Weekend TV Preview: 28 - 30 October

Friday 28 October

19.45 League of Ireland Season End, Premier Sports

The Airtricity League finsihes with a whimper rather than a bang. Shamrock were crowned Champions on Tuesday while Sligo and Derry are secure in their Europa League positions. At the foot of the table, Galway were secured in the relegation play-off spot a long time ago with just one win all season - Rogue Trader, Nick Leeson stepped down as Chief Executive of the club in February, but is still on the board.

Saturday 29 October

12.00 Aberdeen v Rangers, SPL, ESPN/ESPN HD

Back to back games against the Old Firm look like halting Aberdeen's turnaround in form. With Rangers still unbeaten and nine points clear already, the mid-table Dons will be more than happy with a point.

12.00 League Cup Quarter Final Draw, Sky Sports 1/HD1

The final eight of the Premier League's top reserve team competition.

12.45 Chelsea v Arsenal, Premier League, Sky Sports 2/HD2/3D

There probably isn't a better time for Arsenal to go to Stamford Bridge. Both teams are suffering from a soured relationship between fans and those running the club. An Arsenal victory is still the most unlikely outcome here but a hard fought point against a side without Drogba or Bosingwa and a with a distracted John Terry should keep the fans happy and the good run continuing.

15.45 Aberystwyth Town v Bangor City, Welsh Premier League, S4C

Well you won't see this because you'll be at your nearest FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round fixture - won't you. Won't you.

17.20 Burnley v Blackpool, Championship, Sky Sports 2/HD2

A very tempting offer from the Championship with two teams that really need a good run. Blackpool have only won once away from home in 2011 (a win at Hull on the opening day of this season) but Eddie Howe's side prerformances have lacked the consistency so far.

17.30 West Brom v Liverpool, Premier League, ESPN/ESPN HD

And talking of inconsistency, here comes Liverpool! Their results are coming in pairs of late: two wins, followed by two defeats, followed by two wins, followed by two draws. Two Chris Brunt penalties sealed the points for the home team, when they met here in March - to Roy Hodgson's delight. Here's hoping for some more Karma to come down.

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

Third plays 13th. The Balearic side snatched a rare point here last season but it's been two and half years since Barcelona dropped points in consecutive home games. Watch the first half then switch over to...

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

The Derby D'Italia and a chance for Claudio Ranieri to put one over one of his former employers. Juve are top but haven't looked convincing in their three away fixtures this season. Despite Inter's woeful start, I fancy them in this one.

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

Madrid get the chance to go top, until of course unbeaten Lavente look to stretch their run of seven straight wins away to Osasuna tomorrow - a match Sky have decided not to cover.

21.00 Santos v Atletico PR, Serie A, Premier Sports

Just seven games to go in Brazil Santos are mid-table holding their Copa Sudamerica qualifying spot by just one point. Atletico meanwhile are in the relegation zone and it will need more than their recent improvement in home form for the 2001 Champions to continue their 15 season run in the top flight.

Sunday 30 October

11.30 Siena v Chievo, Serie A, ESPN/ESPN HD

Siena's return to the top flight is getting into its stride while Chievo's promising start has began to falter. Perfect opportunity for the Tuscan side to register three Serie A home win in a row for just the second time ever.

13.15 Leeds United v Cardiff City, Championship, Sky Sports 1/HD1

Two teams separated by four places but just one point, such is life in the Championship. Cardiff have been a real bogey team for Leeds and have won the last six encounters. In fact, the last time Leeds beat Cardiff was 1957.

13.30 FA Cup 1st Round Draw, FA Cup, ITV1/ITV1 HD

32 non-league teams join the 48 sides from League One and League Two. Bring it on!

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

Who can say which Koln side will turn up for this one. The home side have one of the worst defensive records in the Bundesliga while new boys Augsburg have only managed 8 goals so far; a case of the resistable force meeting the moveable object. To be fair, Augsburg are just about finding their feet - a great achievement considering this young side (they were only formed in 1969) almost went bust in the Regional Leagues in 2000.

16.00 Tottenham Hotspur v QPR, Premier League, Sky Sports 1/HD1/3D

QPR may have used up all their luck last week; even with a two man advantage they made heavy work of beating their local rivals Chelsea at home. Should be straightforward home win for Spurs, you feel.

16.30 SV Hamburg v FC Kaiserslautern, Bundesliga, ESPN/ESPN HD

You can't help but feel one of these sides will have to go back to square one after this game - both have just started get results after a torrid start to the season.

19.00 Atletico Madrid v Zaragoza, La Liga, Sky Sports 1/HD1

And so the weekend finishes up, as usual, with a couple of Spanish games. Maybe this is all part of some grand plan - associate Spanish football with the dread and loathing of Sunday night TV. That gut emptying feeling you used to get watching That's Life or the Antiques Roadshow, knowing that you'd have to go to work/school the next day. Nothing amazing on offer here.

21.00 Malaga v Espanyol, La Liga, Sky Sports 1/HD1

7th plays 6th. Espanyol are on a roll, while Malaga have run out of toilet roll.

Graham