Welcome back everybody! I know this week’s article is coming a bitter later than usual, but things simply have been busier than normal lately with the holiday season in full swing.  Never the less, I’m bringing you your footballing fix, but with a twist this week as it’ll be my last article until the turn of the new year.  I’m calling it Holiday Footballing Shorts.  Instead of picking a match of the week, I’ve selected six games that I’ve deemed must watch from now until the end of the calendar year.  The commentary will be short and sweet; just enough to wet the whistle and keep you yearning for more!  I hope you enjoy them andhave a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!  Happy Holidays to all!

Sunday, December 18th, 2016
Early Bird Special
Real Madrid CF vs Kashima Antlers FC (FIFA Club World Cup Japan 2016 Final)
International Stadium Yokohama, Yokohama, Japan
5:30 AM EST FS1

LSB Prediction: The FIFA Club World Cup Final pits the UEFA Champions League winners in Real Madrid against the host nation participant in Kashima Antlers.  While the Antlers are the winningest club in Japan and recently defeated the Copa Libertadores champion, Atletico Nacional, they’ll be no match for the star-studded Galaticos, led by recent Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo!  4-0 Real Madrid CF

Brunch Delight

Manchester City FC vs Arsenal FC (Premier League)
Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England
11:00 AM EST NBCSN

LSB Prediction: With two of England’s top attacking clubs, this match is sure to be a firecracker of a game!  I expect an up and down affair with Kevin De Bruyne and Mesut Ozil setting up their colleagues Sergio Kun Agureo and Alexis Sanchez with plenty of goal scoring opportunities.  Thus, goalkeeping could be the difference in this one.  The edge goes to Arsenal’s Petr Cech.  3-1 Arsenal FC

Primetime Thriller

FC Barcelona vs RCD Espanyol de Barcelona (La Liga)
Camp Nou, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
2:45 PM EST BEIN Sports (Stream on FuboTV)

LSB Prediction: It’s the Catalan Derby!  Passion on the pitch is sure to run high as Espanyol will try to play an aggressive, borderline dirty, match against it’s city rivals in the Azulgrana.  But no matter how much the Periquitos try to impose the dark arts upon Barca, the MSN will have an answer, as always. 2-0 FC Barcelona

Other Notable Matches

Christmas Week

FC Bayern München vs RB Leipzig (Bundesliga)
Allianz Arena, München, Germany
Wednesday, December 21st, 2016
2:00 PM EST FS1

Juventus FC vs AC Milan (2016 Supercoppa Italiana)
Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha, Qatar
Friday, December 23rd, 2016
11:30 AM EST BEIN Sports (Stream on FuboTV)

New Year’s Week

Liverpool FC vs Manchester City FC (Premier League)
Anfield, Liverpool, England
Saturday, December 31st, 2016
11:30 EST NBCSN