Midweek TV Preview: 16 - 18 September

Monday 15 September

20.00 Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa, Premier League, Setanta Sports 1
Spurs' first win of the season isn't too far away. It might not be tonight though. Should be a good contest between two well-matched sides.

Tuesday 16 September

19.45 Chelsea v Bordeaux, UEFA Champions League Group A, ITV4
A first chance for most viewers to see Laurent Blanc's Bordeaux variety which is said to be entertaining and non-uncompromising-centre-half like. No doubt the pundits will predict a win for Chelsea and on this occasion they're probably right.

19.45 Roma v CFR Cluj-Napoca, UEFA Champions League Group A, Sky Sports Interactive
Having guided his team to their first ever appearance in the group stages, the Cluj head coach Ioan Andone was sacked after a poor start to the domestic season. This has angered the football gods who have decreed that Roma give them an utter pasting on Tuesday. It shall be so.

19.45 Panathinaikos v Inter Milan, UEFA Champions League Group B, Sky Sports Xtra & HD3
Its been an easy-ozy start to the the season for Inter and the Greeks will reckon Jose's fancy-dans won't like it up 'em. Expect a suitably fawning interview with the Special One from Sky after the game with Richard Keys saying 'Never a dull moment with Jose Mourinho around...' to a disinterested Graeme Souness.

19.45 Werder Bremen v Anorthosis Famagusta, UEFA Champions League Group B, Sky Sports Interactive
Bremen's unsteady start to the Bundesliga season was made a little more steady by the thrashing of Energie Cottbus at the weekend. There is a whiff of 'we're just happy to be here...' about Famagusta. However, the conquerors of Olympiacos will fancy their chances against the Germans and will be given plenty of them too.

19.45 Barcelona v Sporting Lisbon, UEFA Champions League Group C, Sky Sports 2 & HD2
A nice blend of styles between these two great European teams and a good antidote to the English stuff on ITV.

19.45 Basle v Shakhtar Donetsk, UEFA Champions League Group C, Sky Sports Interactive
After nine games, Basle are five points clear at the top of the Swiss Super League. Shakhtar have not had such a great start and are languishing in 11th in their domestic league. In truth, there is not much to whet the appetite of the neutral unless you like being alternative down the pub. 'Er no actually I watched FC Baal play Donyetsk. It was one of the best nil-nils I've ever seen..."

19.45 Marseille v Liverpool, UEFA Champions League Group D, ITV1 & HD
Marseille have got themselves together and could have a go at the French League this season. They'd have loved to be playing the Liverpool that narrowly beat Liege the other week. Unfortunately, they are more likely to be playing the Liverpool that beat Manchester United on Saturday.

19.45 PSV v Atletico Madrid, UEFA Champions League Group D, Sky Sports Interactive
Two really good teams here. Atletico's return to the Champions League after an 11-year absence pits them against serial qualifiers PSV. Should be a cracker.

Wednesday 17 September

19.45 Celtic v Aalborg, UEFA Champions League Group E, Sky Sports Xtra
Aalborg will need to rely heavily on manager Bruce Rioch's knowledge of the British game if they're to get anything from Parkhead, a place where only Barcelona have won in the Champions League.

19.45 Manchester Utd v Villarreal, UEFA Champions League Group E, Sky Sports 2 & HD2
Good to see Villareal back at the top table. Just the sort of team to stick it to the champions as well. Not at Old Trafford though.

19.45 Lyon v Fiorentina, UEFA Champions League Group F, Sky Sports Interactive
Another former Champs League absentee is back after their travails with the bankers and the crooks. The best thing about La Viola's return to the big time is that the much maligned former Milan striker Gillardino will most likely be playing while his old comrades are reduced to playing in the UEFA Cup. Stitch that, Berlusconi.

19.45 Steaua Bucuresti v Bayern Munich, UEFA Champions League Group F, Sky Sports Interactive
Possible upset on the cards. Steaua are in good touch and Klinsie's open, attacking, relaxed attitude to defending brand of football may not hold much water in Bucharest, not without Ribery at any rate.

19.45 Dynamo Kiev v Arsenal, UEFA Champions League Group G, Sky Sports 3 & HD3
Kiev has not proved the happiest of hunting grounds for The Gunners. No doubt Comrade Wenger will be happy to come home with a point and a clean bill of health.

19.45 FC Porto v Fenerbahce, UEFA Champions League Group G, Sky Sports Interactive
Porto could easily have been kicked out of the competition for cheating. As it is, they face a tricky opener against Luis Aragones's new team. Will the fat old racist be looking to make it a country and club double?

19.45 Juventus v Zenit St Petersburg, UEFA Champions League Group H, Sky Sports Interactive
As long as Zenit don't allow the occasion to get to them, they are well capable of beating Juve. The Old Lady's best attackers (Del Piero & Trezuget) will probably start from the bench and Mellberg has not settled in at the back yet. Arshavin could tear them a new... well I don't think I need to draw a picture.

19.45 Real Madrid v BATE, UEFA Champions League Group H, Sky Sports Interactive
'I just told them to go out and enjoy themselves. I didn't mean go and lose 5-0'

Thursday 18 September

02.00 Palmeiras v Vasco, Copa Sudamericana, Setanta Sports 2
While the two teams have had vastly different fortunes in their domestic league, Vasco take a 3-1 first leg lead to Sao Paolo. The two teams are due to repeat this fixture in the League in three days time.

15.20 Litex Lovech v Aston Villa, UEFA Cup 1st Round 1st Leg, Five
Conveniently for Five, the three games they wanted to cover don't appear to overlap. Convenient for them, that is - not for anyone who works normal office hours.

18.00 AS Nancy v Motherwell, UEFA Cup 1st Round 1st Leg, BBC2 Scotland
Nancy have had an indifferent start to their domestic campaign but are tough to beat on their own turf, having lost only once in all competitions in the last year. Motherwell's season has started even worse though. They'll be happy with a draw and will probably play for it.

18.00 Omonia Nicosia v Manchester City, UEFA Cup 1st Round 1st Leg, Sky1 & HD
Omonia knocked out AEK Athens to get here, a result which probably puts their 12 points in next year's Eurovision seriously in jeopardy. They'll put up a solid show against City... it's got 0-0 written all over this.

18.00 Portsmouth v Vitoria Guimaraes, UEFA Cup 1st Round 1st Leg, Five
Vitoria's last encounter with a Premier League team was a 1-1 draw with Bolton three years ago. They've been relegated and promoted since then so you shouldn't read too much into it. Don't know why I mentioned it really. Another dour UEFA Cup first leg.

20.05 Everton v Standard Liege, UEFA Cup 1st Round 1st Leg, Five
Visiting the city of Liverpool for the second time in a month, Liege will feel they still have something to prove. The importance for Everton to put on a good showing here will not be lost on David Moyes and his players.

20.10 Tottenham Hotspur v Wisla Krakow, UEFA Cup 1st Round 1st Leg, Setanta Sports 1
Knowing Tottenham, they'll probably cruise the first hour of this and take a two goal lead - only to concede one late on setting up a tricky away leg.