English Premier League

Manchester United vs Sunderland

Date: October 3rd Time: 16:30 (GMT)

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson bristled slightly today when asked whether Sunderland boss Steve Bruce can go on to manage a top club. "I don’t think Sunderland’s fans would be too pleased to hear that," Ferguson asserted to reporters at his Friday press conference. "They could be a massive club, you know. They already are in terms of history, stadium, training ground, and their fan base. It wouldn’t be doing them justice to say otherwise." Ferguson clearly feels that all the ingredients are in place at the Stadium of Light, not least Bruce himself, who has paid his management dues after his successful playing career ended. "If you go back through Bruce’s career, his experience of the other side of football is very useful," the United boss added. "From being down there scrapping with Crystal Palace or Sheffield United, he recently almost took Wigan into a UEFA place. He’s learned a lot as he’s gone along. Birmingham didn’t have much money to deal with. They never had a big budget to buy players. That’s not easy in the Premier League. Now he has the chance to spend some money at Sunderland and it looks as if they could be good. "The addition of Darren Bent now, who’s scored seven goals now, is a good one. He’s given a good return already. Steve has galvanised the club really well, and you can see something happening there... just hopefully not on Saturday!" The Black Cats travel to face United at Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon, and Ferguson is not taking Bruce's team lightly. “Everyone’s a threat if you don’t approach games the right way. We have to approach the game in the right way all the time," he explained. "That’s what happens here. We have to make sure the attitude and the character of the team is always there. It will be. We have no problems there. The team is playing well and hopefully we get the result we want." As for Bruce the player, Ferguson certainly has some fond memories of the bruising centre-back who could also take a mean penalty. "He was a great player for us," he enthused. "The fantastic thing about Brucey was that he had this great ability to play on with injuries. He was always hobbling about the training ground, with knocks or hamstring strains. He’d just rub it better and play. It was unbelievable. "I remember when we were going to play Liverpool at Anfield at the weekend and he’d picked up a hamstring injury on the Saturday before. He was on the treatment table all week. Then on the Friday I was doing some team shaping and the set pieces. He came running down the hill at The Cliff and said, ‘Don’t pick your team just now, I think I’m OK’. I said, ‘You’re joking, it’s a hamstring pull’. Brucey came back, ‘Yeah, it’s all right, I’ve had them before’. He played the full game." Ferguson continued: "Looking at his partnership with Gary Pallister – it went on uninterrupted for years. They hardly missed a game. It was a phenomenal partnership, and the right combination; they had the qualities you need. They were great characters too. You can laugh just thinking about them!" Source: www.goal.com Let's watch who will be the winner...

English Premier League

Sunderland vs Wolverhampton

Date: September 27th Time: 15:00 (GMT)

Wolves manager Mick McCarthy visits his former club after claiming only the club’s second win of the season, the 2-1 victory over Fulham last Sunday. The win thanks to goals from Kevin Doyle and David Edwards, took Wolves into 12 place. Doyle is proving dangerous in the air: seven of his last eight Premier League goals have been headed.

Sunderland have won their last two games at home, against Blackburn and Hull, and in this game two years ago, they won 2-1. Wolves test Andrew Surman and Kevin Foley and miss Richard Stearman, and Chris Iwelumo. Sunderland test Lee Cattermole and Martin Fulop.

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English Premier League

Stoke City vs Manchester United

Date: September 26th Time: 14:00 (GMT)

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has confirmed today that midfielder Owen Hargreaves, for so long on the sidelines after major surgery on his right knee, is back in full training ahead of the weekend's trip to Stoke City. "Owen Hargreaves is back now, and hopefully the boy gets a break and continues his progress without any further mishaps," the United boss told reporters at his Friday press conference. "It's been long time for the lad and normally when a player has been out that length of time, he's always helped during his rehabilitation by with other players. "The fact he did it on his own in America under the guidance of the doctor [Richard] Steadman. Then it's not easy, but he's got the determination and the resilience to see it through and he's now back with us. "I feel that maybe it'll still take us four weeks to get him into the rhythm of training again and get to the point of match play. But I think that hopefully he is on the way back." Ben Foster will be in goal again for the Red Devils at the Britannia after Ferguson also confirmed that Edwin van der Sar will be absent for at least another three weeks with a broken hand. Tomasz Kuszczak impressed between the sticks in the League Cup win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wednesday night, but Ferguson today revealed that he is sticking with the England international for the visit to the Potteries. "Edwin is still three weeks away. It was a good opportunity for Tomasz to play on Wednesday, but Ben will play against Stoke," Ferguson explained. United have no fresh injury concerns ahead of the trip to Stoke, a club for which Ferguson retains the utmost respect. "Stoke have a good home record, and I'm not surprised how they've started the season at all," he added. "They're a club on the up and they're going to be a force this season." Source: www.goal.com Let's watch who will be the winner... WATCH MORE CHANNELS

La Liga

Real Madrid vs Tenerife

Date: September 26th Time: 16:00 (GMT)

Record-breaker Cristiano Ronaldo insists he has his new team-mates to thank for the dream start he has made to life at Real Madrid. The Portugal international goes into Saturday's Primera Division encounter with Tenerife at the Santiago Bernabeu seeking to extend the goalscoring record which has seen him become an instant hit in the Spanish capital. Ronaldo's stunning opener in the midweek 2-0 win at Villarreal made him the first ever player to net in each of his opening four league matches for Madrid, but the former Manchester United winger is keen to deflect the accolades onto those around him. "The team always comes first," Ronaldo told Telecinco. "I scored against Villarreal, and scoring increases confidence, but the three points were the main priority. "Thank God things are going well, and it is all due to my team-mates. They are helping me a lot. "I knew things would go well. I just needed to be patient and stick to the same plan I had in Manchester. "I am happy in Madrid. I am adjusting little by little. I wanted to come here for some time and the club helped me make it a reality." The 24-year-old has been the keystone of a bright opening to the new La Liga campaign that has seen Madrid win each of their opening four games. Their record at this early stage of the season is, rather predictably, bettered only by reigning champions Barcelona, and Ronaldo believes the two titans of Spanish football are set for an epic tussle this season. "Barca is a great team and a solid squad," he said. "We are going to go head to head all season long, so we'll see who comes out on top." Madrid thrashed promoted side Xerez 5-0 at the Bernabeu last weekend and coach Manuel Pellegrini's men are at home to another promoted outfit in Tenerife this weekend. Xabi Alonso could return from injury after missing the last two matches, while Pepe is finally available again after his 10-game suspension for violent conduct against Getafe last season. Ezequiel Garay, Alvaro Arbeloa and Christoph Metzelder are all doubts, while Ruud Van Nistelrooy is definitely out. The Holland striker scored on his return against Xerez but picked up another injury in that match and will be out for at least a month. Tenerife have had a decent return to the top flight but little will be expected of the Canary Islanders in Saturday's game. Jose Luis Oltra's side have lost both of their away games this season but have secured two victories at home to sit comfortably in the top half of the table after four rounds of the championship. While the odds are stacked against his side, Oltra at least hopes his side make the hosts sweat for their victory. "If Madrid beat us, I hope we at least have made them work for it," he said. Ricardo Leon is sidelined for a month and will miss Saturday's game but Oltra should otherwise have a near full-strength squad available. Source: www.sportinglife.com Let's watch who will be the winner... WATCH MORE CHANNELS

English Premier League

Wigan Athletic vs Chelsea

Date: September 26th Time: 14:00 (GMT)

Italian tactician Carlo Ancelotti will look to pursue an almost flawless start to his Chelsea tenure as his Blues side travel to Greater Manchester to take on Roberto Martinez's Wigan Athletic. The west Londoners displayed a worrying motif of slipping behind in the early stages of a game, only to come-from-behind to steal the win, but the Blues have recently stormed to three successive shut-outs. The Latics, meanwhile, cannot even buy a point. Their return from the international break initially looked positive, as Wigan beat West Ham by a slim margin, but they were then humbled by an imperious Arsenal. Their form against the top four already this season will have been unpalatable for Athletic fans, as Manchester United also trounced Martinez's side by a 5-0 scoreline. Chelsea are capable of inflicting the same damage on the Latics, having returned an impressive 15 goals from six league games - a feat bettered only by the Gunners and Liverpool. To make matters even more intimidating for the home side, Wigan have never beaten Chelsea in the Premier League. They have met eight times, with the Blues winning seven and drawing one. Source: www.goal.com Let's watch who will be the winner... WATCH MORE CHANNELS

German Bundesliga

Nurnberg vs Vfl Bochum

Date: September 25th Time: 18:30 (GMT)

Hamburg - VfL Bochum will be looking for some cup cheer when they take on Ruhr rivals Schalke 04 on Tuesday after a poor start to the season which led to the dismissal Sunday of coach Marcel Koller.

Meanwhile, fellow strugglers Hertha Berlin, who have slumped to the bottom of the Bundesliga, need a German Cup confidence booster when they travel to second-division outfit 1860 Munich on Wednesday.

Hertha's dramatic slide has led to speculation that coach Lucien Favre could be the next to go, but the 51-year-old Swiss trainer said he would not be standing down.

'We are all to blame, me as well. It is a very, very difficult situation,' Favre said after a 4-0 home defeat to Freiburg on Sunday.

'We have to wake up, work even harder, train even more. It is a huge challenge for me to get us out of this.'

Favre also appears to have the backing of the board, with general manager Michael Preetz saying Favre's position was not in doubt.

'We know what it's like in football. When you don't get the results these questions have to be asked,' he said.

'I want to remind people of the successful two years with Lucien Favre. We are convinced he is the right trainer for Hertha Berlin.'

In other second-round matches, holders Werder Bremen Wednesday take on Hamburg second division side St Pauli, who were knocked off the top Sunday following a 2-1 home defeat to Kaiserslautern.

It's a welcome home cup match for Werder, whose winning cup run last season was achieved without a single game in the Weser Stadium.

Record cup winners Bayern Munich face second-division Rot-Weiss Oberhausen in the Allianz Arena on Tuesday after a 2-1 defeat of Nuremberg moved them to third in the Bundesliga.

Bayern will have one eye on a trip to leaders Hamburg in the Bundesliga on Saturday, before hosting Juventus in the Champions League.

Coach Louis van Gaal can again call on Italy striker Luca Toni who had an outing for the reserves on Friday following a three-month injury lay-off with Achilles tendon problems.

'I'm fit and ready for the first team, in my opinion,' Toni said.

'I'm available for selection as of now, and I hope the coach calls on me soon. I want to be playing for the Bayern senior team as soon as I can.'

After only four points from their first six games, Bochum decided to part company with 48-year-old Swiss coach Koller on Sunday.

Assistant Frank Heinemann and former player and youth coach Dariusz Wosz are in charge for the visit of Schalke, one of three all-Bundesliga duels.

Schalke's solid start to the season under Felix Magath took a knock with a 2-1 home defeat to Wolfsburg on Friday.

In the other matches between Bundesliga sides, Nuremberg play Hoffenheim on Tuesday, and Cologne meet league champions VfL Wolfsburg on Wednesday.

Elsewhere on Wednesday, Hamburg travel to third-division side VfL Osnabrueck in a northern German duel, last season's losing finalists Bayer Leverkusen are at Kaiserslautern, while VfB Stuttgart are at fourth-tier VfB Luebeck.

In matches between first and second-division sides, Freiburg travel to Augsburg, Eintracht Frankfurt host Alemannia Aachen, both on Wednesday, while Borussia Moenchengladback take on visiting MSV Duisburg on Tuesday.

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Carling Cup

Aston Villa vs Cardiff

Date: September 23th Time: 18:45 (GMT)

The Bluebirds travel to Birmingham to face a Villa side who are in good form, having strolled to a 2-0 win over lowly Portsmouth on Saturday.

Martin O'Neill may opt to recall Reo-Coker after the pair had a training ground bust-up last week, but the Villa boss is unlikely to risk Emile Heskey who picked up an ankle knock at the weekend.

Long-term absentees Stewart Downing and Wilfred Bouma are still unavailable for first-team action, and Ashley Young could miss out with a calf injury.

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Carling Cup

Preston vs Tottenham

Date: September 23th Time: 18:45 (GMT)

Dawson suffered ankle and foot injuries in the first half of a Premier League game against Newcastle last April and has not featured sicne.

But with Tottenham’s injury crisis showing few signs of relenting, the sight of Dawson at Deepdale will be a timely boost for manager Harry Redknapp.

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“Michael is in the squad and,” said Redknapp, “and I might look to give him an hour tomorrow. It will be good to have him back, he’s a fantastic player and a good lad, but it’s his first game back so we don’t wasn’t to push it.”

Dawson’s return is a boost, particularly as Redknapp admitted, however, that the fitness of fellow defenders Ledley King, Jonathan Woodgate and Sebastien Bassong is causing him concern.

“Ledley did a hamstring at Chelsea on Sunday which is a big blow,” added Redknapp. “He’s going for a scan to see the full extent of the problem but it’s certainly going to keep him out for a while

“Woodgate has had an injection and we’re going to give it 10 days and then if it doesn’t work, he may need another operation.

“Bassong took that bang on the head at Chelsea, I think he’s okay, but when he went down he also damaged his knee and we’re a bit concerned about that. Hopefully that’ll settle down.”

Redknapp confirmed that Roman Pavlyuchenko will also be missing at Preston, adding: “He’s got a very slight tear in his Achilles but he should be okay for the weekend.”

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NFL - Regular Season 2009

Indianapolis vs Miami

Date: September 22th Time: 00:30 (GMT)

The Colts are altering their defensive strategy under new coordinator Larry Coyer, who dialed up 11 blitzes against the Jaguars last Sunday, so Chad Pennington is forewarned. Indy may have the speed on defense to contain Miami's wildcat offense. Colts DT Ed Johnson returns after a one-game suspension. Young receivers Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie will continue to play ahead of newcomer Hank Baskett, who signed this past week and has practiced only twice with the Colts.

Source: www.foxsports.com

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English Premier League

Manchester United vs Manchester City

Date: September 20th Time: 12:30 (GMT)

The competitive nature of this instalment of the Manchester derby is sure to be at its greatest levels in recent decades, even though the likes of Sir Alex Ferguson seemingly disagree. The Scottish tactician remains unwilling to admit to the importance of the derby to Manchester United, maintaining Liverpool are their biggest rivals.

This year in particular, however, it is becoming more and more difficult for Ferguson to deny the advances Manchester City are making as they close the gap between their close neighbours in Stretford.

While City may be making strong advances towards the top five of the Premier League, United’s history remains undoubted and their dominance of the new first division is unquestionably impressive. While Ferguson may be right in labelling Liverpool as their main rivals, ignoring City’s form this season would be an error in his managerial duties.

Although City are weakened by suspensions and injuries, their success this season speaks volumes to their ambitions. Manchester United endured a trip to Turkey earlier in the week in the Champions League, a trip Ferguson has maintained will not hinder their derby preparations.

While it is a case of pupil versus teacher, Mark Hughes will lock horns with his former manager after weeks of billboard bickering and backhanded remarks.

The battle for Manchester is more on level footing than it has been in the last twenty years, making this mouth watering encounter a truly unpredictable affair. With United’s ability to endure and earn results well documented, City’s new ambition and talent will surely give Sir Alex Ferguson several headaches before kick-off.

Manchester United 1-1 Manchester City

Source: Will Ashwell (goal.com UK)

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