Posted on 8/25/2010

Spain’s La Liga kicks off this weekend on GOL TV Canada with four matches in the opening days.

On Saturday, Malaga v. Valencia will be the inaugural match on GOL to usher in the start of a new Spanish season.  Viewers tuning in at 1:55 p.m. EST will get a first look at Los Che without David Villa and David Silva, both sold in the offseason to help the financially struggling outfit that finished third last season.

New boy David Villa will hope to keep Barcelona at the top in 2010-11. (Getty)

Defending champion Barcelona debuts on Sunday, taking on Racing Santander at 1:00 p.m. After spending the last five seasons with Valencia, David Villa is likely to make his league debut for the Catalans, who recently won the Spanish Super Cup.

Real Madrid follows up Barca at 2:55 p.m., taking on Real Mallorca – who were pushed out of the Europa League this year due to massive club debts forcing them into voluntary administration.  Mallorca finished fifth last season and under sunnier circumstances could have given Madrid a match in Jose Mourinho’s league debut. However, a depleted, underpaid squad shouldn’t be much of a challenge against Ronaldo et al.

Monday night football is now a regular feature in La Liga. GOL has that angle covered with Atletico Madrid v. Sporting Gijon at 3:55 p.m.  Despite Sergio Aguero being linked to Chelsea, the Argentine has remained in the Spanish capital. Diego Forlan also returns for Atletico after the Uruguayan won the Golden Ball and made the All-Star Team at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

The influx of La Liga matches isn’t great news for everyone. GOL Canada’s provider, GOL USA will occasionally be cutting back on its Bundesliga coverage to accommodate live Spanish matches. That means GOL Canada has one live game this weekend from Germany – Friday at 2:25 p.m., Kaiserslautern v. Bayern Munich.  A taped premiere of St. Pauli v. Hoffenheim airs on Sunday at 11:00 a.m.

Including the Major League Soccer match from Carson, California - Chivas USA v. DC United at 10:00 p.m. Saturday - GOL TV Canada will be showing six live matches and six additional taped premieres. A full listing of matches from Friday-Monday can be found here.

Comments

Posted by Volker Triebe on
8/26/2010 7:13:00 AM
cutting back on Bundesliga - that's horrible!!!! I'd rather go over to the EW and watch the French league than to watch La Liga and I'll definitely be channel surfing to watch EPL whereever I can instead of La Liga. Bring back Bundesliga coverage - please!!!!!
Posted by yassine on
8/26/2010 8:05:35 PM
goltvcanada hd ??????????
Posted by Shamal on
8/26/2010 9:08:42 PM
YES! This is what I got the channel for! Will the matches be shown in hd????
Posted by jecca on
8/27/2010 12:06:52 PM
Yes! La Liga! No other channel offers it in Canada, and the arrangement between ESPN and GOL USA for Barcelona/Real Madrid matches didn't work out well for us in Canada.
Posted by Tevez on
8/28/2010 3:34:54 PM
I've always enjoyed Ray Hudson and Phil Schoen on Goal TV. And thank you sooo much for cutting back on Bundesliga coverage. I'd be willing to pay twice as much to see some Italian Serie A Coverage.
Posted by abdiqani on
8/29/2010 2:28:59 AM
iam very excited today. i really like spanish soccer that is why i got this channel for. long life goltv all my friends are going to get this channel in canada everyday i love you mucmucmuc thanks goal tv and all its members. viva spain soccer,,
Posted by Patrick Ray on
8/29/2010 12:41:55 PM
This announcer for the Barcelona/Santander match is one of the worst I've ever heard. Are we even watching the same match? He's completely clueless. Where's Ray Hudson? Come on!!!
Posted by boris gaete on
9/5/2010 11:40:46 AM
when star la liga on goltv canada beacuase allready started and your gays no star showing any game for the moment what happend goltv canada I thinks , is better cut the channell in move to satellite , dishnetwork is better.
Posted by Peter on
10/14/2010 5:33:04 PM
Sure, cut back on Bundesliga coverage. Cut back enough and I cut my subscription. Simple, really.

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Asif Hossain is a digital online producer, occasional TV presenter and regular contributor to GOLTV.ca and TorontoFC.ca.