Weekend TV Preview: 18 - 20 September 2009

(All times - UK)

Friday 18th September

19:30 Schalke 04 v Wolfsburg, Bundesliga, ESPN
Buoyed by their debut Champions League victory, Wolfsburg travel to Gelsenkirchen hoping to turn around a bad league run. Schalke have had a decent start to the season and will prove tough opponents for the Wolves.

19:45 Sheffield Utd v Sheffield Wed, Championship, Sky Sports 1 & HD1
It's Big City Derby Weekend starting with a Friday night ding-dong in the Steel City. Let's hope the two sets of supporters haven't been hitting the bevvy too hard. Promises to be a physical classically Championship encounter, if you like that sort of thing.

04:00 San Jose v Colorado, MLS, ESPN (Saturday morning)
Colorado put a hundred down and buy a car to San Jose. The Rapids have a bit to do if they want to make it to the play offs. San Jose on the other hand have nothing. Nice of ESPN to show an MLS match without himself stinking the place out.

Saturday 19th September

12:30 Kilmarnock v Rangers, Scottish Premier League ESPN & ESPN HD
Killie have lost their last three games, Rangers have not. However, with Madjid Bougherra in the Rangers back line, anything can happen. What am I saying? Away win.

12:45 Burnley v Sunderland, Barclays Premier League, Sky Sports 1 & HD1
Intriguing match. Sunderland are much more interesting under Steve Bruce and Burnley will be great value all season long.

17:30 West Ham Utd v Liverpool, Barclays Premier League, ESPN & HD
To Upton Park then and the visit of the conquerors of Debreceni. Liverpool have put seven goals past the Hammers in the last three games without reply. Time for Carlton Cole to step up and break that duck. Just keep an eye on the clock, CC.

19:00 Osasuna v Sevilla, La Liga, Sky Sports 3 & HD3
Osasuna seek their first win of the season against a team that they don't usually get much joy from. That would be an away win, then.

19:45 Juventus v Livorno, Serie A ESPN
Not sure if Diego will be fit for this one. Not that it will make that much difference. Juve own this fixture.

21:00 Barcelona v Atletico Madrid, La Liga, Sky Sports 3 & HD3
Following Zlatan Ibrahimovic's characteristic big match choke against Inter on Tuesday, what odds will you get on him scoring a hat trick on Saturday, I wonder?

Sunday 20th September

11:00 CSKA Moscow v Dinamo Moscow, Russian Premier League, ESPN
Some People Are On The Pitch strongly advises its readers to get involved in the final few months of the Russian season. It's tasty stuff and what better way to start than with a full blooded Moscow Derby. Enjoy.

13:30 Manchester Utd v Manchester City, Barclays Premier League, Sky Sports 1 & HD1
Of all the big city derbies, this is probably the tastiest. City's big club status has got Sir Alex all worked up and some snide remarks have been exchanged at coaching level. If City had a fit or otherwise eligible forward line, this could be a close one. But they don't so it won't be.

13:30 Feyenoord v PSV Eindhoven, Eredivisie, ESPN
Blimey, they keep coming don't they? Always an exciting match between these two great rivals. Both teams occupy the top two in the Eredivisie and are unbeaten in five. Such a shame it's on during the Manchester Derby.

16:00 Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur, Barclays Premier League, Sky Sports 1 & HD1
The Big City Derby Weekend ends in the capital. There is no love lost between the two sets of supporters and the intensity of this fixture can surprise the unwary. Spurs' surrender at Old Trafford notwithstanding, this game finds both teams in good nick.

16:30 Bayer Leverkusen v Bremen, Bundesliga, ESPN
At last, the chance to see the joint league leaders in action. Look out for Leverkusen's Stefan Kiesling and Bremen's Mesut Ozil. Both teams laugh in the face of defence so a high scoring game is on the cards.

18:00 Real Madrid v Xerez, La Liga, Sky Sports Red Button & Sky Sports 2 & HD2
Definite whiff of Killie v Rangers about this fixture. However, it does allow us to include king of the keywords Cristiano Ronaldo in this post.

19:45 Roma v Fiorentina, Serie A, ESPN
You'll have read of the return of the Tinkerman in Just One Scudetto. Claudio Ranieri replaced Luciano Spaletti at Roma and it will be intriguing to see how his players respond against a good Fiorentina. Its good to have Serie A back on UK TV screens isn't it?

20:00 Valencia v Sporting Gijon, La Liga, Sky Sports 2 & HD2
Last knockings of a fantastic weekend of football. Gijon can take encouragement from their defeat of Almeria but will find the going tough against Valencia who still manage to compete despite their parlous financial situation. Go figure.