Weekend Boxset: Fall back

By Graham Sibley October 25, 2024

Weekend Boxset: Fall back

Another big test for Arne Slot's Liverpool as they go to a shaky looking Arsenal.

Seven great matches to take you from Friday to Sunday. It’s the Sound of Football Weekend Boxset.

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All times are UK

Friday

UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 play-off 1st leg: Hungary v Scotland

17.15 on BBC Alba & iPlayer
The Women’s Nations League provided the format for the first stage of qualification for next summer’s Euros in Switzerland. From that, the eight top teams from League A (including England) secured their places along with the hosts, leaving 28 teams to battle in two rounds of play-offs for the seven remaining places. As an unbeaten League B group winner, Scotland (like Wales) are seeded and face a Hungary side that won just two of their six League B games. Should they win over the two legs - and with players like Bayern’s Samantha Kerr, Real’s Caz Wier and Chelsea’s Erin Cuthbert, they aren’t short of match winners - they will then face the less straightforward task of beating Finland in the second round. The Finns only won one of the League A games but that was against the eventual group winners, Italy. They just need to better 88th ranked Montenegro in their play-off. The iPlayer also has coverage of the other home nations in play-off action: Wales are an earlier kick off (16.30) away to Slovakia (also on BBC Wales, the winners likely to go on to face the Republic of Ireland); Northern Ireland are in Croatia (kick off 18.00, the winners going on to almost certainly face Norway). Their home legs are on Tuesday, with the next round of play-offs starting at the end of November. GS

Saturday

Championship: Coventry City v Luton Town

12.30 on Sky Sports Football
We’re now a quarter of the way into the season, and it’s fair to say that it’s been a rough one for the two sides who contested the 2023 play-off final: both finding themselves in the lower reaches of the table struggling to find any form. It took sudden-death penalties to send Luton into the Premier League on that day at Wembley and they made a decent fist of staying in the top flight, and while Coventry missed out on another run in the play-offs the following season, they did return to Wembley for the FA Cup semi-final. All of which suggested that both sides would be competing this campaign. While both teams have shown glimpses of what their fans have come to expect - both have had impressive 3-0 wins this month, Luton against Watford and Coventry against Blackburn - those results have been their only wins this month. For Rob Edwards’ Luton, it’s a mounting injury crisis that has been the cause of their poor start. They went into this week’s home defeat to Sunderland missing five first team defenders. For Mark Robins’ Coventry, poor starts are more of a norm. Despite the runs to Wembley, both of their last two seasons had slow starts. In the season they made it to the play-offs, they were bottom of the table at this stage. Last season, it was Christmas before they made it into the top half. This is therefore a game that both sides will believe they can win, and push on to a better season ahead. Given the pressure on both managers, expect more tension than you’d usually expect at this stage of a Championship season. GS

Premier League: Everton v Fulham

17.30 on Sky Sports Premier League, Main Event & Ultra
It’s fair to say that Marco Silva has done all right for himself after being fired by Everton in late 2019 - taking Fulham out of the Championship may have been expected but keeping them in the top flight for the first time in decade was less so. At the time of his departure from Everton, the club’s new owner had spent a lot of money, and they were a side with expectations to be challenging for Europe, but for the last three seasons now they’ve been a side that can’t get past 40 points (though last season’s tally was reduced by a PSR points deduction). Sean Dyche’s side appear to have put their season’s poor start behind them and are now on a run of four unbeaten. Fulham have lost their last two but those were against City and Villa so it’s unlikely they’ll go into this feeling like they can’t get something, especially since Silva hasn’t lost against the Toffee’s since leaving Goodison. If that run is broken here, could we be looking at Everton as outsiders to grab the Conference League place? Further PSR deductions notwithstanding, obviously. GS

La Liga: Real Madrid v Barcelona

20.00 on Premier Sports 1 and LaLigaTV
As I write this, I’m still digesting the epic encounters both of these sides overcame in the midweek Champions League fixtures. The manner of each victory was equally impressive as La Liga’s top two swept aside both Bayern and Dortmund in emphatic fashion. Tonight’s hosts seemed unphased by the two-goal deficit against BVB who, at the hour mark, looked like they might well leave Madrid with a famous victory. The Catalans, pegged back to 1-1 by a glorious Harry Kane strike by twenty minutes, also looked like they had their work cut out. The rest, as they say, is history: Brazilians Vini Jr and Raphinha bagged a hat-trick each as their respective sides swept away any resistance. On the domestic front, Barça lead the pack with ten games gone, having scored a bucket full of goals en route. Three points behind are Real, who will equal the Catalan’s forty-three game unbeaten La Liga record by avoiding defeat tonight. Of course, we all hope that the gladiators from mid-week will have recovered enough to keep us all entertained tonight in this, Hansi Flick’s first El Clásico. There is a feeling that Flick, the first “outsider” for some time to lead the Catalans, isn’t encumbered by the weight of expectation nor the much publicised financial woes. His side are playing with a freedom not seen for some time, which will be a real headache for Ancelotti. Finally, in an actual “the game’s gone” moment, the popular beat combo, Coldplay, will have a representation of their latest LP emblazoned across the once hallowed Barcelona shirt - sickening. JB

Sunday

Premier League: Chelsea v Newcastle United

14.00 on Sky Sports Premier League, Main Event & Ultra
Putting aside the disappointment of Chelsea’s 2-1 loss at Liverpool, the West London club can be pleased with their steady start to the season. Credit is due to their forward line, notably Nicolas Jackson who has responded to his critics with five goals. Most recent arrival, Jadon Sancho, has slotted in behind the front striker alongside Noni Madueke and, of course, Cole “Cold” Palmer. The 22-year-old Englishman has six goals and five assists and must surely be a central component of not just Enzo Maresca’s plans but Thomas Tuchel’s as well. However, Chelsea’s weightier concerns are further back the pitch. Time was that Chelsea’s defence was the very definition of frugality, but Maresca’s team have already conceded 10 goals this season . Fortunately, Wesley Fofana and Marc Cucurella are back from suspensions, and it was good to see club captain Reese James playing an hour against Liverpool after a lengthy lay-off. Up in the North East the Dirty Mags have their own issues. There are high politics at executive level and the team are not where most people anticipated they would be – challenging for honours. Last Saturday’s defeat at home to Brighton was their fourth league game without a win (although one of those was a draw with Manchester City). However, there is a feeling that manager Eddie Howe’s position is vulnerable now that former shareholders Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi have left the club. A first win at the Bridge since 2012 would certainly help restore confidence in more ways than one. TD

Premier League: Arsenal v Liverpool

16.30 on Sky Sports Premier League, Main Event & Ultra
After their win against Chelsea, last weekend, Arne Slot’s side have another opportunity show they have what it takes to compete this season. Their task this week is to overcome an Arsenal side that looks vulnerable. Last weekend’s defeat at Bournemouth cannot solely be blamed on the first half red card for Saliba. For a while now this season, Arteta’s side have struggled to take advantage of their dominance in games. They controlled their midweek Champions League tie against a spirited but considerably weaker Shaktar side, but failed to create the chances needed to put the game away, and in the end were fortunate to take all three points. Without their injured captain Martin Odergaard the side lacks imagination, and without Saka they lack danger. Arteta certainly has the talent available to cover for these two, but it seems that without these talismanic players there’s that little bit of magic missing. It’s been reported that Saka will be available to start this game but with their best defender William Saliba suspended you can only see another uneasy afternoon ahead for the Gunners. Given the form both sides are in, you’d have to say the visitors have the advantage and the means to exploit it. GS

Serie A: Fiorentina v Roma

19.45 on TNT Sports 1 and OneFootball
A Florentine renaissance appears to be in full swing. Following a prolonged period of relative mediocrity, Fiorentina have enjoyed interesting times since being purchased by billionaire media mogul Rocco B Commisso in 2019. La Viola are regular qualifiers for UEFA competition and are two time losing finalists of the Conference League. After a great transfer window, the club sit fifth in the Serie A table. David de Gea ended his post-Man United sabbatical and joined full back Robin Gosens plus forwards Moise Kean and Albert Gudmundsson, the latter being injured for this game. Gosens was a goal scoring sub in the 4-2 win at St Gallen on Thursday. Coach Raffaele Palladino utilised a low block with a rapid counterattack for much of that game which is a tactic he is likely to repeat at the Olympic stadium against a Roma side who are still in crisis and anxious to appease their disgruntled supporters. You’ll be aware that club legend Daniele De Rossi was fired after four games in September having only taken over as coach last season and taken the club to the Europa League semi-final and a sixth placed finish. The decision so enraged the fans that CEO Lina Souloukou resigned following security concerns. New coach Ivan Juric won their first game 3-0 against Udinese immediately afterwards but a draw against Monza and defeat to Inter have had him accusing the players of lacking a winning mentality. German international defender and Borussia Dortmund departee Mats Hummels joined Roma in September and is now finally fit after having no pre-season. There at least is a player whose mentality cannot be questioned. TD

Whatever you watch, have a great weekend.

Graham, Terry and Jan