Hello hello. We’re through yet another week and I’m back to bring you the football on TV for the week ahead. As we approach the end of February, we’ve got more Champions League and lovely Europa League backed up by the Carabao Cup final, but we’ve been denied Monday Night football. It’s a stonker of a week. Let me tell you why…
Tuesday 20th February
If you’re of the opinion that the Premier League is the best in the world, I’d like you to watch Chelsea vs Barcelona in the Champions League on BT Sport. It’s always fascinating to see how the English clubs tackle the obviously-better-at-football Barcelona so the latest chapter in that particular skirmish is at 7.45pm. Bayern Munich are also in action at home to Besiktas but that is very much my second choice of viewing.
Wednesday 21st February
Football with your tea? That dream can be a reality if you want to watch Leganes vs Real Madrid at 7.45pm on Sky Sports. Into the evening and the Champions League is here again, namely Sevilla vs Man Utd but also Shakhtar Donetsk against Roma. Two pretty meaty clashes which will make fine Wednesday viewing. There is also a Championship alternative from Sky – high flying Derby face Leeds, who would like to be high flying but will just keep hiring new managers until they are.
Thursday 22nd February
EUROPA LEAGUE DAY. I admit I seem to be in the minority by actually liking the Europa League but as we’ve seen through the winter months, what else are you going to watch on a Thursday? The first match is at 4pm as Nice take the trip to Lokomotiv Moscow. A light starter. 6pm is where you’ll find a lot of matches, including Celtic’s trip to Zenit St Petersburg defending a one goal advantage. Red Bull Leipzig’s return match against Napoli is also at 6, after they surprisingly won 3-1 in Naples last Thursday. It’s 8.05pm for Arsenal’s home game with Ostersund, but that is all but done. Atalanta vs Borussia Dortmund finished 3-2 to the German side last week and might be a good watch for the neutrals.
Friday 23rd February
Friday’s Championship game has become key viewing in my house, so Hull vs Sheffield United is a game I have high hopes for. It’s a Yorkshire derby, I suppose, but then just about every game in the Championship is. There’s not loads on offer on Friday, the best alternative probably comes in the form of Deportivo against Espanyol, whereas BT have Strasbourg vs Montpellier at 7.45pm.
Saturday 24th February
There’s a lot on offer on Saturday but that doesn’t mean it’s all high quality. The A League is on at 8.50am and 11am on BT Sport if you’re up early and in the mood for football, but the first major European League to show it’s hand is Spain, with Celta Vigo against Eibar a 12pm kick off. The early Premier League game comes half an hour later as Leicester face Stoke. Quota filler anyone? It’s probably a bigger game for Stoke than it is Leicester, with the Foxes entrenched in a safe position behind the European places but in no danger of being relegated. It is however better than Kilmarnock vs Hibernian, which is also on Sky at the same time. BT’s lunch time kick off is from the FA Women’s Super League where Man City face Chelsea. After the 3pm’s are out of the way, BT’s 5.30pm is Watford vs Everton. My theory for this is that the TV companies opted to fill a quota rather than risk picking one of the Carabao Cup finalists and therefore having a blank weekend. I might be wrong. Either way, it’s not a great game but I’ll probably watch it anyway. Sky’s Championship offering is actually more appetising – Fulham vs Wolves. Fulham are an exciting team with the likes of Ryan Sessegnon and Wolves are just a dominant force destined for the Premier League. Into the evening and it’s Barcelona vs Girona. I expect Barcelona will win but it’ll be a pleasure to watch. That’s at 7.45pm, as is Inter Milan vs Benevento on BT Sport 2.
Sunday 25th February
Now, this is a day. Villarreal vs Getafe can start you off at 11am if that’s the way you like to start your Sunday, or Ajax vs Den Haag at 11.30am. Both fine options, but they are a mere warm up. 12pm on BritAsia TV is Pune City vs Goa in Indian Super League action. No? 1.30pm you have a choice of Aberdeen vs Celtic or Feyenoord vs PSV. That’s a pair of huge games in their respective leagues. All of that is on the back burner though as there’s a triple header from the Premier League/Carabao Cup. Rochdale’s late equaliser against Spurs has denied us Monday night football but provided us a 12pm Sunday game in the shape of Crystal Palace against Spurs. That’s big but not quite as big as Man Utd vs Chelsea, who meet in the Premier League at 2.05pm. Yes please! Mourinho and Conte will hopefully batter each other and then the games can begin for real. That leads us into Arsenal vs Man City in the Carabao Cup final, which doesn’t really need me to big up. There’s a trophy on the line and who knows? It could be Wenger’s last final. Into the evening and Juventus face Atalanta at 5pm on BT which is followed by another big game, this time from France, as PSG face Marseille. It’s also about time I mentioned FreeSports, who have Portimonense against Porto at 8.15pm.
Monday 26th February
Three leagues in action across Europe, with Sky’s best offering being Levante against Real Betis from La Liga at 8pm. This is Rochdale’s fault. BT can offer you Borussia Dortmund against Augsburg at 7.30pm, or if you can wait quarter of an hour there’s Cagliari vs Napoli. FOOTBALL!
There’s loads to get stuck into across the week, there really is something for everyone. Enjoy it and I’ll see you next week