Weekend TV Preview: 15 - 17 October

Friday 15th October 2010

19:30 FC Koln v Borussia Dortmund, Bundesliga, ESPN/HD
Club football returns to our screens with a Ruhr derby. Dortmund are vibrant, effervescent and any other adjective ending an ant. Koln on the other hand can easily be described by any words ending in ants.

04:00 Chivas USA v Seattle Sounders, MLS, ESPN/HD (Saturday Morning)
The Sounders are on a hot streak which includes their second successive Open Cup Final win. The run has pretty much sealed a place in the Post Season and a shot at the Double.

Saturday 16th October 2010

17:20 Middlesbrough v Leeds United, Championship, Sky Sports 2/HD2
The team with a decent home record meet the team who bring a home crowd with them. Estimated time before the Sky Sports presenter points out that not so long ago this would have been a Premier League fixture: 30 seconds. Any advance?

17:30 Aston Villa v Chelsea, Premier League, ESPN/HD
Villa fans are still waiting a signature performance under new boss Gerard Houllier and what time to produce it than at home to the Champions. Chelsea's only league loss so far has been away from the Bridge and that was the last time they left London.

19:00 Barcelona v Valencia, La Liga, Sky Sports 4/HD4
The League leaders versus the Champions. Valencia's start to the season has been as impressive as their overdraft. Casual pundits will predict a home win as Barca make themselves comfortable in the the new season. This will certainly prove to be the toughest test of the leader's mettle so far.

21:00 Malaga v Real Madrid, La Liga. Sky Sports 4/HD4
Real have only been truly impressive against Deportivo La Coruna so far this season. However, according to Jonathan from the European Football Special Superpod, that's because Depor are dreadful.

23:00 Philadelphia Union v New York Red Bulls, MLS, ESPN/HD
If I'm reading my Football Americana right the Red Bulls are pretty much in the Play Offs while the Union are simply happy to be in the MLS in their inaugural season. I've not seen the Philadelphia club in action in their PPL Park home stadium but understand that they fans generate a decent atmosphere.

03:30 LA Galaxy v Colorado Rapids, MLS, ESPN/HD (Sunday morning)
Meanwhile, the Rapids still need the points to prolong their season. Taking them off a dominant Galaxy side with Landycakes and himself back on song may be beyond them.

Sunday 17th October 2010

11:30 Cagliari v Inter Milan, Serie A, ESPN/HD
Can't explain the early kick off for this one. Answers on a postcard please. However, the bleary eyed Cagliari fans loss of sleep is the UK-based Serie A fans gain as this tasty appetiser will be over just in time for the Merseyside Derby.

12:15 Dundee United v Celtic, SPL, Sky Sports 4/HD4
If you're Scottish, on the other hand, then your tastes are also catered for.

13:30 Everton v Liverpool, Premier League, Sky Sports 1/HD1/ 3D
At the time of writing, a Texican judge was just about to rule that Anfield be destroyed by Godzilla. If Martin Broughton saves the day (perhaps by petitioning for the release of King Kong to battle the giant lizard on Stanley Park, in glorious 3D no less) then it's possible that prospective new Liverpool owner John W Henry will be at Goodison to find out what he has let himself in for.

14:00 Sampdoria v Fiorentina, Serie A, ESPN/HD
Neither team can look back on the start of the season with much pride, it should be said, so this will either be a nervous mistake-riddled affair or end 4-3 with its meagre TV audience laughing up their sleeves at the rest of us schmucks who chose to watch Sky instead.

16:00 Blackpool v Man City, Premier League, Sky Sports 1/HD1
Just the sort of banana skin that Man City could slip up on. One thing is guaranteed: a 0-0 is deeply unlikely.

16:30 Hoffenheim v Borussia Monchengladbach, Bundesliga, ESPN/ESPN HD
More goals in store from Germany. Hoffenheim like to score them, 'Gladbach tend to concede them. Nice to see ESPN showing a whole match on Sundays. Presumably there's no egg chasing scheduled.

18:00 Athletic Bilbao v Real Zaragoza, La Liga, Sky Sports 1/HD1
Bilbao's solitary win in five is all that separates them from a place in the bottom three alongside their guests. Zaragoza are looking to extend their unbeaten run to er two.

19:45 Bari v Lazio, Serie A, ESPN/ESPN HD
Surprise league leaders Lazio travel to mid-table Bari. Not that mid-table means much in a league that's tighter than a gnat's chuff. Looking forward to having a good look at Hernanez for the Rome club.

19:45 Sporting v Sevilla, La Liga, Sky Sports 1/HD1
Sevilla travel to Gijon in good spirits after a promising start to life under new coach Gregorio Manzano. The Sporting club are winless since early September.

Terry