Weekend TV Preview: 1 - 3 April

Friday 1 April

19.30 St Pauli v FC Schalke, Bundesliga, ESPN/ESPN HD

Five defeats on the trot - that's the bleak record staring back at St Pauli. In theory, the only thing Schalke have to worry about is keeping hold of Raul and Neuer, but in the short-term that shouldn't stop last season's runners-up from getting a point, if not three.

19.45 Peterborough v Bournemouth, League One, Sky Sports 2/HD2

Two teams that could conceivably face each other in the end-of-season play-offs, although Peterborough will fancy their chances of overtaking second-placed Huddersfield. A continuation of their fine home form here will take The Posh to within a point of The Terriers.

Saturday 2 April

12.00 Inverness CT v Celtic, SPL, ESPN/ESPN HD

ICT could find themselves finishing in the top half of the SPL table for the first time in history this season. Only a tough run-in, beginning with this visit of The Bhoys, can deprive us of the sight of Terry Butcher being paraded through Inverness on an open-top bus.

12.45 West Ham v Man Utd, Premier League, Sky Sports 2/HD2

The teams currently fifth and fourth in the form table should serve up a superb lunchtime treat. Fergie's team will remember only too well the 4-0 League Cup defeat at Upton Park last November. A similar result looks less likely this time as Jonny Evans misses the game through suspension.

12.45 Leeds United v Nottingham Forest, Championship, BBC1/BBC1 HD

Fifth v sixth. Forest have been suffering more points failures than Network Rail just lately and haven't beaten Leeds since April 8th 1996. The winning goal that day was scored by Jason Lee... we'll give you a few moments to work out whether Forest were a better side back then.

15.45 Airbus UK Broughton v Carmarthen Town, Welsh Premier League, S4C

According to Wikipedia, Airbus UK have previously been known as Vickers-Armstrong, De Havillands and Hawker Siddeley. Even their ground is known as The Airfield. Such a shame to report, then, that their season has taken something of a nosedive.

17.30 Arsenal v Blackburn Rovers, Premier League, ESPN/ESPN HD

On current form, this shouldn't be a contest. Blackburn are without a win in six while The Gunners haven't lost any over the same period. Should be an emotional affair as Arsenal fans around the world commemorate the tenth anniversary of the death of one-time Highbury hero David Rocastle.

19.00 Getafe v Valencia, La Liga, Sky Sports 4

With the strike now called off, viewers around the world will get to see this one-side match between Champions League-chasing Valencia and a Getafe side that haven't won in fourteen games.

19.45 Milan v Inter, Serie A, ESPN/ESPN HD

Another spicy encounter awaits as the home side attempt to beat their closest rivals having failed to win in their last three games. Only two points clear of their opponents at the top of the table, they'll be desperate for all three points but will have to do without Ibrahimovic who is suspended.

21.00 Villarreal v Barcelona, La Liga, Sky Sports 4

With nine games remaining and a five-point lead at the top, it's time for Barcelona to show they're able to hold their nerve. With Lionel Messi recovering from a slight injury picked up in Argentina's midweek match against Costa Rica, there's every chance they'll clear this first hurdle.

00.20 (Sunday morning) Racing v Tigre, Argetinian Primera Division, Premier Sports

Racing have made the better start of the two by a considerable margin, but their cause won't be helped by reports of some of their players having a bust-up on the training field. They should still win though.

Sunday 3 April

11.30 Napoli v Lazio, Serie A, ESPN/ESPN HD

Napoli find themselves third in the table with Lazio just two places behind. The Neapolitans have won back-to-back league games going into this match and haven't lost at home since 25 October 2010.

12.45 Hibernian v Hearts, SPL, Sky Sports 4/HD4

Hearts have already beaten their Edinburgh rivals 2-0 and 1-0 this season, but Hibs will be the more confident of the two this time having strung together five wins and a draw in their last six games.

13.30 Brentford v Carlisle United, Johnstone's Paint Trophy Final, Sky Sports 2/HD2

A rare Wembley outing for two deserving teams from League One. Ironically both teams faced each other at Griffin Park last week, the home side winning 2-1. Despite Carlisle's poor away form of late, this should be a close encounter and a fine example of third-tier football. Watch it if you can.

13.30 Fulham v Blackpool, Premier League, Sky Sports 1/HD

Never mind Blackpool's poor form of late - the real talking point on Sunday will be the planned demonstration by fans against the erection of a Michael Jackson statue at Craven Cottage. And if our blatant use of the words 'Michael', 'Jackson' and 'erection' in one sentence doesn't generate 10 million new hits for this website, frankly nothing will.

16.00 Man City v Sunderland, Premier League, Sky Sports 1/HD1/3D

Sunderland will breathe a sigh of relief today as they play the last of the Premier League big guns on their fixture list. Just as well given the Black Cats' urgent need to arrest a current run of six games without a win.

16.30 Wolfsburg v Eintracht Frankfurt, Bundesliga, ESPN/ESPN HD

Two teams desperate to grab three points to lift them from their lowly positions in the table. The Wolfsburg players will be heartened to hear new boss Felix Magath say that they're not the crock of shite he thought they were when he arrived. Quite what Christoph Daum currently thinks of his squad at the moment is yet to be reported.

18.00 Sevilla v Real Zaragoza, La Liga, Sky Sports 1/HD1

Luis Fabiano's gone, Fredi Kanoute's probably going, but fear not Sevilla fans - rumour has it you might be about to snare Peter Crouch away from Tottenham. If you are, may we be the first to give him the nickname 'El Autómata'...

19.45 Roma v Juventus, Serie A, ESPN/ESPN HD

Roma are leaving it a bit late if they're to finish in the top four. Scant consolation though it is, Juve only have one win in their last five. Hope springs eternal for the Giallorossi.

20.00 Osasuna v Atletico Madrid, La Liga, Sky Sports 1/HD1

Two wins in the last 11 for Atleti. Another defeat here and Osasuna will be only a point behind them in the table and, on current form, more likely to snatch a Europa League spot too.

22.15 Boca Juniors v Estudiantes, Argetinian Primera Division, Premier Sports

Boca's poor start to the season got a welcome boost in their last match when they picked up only their second win so far against Colón. Pity that - we were hoping to do our 'Colonic irritation' gag.

Chris O