SATURDAY 18th AUGUST – BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE – NEWCASTLE UNITED v TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR – LIVE @ 4:45PM
With Spurs and Newcastle finishing 4th and 5th respectively in the Barclays Premier League last season, this fixture offers an early chance to see if these sides will be carrying that form into the new campaign. Alan Pardew’s men were arguably the surprise team of last season as they remained in contention for Champions League football throughout the year. Tottenham begin their new era under Andre Villas-Boas, who will want to start on a positive note following his high-profile departure from the Chelsea hot-seat.
SATURDAY 18th AUGUST – MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER – DC UNITED v PHILADELPHIA UNION – LIVE @ 10:00PM
If the Union are to have any chance of scraping into the MLS playoffs, they will need to beat DC United this evening. Their away form hasn’t matched that of their performances at PPL Park this season, so they will require an upturn in fortunes as they visit Washington DC. DC United have all but secured their place in the post season and will again look to top goalscorers Chris Pontius and Brazilian striker Maicon Santos.
SUNDAY 19th AUGUST – FRENCH LIGUE 1 – DOUBLE HEADER – LIVE @ 1:00PM & 3:45PM
Having captured the exclusive 2012/13 rights to France’s Ligue 1 competition, ESPN offers up a double header of matches this afternoon as Marseille face FC Sochaux-Montbeliard and Bordeaux host Rennes in week two of the French championship. Rennes missed out on the UEFA Europa League by one point to Bordeaux last season and Marseille will be looking for a better showing this campaign as they look to improve upon a tenth place finish.
SUNDAY 19th AUGUST – TALK OF THE TERRACE / FRENCH LIGUE 1 – PSG v AC AJACCIO @ 7:00PM
Talk of the Terrace returns to our screens for the new season, as the show reviews the previous day’s Barclays Premier League action before previewing tonight’s Ligue 1 ‘game of the week’, as mega-rich PSG travel to AC Ajaccio. Head coach Carlo Ancelotti’s major headache will be to figure out how to fit in Ibrahimovic, Pastore, Lavezzi, Nene, Menez et al into his forward line.
TUESDAY 21st AUGUST – SRI LANKA PREMIER LEAGUE CRICKET – UTHURA v BASNAHIRA – LIVE @ 3:30PM
Sri Lanka’s T20 Premier League continues as Uthura play Basnahira this afternoon. Coached by Tom Moody, Uthura have Sri Lankan legend Muttiah Muralitharan in their ranks alongside overseas stars Fidel Edwards, Brendan Taylor and Imran Farhat. Basnahira are led by captain Tillakaratne Dilshan who has a host of Australians and New Zealanders at his disposal, including Dirk Nannes, Brag Hodge and Tim Southee.
THURSDAY 23rd AUGUST – UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE – FIXTURE TBC – LIVE @ 7:00PM
As we reach the UEFA Europa League playoffs, Newcastle United and Hearts will hopefully be joined by Liverpool and Dundee United as they attempt to qualify for the group stages. Other major European teams in the draw include Lazio, Bordeaux, Sporting Lisbon as well as the runners up from the Champions League Third Qualifying Round.
THURSDAY 23rd AUGUST – ESPN DOCUMENTARY – DREAM ON: WEMBLEY FC – EPISODE TWO @ 10:00PM
Aside from appearing on TV adverts for toiletries…have you ever wondered what Terry Venables might be up to these days? The answer is that he’s now Wembley FC’s new technical director. And, come the club’s forthcoming FA Cup campaign, he’ll be joined by Ray Parlour, Martin Keown and Graeme Le Saux. This documentary series explains how and why.
