Monday, April 12, 2010

Midweek TV Preview: 12 - 15 April 2010

Monday 12 April

19.45 Swindon Town v Exeter City, League One, Sky Sports 1/HD1
Swindon are currently in the box seat to join Norwich for automatic promotion from League 1. Still six games to go though and they're under huge pressure from Millwall and Charlton (but not from Leeds). Exeter's precarious position near the relegation zone could be made a little easier if Hartlepool are deducted points for fielding an ineligible player.

Tuesday 13 April

19.00 Real Valladolid v Sevilla, La Liga, Sky Sports 2/HD2
The start of a La Liga-fest with half of the full midweek card being shown live on Sky. Sevilla are back on winning ways in time for the run-in for fourth place. Valladolid are stuck in the relegation zone having won just two home games all season.

19.45 Celtic v Motherwell, SPL, Sky Sports 3/HD3
Defeat for Celtic would leave Rangers just three points away from the title and following Celtic's shock cup exit at the weekend Motherwell might fancy their chances

20.00 Chelsea v Bolton Wanderers, Premier League, ESPN/ESPN HD
Chelsea have the chance to go four points clear at the top against a side that has slipped back into the relegation battle after losing four or their last five. Bolton went down 4-0 here in the League Cup in October - expect a similar scoreline here.

21.00 Getafe v Villarreal, La Liga, Sky Sports 2/HD2
Mid-table tussle with two teams looking to sneak into the Europa League, which for Villareal would represent a huge turnaround (or highlight how weak La Liga truly is beyond the top two).

Wednesday 14 April

07.30 Changchun Yatai v Kashima Antlers, AFC Champions League Group F, British Eurosport 2
Strange choice of fixtures as this group is pretty much done and dusted. Antlers are already though while the Chinese hosts are already out. Dead rubber - very disappointing, Yoyosport!

11.00 Vissel Kobe v Urawa Reds, Japanese J League Cup Group B, British Eurosport 2
Magic of the Cup.
Hang on, they've got a group stage!
Crazy Japanese.


18.00 Willem II v Ajax, Dutch Eredivisie, ESPN
Just three games to go in the Eredivisie, but it looks increasingly unlikely that Ajax are going to close the four point gap at the top with Twente. Ajax are on an incredible 11 game winning streak, but Steve McLaren's men have only dropped five points themselves in that period.

19.45 Dundee United v Rangers, SPL, Sky Sports 3/HD3
The last game in SPL's regular season could be pivotal depending on the previous night's results. Rangers are just two wins away from the title while United know that victory against Celtic in the Clausura will make Champions League football a real possibility.

20.00 Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal, Premier League, Sky Sports 1/HD1
Running around Wembley for two hours only to be knocked out of the Cup is hardly the best preparation before you play the top three in succession. For Spurs to finish fourth will require a herculean effort and will require them to bury a lot of ghosts. This fixture has been extremely tight over recent years, while Arsenal fans will point that Spurs haven't beaten them in the League since 1999, the Gunners have only managed two wins here themselves in all that time.

21.00 Barcelona v Deportivo, La Liga, Sky Sports 2/HD2
Deportivo's melt-down continues. Barca can now cruise to the title following their win in the weekend's Clasico.

Thursday 15 April

19.00 Almeria v Real Madrid, La Liga, Sky Sports 2/HD2
Still seven games to go and just three points off the top, but you can't help but feel that Real always knew they'd be second place in the end. Another joyless victory for them here.

21.00 Valencia v Athletic Bilbao, La Liga, Sky Sports 2/HD2
Valencia have suffered a couple of defeats lately making their current third spot a bit less secure than they'd hope. Their home form is fine though - they've only conceded two goals here this year and will be looking to make up for the disappointment of their Europa League exit last week.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

"Swindon are under huge pressure (but not from Leeds)."

Is this the same Leeds who are a point above them in the table and who have won their last two games? Write the mighty white gods off at your peril.

Graham Sibley said...

Are these the same mighty white gods that got turned over 3-0 at home to Swindon just last weekend?

It's a shame they can't play teams in the relegation zone every week really.

Not really feeling the peril, to be honest.

Anonymous said...

Hey ! I`m from Norway, and just got to say: Thanks to teams like Leeds United, Spurs, Liverpool etc.. a lots of Norwegians love English football. But Swindon ????? Don`t make me laugh ! I`m confident Leeds will get automatic promotion.

Us foreigners still sees Leeds United as a team that belongs in the top divisjon. But Swindon ????

Dream on.

Graham Sibley said...

Jan Åge Fjørtoft seemed to like them

Anonymous said...

Another person with an irrational hatred of Leeds.
Get your facts right though, Swindon aren't in the box seat. They're 2 points and 2 places off Millwall.

Chris O said...

Leeds certainly aren't in the box seat. They *were* at the end of December when they were 11 points clear of Norwich at the top. Now they're nine points behind Norwich, hence Graham's original comment about not being under huge pressure from Leeds.

A comment which, if I may say, has been childishly inflated into a rather unnecessary argument. Let's move on now, shall we...?

Anonymous said...

childishly made in the first place but never mind...

Graham Sibley said...

Right ok - this is it...

I predict that Leeds will not achieve an automatic promotion spot. I think - and remember this is only my opinion - that Millwall and Swindon are better placed and to join Norwich.

This isn't because I don't like Leeds, it's simply because at the moment that's how I see things panning out.

But hey, I could be wrong - that's why they actually go through the bother of playing these games.

Anonymous said...

Graham, you really should not be barking about playing the teams near the bottom of the league BEFORE your result is in. You battered Exeter tonight 'at home' but only scored your equalizer at the death. You have been fortunate to play the White Gods at a time when we were well below par. Both teams playing each other at the top of the game, home or away, would only result in your boys taking a pasting.MOT

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