Midweek TV Preview: 19 - 22 October 2009

Monday 19th October

19:45 Leeds Utd v Norwich City, League One, Sky Sports 1/HD1
Paul Lambert has settled the shredded nerves at Carrow Road and the Canaries are now unbeaten in five games. A hot reception awaits them at Elland Road, though, and the best Norwich can hope for is a point.

20:00 Fulham v Hull City, Barclays Premier League, ESPN/HD
Your first chance to see Fulham on TV this week. Not so long ago this would have been a lower division fixture. Nowadays, Fulham are a European powerhouse and Hull are... well, Hull. If you're thinking of ending it all on the Putney Bridge tonight, think again.

Tuesday 20th October

19:45 Debrecen v Fiorentina, UEFA Champions League Group E, Sky Sports Red Button
The Magyars baptism of Euro fire continues against the conquerors of Fiorentina. No, not Sunderland but La Viola. Hard to see anything but an away win.

19:45 Liverpool v Lyon, UEFA Champions League Group E, Sky Sports 2/HD1
Huge game, this. If Lyon get a result then the result will live up to their billing as serious contenders for the trophy. However, this is Liverpool FC and taking out their domestic strife on foreigners is what they excel at. Home win.

19:45 Barcelona v Rubin Kazan, UEFA Champions League Group F, Sky Sports Red Button
The Russians are no pushovers as Jose Mourinho will testify. However, this trip to one of European football's great venues will test Rubin to their limits.

19:45 Inter Milan v Dinamo Kiev, UEFA Champions League Group F, Sky Sports Red Button
Time for Inter to get a wiggle on. Kiev have a win under their belt which is more than can be said for the Italians.

19:45 Rangers v Unirea Urziceni, UEFA Champions League Group G, Sky Sports 3/HD2
Assuming Sevilla work their mojo against the stuttering Stuttgart, this is a perfect oppurtunity for Rangers to stake a claim for second place with a win against the Romanian minnows. Alternatively, this is an excellent oppurtunity for Urziceni to move into second with a win against the Scottish minnows.

19:45 Stuttgart v Sevilla, UEFA Champions League Group G, Sky Sports Red Button
As above, hard to see beyond an away win.

19:45 AZ Alkmaar v Arsenal, UEFA Champions League Group H, Sky Sports Xtra/HD3
A defeat to Twente is far from ideal preparation for the visit of The Gunners and will be hoping that Van Persie, Arshavin and Co. bring their clown shoes to the game.

19:45 Olympiacos v Standard Liege, UEFA Champions League Group H, Sky Sports Red Button
And they say there are too many meaningless fixtures in the Champions League. Tsk.

Wednesday 21st October

17:30 CSKA Moscow v Manchester Utd, UEFA Champions League Group B, Sky Sports 2/HD2
Fergie's brave lads travel to the Luzhniki with their evil plastic pitch. Yes, that'll be the reason. Worst yet, those selfish Russians are putting the game on at 5.30. What's that all about??

19:45 Wolfsburg v Besiktas, UEFA Champions League Group B, Sky Sports Red Button
Besitkas have lost their first two games but Turkish clubs always enjoy playing football in Germany for all kinds of complicated reasons. I predict a point.

19:45 Bordeaux v Bayern Munich, UEFA Champions League Group A, Sky Sports Red Button
Bordeaux have lost their last two league games so aren't in great shape. Having said that, Bayern aren't pulling up any trees themsleves so this could be a chance for Juve to catch up.

19:45 Juventus v Maccabi Haifa, UEFA Champions League Group A, Sky Sports Red Button
Which they damn well should do against Haifa.

19:45 FC Zurich v Marseille, UEFA Champions League Group C, Sky Sports Red Button
Hats off to Zurich for thier fantastic win at Milan. As the Champions League official 'Unknown Quantity' this game is a tough one to call.

19:45 Real Madrid v AC Milan, UEFA Champions League Group C, Sky Sports 2/HD2
The away side's unconvincing win against Roma last night has stayed the executioner's hand over Leonardo's head, for at least until Wednesday when they get destroyed at the Bernabau.

19:45 Chelsea v Atletico Madrid, UEFA Champions League Group D, ITV1/HD
Imagine the chagrin in ITV Towers when they saw that United's early away fixture at CSKA was on a Wednesday? Now they have to slum it with one of those ghastly London clubs and their hideous non-nationwide audience reach. However will Clive cope?

19:45 Porto v APOEL Nicosia, UEFA Champions League Group D, Sky Sports Red Button
Porto must be favorites to slot in behind Chelsea after the hapless start to Atletico Madrid's season. Assuming they can negotiate their way around plucky APOEL, that is.

Thursday 22nd October

18:00 Lazio v Villarreal, UEFA Europa League Group G, ITV4
Both teams are recent victims of the hated and all conquering Red Bull Salzburg, but both teams should consider themselves at the top of this rather modest tree.

18:00 Benfica v Everton, UEFA Europa League Group I, ESPN
Everton are off to a flyer and David Moyes is finally demostrating the European credentials a man of his abilties requires to dot the "i"s and cross the "t"s on his application for a Big Four job. Let's see how The Toffees fair in Portugal.

20:05 Ajax v Dinamo Zagreb, UEFA Europa League Group B, ESPN
Some People Are On The Pitch predicts that the number of times Martin Jol is mentioned will be... 27. Do you want to go higher or lower?

20:05 Celtic v Hamburg, UEFA Europa League Group C, ITV4
Both teams have had a shaky start to the European campaign and enter this fixture with something to prove. A fairly decent fixture but no substitute for...

20:05 Fulham v AS Roma, UEFA Europa League Group E, Five
Ranieri returns to West London. This is a wonderful night for Fulham fans. Who'dve thunk that back in the dark days of Alan Dicks and Jimmy Hill, they'd be playing a top Italian side in Europe. In fact, Who'dve thunk Fulham would end up fielding an under strength side.

01:00 Chicago v Chivas USA, MLS, ESPN (Friday morning)
With the play-offs in the offing, look no further than this guide to understanding how the race to the Post Season works.

(All times - UK)