Midweek TV Preview: 7 - 10 March

Monday 7 March
20.00 Blackpool v Chelsea, Premier League, Sky Sports 1/HD1/3D
Chelsea are back, aren't they? And they have the faintest glimmer of being back in the title race - though of course, being at Blackpool, anything could happen. Torres will score tonight - there, I've said it.

20.00 Dundee United v Aberdeen, SPL, ESPN/ESPN HD
Do they still call this the New Firm? Much like New Coke, I'm guessing.

Tuesday 8 March
19.45 Barrow v Altrincham, Blue Square Premier League, Premier Sports
Relegation scrap from the bottom of the Blue Square. Both sides are level on points fourth and third from bottom respectively. Barrow haven't had a win in nine games.

19.45 Barcelona v Arsenal, Champions League Round of 16 2nd Leg Leg (1-2), Sky Sports 2/HD2
Both teams have key players missing: Barcelona will have almost a second string defense while Arsenal are missing Van Persie and Song. Arsenal will only have a chance of holding on if they can score - it's very unlikely they'll keep a clean sheet.

19.45 Shakhtar Donetsk v Roma, Champions League Round of 16 2nd Leg Leg (3-2), Sky Sports 4/HD4
Shakhtar's domestic season kicked off again last week with a last minute win at Sevastapol (putting them 12 points clear at the top). Roma are still throwing leads (including one in the first leg here) despite the departure of Claudio Ranieri.

Wednesday 9 March
19.45 Tottenham Hotspur v AC Milan, Champions League Round of 16 2nd Leg (1-0), ITV1/ITV1 HD
A lead, an away goal and home advantage. Should be a formality for Spurs. Shouldn't it?

19.45 Schalke v Valencia, Champions League Round of 16 2nd Leg (1-1), Sky Sports 2/HD2
Raul's second half equaliser in the first leg has really set up this tie. After a desperate season in the League, Felix Magath could end up with a Champions League quarter final place as well as a German Cup Final. Valencia are of course no mugs and have already earned draws at Old Trafford and Ibrox in this competition this season.

22.30 Peñarol v LDU Quito, Copa Libertadores Group 8, Premier Sports
Nice to see a Copa Libertadores fixture with either or both sides NOT coming from Brazil or Argentina. Two games in, all teams in this group have one win and one defeat. Quito though rely on home advantage to get anywhere in this competition having lost just once in the past five years - not so clever on their travels though - their last win being three years and eleven games ago.

Thursday 10 March
18.00 Braga v Liverpool, UEFA Europa League Round of 16 1st Leg, FIVE/FIVE HD
With the obvious exception of their 3-0 defeat to Shaktar, Braga's home form has been near faultless in Europe this season: five wins from six with the Ukrainians the only ones to score. Arsenal, Sevilla and Celtic have all returned from their impressive stadium empty handed. Expect Liverpool to adopt the same dull tactics they employed away in the last round.

18.00 PSV Eindhoven v Rangers, UEFA Europa League Round of 16 1st Leg, ESPN/ESPN HD
After their last minute heroics in Lisbon, Rangers will go into this in positive mood. PSV lead the table in the Netherlands but needed the help of a second half sending off to get past Lille in the last round.

18.00 Bayer Leverkusen v Villarreal, UEFA Europa League Round of 16 1st Leg, ITV4/ITV HD
While 4th in La Liga, Villareal are in a period of very indifferent form. A distant second in the title race in Germany, this competition represents a strong Leverkusen side's best chance of winning something this season.

20.05 Dynamo Kiev v Manchester City, UEFA Europa League Round of 16 1st Leg, ITV4/ITV HD
FIFA ban snoods the week before City travel to play in Kiev in temperatures of -6C. Coincidence? I couldn't possibly say.

20.05 Ajax v Spartak Moscow, UEFA Europa League Round of 16 1st Leg, ESPN/ESPN HD
Spartak are still in pre-season, their first league match being next week. Ajax don't seem to be struggling in front of goal without Luis Suarez - having scored nine in their last two home games.

Graham