Midweek TV Preview: 15 -18 March 2010

Monday 15th March

19:45 Notts County v AFC Bournemouth, League Two, Sky Sports 1 / HD1
Clash of the crisis clubs, off the pitch at least. County are in fourth place, only three points off their visitors in second. Recent media coverage of these two clubs has been about their respective financial troubles, Now, at least, both teams can show the nation what their imaginary money is paying for.

20:00 Liverpool v Portsmouth, Premier League, ESPN / ESPN HD
Unless the nation happens to be watching Liverpool on the telly. This is the second week in a row that the Reds are playing on a Monday and a Thursday. A ready-made excuse for Rafa?

Tuesday 16th March

19:45 Chelsea v Inter Milan, Champions League Last 16 2nd Leg, Sky Sports 2 / HD2
The Big One. Don the hype shades before this game as the Sky pre-match build up rolls out the red carpet for His Highness the Special One of Mourinho. Expect lots of praise for the former Chelsea boss and spades of condescension after the match when Messrs Keys, Redknapp and Souness ask why Jose is wasting his time in Serie A. "It's so negative over there." "I watched an Italian game five years ago and is was dull." "He's wasted in Milan, they don't like him. He should come back to the Premier League and be with the best." Unless of course Inter win and then it'll be all about the ref.

19:45 Sevilla v CSKA Moscow, Champions League Last 16 2nd Leg, Sky Sports 3 / HD3
Battle of the dark horses this one. Sevilla have a great European pedigree but have been disappointing domestically. By rights, they should progress but must beware a dangerous CSKA side.

Wednesday 17th March

19:45 Bordeaux v Olympiacos, Champions League Last 16 2nd Leg, Sky Sports 1 / HD1
The Greeks look to have blown their chances against Bordeaux who are heavy favourites. There is still a job to be done, though, if Laurent Blanc's date with destiny (an honourable defeat to an English club) is to be met.

19:45 Barcelona v VFB Stuttgart, Champions League Last 16 2nd Leg, ITV1 / ITV HD
Stuttgart have had their moment in the first leg and deserve to enter the Nou Camp on level terms, however anything other than a win for Barca would be an enormous shock.

Thursday 18th March

18:00 TBC, UEFA Europa League Last 16 2nd Leg, ESPN
20:05 TBC, UEFA Europa League Last 16 2nd Leg, ESPN
No confirmation from the Mouse as to their Europa League coverage plans at the time of writing, nor from ITV for that matter. However, Fulham's game against Stuttgart will be among the games covered on UK TV. Look out also for Bremen v Valencia, Sporting v Atletico Madrid, Wolfsburg v Rubin or Marsellie v Benfica as possibilities. All finely poised ties demonstrating that, in the knockout stage at least, this competition provides tremendous value.

20:05 Liverpool v Lille, UEFA Europa League Last 16 2nd Leg, Five
It's almost impossible to predict the outcome of this game. Under normal circumstances, Liverpool's performance in the first leg would have been perceived as anomalous and a spirited home win would have been forecast. But with Liverpool I'm afraid you just don't know anymore.