Good year! With some of the first matches of 2025 played and the winter transfer window now open, things are starting to pick up, except in England where there have been matches throughout the festive period. Here’s Jonathan Johnson bringing you everything you need ahead of this weekend.
📺 Football correction
All US and Eastern times
Friday January 3
🇮🇹 Supercoppa Italiana: Juventus vs. Milan, 2 p.m. ➡️ Paramount+
🇪🇸 Liga: Valencia vs. Real Madrid, 3 p.m. ➡️ ESPN Deportes
Saturday January 4
🏴 EFL Championship: Blackburn Rovers v Burnley, 7:30 ➡️ CBS Sports Golazo Network
🏴 EFL League One: Wrexham v Peterborough United, 10 a.m. ➡️ CBS Sports Golazo Network
🇮🇹 Serie A: Fiorentina vs. Naples, 12 p.m. ➡️ Paramount+
🏴 EPL: Brighton and Hove Albion v Arsenal, 12:30 p.m. ➡️ NBC
Sunday January 5
🏴 EFL Championship: Sunderland v Portsmouth, 10 a.m. ➡️ CBS Sports Golazo Network
🏴 EPL: Liverpool vs. Manchester United, 11:30 a.m. ➡️ NBC
🇫🇷 Champions Trophy: PSG vs. Monaco, 11:30 am ➡️ beIN Sports
🇫🇷 Serie A: Roma vs. Lazio, 2:45 p.m. ➡️ Paramount+
⚽ The front line
✍️ Opening of the January transfer window
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The January 2025 transfer window is now open and the winter transfer window could be vital for the clubs in search of the two trophies but also for their survival in their respective championships. Football clubs across Europe can sign free agents after this month’s deadline, provided they are not under contract elsewhere. However, January is usually reserved for clubs buying and selling players, so keep an eye out for clubs looking to make a splash at a time when significant fees can change hands depending on the level of risk the clubs involved face .
Some big names are swimming in free agency and could join a new club at any time, but the winter window is usually when players considering a move will attempt to find a new club. Paul Pogba, Sergio Ramos, Keylor Navas, Serge Aurier, Dele Alli, Layvin Kurzawa and Rafinha are just some of the players currently on their own and looking to bounce back. However, now is also the time for players whose contracts are expiring to begin discussions with potential suitors regarding summer transfers and there is no shortage of big names who could move in six months’ time. Liverpool trio Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk are entering their final months at Anfield, although they could all still extend their terms with the Reds. There are also the pair of Canadian stars Alphonso Davies and Jonathan David, Joshua Kimmich and Leroy Sane from Bayern Munich. as well as Tottenham Hotspur’s Heung-min Son to watch.
As for the main dates, most eyes will be on the English Premier League and the EPL transfer window reopened on Wednesday, January 1 and will continue until Monday, February 3 at 6 p.m. ET. Although January 31 is a Friday, all major European leagues have agreed to extend the deadline until the start of the following week to ensure that as many deals as possible can be completed without administrative hassles. The Italian Serie A window reopened yesterday Thursday, January 2 and ends on Monday, February 3 at 2 p.m. ET, while the Spanish La Liga window is active until 6 p.m. ET on Monday, February 3, after also opened its doors on February 3. THURSDAY. Things are slightly more relaxed in Germany where the winter break is larger than many rival European leagues and the Bundesliga window opened this Wednesday and closes at noon ET on Monday, February 3. Ligue 1 in France also opened on Wednesday and Ligue 1 – which are usually busier than most in any given transfer period – will have until Monday, February 3 at 5 p.m. ET.
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🔗 Midfield link-up play
🇺🇸 Pulisic back in Supercoppa?
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It was a difficult end to December for Milan as the Italian giants parted ways with head coach Paulo Fonseca and replaced him with former FC Porto boss Sergio Conceicao. The Portuguese tactician is set to make his debut this Friday against Juventus in the Italian Super Cup semi-final and US men’s national team star Christian Pulisic could make his return to the match. The American star looks fit and ready to play again after recent calf and ankle problems last month. Pulisic has been a key player so far this season and has scored five goals and four assists in Serie A as well as three goals in the UEFA Champions League. His American teammate Yunus Musah could also be fit to play for Milan while Timothy Weah and Weston McKennie are both in the Juventus side, which could mean four American players could be on the pitch at the same time. One of Francesco Porzio’s main interests is whether or not Pulisic’s role and importance changes under new boss Conceicao.
- Serving size: USMNT star Christian Pulisic, who is recovering from a calf injury, is expected to be coached by his third manager in the last six months at the club, although it remains to be seen whether Conceicao will affect how Pulisic plays. The American winger, despite the problems that affected the Rossoneri squad in this first part of the season and the negative environment that surrounded the team under the leadership of Paulo Fonseca, was. so far the best player of the season before getting injured Pulisic, so far, has scored eight goals in all competitions and also provided five assists so far. Conceicao is unlikely to radically change the. tactical system used by Fonseca in this first part of the 2024-25 season, as the Portuguese coach recently stated changed from 4-3-3 to 4-4-2, Pulisic will not have. problem adapting to the tactical ideas of his new Portuguese coach, who although he plays with a tactical system similar to his own. predecessor, has an opposing idea on how his team should play.
This Super Cup also sees Conceicao face his son Francisco, but the 50-year-old boss is determined to win to qualify for the final against his Milanese rival, Inter, who have already booked their place for Monday’s final with a victory over Atalanta. THURSDAY. “I just have a cold and fever these days. If you see my eyes are shining a little, it’s because of that,” he said before the match. “At home I am his father, but here my son will be my opponent and he will think the same way. I want to beat him the way he wants to beat me. I hope I don’t make him happy.”
🔗 Best Stories
💥 Old farm collage: Rangers inflict 3-0 thrashing on Celtic in a devastating Old Firm display to revive the SPL’s hopes, but is a resounding victory at Ibrox enough to reignite the Scottish Premiership title race?
🔁 USMNT transfers: Who has moved, who could or should move, notes Mauricio Pochettino ahead of January camp – here’s what you need to know Americans in the transfer window.
🏆 Inter advance: Inter continue to overcome Lautaro Martinez’s offensive woes and advance to the Supercoppa Italiana final. The Nerazzurri managed to beat Atalanta 2-0 in the semi-final while the Argentinian continues to struggle.
👀 Serie A transfer stories to watch: Mario Balotelli out at Genoa as Napoli and AS Roma eyeballs – Serie A transfer window now officially open, so what can we expect?
💰 The back line
💵 Best bet
- EPL: Spurs vs. Newcastle, Saturday, 7:30 a.m. ET
💰 THE CHOICE: Draw and both to score (+330) – Spurs need a home win against Newcastle this weekend to ease some of the pressure on manager Ange Postecoglou as 2025 begins. Tottenham drew with Wolves in their final EPL match of 2024 while the Magpies beat struggling Manchester United. Since beating Southampton in mid-December, the Londoners have picked up just one point from nine in games against Liverpool, Forest and Wolverhampton, putting Postecoglou in the firing line. The EFL Cup semi-final against the Reds could decide his future, but first he must end a five-game winless run at home. Eddie Howe’s side now look like top four contenders after a strong Christmas run which included wins over Forest, Leicester, Villa and Ipswich before United. After three clean sheets in their first 15 Premier League games, Newcastle have four shutouts in their last four wins. One of Tottenham’s bogeys, the Magpies have beaten Spurs in four of their last five EPL matches, so a draw would be considered quite positive all things considered and could also fetch a decent sum.
For more picks, predictions, expert advice and the latest betting news, don’t miss the CBSSports.com betting homepage.
📺 What’s new on CBS Sports Golazo Network
☀️ Morning football (Weekdays 8-10 a.m.): Hosts Susannah Collins, Charlie Davies, Nico Cantor and Alexis Guerreros help fans start their day on the network’s flagship morning show with highlights, interviews and the biggest football intrigues. Morning Footy is also available as a podcastso you’ll never miss an episode.
3️⃣ Attack the third (Monday, Thursday): The leading ladies football podcast And social brand is now a live studio broadcast. The NWSL season is back and our coverage of women’s soccer is stronger than ever. Our analysts will break down the USWNT, NWSL and European domestic season throughout the year. And don’t miss Wednesday live streams on YouTube at 11 a.m. ET.
⚽ Call it what you want (Monday and Thursday): A weekly podcast where Jimmy Conrad, Charlie Davies and Tony Meola cover all things USMNT and the state of the beautiful game in the United States. You can watch the show live on YouTube every Monday at 1 p.m. ET and Thursday at 6 p.m. ET.
🥅 Score (Every day): Scoreline is the brand new site for fans to keep up to date with all the most important news and results impacting world football, match highlights from the biggest football competitions and all the goals to be scored. don’t miss the day, starting Thursday and broadcast over seven days. a week.
📺 How to watch: CBS Sports Golazo Network is a 24/7 free-to-air channel exclusively dedicated to providing unrivaled coverage of all the world’s biggest football competitions. You can stream for free on the CBS Sports app, Pluto TV And Paramount+.
