Midweek TV Preview: 31 August 2009

(All times - UK)

The more observant amongst you will notice that this week's Midweek TV Preview is unnaturally short. We would like to point out that this is not because we forgot to write most of it - merely that next weekend's World Cup qualifiers have resulted in most domestic football being put on the back burner for a week.

Aside from the games below, we'd also like to point you in the direction of the UEFA Women's European Championships where England need to beat Sweden today to stand a chance of qualifying for the quarter finals. Full coverage is available via British Eurosport - check listings for details.

Monday 31st August

17:15 Peterborough Utd v Crystal Palace, Championship, Sky Sports 1 / Sky Sports HD1
It's the first time these two teams have met in the league since 1994 and they find themselves in the bottom six after four games. The difference is Palace appear to have the wherewithal to haul themselves up the table, based on their previous performances this season. Peterborough, despite knocking Ipswich out of the Carling Cup midweek, still look a little shaky. Darren Ferguson's men are still waiting for their first win of the season, but we don't think it'll come here.

19:45 Newcastle Utd v Leicester City, Championship, Sky Sports 1 / Sky Sports HD1
Leicester manager Nigel Pearson returns to St James' Park with his newly-promoted side doing very nicely, thank you very much. Unbeaten in four, they face a Newcastle side that have only conceded one goal in the same number of games. A game worthy of your undivided attention this Bank Holiday Monday - should be a cracker.

21:00 Barcelona v Sporting Gijon, La Liga, Sky Sports Red Button / Sky Sports 1
La Liga's underway and with Real beating Deportivo 3-2 at the weekend, it's now Barcelona's chance to show everyone what they can do. The last five league meetings between these two have seen Barca score nineteen goals compared to Gijon's four so it's fair to say there's only one likely outcome here. Pep Guardiola will be without Lionel Messi who's trotted back to the Argentine in preparation for their upcoming World Cup qualifier, but the good news is they'll have Zlatan Ibrahimovic ready to replace him. What a stroke of luck, Gijon fans?