Weekend TV Preview: 19 - 21 September
(All times UK)
Friday 19 September
19.30 Bayer Leverkusen v Hannover 96, Bundesliga, Setanta Sports 1
Last week, Bayer shipped three goals and Hannover scored five. These Friday night Bundesliga games have been largely disappointing, so lets hope they put on a good show.
Saturday 20 September
07.00 Kashiwa Reysol v Kashima Antlers, J-League, British Eurosport 2 What finer way to start your weekend than with some J League action over breakfast. If Setanta had this game they'd call it "The Clash Of The Kash". The second-placed Antlers have had the upper hand in this fixture and will be keen to put pressure on leaders Gary Lineker's Grampus 8.
12.30 Aberdeen v Dundee Utd, Scottish Premier League, Setanta Sports 1
These two have something in common: They have both bean beaten by supposed whipping boys Hamilton. Two teams in bad form, it'll probably end 4-4 then.
17.30 Bolton Wanderers v Arsenal, Premier League, Setanta Sports 1
After hogging Man City, Setanta return to their usual place on the under-card which will have your non-Setanta subscribing Arsenal-supporting friends casually asking you what you're up to Saturday evening.
19.00 Atletico Madrid v Recreativo, La Liga, Sky Sports Xtra
It was a good week for Spanish teams in the Champions League, with Atletico pulling out the performance of the round with a 3-0 away win at PSV. Hard to see Recreativo stopping them on this form.
21.00 Espanyol v Getafe, La Liga, Sky Sports Xtra
Two one-nil wins see Espanyol top of the table after the opening games. Both teams finished bottom half last season so there's not much between them. Getafe, however, have put five past the Espanyol a couple of times in recent meetings.
22.20 Atletico-MG v Nautico, Brazilian Campeonatos, SportsXchange
Mid-season, mid-table clash - nothing great on offer here.
Sunday 21 September
11.30 Feyenoord v Ajax, Eredivisie, Setanta Sports 1
If you've read our Eredivisie special you'll be looking forward to the clash of these two giants. Both teams occupy mid-table after their mediocre start and will be looking to this fixture to get things kicked off in earnest.
12.00 West Bromwich Albion v Aston Villa, Premier League, Sky Sports 1 & HD1
Big local derby between two teams who will always give the opposition a chance to play. Must watch.
14.00 Chelsea v Manchester United, Premier League, Sky Sports 1 & HD1
Expect John Terry to be put under severe pressure by those United forwards. The England captain may have managed to convince the FA that grabbing people by the waist is not serious foul play but his deficiencies were cruelly exposed in that single moment. He may leave Old Trafford wishing he'd been suspended.
16.00 Kilmarnock v Celtic, Scottish Premier League, Setanta Sports 1
The second of an Old Firm double for Killie. Last week Rangers put the skids on their good start to the season. Can they upset Celtic after their post Aalborg hangover? You decide... well actually they do, but you get the idea.
18.00 Racing Santander v Real Madrid, La Liga, Sky Sports 2
Racing play the champions having already faced Barcelona and Sevilla this season, getting two draws. Having finished strongly last season they'll fancy their chances at home to Real.
20.00 Sport v Sao Paolo, Brazilian Campeonatos, SportsXchange
These two have had pretty similar seasons so far and are just four points apart in the top half of the table. Both very strong at home but entirely indifferent away. Sao Paolo, currently fourth and a handful of places above Sport, will need to post only their second away win in nine attempts if they are to close in on the top.
20.00 Sporting Gijon v Barcelona, La Liga, Sky Sports 2
Back in the the top flight after a 10 year absence, Gijon came close to beating Sevilla last weekend, being edged out 4-3 after taking an early two goal lead. Hopefully the defeat won't have shaken them too much for this one.
20.00 Marseille v Monaco, Ligue 1, Setanta Sports 1
Monaco finished comfortably mid-table last season and haven't shown any more ambition this time around. Marseille have a real chance of overturning Lyon this campaign, they were unlucky against Liverpool mid-week but it shouldn't affect this match. Monaco have lost their last five games against Marseille and haven't won their since 2003.