Weekend TV Preview: 16 - 18 September

Friday 16 September

19.30 SC Freiburg v VFB Stuttgart, Bundesliga, ESPN / ESPN HD

Freiburg got absolutely honkered malonkered at Bayern last week and welcome Stuttgart with open palms screaming "Not the face! Not the face!" The visitors notched up a pretty impressive win against Hannover last week so it could be more pain for Marcus Sorg and his men.

Saturday 17 September

12.30 Dunfermline v Hibernian, SPL, ESPN / ESPN HD

A disastrous start to the campaign leaves Hibs rock bottom of the table after six matches. However, newly promoted Dunfermline have lost their last two after making a decent start.

12.45 Blackburn Rovers v Arsenal, Premier League, Sky Sports 2 / HD2

Despite conceding that last minute goal in Dortmund, The Gunners can be pleased by their resilience against the German champions.If they they go to the Westfalen and draw, they should be reasonably confident they can win at Ewood Park.

19.00 Barcelona v Osasuna, La Liga, Sky Sports 4 / HD4

After Barca dropped points at Sociedad, there is talk that the LagerLiga title is not as closed as it seems. This talk is from those in the league anxious to maintain the financial status quo in the face of a growing movement looking for greater parity when it comes to TV deals. Normal service should resume this weekend.

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

Only the second round of the Serie A season and already both clubs are in crisis. Roma are out of Europe and lost to Cagliari last week. Inter were on the wrong end of a frankly daft 4-3 scoreline and lost to Trabzonspor in the Champions League. Tense.

21.00 Sevilla v Real Sociedad, La Liga, Sky Sports 4 / HD4

Dumped out of Europe, Sevilla can concentrate on the League. They welcome Sociedad, fresh from that moral-boosting draw with Barca and with high hopes of a good season.

22.00 Sao Paolo v Ceara, Brazilian Serie A, Premier Sports

The home side were upset slightly against Gremio, last round. Ceara may be nine places below their opponents but have won four from their last five.

Sunday 18 September

11.30 PSV Eindhoven V Ajax, Dutch Eredivisie, ESPN / ESPN HD

Big Dutch Classico to start your Sunday. PSV are fifth in a table where only three points cover the top six. Ajax are top.

12.30 Rangers v Celtic, SPL, Sky Sports 2 / HD2

So difficult to call are the Old Firm games. In terms of form there's a piece of paper between them, but Celtic had that trip to Madrid on Thursday which gives Rangers the advantage to my mind.

13.30 Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool, Premier League, Sky Sports 1 / HD1 / 3D

Both clubs have been talking a good game of late but need to live up to their billing. Saying that, this has all the ingredients to be an open attacking game of football with lots of shooting straight at the goalkeepers.

16.00 Manchester Utd v Chelsea, Premier League, Sky Sports 1 / HD1 / 3D

The Big One.The first real chance for City to demonstrate their credentials against a Chelsea team with tons of pedigree despite their misfiring striker. Lots of intrigue and, hopefully, lots of goals.

16.30 FC Schalke v Bayern Munich, Bundesliga, ESPN / ESPN HD

Manuel Neuer returns to Gelsenkirchen in what promises to be a toxic atmosphere at the Veltin's Arena. That is a mere side show, however, as free scoring Bayern Munich look to breach a better organised Schalke defence.

18.30 Levante v Real Madrid, La Liga, Sky Sports 1 / HD1

Real already have nine goals to their name in their first two games although they made hard work of Getafe last week. Levate are also unbeaten but have yet to notch up a W.

19.45 Napoli v AC Milan, Serie A, ESPN / ESPN HD

Napoli were well worth their Champions League point at City, as were Milan at Barcelona. With each passing season the dull, negative stereotypes that have afflicted Italian football since Sky bought the Premier League look increasingly daft.

20.00 Athletic Bilbao v Real Betis, La Liga, Sky Sports 1 / HD1

Marcelo Bielsa has yet to work his mojo at the Basque club who traditionally play a far more direct style of play than the former Chile coach's brand. Having said that, they managed their first win of the season against Slovan Bratislava in the Europa League. Betis have a 100% record in the league but that was against Granada and Mallorca, so they don't count.

Terry