Weekend TV Preview: 3 - 5 October

(All times UK)

Friday 3 October

19.30 Arminia Bielefeld v Karlsruhe SC, Bundesliga, Setanta Sports 1
Karlsruhe have got through a sticky patch and seem to be back on winning ways. Bielefeld are a bit of a bogey team for them - they haven't beaten them in almost ten years.

Saturday 4 October

07.00 FC Tokyo v Shimizu S Pulse, J-League, British Eurosport 2
After looking like they'd chucked their title chances away a few weeks ago, Tokyo are making a surprising late run having won five games on the spin. Shimizu are comfortably mid-table.

12.45 Birmingham City v QPR, Championship, Sky Sports 1 & HD1
Since QPR got their ticket price-hike rejected by the League, their form has taken a well-deserved dip. Let's hope it continues here.

17.20 Coventry City v Southampton, Championship, Sky Sports 2 & HD2
Two teams who, until recently, just hung around in the top flight for ages without doing much. Now they look like doing the same thing in the Championship.

17.30 Blackburn Rovers v Manchester United, Premier League, Setanta Sports 1
Rooney is now only doubtful for this game after the worst was feared when he limped off midweek. Blackburn have won three in a row after losing heavily at home to Arsenal.

21.00 Barcelona v Atletico Madrid, La Liga, Sky Sports 2
Shaktar players must have felt mugged after losing their Champions League match to Barcelona midweek. Barca are starting to get their act together this season while Atlectico struggle to maintain form.

Sunday 5 October

13.30 West Ham United v Bolton Wanderers, Premier League, Sky Sports 1 & HD1
Two games, two wins for Zola. Difficult to see him not getting a third.

14.00 St. Mirren v Rangers, Scottish Premier League, Setanta Sports 1
Setanta may have chosen this fixture thinking Rangers might be a bit tired having struggled to get through a tough UEFA Cup tie. As it is, they had a nice long rest this week and will romp straight past the bottom-of-the-table home team.

15.30 SC Heerenveen v Ajax, Eredivisie, Setanta Sports 2
Ajax are still looking for their first away win and having won all of the last six games against their opponents will fancy their chances here.

16.00 Everton v Newcastle United, Premier League, Sky Sports 1 & HD1
A game for all you fans of schadenfreude: Everton can't get a point at home, Newcastle can't get a point full stop. Joe Kinnear starts his brief time in charge of Newcastle in the stands, finally serving a four-year-old touchline ban.

19.00 Valladolid v Valencia, La Liga, Sky Sports 1 (2nd half only)
It's Valladolid's turn to try and stop David Villa from scoring. The star of Euro 2008 has already chalked up 6 goals in 5 games helping his team to top spot.

20.00 Real Madrid v Espanyol, La Liga, Sky Sports 1
Real have put that opening day defeat behind them and have won every game since then. Espanyol have got just one point from this fixture over the last 10 years or so.

20.00 Nancy v PSG, Ligue 1, Setanta Sports 2
Both sides are struggling to find form and goals. Everything on paper says a tight, low-scoring affair.