Chelsea may have taken it on the chin from the Major Soccer League All-Stars Aug. 5 at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Ill., but fans of the club can get to see the defending English Premier League champions Aug. 20 via Fox Soccer Channel.
Chelsea's match versus Manchester City that day at 11 a.m. (EST) marks the first of a new run of Sunday matches in that time slot on Fox Soccer, which will air more than 150 EPL matches during the 2006-07 season. Previously, that window was the home to pay-per-view contests.
Fox Soccer's opening EPL weekend kicks off with a trio of matches Aug. 19: Newcastle United vs. Wigan Athletic at 10 a.m.; Bolton Wanderers vs. Tottenham Hotspur at noon; and Reading FC vs. Middlesbrough at 3 p.m.
In addition to its weekend coverage, Fox Soccer also will feature 17 Monday matchups and a number of midweek clashes.
Sister service Fox Sports en Español will also be home to select EPL matches.
The upcoming EPL campaign is the last of a three-season deal Fox Soccer has with what is arguably the best fútbol circuit in the world. Fox Soccer executive vice president and general manager David Sternberg said the service is already negotiating and expects to extend a rights deal with the Premiership from 2007-10.
