If you’re staring at the calendar and wondering what are the football games today, you’ve likely realized we’re in that weird, frantic mid-January stretch where the schedules get a bit chaotic. It’s Thursday, January 15, 2026. Usually, Thursdays are for the Europa League, but since we’re deep in the winter domestic grind, things look a little different. We have massive catch-up games in Italy, some high-stakes knockout tension in Spain, and a Premier League landscape that’s basically on fire.
Honestly, it’s a lot to keep track of. One minute you're watching a title race in the Serie A, and the next, you're checking scores from a Spanish cup game that just saw a giant fall.
Let’s get into the actual matchups. No fluff, just the games you need on your radar for this Thursday evening.
The Big Ones: Serie A and the Rescheduled Chaos
Italy is where the real action is tonight. Because of the Supercoppa commitments over in Riyadh earlier this month, the Serie A schedule has some holes that need filling. That means we get midweek treats like Como vs. AC Milan.
This isn't just a "show up and win" game for the Rossoneri. Cesc Fàbregas has Como playing some genuinely brave football at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia. Milan, now under Max Allegri, are desperately trying to keep their nerves steady to stay in the Scudetto conversation. It kicks off at 20:45 CET (around 2:45 PM ET if you're watching from the States).
Earlier in the day, Hellas Verona takes on Bologna. It might not have the star power of a Milan match, but for those who love the tactical chess match of Italian football, this one at the Marcantonio Bentegodi is a sneaky good watch.
💡 You might also like: OU Football Depth Chart 2025: Why Most Fans Are Getting the Roster Wrong
Why the Como-Milan Game Matters
- Tactical Clash: Allegri’s "result-first" pragmatism vs. Fàbregas’s possession-heavy style.
- The Standings: Milan can’t afford to drop points against newly promoted sides if they want to catch the leaders.
- Missing Pieces: Keep an eye on the lineups—Como is dealing with injuries to Morata and Goldaniga.
Spain: The Copa del Rey Round of 16
Spain is currently recovering from a massive hangover after what happened yesterday. If you missed it, Real Madrid—freshly under the management of Álvaro Arbeloa—got dumped out of the cup by second-division Albacete. Total disaster.
But the tournament moves on. Today, we have Real Racing Club vs. FC Barcelona.
Racing is one of those historic clubs that the fans absolutely adore, and their stadium, El Sardinero, will be rocking. Barcelona knows they can’t pull a "Real Madrid" here. Hansi Flick will likely rotate, but with the way the cup has gone this week, expect a very tense ninety minutes. This one is scheduled for 21:00 local time.
There’s also Burgos CF vs. Valencia. Valencia has been inconsistent lately, and Burgos away in the middle of January is a cold, difficult fixture. It's the classic "banana skin" game.
The Premier League Fallout
While there isn't a massive slate of English games tonight, the chatter is all about the Manchester Derby preparation. Michael Carrick has just been handed the keys at Manchester United as caretaker boss following Ruben Amorim’s exit. Their first task? Facing Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.
📖 Related: NL Rookie of the Year 2025: Why Drake Baldwin Actually Deserved the Hardware
If you are looking for what are the football games today specifically in the UK, keep an eye on the news cycle. The "Numbers Game" is already projecting a tough night for United, with City having a 50.6% chance of victory according to the latest Opta simulations. United hasn't scored in four of their last five home league games against City. That's a stat that should keep Carrick up at night.
International Scene: AFCON Finalists Decided
We also have to talk about the Africa Cup of Nations. The semi-finals just wrapped up, and we finally know the big finale. Morocco managed to scrape past Nigeria on penalties—thanks to some heroics from Yassine Bounou—and they’ll be facing Sadio Mane’s Senegal in the final this weekend.
Egypt and Mohamed Salah are out, losing 1-0 to Senegal in a match that was way closer than the scoreline suggests. If you were looking for live AFCON action today, you’ll mostly be seeing the analysis and the "road to the final" highlights as the teams move to Rabat for the trophy hunt.
What Most People Get Wrong About Midweek Schedules
A lot of fans assume that if it isn't a Champions League night, the games don't "matter." That’s a mistake.
Rescheduled games like the one in Como often determine who has the legs for a title run in April. These are the games where the depth of a squad is actually tested. When you see a team like AC Milan playing on a Thursday, it usually means their schedule is about to get incredibly compressed. Fatigue becomes the 12th man on the pitch.
👉 See also: New Zealand Breakers vs Illawarra Hawks: What Most People Get Wrong
Also, don't sleep on the Copa del Rey. Spanish cup football is notoriously unpredictable because the smaller teams treat these home games like a World Cup final.
Quick Summary of Today's Key Matches (January 15)
- Como vs. AC Milan (Serie A) - 20:45 CET.
- Racing Santander vs. Barcelona (Copa del Rey) - 21:00 CET.
- Hellas Verona vs. Bologna (Serie A) - 18:30 CET.
- Burgos vs. Valencia (Copa del Rey) - 19:00 CET.
Planning Your Viewing
If you're in the US, most of the Italian action is on Paramount+, while the Spanish cup typically lands on ESPN+. For the UK crowd, check TNT Sports or the local broadcasters for the Serie A feed.
The best way to handle today is to start with the early Serie A kickoff and then pivot to the cup drama in Spain. Given Arbeloa's nightmare debut yesterday, the pressure on the big Spanish clubs today is going to be suffocating.
Next Steps:
Check your local streaming listings for the specific kickoff times in your time zone. If you're betting or playing fantasy, double-check the late fitness tests for Milan, as their injury list has been growing throughout the week. You should also verify if any late-window transfers have been registered in time for the cup ties, as January moves can sometimes lead to surprise debuts.