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Palace v Villa, Forest v City. Finally we'll get an answer to these important lifestyle choices.

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

Scottish Championship: Partick Thistle v Falkirk

19.45 on BBC Scotland & iPlayer
If, at the start of the month, things were looking sewn-up in the race for promotion in Scotland, the situation is looking far less certain now. Falkirk came up last season after an invincible campaign and looked to be cruising back to the top flight for the first time in 15 years. With four games remaining John McGlynn’s side had an eight point lead at the top of the table over Livingston, but having taking just a point from their last two games they still need four points to confirm automatic promotion (though a win here will probably be enough). Partick have also seen their own position of comfort eroded over that time. Their six point lead over Raith for the last play-off place has disappeared, and now only a slim goal difference advantage keeps above the dotted line. Not that the prospect of the play-offs are likely to excite many Partick fans. The Jags have been unsuccessful in the play-offs for the last three seasons, including the 2023 final spot-kick defeat to Ross County. Since the promotion play-off to Scotland’s top flight was re-introduced for the 2013/14 season only three Championship clubs have been successful in the two-legged final against the second worst team in the Premiership. GS

Saturday

Premier League: Chelsea v Everton

12.30 on TNT Sports 1 & Ultra
What would you do if you were Enzo Maresca? Would you go for the car? Push hard to secure a Champions League, and win the Conference League? And maybe leave something in the tank to go deep in the Club World Cup? For City and Chelsea, Gianni Infantino’s summer extravaganza can soften the blow of missing out on the Champions League, but being in both can solve a lot of PSR headaches without doing anything crazy like selling your women’s team to yourself. Oh yeah, they already did that. City’s last minute winner against Villa on Tuesday showed what their plan is, will Chelsea be as motivated? With their Conference League semi-final first leg in Stockholm coming up on Thursday, this match might give a hint to Maresca’s priorities. GS

FA Cup semi-final: Crystal Palace v Aston Villa

17.15 on BBC One & iPlayer
This is the kind of game that is played as much in the mind as it is on the pitch. On paper Villa are the stronger of the two. Unai Emery’s team are further up the table, have a deeper squad of players from which two draw. Villa are out of the Champions League but deserve great credit for their second leg win over PSG. Their excellent form in the Premier League was halted on Tuesday with a dramatic defeat to Manchester City who are recovering their penchant for late winners. That defeat for Villa does not rule out Champions League qualification but it does add even more significance to the FA Cup as they look to win their first trophy since 1996. Their opponents, on the other hand, will be reaching for the flip-flops if they don’t book their return to Wembley. Since the quarter final win against Fulham, Palace have won just once: the derby against Brighton. Shipping ten goals at City and Newcastle would have destroyed the confidence of Palace teams in the past but Oliver Glasner’s team are made of strong stuff and have no grounds to fear Villa. Their FA Cup winning credentials have been restored after a gutsy goalless draw against Bournemouth with just ten men and a rare point at the Emirates - Ebere Eze and JP Mateta demonstrated Palace’s attacking credentials in that match. Their capacity for opportunism and Palace’s recent good record against Villa (they have won three of their last four) will weigh heavily on the mind of Unai Emery. TD

Copa del Rey Final: Barcelona v Real Madrid

21.00 on Premier Sports 2
This is the eighth Clásico Copa del Rey final, and the first since 2014. Carlo Ancelotti was in charge for that final in his first spell in charge of Madrid, with Gareth Bale scoring a memorable winner at the Mastella. The Italian is almost certainly leaving in the summer but despite an early exit from the Champions League (by Madrid’s high standards) he can go out on high with a league and cup double before saying goodbye. Again. Form says this final should be packed with goals. Both teams got through their semi-finals with one leg finishing 4-4. The other meetings this season between the two giants have seen big wins for Barcelona. At the end of October, at the Bernabéu, second half goals from Lamine Yamal, Robert Lewandowski (2) and Raphina gave the Blaugrana a six point lead at the top of the table. That was followed in January, with a 5-2 win in the final of the Supercopa mini-tournament held in Saudi Arabia; which could have been more had Barcelona not been reduced to ten men before the hour mark when Wojciech Szczesny picked up a straight red. A turnaround in those results would not only tick off more silverware for Madrid but would set them up for when the sides will meet again in La Liga in two weeks’ time, for what looks to be Los Blanco’s last chance to close the gap in the league. Everything suggests another comfortable win for Barcelona, but Don Carlo may have the last word. GS

Sunday

A-League: Western United v Sydney

08.00 on TNT Sports 3
Very little was expected of the nomads of West Melbourne this season and yet John Aloisi’s team should be considered genuine title contenders. They’ve somewhat flown under the radar but sit only three points off Melbourne City in second. And yet, like everyone else bar Auckland in the top six, they’re not immune to a wobble and come into this match off the back of two straight losses. There’s no shame in losing to Western Sydney Wanderers, who are in superb form right now, but losing to potential wooden spooners Brisbane was not in the script. All of which makes for a fascinating match up at Ironbark. Sydney’s finals hopes are still alive after a thrilling comeback against Newcastle last weekend, but Ufuk Talay’s side generally have a habit of needing to concede a soft goal or two before they get started. Still, with golden boot contender Adrian Segecic in fine form and pushing for a move to Europe and Brazilian Douglas Costa tormenting defenders, there are goals in the side. There’s every possibility this would be a dress rehearsal for the finals if these two sides stay where they are, so don’t expect with Aloisi or Talay to approach this match with caution - there’s a psychological victory to be won here as well. GA

FA Cup semi-final: Nottingham Forest v Manchester City

16.30 on ITV1, STV and ITVX
Back in December 2023 with Forest staring relegation in the face, their desperate leadership reached out to an out-of-favour Portuguese coach to save them from a return to the Championship. Ultimately finishing just one place above the drop, Nuno and his charges set out on a new campaign for which most had already written them off as relegations certainties. This weekend, they go into their first FA Cup semi-final in thirty-four years and sit fourth in the Premiership on the brink of qualification to the Champions League. This achievement proves, if it was ever in doubt, that the blame for his brief and unsuccessful stint at Tottenham never sat with Nuno. Their road to the semis hasn’t been straightforward with Forest needing penalties to get through each of the last three rounds against Exeter, Ipswich and Brighton. Sounds draining, but should today’s game end up with spot-kicks needed to decide the outcome, Forest should be better prepared than their opponents. For City, today’s game represents their last remaining hope of a trophy after a disappointing season by their own stellar standards. They may be third, but eighteen points behind leaders, Liverpool, tells its own story. Their first meeting of the season against Forest was a 3-0 win in the middle of the barren run which came to define their campaign. Forest got their revenge in the reverse fixture in March, which, in a nice bit of football symmetry, was the last time City lost - funny old game! It’s a tough one to call with City in decent form and Forest losing twice in their last three. It could go the distance, so it’s Forest to win on penalties for me, Clive. JB

Alternative viewing: While the second leg of the Women’s Champions League semi-final between Chelsea and Barcelona looks a formality, the other tie, Lyon v Arsenal, is poised at 2-1 to the French champions after the first leg in London. Coverage of both games is on TNT Sports 3 and DAZN. Tune in from 14.00 if you want to see if Chelsea can overcome their 4-1 deficit against the current champions at Stamford Bridge. The game in Lyon starts at 17.00.

Serie A: Napoli v Torino

19.45 on TNT Sport and OneFootball
This could be A Very Good Week for Napoli. Level with points with Inter at the top of the table, Antonio Conte’s side have had a week’s rest, while Internazionale come into the weekend off the back of a humiliating midweek Coppa Italia derby defeat to Milan. So this could be the week that Napoli take charge of the Scudetto race, especially as Inter have a Champions League semi against Barcelona to prepare for and a tricky match up against Roma. Not that Torino will be pushovers. Paulo Vanoli’s side might be a little streaky but they’re also one of the division’s draw specialists, capable of frustrating opponents and grinding out results. Torino don’t win many on the road but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Conte more animated than usual on the touchline if scores remain goalless in the second half. There’s also added interest for any Scots watching this: Scott McTominay and Billy Gilmour have been mainstays of a very effective Napoli midfield while Torino’s top scorer is Che Adams. Say what you like about the strengths of Serie A but a good season for both these sides is good for Scotland. GA


Whatever you watch, have a great weekend.

Graham, Terry, Jan and Gary