Weekend TV Preview: 4 - 6 November

Thursday 3 November

00.30 (Friday) Houston Dynamo v Philadelphia Union, MLS, ESPN/ESPN HD

The teams that finished second and third in the Eastern Conference meet up in the second leg of this semi-final. Dominic Kinnear's Dynamoes lead 2-1 from the first leg. The winners on aggregate play Sporting Kansas City in the Conference Final.

03.00 (Friday) LA Galaxy v New York Red Bulls, MLS, ESPN/ESPN HD

As far as play-off games are concerned, LA have by far the better track record and that was certainly shown in the first leg which Houston won 1-0. The winners of this tie play Real Salt Lake in the Conference Final.

Saturday 5 November

12.45 Newcastle United v Everton, Premier League, Sky Sports 2/HD2

Just the one league win in the last five for David Moyes' men. Not the sort of form to take to St James' Park when their opponents know no fear and are unbeaten at home since March of this year.

15.45 The New Saints v Llanelli AFC, Welsh Premier League, S4C

We may have gently mocked these Welsh fixtures in the past, but you really should seek out S4C's live coverage on a Saturday afternoon. As well as seeing some decent football, you can also keep one eye on the videprinter at the bottom of the screen showing the latest scores across the UK. Stick that, Jeff Stelling...

17.20 Middlesbrough v Watford, Championship, Sky Sports 2/HD2

Watford's impressive 1-0 win over Brighton during the week is exactly the morale booster they need to maintain their upward movement away from the relegation zone. Middlesbrough will be just as tough to beat, but they're inconsistent at the moment. Where there's life, etc...

17.30 QPR v Man City, Premier League, ESPN/ESPN HD

If it's early evening fireworks you're after [Bonfire Night joke - tick], look no further than Loftus Road where City will be looking to maintain their extraordinary record of scoring almost four goals per game since the start of October. Yes, goals galore AND Joey Barton lashing out at an international superstar player. Don't say this isn't what you wanted the Premier League to be when it started all those years ago.

19.00 Real Betis v Malaga, La Liga, Sky Sports 1/HD1

Six straight defeats in their last six games - that's all you need to know about Betis. Even bottom-of-the-table Getafe have beaten them. Malaga haven't been in the best of form recently, but frankly an away win is as inevitable as Steve Claridge uttering the phrase "And I'll tell you something else..."

21.00 Levante v Valencia, La Liga, Sky Sports 1/HD1

The dream may not yet be over for brave Levante. An impressive spell at the Spanish summit was brought to an end last week by Barcedrid, but a win against 4th-placed Valencia will be just the tonic to open up a five-point gap over them and stay in the title hunt.

Sunday 6 November

11.00 Real Madrid v Osasuna, La Liga, Sky Sports 1/HD1

Gah, spoil-sports. Why did you have to go and knock Levante off the top of the table, eh Real? Why don't you pick on someone your own size? Ah - you're playing Barca in December, right-ho...

12.00 Motherwell v Celtic, SPL, ESPN/ESPN HD

'Well are doing well to be above Celtic in the SPL table after 13 matches, but Neil Lennon's side have a game in hand and will go above their opponents if they win this one. Defeat at Fir Park, meanwhile, might convince the Celtic boss to try his luck at Leicester City.

13.30 Wolves v Wigan Athletic, Premier League, Sky Sports 1/HD1

Wolves' last league win was on August 21st, Wigan's was on August 27th. And you wonder why this isn't being shown in 3D?

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

It's vital after someone's had minor heart surgery for them to relax and avoid stress. Just as well Harry Redknapp's side travel to Craven Cottage for what has been in recent years a comfortable fixture for Tottenham.

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

Excuse us for a moment while we look up the word 'carnage' in German...

19.00 Athletic Bilbao v Barcelona, La Liga, Sky Sports 1/HD1

Top of their Europa League group and unbeaten in eight, Bilbao are betraying the supposed crisis they experienced early doors under Marcelo Bielsa. Sadly they might have to write this one off as a defeat given they've only beaten Barcelona twice in the last 10 years.

19.45 Napoli v Juventus, Serie A, ESPN/ESPN HD

Juve have the only remaining unbeaten record in Serie A but they'll do well to retain it against a Napoli side that have been more than a match for The Old Lady in the not-too-distant past.

21.00 Getafe v Atletico Madrid, La Liga, Sky Sports 1/HD1

Getafe are rock bottom with just one win in their ten games thus far. An Atleti side that's been poor of late may give them a small hope of racing up the table should they double their win total.

Chris O