It says a lot about the UEFA Champions League and a lot more about the global stature of Manchester United that for many in Los Angeles the most important game of the week does not involve the Galaxy or Chivas USA, but today’s 11:30 a.m. game on ESPN2 that has the Red Devils facing Jozy Altidore’s Spanish team Villareal.

(Alas Altidore, who just made his debut for Villareal over the weekend, is not on the Champions League roster, according to The New York Times’ soccer blog Goal).

Other televised UEFA and CONCACAF Champions League games worth checking out today:
*2 p.m. ESPN Classic – Real Madrid-FC Bate Borisov (of Belarus in case you were wondering and I know you were).
*5 p.m. Fox Soccer Channel – Montreal Impact-Joe Public.
*10 p.m. Marathon-Cruz Azul.

A couple of other CONCACAF related notes:
*Panama’s FC Tauro, vanquishers of Chivas USA in the preliminary round of the Champions League, lost to the Puerto Rico Islanders of the USL 2-1 Tuesday night.
*Hey, mon – Barnsey’s back! Former England and Liverpool wing wizard John Barnes has resurfaced as coach of Jamaica. The Reggae Boyz face a crunch World Cup qualifying clash Oct. 11 against Mexico.

While we were distracted by the start of the Champions Leagues and the return of Sacha Victorine to Southern California, Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena quietly picked up former FC Dallas developmental player Jeremy Barlow before the close of the MLS transfer window Monday.

Finally:
*The U.S. Women’s National Team plays the second game of its post-Olympics tour tonight against Ireland in New York.
*The Cal State Dominguez Hills men (7-0) jumped to No. 4 in the latest NSCAA poll.