here in the first leg of what should be an enthralling Copa del Rey tie.

The draw means that one of the favorites for the trophy is set to exit the tournament at the last-16 and Real Madrid know that they’ll have to be at the peak of their powers if they’re get the better of Atletico. The Rojiblancos had too much energy for Real in a 2-1 when the sides two met earlier in the season, but Los Blancos are a completely different side now.

Indeed, Real were too good for Atletico over two legs in this competition last season and although Simeone’s men have rediscovered some consistency in recent weeks—their 4-1 win at Athletic Club was the champions’ best display of the season—the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema look a bit too much for anyone at the minute.

It’ll be intriguing to see if Fernando Torres features in this one after his move back to his boyhood club. For the Vicente Calderon faithful, there’d be few better outcomes than a win for their side and a goal for El Nino against the their biggest rivals.

Follow Matt on Twitter @MattJFootball