Liga MX gets right back to playing after the Querétaro tragedy | Soccer on TV

Saturday, 12:30 p.m. (Peacock)

United needs a win as much for its psyche as for the Premier League standings, as its last two games were a scoreles tie at Watford and a 4-1 thumping at rival Manchester City. Tottenham, currently in seventh place, can jump over fifth-place United with a win.

Saturday, 1:30 p.m. (Univision 65, TUDN, twitter.com/mls)

Miami’s 5-0 blowout oss at Austin FC last Sunday showed all the effects of the mammoth penalties MLS handed down in the offseason for breaking league roster rules. This could be another long afternoon for the Herons, especially if Carlos Vela stays in top form.

Saturday, 3:30 p.m. (Fox29, Fox Deportes)

This is always one of MLS’s most star-studded clashes, and it will be again this year: Seattle’s Jordan Morris, Nicolás Lodeiro and Cristian Roldan against Los Angeles’ Efraín Álvarez, Douglas Costa and Javier Hernández, with another huge crowd in the Emerald City as the backdrop.

The Sounders lost their first two games of the regular season, to Nashville and Real Salt Lake, both by 1-0 scores. But they rebounded on Tuesday with a 3-0 rout of Mexico’s León in the Concacaf Champions League. The Galaxy have started 2-0, with 1-0 wins over NYCFC and Charlotte FC -- the latter thanks to a golazo by Alvárez.

» READ MORE: The rest of this weekend's MLS schedule

Saturday, 8 p.m. (Univision 65, TUDN)

Just a week after a horrific tragedy at Quéretaro’s stadium where a brawl led to many serious injuries, Liga MX is getting right back at it. The league only postponed last Sunday’s games, the day after the Saturday incident.

The official punishments handed down to Quéretaro included a one-year ban of all fans at home games, a three-year ban of the barras supporters’ groups, and a mandate that the club’s owners must surrender the team.

That was enough for FIFA to back off the biggest punishment of all, stripping Mexico of being a co-host of the 2026 men’s World Cup – but Liga MX president Mikel Arriola told ESPN that it could have happened.

So why is the league resuming this quickly? Two reasons stand out. First, the fact that the violence happened at the home of one of Mexico’s smaller top-flight clubs, instead of a big-city team in Mexico City, Guadalajara or Monterrey.

Second, because this is the first of two big rivalry games set for prime time on Saturday, and money talks in Liga MX just like it does anywhere else.

Pumas’ Mexico City derby with Cruz Azul is less famous than its crosstown clash with Club América, but this is still a meeting of traditional powers at the Estadio Azteca. Cruz Azul is in sixth place, Pumas is in 8th, and they’re both coming off Concacaf Champions League losses to MLS opponents.

» READ MORE: Five Mexican officials are suspended over massive brawl among fans at soccer match

Saturday, 10 p.m. (Telemundo 62, Universo)

Speaking of rivalries and money talking, there’s no bigger and more profitable game in Mexican soccer than El Súper Clásico. And for once, Chivas comes in higher than América in the standings.

The teams know, though, that their big game can’t overshadow the biggest story. So they are asking all fans in attendance to wear white shirts “to send a message of unity and peace,” a joint statement by both teams said, at this game in Guadalajara and Sunday’s América-Chivas women’s game in Mexico City (11 p.m., TUDN).

“Today there is no joy in Mexican soccer,” the statement said. “This Saturday and Sunday, let’s show Mexico and the whole world that our soccer can and will change. … We want the Akron Stadium [Chivas’ home] and the Azteca Stadium [América’s] to be an example of tranquility and respect for all, where coexistence in peace is the most important value, as it has been for years.

» READ MORE: The rest of this weekend's Liga MX schedule

Sunday, 8 a.m. (beIN Sports, beIN Sports Español)

The game likely won’t be much, Ligue 1′s top team against an old giant that has fallen into last place amid financial calamity. But it’ll be worth waking up early to see the crowd at the Parc des Princes. The fans will likely be in a frosty mood after PSG choked away a 2-0 aggregate lead against Real Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday, with the defense self-destructing in the second half.

Sunday, 10 a.m. (Paramount+)

Of the three Serie A title contenders, third-place Napoli probably has the toughest game this weekend – even though Hellas isn’t traditionally a tough opponent. The club is in ninth place this season, and has a prolific attack. Giovanni Simeone has 15 goals and four assists this season, and Gianluca Caprari has 10 goals and seven assists.

As for the other contenders, first-place Milan hosts 13th-place Empoli on Saturday (2:45 p.m., Paramount+), and second-place Inter visits 11th-place Torino on Sunday (3:45 p.m., Paramount+)

Sunday, 10 a.m. (Peacock)

This will be Chelsea’s first home game since the British government put sanctions on Russian owner Roman Abramovich that effectively seized control of the club. Chelsea is barred from selling new tickets or merchandise, meaning only existing season ticket holders can attend games right now, and is also barred from signing new players.

NBC’s pregame show on Peacock, starting at 9 a.m., will focus on the storyline and the scene around Stamford Bridge ahead of kickoff.

Coincidentally, this game is against another team with controversial ownership. Newcastle is owned by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, whose chairman Mohammed bin Salman is the country’s crown prince – and the official accused of ordering the assasination of former Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

» READ MORE: Sanctions on Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich include restrictions placed on soccer power Chelsea

Sunday, 10 a.m. (Peacock)

On Thursday, Jesse Marsch suffered a big loss in his first home game as Leeds manager, 3-0 to Aston Villa. His next chance for his first win at Elland Road is a must-win, against the last-place team in the standings.

» READ MORE: The rest of this weekend's English Premier League schedule