1. Chelsea vs. Aston Villa
XFINITY’s #5ToFollow – Wednesday, August 21
Vance McCullough, the voice of @XFINITYSports, delivers his analysis of the five key games to watch online, paired with five Twitter follows to give you insider information on the matchup. Have a matchup that you’d like Vance to feature? Tweet @XFINITYSports with the hashtag #5ToFollow.
Thananuwat Srirasant
Details: Wednesday August 21 @ 1:45 PM ET - Stamford Bridge - London
Watch Here: NBC Sports on XFINITY
Why Watch: Both teams began their season with big wins on Saturday, making Wednesday’s match a must watch. Aston Villa had the upset of the week with a 3-1 win on the road over Arsenal, but can they upset the top ranked Blues in Stamford Bridge? This match also serves as a historic tiebreaker, as Chelsea and Villa are 56-56-34 against each other, dating back to 1907.
#5ToFollow Insider: Richard Farley - @richardfarley
Farley is all over the BPL coverage on NBC Sports’ ProSoccerTalk. He’s got a great understanding of the game and is one of the best at answering fan questions on Twitter. Farley’s your man for Wednesday’s BPL match.
Follow: @richardfarley
2. Atletico Madrid vs. FC Barcelona
Details: Wednesday August 21 @ 4:55 PM ET - Vicente Calderon Stadium - Madrid
Watch Here: ESPN2 on XFINITY
Why Watch: Lionel Messi is regarded as the best football player in the world, and his play will be on display as Barca takes on Atletico Madrid on Wednesday. Messi has 20 career goals against Atletico, his highest total versus any club. Atletico has won its last three matches and is up for the Barca challenge. Don’t miss this Spanish Super Cup match Wednesday afternoon.
#5ToFollow Insider: Espcore - @espcore
Want to follow a handle that delivers the facts of football? Then follow Espcore for goal updates, cards drawn, match previews, and final scores.
Follow: @espcore
3. Tampa Bay Rays vs. Baltimore Orioles
Details: Wednesday August 21 @ 7:00 PM ET - Tropicana Field - St. Petersburg, FL
Watch Here: ESPN2 on XFINITY
Why Watch: No one rests easy in the AL East, as Wednesday night’s division battle between the Rays and O’s has playoff implications written all over it. Chris Davis (MLB HR leader) is averaging a HR in every 13 at bats versus Tampa and has already homered off Rays’ starter Hellickson this year. You don’t want to miss when these two face-off Wednesday evening.
#5ToFollow Insider: Roch Kubatko - @masnRoch
Roch Kubatko covers the Orioles for MASN and writes on the O’s daily at his School of Roch blog. Follow Roch on Twitter, check out the blog, and make sure to watch this AL East go to battle Wednesday night.
Follow: @masnRoch
4. The Barclays - Round One
Details: Thursday, August 22 @ 3:00 PM ET - Liberty National Golf Club - Jersey City, NJ
Watch Here: NBC Sports on XFINITY
Why Watch: The opening round of the FedEx Cup Championships tees off Thursday on the coast of the Hudson River. The PGA has paired the top up-and-comers with seasoned veterans in this weekend’s tourney, to add a little excitement to the opening rounds. Jordan Spieth and US Open Champion, Justin Rose, are paired together, and British Open Champ, Phil Mickelson, swings the sticks with Billy Horschel. Don’t miss these great pairings Thursday afternoon from The Barclays.
#5ToFollow Insider: The Barclays - @TheBarclaysGolf
The Fed Ex Cup Playoffs begin here Thursday, August 22. Make sure you’re following the tournament’s official account for behind the scenes pictures and join in on the social conversation by using #TheBarclays.
Follow: @TheBarclaysGolf
5. Carolina Panthers vs. Baltimore Ravens
Details: Thursday August 22 @ 8:00 PM ET - M&T Bank Stadium - Baltimore, MD
Watch Here: ESPN on XFINITY
Why Watch: The Super Bowl Champion starters will see a lot of play on Thursday night as they kickoff against Cam Newton and the Panthers. Keep an eye on these position battles Thursday night: Ravens safety - Matt Elam vs. James Ihedigbo and Panthers corner - Captain Munnerlyn vs. Josh Norman.
#5ToFollow Insider: James Dator - @James_Dator
James is an Australian who living in North Carolina and blogging about all things Panthers for SB Nation’s Cat Scratch Reader. For a great look at who will be risers and fallers on Carolina’s depth chart, follow Dator.
Follow: @James_Dator
For more behind the scenes insights from the biggest sporting events and inside information on sports & social media, make sure to follow Vance McCullough, the XFINITY Sports Guy, @XFINITYSports.
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