Hello! It’s that time of the week again where we look at what football will be on your tellybox. The Champions League is back which also means Europa League Thursday plus Man Utd vs Liverpool at the weekend. Tasty. Let’s have a full run down
Tuesday 6th March
Two Champions League games to look forward to is always a good thing, but Liverpool hold a 5-0 advantage ahead of their home match with Porto. If that one is all but over, it’s all to play for in Paris as Real Madrid hold a 3-1 lead as they take on PSG. Neymar has been ruled out which might not help PSG’s chances of overturning that deficit but both sides have plenty of riches so it’ll be an interesting night. BT Sport have both games at 7.45pm. The best Sky can offer is at the very other end of the spectrum, as Shrewsbury battle Yeovil in the Checkatrade trophy semi-final. Contrasts.
Wednesday 7th March
More Champions League action, though again one is pretty much done. Man City vs Basel will be nothing but an exhibition in building Gabriel Jesus’ match fitness, with the English side holding a 4-0 advantage heading into the second leg. That should mean more eyes than usual are pointed at Tottenham vs Juventus, evenly poised at 2-2 after a gripping first leg in Turin. Again both matches are on BT at 7.45pm. Sky have a bonus match for you, from the Championship, as Leeds battle Wolves at Elland Road. Leeds are always on TV, but I don’t think they ever win. How will they get on against top of the table?
Thursday 8th March
EUROPA LEAGUE! Oh how I’ve missed you…for two weeks. Arsenal, as usual, have been given the tough draw as they face Milan. The first leg is in Milan and is a 6pm kick off on BT. The pick of the 8pm games is probably Marseille vs Atheltic Bilbao. If you’re a fan of former England internationals being in jobs they probably don’t deserve, at midnight you can watch Phil Neville’s England Women face the USA Women’s team on BBC2.
Friday 9th March
There’s a disappointing lack of Championship action but that’s because Sky are painting this as “rivals weekend” or some rubbish so we’ve got the Edinburgh derby between Hibs and Hearts instead. That’s a 7.45pm kick off. The alternatives aren’t great but Roma vs Torino on BT Sport is probably as good as you’re going to get. That’s also at 7.45pm.
Saturday 10th March
Saturday is packed with action, just as we like it. As mentioned during Friday’s summary, Sky are running this whole rivals thing so Man Utd vs Liverpool at 12.30pm is as good a way as any to kick off your Saturday. You can start at midday with Eibar vs Real Madrid but that is presumably a separate promotion. The rivalries continue with Aston Villa vs Wolves, a Birmingham derby at 5.30pm. I bet Midlands police are delighted with that. That’s Sky’s Championship pick, whereas BT have opted for Crystal Palace’s trip to Chelsea at the same time. Two big events in the evening for you – Barcelona’s trip to Malaga is on Sky at 7.45pm, but also the return of the MLS as Chicago Fire host Sporting Kansas at 11pm. That’s some good times.
Sunday 11th March
I think you could actually watch football all day on Sunday if you wanted to. It all starts at 11am with Espanyol vs Real Sociedad. Work with me here. If Spain isn’t for you, BT can offer you Serie A at 11.30am in the form of Fiorentina vs Benevento. But they are both just warm up matches for the Old Firm at midday, Rangers vs Celtic might not be as high profile as it once was but it still matters just as much. Presumably ‘rivals weekend’ doesn’t spill over to Super Sunday, as Arsenal vs Watford and Bournemouth vs Tottenham at 1.30pm and 4pm respectively aren’t exactly mortal enemies. Instead, Sky have Championship action running at 2.30pm to stick with the theme in the form of Nottingham Forest vs Derby County. Those guys do not like each other. As you’d expect, all the other major European teams are in action. In Italy, over on BT Sport, you can enjoy Juventus vs Udinese (2pm), Genoa vs AC Milan (5pm) and Inter Milan vs Napoli (7.45pm). Sky have your La Liga games, including Atletico Madrid vs Celta Vigo (3.15pm) and Las Palmas vs Villarreal (5.30pm). They also have an MLS double header featuring Atlanta United vs DC United (7pm) and then New York City vs LA Galaxy at 9pm.
Monday 12th March
Monday night football! Stoke vs Man City is a lopsided affair but Pep’s men are usually a good watch regardless of the result, whereas Stoke are battling for every point they can get. Besides, Alaves vs Real Betis is the alternative from La Liga (also at 8pm) so it’s all eyes on the Brittania (or whatever it’s called now).
It’s a good week ahead and, more importantly, there’s a game on every night. Enjoy it and I’ll see you back here next week for more. Toodles!