Weekend TV Preview: 12 - 14 August

Friday 12 August

19.45 Forest Green Rovers v Stockport County, Blue Square Premier League, Premier Sports

County's first match in the Conference and they're up against a team that escaped relegation by two points. Both clubs are still making signings ahead of the game, although it remains to be seen whether any of them figure in this curtain-raiser to the campaign.

Saturday 13 August

12.45 Inverness Caledonian Thistle v Rangers, SPL, Sky Sports 2/HD2

Assuming the tax man hasn't shut down Rangers by the time you read this, Ally McCoist's men should have ample opportunity to extend their unbeaten run over Caley to eleven games.

15.45 Bangor City v Llanelli, Welsh Premier League, S4C

Hardly the best of starts to the season for Bangor. Last week's 10 (TEN)-0 Champions League whipping at HJK Helsinki brought about an aggregate score of 13 (THIRTEEN)-0. City boss Nev Powell described both ties as 'good team building exercises'.

17.30 Newcastle United v Arsenal, Premier League, ESPN/ESPN HD

Blah, blah, new Premier League season, blah, blah, blah, etc...

23.00 Portugal U20 v Argentina U20, FIFA U20 World Cup Quarter Final, British Eurosport 2

Portugal have scored no more than a single goal in each of their four games thus far but haven't conceded any yet either. Argentina, despite being held to a goalless draw against England in the group stage, are scoring rather more freely and should, Portuguese defence permitting, book their place in the semis.

22.25 São Paulo v Atlético PR, Brazilian National Championship, Premier Sports

Third-placed São Paulo are easily the favourites for this match despite Atlético PR's recent new-found form. They do, however, remain second from bottom in the table.

Sunday 14 August

12.15 Kilmarnock v Hibernian, SPL, ESPN/ESPN HD

Hibs have just snapped up Newcastle striker Phil Airey, a one-man answer to the question "What was the first thing Dr Jekyll said after he turned into Mr Hyde?"

13.30 Stoke City v Chelsea, Premier League, Sky Sports 1/HD1

The first bona fide game in charge of The Blues for André Villas-Boas who will no doubt be given a boost upon hearing the news that Fernando Torres is unlikely to start against Stoke.

14.30 FC Kaiserslautern v FC Augsburg, Bundesliga, ESPN/ESPN HD

Augsburg got their maiden Bundesliga season off to a solid start with a 2-2 draw against Freiburg last week. It also finished a draw - 1-1 - in the equivalent fixture of last season's 2.Bundesliga campaign.

16.00 West Brom v Man Utd, Premier League, Sky Sports 1/HD1/3D

Shame to see West Bromwich was the scene of mass looting this week and the trophy room at The Hawthorns was no exception with everything being taken. Apparently Police are on the look-out for anyone carrying a navy blue and white striped carpet.

16.30 Bayer Leverkusen v Werder Bremen, Bundesliga, ESPN/ESPN HD

Werder’s win over Kaiserslautern last week was their first season-opening victory for five years and understandably there was much unbridled joy among the green and white support. With Leverkusen going down 2-0 at Mainz, Werder might fancy sticking the boot in this week while last season’s runners-up are down.

21.00 Real Madrid v Barcelona, Spanish Super Cup 1st Leg, Sky Sports 1/HD1

Imagine if our Community Shield match was played over two legs. There'd be uproar! The only circumstances under which that'd be tolerated is if you had the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona playing. Oh, that's handy.

21.00 France v Nigeria, FIFA U20 World Cup Quarter Final, British Eurosport/British Eurosport HD

Both teams won their Second Round matches 1-0 to get here. In Nigeria's case, that was against a rather poor England side while France knocked out Ecuador. The winners of this match are likely to play Argentina in the semis.

Chris O