TUESDAY, JAN. 24

• TELEVISION

ENGLISH LEAGUE CUP
Crystal Palace at Cardiff City
Fox Soccer Plus, 11:40 a.m.
Anthony Gardner's first-half goal in the first leg gives Palace an advantage, but not a great one, heading to Wales. The victor gets Liverpool or Manchester City in the Feb. 26 final at Wembley. Replays: 6 p.m. and 1 a.m.

ITALIAN COPPA ITALIA
AS Roma at Juventus
GolTV, 11:45 a.m.
One of three high-powered matchups in Italy's cup quarterfinals -- Milan-Lazio and Napoli-Inter are the others -- pits Serie A's lone unbeaten (Juve) against a team it hasn't yet beaten (1-1 last month in Rome). Replay: Midnight
Spanish Copa del Rey
Espanyol at Mirandes, ESPN Deportes, 11:55 a.m.

COPA LIBERTADORES
Libertad (Paraguay) at El Nacional (Ecuador)
Fox Deportes, 5:30 p.m.
The first steps toward the crowning in July of South America's club champion begins with preliminary-round first legs, with opening night's premier match pitting Ecuador's No. 3 finisher against Paraguay's best non-champ.
Also
Sport Huancayo (Peru) at Arsenal Sarandi (Argentina), Fox Deportes, 3 p.m.

2012 OLYMPIC WOMEN'S QUALIFYING
United States vs. Mexico
Universal Sports, 7:30 p.m.
The U.S. has scored 27 goals in its first two qualifiers in Vancouver, and it's a heavy favorite in the Group B finale, but El Tri's historic victory at last year's Women's World Cup qualifying tournament looms over this one. The winner probably gets the simpler semifinal, against Costa Rica, and that's important because the semis will determine who's heading to London.


WEDNESDAY, JAN. 25

• TELEVISION

ENGLISH LEAGUE CUP
Manchester City at Liverpool
Fox Soccer Channel, 11:30 a.m.
Steven Gerrard's early penalty kick boosted the Reds in the first leg, in Manchester, so staying even at home would be enough to reach the Feb. 26 final at Wembley. Replays: Fox Soccer Plus, 2 and 9 p.m. and 1 a.m.

SPANISH COPA DEL REY
Real Madrid at Barcelona
ESPN Deportes, 12:55 p.m./GolTV, 1 p.m.
Barca has lost just once in league play, yet the title might be out of reach, so good has Real been. The cup is the Catalans' to win after Carles Puyol and Eric Abidal provided a 2-1 comeback win in this quarterfinal's away leg. Replay: ESPN Deportes, 5 p.m.

COPA LIBERTADORES
UANL Tigres (Mexico) at Union Española (Chile)
Fox Deportes, 1:30 p.m.
Mexico's Apertura champs open preliminary-round play in South America's club championship. Victory in Independencia virtually assures group-stage play.
Also
Flamengo (Brazil) at Real Potosi (Bolivia), Fox Deportes, 9:30 p.m.
Brazilian Campeonato Paulista
Portuguesa at Palmeiras, GolTV, 4 p.m. and midnight

INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY
United States at Panama
Galavision, 5:30 p.m.
A few of these “young” Americans (Geoff Cameron, especially) fared well in Saturday's victory over Venezuela, and now they head into hostile territory for another test.
Also
Venezuela at Mexico, Univision (KMEX/Channel 34), 6 p.m.