I’ve been watching a bunch of football. 

No, not that kind of football.  I’m talking about the soccer kind of football.  The kind of football that’s about to enter it’s own version of the NFL’s December/January stretch.  

Second only to the World Cup, UEFA’s Champions League is truly the best of the best.  Yes, there are a lot of clubs all around the world, but in April/May, the cream certainly rises to the top.

Many American fans that casually view soccer sometimes don’t know what or why teams are playing.  I’ll admit, every time I do research on a different Cup or League, I still learn new things.  In an effort to lessen the confusion, here’s why you should watch some European football in the coming weeks…

Almost every European country has a professional football league.  England has the English Premier League, widely considered the most talented league in the world.  Italy has Serie A.  Germany has Bundesliga.  Teams play in their respective leagues for most of the year.  At season’s end, the top four teams from each league (32 teams) qualify for the first round of UEFA’s Champions League.   

What makes it most confusing is that seasons, cups, and leagues all overlap.  This week, teams will play in the quarterfinals of the Champions League they qualified for last season, but this season of the EPL, Serie A and others is still not over.  It’s an endless circle of quality football, and on May 21st it will come to a glorious conclusion as the two best clubs in Europe battle for the Champions League crown in Moscow.

Check out the Champions League, ESPN Soccer and Fox Soccer Channel for more information.

Enjoy and cheers to my true fellow American soccer fans!  We are few and far between.