Weekend TV Preview: 29 - 31 October

Friday 29 October

15.45 Krylya Sovetov v Rubin Kazan, Russian Premier League, ESPN/ESPN HD
With Zenit suffering their first defeat of the season midweek, a faint opportunity for Rubin to retain their title has opened up. Krylya have had an amazing turnaround of form recently: stick-on relegation candidates a few weeks ago they have taken ten points from the last twelve - partly helped by 19 year old loan signing Pavel Yakovlev from Spartak, scoring goals in each of their last three games

19.30 Bayern Munich v SC Freiburg, Bundesliga, ESPN/ESPN HD
Should be a straightforward home win you'd think, Freiburg's early season form since evaporating especially away from home. Bayern haven't got into their stride at all this season, with Mario Gomez's hat-trick in their win against Hannover in their most recent home game the exception rather than the rule. Both teams had varying fortunes in the cup midweek: Bayern edging out Bremen while Freiburg were dumped out by 2-Bundesliga side Energie Cottbus.

19.45 Southport v Kidderminster, Conference, Premier Sports
Southport came out 4-3 winners when the two sides met in August but have found life in the national level of the Conference tough since then - taking just one win in the last ten games.

Saturday 30 October

12.00 St Johnstone v Celtic, SPL, ESPN/ESPN HD
Swindon fans may be pleased to see "Super" Sammy Parkin back in scoring touch with St Johnstone after a few miserable seasons of injury and poor form. He scored in the League Cup match between these two sides midweek; Celtic resisting a spirited comeback form the home team to win 3-2.

17.20 Barnsley v Hull City, Championship, Sky Sports 2/HD2
Jimmy Bullard's latest knee injury rules him out of this and the next three games. Hull need goals: just two in their last eight games, leaving them just three points off the bottom. Barnsley aren't faring that much better - Hull could leapfrog them in the table if they win.

17.30 Man Utd v Tottenham Hotspur, Premier League, ESPN/ESPN HD
If everything is right in the world Tottenham turn up to Old Trafford and lose - it is the way of things. They haven't won here since 1989 (even that was after a gap of 13 years) and they've come away losers in the last eight trips here. But everything is not all right with the world. Is it, children. Man U's run of 21 games without defeat and 21 years of hurt for Spurs ends here. There, I've said it.

19.00 Hercules v Real Madrid, La Liga, Sky Sports 4/HD4
Arnold Schwarzenegger reprises his cinematic debut role to take on Jose Mourinho and his men.

19.45 AC Milan v Juventus, Serie A, ESPN/ESPN HD
Juve have shored things up at the back after a dodgy start to the season, keeping three clean sheets in a row including the 0-0 draw at the San Siro at the beginning of the month against Inter. That record will be tough to maintain with Pato, Robinho amd Ibrahimovic all likely to start for the Rossoneri. Much better than watching X-factor.

21.00 Barcelona v Sevilla, La Liga, Sky Sports 4/HD4
Pep to Man U? Bit of a step down, don't you think?

Sunday 31 October

11.30 Palermo v Lazio, Serie A, ESPN/ESPN HD
Lazio are still riding high at the top of table which considering they spent most of last season skirting around the relegation zone shows how competetive Serie A is this season. Palermo are continuing in the same form as last season which saw them miss out on a Champions League place by just two points.

12.15 Hearts v Kilmarnock, SPL, Sky Sports 4/HD4
Hearts have one the last five encounters between these two. Kilmarnock will probably consider themselves unfortunate to be in lowly position they are - all six of their defeats so far this season have been by the odd goal.

13.30 Newcastle United v Sunderland, Premier League, Sky Sports 1/HD1/3D
Apparently the 3D works by sending vertical stripes to one eye and horizontal stripes to the other. I can see a problem occuring in this game.

16.00 Bolton Wanderers v Liverpool, Premier League, Sky Sports 1/HD1
Bolton are unbeaten at home this season, Liverpool have won just once away from home in 2010. This has hard fought draw written all over it.

17.15 Hoffenheim v Hannover 96, Bundesliga, ESPN/ESPN HD
Fourth place host third as both teams try to close the already yawning gap behind the top two -  Mainz and Dortmund who play each other immediately before this game (not covered in favour of egg chasing on ESPN). Senegal international Demba Ba is in a rich vein of form having scored in each of his last five games for Hoffenheim.

18.00 Atletico Madrid v Almeria, La Liga, Sky Sports 1/HD1 (1st Half Red Button)
Almeria have yet to win in the Vicente Calderan and with only one win to their name so far this season it's unlikely they'll get one here.

19.45 Catania v Fiorentina, Serie A, ESPN/ESPN HD
Last week's win over Bari made the table look a little more respectable for Fiorentina lifting them five places from bottom. Catania are stumbling after their early season good showing but are still tough to beat - as Milan and Napoli will testify.

20.00 Athletic Bilbao v Getafe, La Liga, Sky Sports 1/HD1
The four points Getafe took off Bilbao last season were enough to get them a Europa League place at Athletic's expense. Bilbao's Lloriente is in the form of his life at the moment with 10 goals for club and country already this season.

Graham