Weekend TV Preview: 8 - 10 April

Friday 8 April 2011

19.30 Eintracht Frankfurt v Werder Bremen, Bundesliga, ESPN/HD

Frankfurt's new coach, Christoph Daum's legendary moustache is looking a little trimmer these days. He and his soup strainer are making their first home appearance. His team face a Bremen side who are five games unbeaten but short on wins. May be hard work to watch, this one.

Saturday 9 April 2011

12.45 Wolves v Everton, Premier League, Sky Sports 2/HD2

It's a measure of how competitive the Premier League is that Wolves have only lost one game in five and yet are second from bottom of the League. Meanwhile Everton are all of nine points off a Europe League Spot they are only four away from Liverpool. Incentive enough to keeping going until the end of the season.

17.00 Inter Milan v Chievo, Serie A, ESPN/HD

Vital game for the champions who are in need of a lift after the derby day defeat last weekend and Champions League humiliation at the hands of a mid table Bundesliga side. Chievo are mid table themselves but should be there for the taking.

17.00 Athletic Bilbao v Real Madrid, La Liga, Sky Sports 4

Fifth placed Athletic club will be a sterner test than Tottenham were on Tuesday for Real. Domestically, Jose Mourinho is still coming to terms with what it feels like to lose at home. A trip to the lovely city of Bilbao (with it's Norman Foster designed subway stations) may be just the ticket).

17.20 Swansea City v Norwich City, Championship, Sky Sports 1/HD1

An ideal opportunity for fourth placed Swansea to narrow the gap two a single point between themselves and second placed Norwich. That won't be easy as the Canaries have only lost twice on the road since September last year.

19.00 Barcelona v Almeria, La Liga, Sky Sports 4

Top plays bottom. This could be a match that Barca choose to phone in given they have a trip to Donetsk in the offing.

19.45 Udinese v Roma, Serie A, ESPN / HD

Both teams had their progress interrupted by defeats last week so both will be anxious to get back on their horses. The Udine club have won a lot of friends with their brand of attacking football which makes this game, must watch status.

21.00 Mallorca v Sevilla, La Liga, Sky Sports 4

While Bilbao battle against Real Madrid, Sevilla have a choice to overhaul them in the table with a win over mid table Mallorca.

00.00 Philadelphia Union v New York Red Bulls, MLS, ESPN/HD

The second year expansion team, Chester Union take on the Harrison Energy Drink Concern FC. The new MLS season is still taking shape as these to Eastern Conference rivals meet. Union have the edge in the table but New York are just a point behind.

Sunday 10 April 2011

11.30 Juventus v Genoa, Serie A, ESPN/HD

Buoyed by a decent result against Roma last week, Juve are keen to achieve something this season. Even if it's a Europe League Spot. Genoa should be a surmountable obstacle.

12.45 Hamilton v Rangers, SPL, Sky Sports 4/HD4

Not much of a contest here, in truth. Hamilton are rock bottom of the table and preparing for life in the First Division. Ranger did lose recently to Dundee United but it would take a brave person to back a home win.

13.30 Blackpool v Arsenal, Premier League, Sky Sports 1/HD1

Both teams seriously need the points to restart their seasons. Three consecutive draws for the Gunners is hardly what the Dr Wenger ordered. Meanwhile Professor Holloway, the Mad Alchemist, is in danger of turning his nugget of green into a splat!

14.00 Bologna v Napoli, Serie A, ESPN/ESPN HD

Anyone who still thinks that Serie A is dull has been watching too much Sky Sports and not enough Napoli. Their heart stopping 4-3 win over Lazio last weekend was one of the highlights of the season in any league. All being well, next season, the Naples club will be in the Champions League.

16.00 Aston Villa v Newcastle United, Premier League, Sky Sports 1/HD1

The ever hungry Grumpy Monster of Villa Park sits in the bowels of the old stadium feeding off the Harumphs of the Villa faithful. He'll look back on this season as a golden age.

16.30 Bayer Leverkusen v St Pauli, Bundesliga, ESPN/HD

Leverkusen continue to shore up a Champions League place. However, all eyes are on St Pauli whose last match was abandoned after a supporter threw a beaker of beer at a linesman, hitting him on the back of the head, during their last home game against Schalke. The result stood at 2-0 with further sanctions against the club to come. The Hamburg club have now lost six in a row and need a performance to restore some faith.

19.00 Atletico Madrid v Real Sociedad (Second Half Only), La Liga, Sky Sports 2/HD2

While Atleti have only lost one game in their last seven their home record is not great. Having said that, Sociedad 's away from home record is nothing to write home about. Not one for the accumulator, methinks.

20.00 Valencia v Villarreal, La Liga, Sky Sports 2/HD2

As you retire to the drawing room for port and cigars, be sure to take in what should be a cracking match between the third and fourth placed team in La Liga.

Terry