Look, if you're waking up today expecting a quiet Saturday of football, you’ve clearly missed the memo. The soccer matches today schedule for January 17, 2026, is basically a stress test for your remote control. We’ve got a Manchester Derby that feels like it’s being played for the soul of the city, a Bundesliga title race that’s actually making people forget about Harry Kane for five minutes, and a massive clash in Leipzig that could shift the entire German power dynamic.
Honestly, it’s a lot. You’ve probably got three different apps open trying to figure out which streaming service has the rights to what this year. Since the broadcast landscape is basically a jigsaw puzzle now, I've sorted through the chaos to figure out where you actually need to spend your energy today.
The Premier League Meat Grinder
The early kickoff today is the big one. Manchester United hosting Manchester City at Old Trafford. It’s 12:30 PM local time, and the vibe is tense. United actually managed to snag a 2-0 win in the early results coming through, which is going to set the internet on fire for the next 48 hours. If you missed it, you’ve missed a masterclass in "parking the bus" and counter-attacking that would make prime Mourinho blush.
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But the schedule doesn't stop there. The 3:00 PM (15:00) block is crowded. Like, really crowded.
Liverpool is at Anfield taking on Burnley. On paper? Easy win. In reality? It’s a 1-1 draw that’s going to have the "Klopp’s successor" debates reaching a fever pitch. Meanwhile, Chelsea just scraped past Brentford 2-0. It wasn't pretty. It sort of looked like eleven strangers trying to remember how a ball works for the first 60 minutes, but they got the job done.
Over in North London, Tottenham fell 1-2 to West Ham. A classic London derby upset. If you’re a Spurs fan, today is probably a "turn off the phone" kind of day. Leeds also managed to edge out Fulham 1-0 at Elland Road, and Sunderland—yes, back in the big time—beat Crystal Palace 2-1.
The late game is at 5:30 PM: Nottingham Forest vs. Arsenal. Arsenal needs the three points to keep the pace at the top, but the City Ground under the lights is never a fun trip.
The European Heavyweights
While England is beating itself up, the rest of the soccer matches today schedule across Europe is just as intense.
In Germany, the Bundesliga is having a bit of a moment. RB Leipzig just got absolutely dismantled by Bayern Munich. A 5-1 scoreline. It was brutal. Bayern is playing like they’ve got something to prove, and honestly, they probably do after the weird mid-season slump they had in November.
Borussia Dortmund managed a 3-2 win over St. Pauli in a game that was way closer than it should have been. Typical Dortmund, right? They can score three but they’ll always give you two back just to keep your heart rate high.
Other Bundesliga Results from Today:
- FC Köln 2 - 1 Mainz 05
- Hoffenheim 1 - 0 Bayer Leverkusen (A massive result for the top-four race)
- Wolfsburg 1 - 1 Heidenheim
- Hamburger SV 0 - 0 Borussia Mönchengladbach
Spain is also in full swing. Real Madrid handled business against Levante with a comfortable 2-0 win earlier. Mallorca and Athletic Club played out a wild 2-2 draw—those are the games that usually get buried in the schedule but are actually the most fun to watch.
Later tonight, keep an eye on Real Betis vs. Villarreal at 8:00 PM. It’s basically the "who gets to play in the Europa League" playoff, and both teams play the kind of expansive football that makes for a great watch while you're eating dinner.
Italy and the Tactical Chess Matches
Serie A is staying true to form. Inter Milan just ground out a 1-0 win over Udinese. It was clinical, boring, and exactly what champions do. Napoli also took care of Sassuolo 1-0.
The match everyone is waiting for in Italy, though, is Cagliari vs. Juventus. It’s a late kickoff (7:45 PM), and Juventus is under massive pressure. They’ve been dropping points against "smaller" teams all season, and a trip to Sardinia is exactly the kind of trap game that ruins a weekend.
The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON)
We can't talk about today without mentioning the 3rd place play-off in AFCON. Egypt and Nigeria are facing off at 4:00 PM. It’s the game nobody really wants to play after losing a semi-final, but with the talent on the pitch, it usually turns into a high-scoring affair because the tactical handcuffs come off a bit.
Nigeria is coming off a bronze medal win, and the celebrations in Abuja are already starting. It’s a reminder that even the "minor" matches on today's schedule carry massive weight depending on where you are in the world.
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How to Actually Watch All This
This is where it gets annoying. You’ve probably realized by now that one subscription doesn't cut it anymore.
- Premier League: It’s split between Sky Sports, TNT Sports, and Amazon Prime in the UK, while Peacock/USA Network handles the US side.
- La Liga & Bundesliga: Still mostly living on ESPN+ if you're in the States, but always check the local listings because the "Game of the Week" sometimes migrates to ABC.
- Serie A: CBS Sports/Paramount+ is your home here.
Basically, if you aren't using a multi-screen setup or a very fast "last channel" button, you’re going to miss a goal.
What Most People Get Wrong About Today's Schedule
A lot of casual fans just look at the big names. They see Real Madrid or Man City and ignore the rest. That’s a mistake.
The real value today was in the Championship and the lower leagues. Wrexham played out a 1-1 draw with Norwich—that’s a massive result for a team still climbing the ladder. Coventry beat Leicester 2-1 in a massive Midlands derby. These are the games where the atmosphere actually translates through the TV.
Also, don't sleep on the Mexican Liga MX. The Clausura is in full swing. Tonight we have Tigres vs. Toluca and Cruz Azul vs. Puebla. If you’ve never stayed up late for a Liga MX game, you’re missing out on some of the most chaotic, entertaining football on the planet.
Actionable Insights for the Weekend
If you're looking to make the most of the remaining soccer matches today schedule, here’s the game plan:
- Prioritize the late kicks: Arsenal at Nottingham Forest and Juventus at Cagliari are the two matches with the most "upset potential" left on the board.
- Watch the AFCON highlights: Even if you missed the live broadcast, the individual brilliance in the Egypt/Nigeria game is worth a 10-minute YouTube deep dive.
- Check the injury reports: Several teams today, especially Liverpool and Bayern, looked a bit leggy. This is the part of the season where squad depth starts to matter more than tactical genius.
- Update your apps: Seriously. With the way rights are shifting in 2026, half of these games might have moved to a different streaming tier since the last time you checked.
The sheer volume of football today is a lot to digest, but that’s the beauty of a mid-January Saturday. Whether you’re tracking the title race in England or the relegation scrap in Germany, there’s no shortage of drama to keep you occupied until the Sunday morning highlights.
Keep an eye on the late results from Mexico and the A-League in Australia—the soccer world never actually sleeps, it just moves to a different time zone.
Next Steps for You:
Check the live table for the Premier League to see how United's win over City has shuffled the top four, or head over to the La Liga official site to see the updated standings after Real Madrid's victory.