Midweek TV Preview: 22 - 25 August

Monday 22 August

20.00 Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur, Premier League, Sky Sports 1/HD1/3D

Tottenham's domestic season finally kicks off. The last mention of a Spurs win at Old Trafford is somewhere near the back of the Old Testament - so anything other than an unlikely win for Harry's side can't be seen as any guide as to what this two sides' season ahead will be like.

Tuesday 23 August

19.45 FC Zurich v Bayern Munich UEFA Champions League Qualifying Playoff 2nd Leg (0-2), Sky Sports 2/HD2

After a comfortable, if efficient, result at home against the runners up in the Swiss League, Bayern are perfectly placed to ease through to the group stage.

19.45 Villarreal v Odense BK, UEFA Champions League Qualifying Playoff 2nd Leg (0-1), Sky Sports 2 Interactive

A late winner in the first leg sees OB carry an unlikely lead to Spain. With the disruption to Villareal's preparation caused by the player strike in La Liga the Danes could cause an upset here.

19.45 Malmo v Dinamo Zagreb, UEFA Champions League Qualifying Playoff 2nd Leg (1-4), Sky Sports 2 Interactive

Malmo may have nicked an away goal but they have it all to do against the Croatian Champions. Given their defensive display in the first leg you can't see the home side overturning this.

19.45 Genk v Maccabi Haifa, UEFA Champions League Qualifying Playoff 2nd Leg (1-2), Sky Sports 2 Interactive

Maccabi were cruising in the first leg - two goals up within half an hour. Elianiv Barda's second half goal for Genk however sees this Champions Route match finely poised.

19.45 Apoel Nicosia v Wisla Krakow, UEFA Champions League Qualifying Playoff 2nd Leg (0-1), Sky Sports 2 Interactive

Apoel will fancy themselves to overturn Wisla's slender lead to qualify for their second group stage place in three seasons.

Wednesday 24 August

11.00 Urawa Reds v Sanfrecce Hiroshima, J1 League, British Eurosport 2

Two sides are sitting
Either end of mid table
Not much on offer

17.00 Rubin Kazan v Lyon, Champions League Qualifying Playoff 2nd Leg (1-3), Sky Sports 2 / HD2

Rubin's hopes probably rest on their chances of keeping a clean sheet against a side with a lot more Champion's League pedigree.

19.45 Udinese V Arsenal, Champions League Qualifying Playoff 2nd Leg (0-1), ITV1 / ITV1 HD

Look, Arsenal are a goal up and Udinese didn't get an away goal, OK. Now shut up.

19.45 Benfica V FC Twente, Champions League Qualifying Playoff 2nd Leg (2-2), Sky Sports 2 / HD2

Twente relied on Costa Rican Bryan Ruiz to spare their blushes at home in the first leg. His equaliser ten minutes from time still leaves the Dutch team having to at least score in this tie.

19.45 Viktoria Plzen v FC Copenhagen, Champions League Qualifying Playoff 2nd Leg (3-1), Sky Sports 2 Interactive

Viktorian Plzen won their first domestic title last season to get here and with a fantastic second half performance in Denmark, are favourites to take their place in the group stage. A fantastic achievement against a side that regularly gets through this knockout phase.

19.45 Sturm Graz v BATE Borisov, UEFA Champions League Qualifying Playoff 2nd Leg (1-1), Sky Sports 2 Interactive

BATE had to come back from a goal down in their bid to qualify for the group stage for the second time (they were Belarus's first representatives at that stage in the 2008/09 season). Sturm have the advantage though and could be Austria's first presence in the group stage since 2005/06.

19.45 Exeter City v Liverpool, Carling Cup 2nd Round, Sky Sports 1/HD1

Liverpool's first 2nd round match in this competition for many a year has potential banana skin written all over it. Exeter haven't had the brightest of starts to their season in League One, having registered just one point so far in four games.

01.50 (Thursday am) Sao Paulo v Ceara, Copa Sudamericana 2nd Round 2nd leg (1-2), Premier Sports

If this game's anything like the first leg it should worth staying up for. Rivaldo (yes, that Rivaldo) opened the scoring for Sao Paolo only for the home side to equalise before half time. Sao Paolo had to hold on for the entire second half after on-loan Arsenal midfielder Denilson was sent off for a second yellow immediately after the break, only for Ceara to snatch a goal in the third minute of injury time.

Thursday 25 August

19.30 FC Sion v Celtic, UEFA Europa League Playoff 2nd Leg (0-0), Premier Sports

Could be a very dark night for Scottish football in Europe; already tumbling down UEFA rankings it could get much worse if both of the Old Firm fail to get though their play-offs.

19.30 Rangers v NK Maribor, UEFA Europa League Playoff 2nd Leg (1-2), ESPN/ESPN HD

Rangers let a lead slip against the Slovenian Champions, though will hope they won't have to rely on their away goal to progress to the group stage

19.45 Tottenham Hotspur v Hearts, UEFA Europa League Playoff 2nd Leg (5-0), ITV4/ITV4 HD

What do you do if you're Harry? Give everyone the night off ready for the weekend and a mind towards a long season ahead or do try and regroup after a second half mauling in the league against United. My money's on the former - nothing to see here.

19.45 Scunthorpe United v Newcastle United, Carling Cup 2nd Round, Sky Sports 1/HD1

Maybe just give football a miss tonight, yeah?

Graham