Get the Weekend Boxset in an email every week

Two rounds of Championship fixtures this weekend could see the end the race for automatic promotion.

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

Get the Weekend Boxset in an email every week

Head over to Substack to get this newsletter in your inbox every week.
https://soundoffootball.substack.com/

Share this with someone on WhatsApp

All times are UK

Good Friday

Championship: Derby County v Leeds United

12.30 on Sky Sports Football, Main Event & Ultra
When the sides met at Kenilworth Road just before Christmas, two very late goals allowed Luton to turn the match around and snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Even though the club was in the bottom half of the table, few Hatters fans would have predicted that win was to be Rob Edwards’ last as their manager; and that the club would have to wait until March for their next three points. Luton are trying to avoid joining an exclusive group of clubs - Swindon, Wolves and Sunderland - clubs that have gone from the Premier League to League One in back-to-back relegations. They currently sit three points below the dotted line, with Derby the team in their sights. Derby, like Luton, replaced their manager in the new year but the bounce enjoyed after appointing John Eustace looks to have been short-lived. For Luton, defeat would leave them at least five points from safety with just three games to play and a very tough run-in. Their remaining fixtures are all against sides that are fighting for the final two play-off places: Bristol City, Coventry and West Brom. Derby’s run-in includes sides that are still technically in the relegation fight, Hull and Stoke, but they could both be clear by the time the Rams face them. GS

Saturday

A-League: Western Sydney Wanderers v Melbourne City

10.35 on TNT Sports 4
The final weeks of the A-League promises are worth tuning in for, as very few matches don’t matter at this stage. In a small division, the finals series at least keeps things interesting to the end, especially when you have a season where the chasing pack all have their weaknesses. Melbourne City perhaps have done better than others, simply by virtue of consistency. That they’re still in with a shot of topping the regular season is testament to coach Aurelio Vidmar’s very unfussy but effective tactics. Players with potential such as Max Caputo have blossomed while experienced pros like Aziz Behich have added solidity that was missing last season. By the time we kick off in Parramatta, the picture will be clearer for both sides, with Melbourne Victory taking on league leaders Auckland a couple of hours beforehand. Both Wanderers and Victory still have hopes of landing a runners up spot and the finals advantage that bestows. Wins for both sides drastically alters the finals race, but if both Melbourne sides win, then it’s City who’ll be within touching distance of reeling in Auckland for the Premier’s Plate. Given City tend to be quietly effective and Wanderers can be explosive on their day, this is both a fascinating clash of styles and a finals six pointer. GA

Scottish Cup semi-final: Heart of Midlothian v Aberdeen

12.30 on BBC One Scotland & iPlayer and Premier Sports 2
Two sides return to Hampden a year after losing in last season’s semi-finals, and with both looking to salvage something from forgettable campaigns. Hearts had a terrible start to this season, including a run of eight straight defeats in all competitions which saw Steven Naismith sacked in September. New manager Michael Critchley looked to have done enough to get his side into the top half of the table at the split, last weekend, but took just one point from their last three games. Aberdeen’s season has has seen an even starker reversal of form: starting the season winning ten of their first eleven league games but followed that with a club record 14 league games without a win. Even with that poor run, the club kept faith with manager Jimmy Thelin, who only took charge of the club in the summer. History is against the Dons who have lost eight of their last nine semi-finals in this competition. The other semi-final, St Johnstone v Celtic, is on Sunday, kick-off at 15.00 on Premier Sports 1. GS

Premier League: Aston Villa v Newcastle United

17.30 on Sky Sports Premier League, Main Event & Ultra
Champions League qualification is one of the few remaining pathways yet to be fully laid out as we approach the end of the Premier League season. This match could be a key indicator as to the direction of travel. Villa’s Champions League on Tuesday exit, while disappointing, had a silver lining. Their second leg performance and win over an impressive PSG side demonstrated that Unai Emery’s team have the right to sit at the European high table. They just need to get there. Unlike their opponents they have a little bit extra on their plate in the shape of an FA Cup Semi Final next weekend. But there is enough strength in depth to fight on two fronts for a few more weeks. Sitting in eighth place and only a point behind City in fifth, they are well placed to finish in the top five but there are a lot of contenders so they can’t really afford to drop points. Newcastle are in a different place. Third in the table after a run of four wins since their EFL Cup win. They were rampant against Man United last week and were beneficiaries of a generous Crystal Palace side yesterday. Rather than suffer a hangover from their landmark trophy win the team seem elevated by their achievement and there is a scenario whereby they may even finish second. Not even the absence of the head coach has fazed them. Assistant coach Jason Tindall will continue to stand in for Eddie Howe who is still undergoing treatment for pneumonia. Their record at Villa Park is not great but they did win 3-1 in the last fixture in that ground. Prior to that’s four defeats in four in the second city. TD

Easter Sunday

UEFA Women’s Champions League semi-final 1st leg: Barcelona v Chelsea

17.00 on TNT Sports 2 and DAZN
While Chelsea have been the dominant force in women’s football in England over recent years, the biggest prize still alludes them. It seems that if Chelsea are to ever win the Champions League, they’re going to have to find some way of beating Barcelona. The sides meet at this stage of the competition for a third season in a row. In 2023 Barcelona went through 2-1 on aggregate, and did so again the following year despite losing the first leg at the Camp Nou. The weight of recent history in this tie may sit heavy on longer-serving members of the Chelsea team, but not so much on their manager. In her first season as Lyon head coach, in 2022, Sonia Bompastor, won the Champions League against Barcelona in Turin. The Blaugrana have since gone on to win the competition for the last two seasons with a side whose core is that of the World Champions Spain: double Ballon D’or winners Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putellas, as well some of the most dangerous attackers in the world. Chelsea of course have invested hugely over the last 18 months, breaking transfer records to sign Mayra Ramirez, Keira Walsh (from Barcelona) and Naomi Girma. Will it be enough to tip the balance of the tie in their favour, and reach next month’s final in Lisbon? The return leg is next Sunday. The other semi-final is Arsenal v Lyon, which you can watch on Saturday on TNT Sports 1, kick-off 12.30. GS

Serie A: Milan v Atalanta

19.30 on TNT Sports 1 and OneFootball
A month ago, when the title race had three contenders, it was fun to imagine that Atalanta could overhaul both Napoli and Inter to claim their first ever Scudetto. Of course it wasn’t to be, and a run of three straight defeats have left La Dea out of the running and looking over their shoulder at sides chasing a place in next season’s Champions League. Milan are not one of those sides. In reality, Atalanta’s drop-off started before those three defeats; they’ve not had back-to-back wins in the league since Christmas, but one of the best things about this campaign has been that no team has been allowed to dominate the league for long. Even Milan are in reach of the Conference League place and they’ve been bang-average all season. The Rossoneri can of course upgrade to a Europa League place if they win the Coppa Italia. That could mean they go into this one with one eye on Wednesday’s “away” semi-final second leg against Inter, which stands at 1-1. GS

Monday

Championship: Burnley v Sheffield United

20.00 on ITV1, STV, ITVX and Sky Sports Football, Main Event & Ultra
What a difference a week makes. From starting the month top of the table, three straight defeats have completely derailed Sheffield United’s push for promotion. As it now stands, should Burnley beat Watford on Good Friday, they will be promoted back to the Premier League with a win here (they may only need a draw if the Blades fail to beat Cardiff). For Scott Parker it will be a third promotion from the Championship with a third club. His Burnley side have a record 29 clean sheets this season and are unbeaten since November, but that may not count for much come August. Given though how the teams coming up from the Championship have fared over the past two seasons, the question remains: what can he do differently this time? Parker didn’t even survive the first month in the Premier League when he was in charge of Bournemouth. In that time the Cherries let in 16 goals, three more than Burnley have conceded in this entire season. Maybe United aren’t going to be missing out after all. GS


Whatever you watch, have a great weekend.

Graham, Terry and Gary