Weekend TV Preview: 14 - 16 January

Friday 14 January

13:15 Australia v Korea Republic, AFC Asian Cup, British Eurosport 2
Mildly irritating for Western audiences that this game is on at lunch time but seeing as said audience is limited to a small group football geeks like us here at the Fairground, I don't suppose it matters a great deal. Should be a good game though, the winner almost certainly taking the group.

16:15 Bahrain v India, AFC Asian Cup, British Eurosport 2
In truth, this should be a wooden spoon play-off. If you're looking for an accumulator pick, then I'd have Bahrain. Apparently Bob Houghton's India were pretty awful against Australia.

19:30 Bayer Leverkusen v Borussia Dortmund, Bundesliga, ESPN
Those lazy Germans are back from their Winter Break and what better way to kick of the second half of the Bundesliga season than with a First v Second clash on a Friday evening. BVB may be the runaway leaders but they lost their last game all the way back before Christmas and another defeat may instigate a collapse. 'Nuff said.

19:45 Colchester v Bournemouth, Npower Championship, Sky Sports 3/HD3
Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe's decision not to accept the management position at Crystal Palace is easier to understand when you realise that he still gets to be on the telly this weekend. Assuming, of course he hasn't buggered off to Burnley by the time you read this.

Saturday 15 January

12:00 Hibernian v Celtic, Scottish Premier League, ESPN/HD
Apparently there's a whole load of woobanging occurring north of the border involving Celtic and the SFA and stuff. Scottish football does appear at some sort of crossroads and is having trouble deciding which road to take. Maybe John Reid switched the signs around.

12:45 Swansea City v Crystal Palace, Npower Championship, Sky Sports 2/HD2
Meanwhile, after having been jilted by the aforementioned Howe, Palace have appointed former player and club hero, Sir Dougie of Freedman as manager. The Hero of Edgeley Park will be taking his revolutionary formation of 10 blokes randomly positioned on the pitch plus a 'keeper to a very good Swansea team with hilarious consequences.

17:30 West Ham United v Arsenal, Barclays Premier League, ESPN
Avram Grant's death by a thousand cuts continues with the welcome of an Arsenal XI whose cheeks are stinging after a couple of mildly embarrassing cup results.

19:00 Athletic Bilbao v Racing, Spanish La Liga, Sky Sports 3/HD3
Ninth meets Fourteenth and both teams in a bad run of form. Enter at your peril.

19:45 Inter v Bologna, Seria A, ESPN
Leo seems to have calmed the waters at the European champions and will no doubt make short work of Bologna.

21:00 Sevilla v Espanyol, Spanish La Liga, Sky Sports 3/HD3
Espanyol recovered themselves from a three game losing streak with a 4-0 tonking of Zaragoza. This keeps them in the hunt for a Europa League spot. I've seen Sevilla a couple of times in Europe this season and the League table doesn't lie, in my opinion.

British Eurosport have decided, in their wisdom, to only show highlights of Saturday's fixture which is a damn shame, to be frank. Unless of course they are replacing the football with Women's World Cup Biathlon, which will be just fine with me.

Sunday 16 January

11:30 Birmingham City v Aston Villa, Barclays Premier League, Sky Sports 1 / HD1
Poisonous local derby which has become infamous for on-the-field gaffs and off-the-field violence. Avoid.

11:30 Cagliari v Palermo, Serie A, ESPN
Palermo have not been beaten by a team outside the top four since losing to the Udinese club back in October. The odds are therefore most favourable for Cagliari to suffer a fifth home defeat of the season.

14:00 Liverpool v Everton, Barclays Premier League, Sky Sports 1 / HD1
Liverpool are in serious danger of turning into a real laughing stock. Will things get worse before they get better? An interesting side bet is to see which of the managers wins the Dour Scotsman stakes. My money's on the King.

14:00 Lazio v Sampdoria, Serie A, ESPN
With, Cassano out of the door, Samp face an uncertain future and won't relish a trip to the Olympic Stadium to face a Lazio side still in the hunt for a Scudetto.

16:00 Tottenham v Manchester Utd, Barclays Premier League, Sky Sports 1 / HD1
Blisters notwithstanding, himself Lord David of Beckingham, should be warming an executive box chair at the Lane for what is the hottest ticket in the Premier League this weekend. No doubt there will be a disproportionate amount of camera shots from Sky peering through a tinted window trying to catch a glimpse of the great man sipping Champagne. Only one glass, mind. There's a baby on the way, after all.

16:30 Eintracht Frankfurt v Hannover 96, Bundesliga, ESPN
Two of the Bundesliga's surprise packages look to hit their stride at the restart. Hannover have a real chance of qualifying for the Europa League. Keep an eye out for Didier Ya Konan. Cracking player.

16:15 China v Uzbekistan, AFC Asian Cup, British Eurosport 2
The Uzbekis will need to get something from this game to be certain of qualification to the Quarter Finals. China need the win. The other game between hosts Qatar and rock-bottom Kuwait will be played at the same time. It is possible that Eurosport may switch games depending on what's going on.

19:00 Almeria v Real Madrid, Spanish La Liga, Sky Sports 1 / HD1
Last knockings of the weekend sees Mourinho's striker-less wonders knocking six bells out of their hosts.

19:45 Lecce v AC Milan, Serie A, ESPN
The Rossonieri are in good shape and should ordinarily expect to have no problems against the third bottom team. Having said that Lecce have just arrived back from Lazio with all three points, so you never know.

20:00 Barcelona v Malaga, Spanish La Liga, Sky Sports 1 / HD1
Oh Lionel! You so fly!!

Terry