Midweek TV Preview: 3 - 6 November

Monday 3rd November

19.45 Birmingham City v Coventry City, Championship, Sky Sports 1/HD1
Coventry had a forgettable October, taking just two points in the last four games, while Birmingham have strung three home wins together since their defeat to Blackpool. Form counts for very little, though, when it comes to West Midlands derby games.

20.00 Newcastle Utd v Aston Villa, Premier League, Setanta Sports 1
Obafemi Martins has revealed that Joe Kinnear motivates his team by swearing a lot. He's also explained how bears like the thick shade of trees when deciding on a place to defecate. Joe will have plenty of opportunity to exercise his more colourful metaphors in this encounter against an in-form Villa.

Tuesday 4th November

19.45 Cluj v Bordeaux, UEFA Champions League Group A, Sky Sports Interactive - Option 4
The surprise package in this Group, Cluj could put themselves in the box seat for a place in the knockout stage with a win here. Bordeaux haven't impressed so far, so the points are there for the taking.

19.45 Roma v Chelsea, UEFA Champions League Group A, ITV4
Roma are not in a good place at the moment having lost five on the spin. Just the sort of form you need going into a game with the team that's top of the English Premier League. May not be Chelsea's last trip to Rome this season.

19.45 Anorthosis v Inter Milan, UEFA Champions League Group B, Sky Sports Xtra
Anorthosis put up a great display, losing by the only goal at the San Siro, and are deservedly second in the group. A similar display here could earn them a valuable point that may see them hold on to that spot.

19.45 Werder Bremen v Panathinaikos, UEFA Champions League Group B, Sky Sports Interactive - Option 5
Werder's Champions League form has been as wobbly as their Bundesliga's. Panathinaikos are the whipping boys of this group but Bremen only just scraped a draw at their place.

19.45 Barcelona v Basel, UEFA Champions League Group C, Sky Sports 2
Basel were absolutely hammered by Barca a couple of weeks ago. They'll probably be happy to just keep it below three here.

19:45 Sporting Lisbon v Shakhtar, UEFA Champions League Group C, Sky Sports Interactive - Option 6
Group C is shaping up how most would have expected it with Barcelona top and Sporting second. Shaktar have been unfortunate, though, but now have a mountain to climb if they want anything more than UEFA Cup football.

19.45 Liverpool v Atletico Madrid, UEFA Champions League Group D, ITV1/HD
A late Simao goal denied Liverpool a win that would have almost certainly seen them win the group. As it is, this tie will probably reveal who will.

19.45 Marseille v PSV, UEFA Champions League Group D, Sky Sports Interactive - Option 3
Well I picked Marseille to thump PSV in the last game - they lost 2-0, so shows what I know. You'll be watching Liverpool or Chelsea anyway.

Wednesday 5th November

19.45 Aalborg v Villarreal, UEFA Champions League Group E, Sky Sports Interactive - Option 4
This group will be all over if the away teams register wins. They will.

19.45 Celtic v Manchester Utd, UEFA Champions League Group E, Sky Sports 2/HD2
Battle of Britain and all that old rubbish. Man U haven't conceded in the group stage, Celtic haven't scored. Don't expect it to be any different after this game.

19.45 Fiorentina v Bayern Munich, UEFA Champions League Group F, Sky Sports Interactive - Option 5
Fiorentina's campaign hasn't recovered from dropping two points after being two-nil up to Lyon in their opening game. Bayern aren't exactly firing on all cylinders but should have enough to avoid defeat here.

19.45 Lyon v Steaua, UEFA Champions League Group F, Sky Sports Interactive - Option 6
The last match between these two was an eight goal thriller seeing Lyon run away 5-3 winners after being 2-0 down (again). The French giants have been good value this season and this match shouldn't disappoint.

19.45 Arsenal v Fenerbahce, UEFA Champions League Group G, Sky Sports Xtra/HD3
Arsenal's flattering demolition of very ordinary Fenerbahce lead to shouts of "crisis, what crisis?" The same may not be said a second time.

19.45 Dynamo Kiev v Porto, UEFA Champions League Group G, Sky Sports Interactive - Option 7
Porto must have had high hopes when they opened this group with a good home win against Fenerbahce, since then we've found out that the Turks are rubbish and Porto aren't that much better. The UEFA Cup awaits if they get anything other than a home win here.

19.45 BATE v Zenit St Petersburg, UEFA Champions League Group H, Sky Sports Interactive - Option 8
Zenit have been a disappointment in this competition and if they don't start getting some points they'll even miss out on their beloved UEFA Cup. Only a goal ten minutes from time stopped them losing at home to today's opposition two weeks ago.

19.45 Real Madrid v Juventus, UEFA Champions League Group H, Sky Sports Interactive - Option 3
A cracking Dei Piero strike put Juve in control of the reverse fixture in this group. Both teams are looking pretty certain for qualification, so the result here will probably just decide first and second.

Thursday 6th November

19.45 Manchester City v FC Twente, UEFA Cup Group A, ITV4
More opportunities to pour scorn on Steve McClaren. Who says this competition is worthless?

19.45 Slavia Prague v Aston Villa, UEFA Cup Group F, Five
On telly twice in a week, and when they're playing well too. Villa fans will be pleased.