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Cancel your plans, friends. We ain’t going anywhere.

‘Tis the season when TV gets exponentially better.

A look at the week ahead in sport is an arm around the shoulder or a comforting hug. It’s a voice telling you, ‘Sit back, relax. We’ve got this’.

From Champions League group deciders, to GAA club finals, a crucial Premiership rugby encounter, enthralling Premier League ties, Sunday night NFL and even Barcelona travelling to Atletico Madrid for a tilt. It’s all there.

Let’s begin with two Champions Cup encounters that will have a big bearing on the Last 16.

Wednesday

Valencia v Chelsea
UEFA Champions League
5.55pm, BT Sport 3 & NOW TV

Chelsea are tied on seven points with Valencia so an away victory would be manna for Frank Lampard’s men, while Liverpool can advance to the knock-out stages with a game to spare against a Napoli side wrought with in-fighting.

Liverpool v Napoli
UEFA Champions League
7.45pm, BT Sport 2 & NOW TV

Thursday

Astana v Man United
Europa League
3.50pm, BT Sport 2 & NOW TV

Dylan Levitt, Largie Ramazani, Ethan Laird, Ethan Galbraith, Arnau Puigmal, Matej Kovar, Teden Mengi, DiShon Bernard and D’Mani Bughail-Mellor are among the Manchester United youngsters called up to the squad for their Europa League match with Astana, in Kazakhstan.

Chicago @ Detroit
NFL
5pm, Sky Sports Main Event & NOW TV

Braga v Wolves
Europa League
5.55pm, BT Sport 2 & NOW TV

Arsenal v Eintracht
Europa League
8pm, BT Sport 2 & NOW TV

Celtic v Rennes
Europa League
8pm, BT Sport 3 & NOW TV

New Zealand v England
Test Cricket
9.30pm, Sky Sports Main Event & NOW TV

Friday

Bath v Saracens
English Premiership
7:45pm, BT Sport & NOW TV

Reigning league and European champions Saracens are currently on -22 points after salary cap sanctions and are 26 points back from 11th place Leicester Tigers. A win over eighth place Bath would help in their fight to stay up.

Swansea v Fulham
EFL Championship
7.45pm, Sky Sports Main Event & NOW TV

Saturday

Newcastle v Man City
Premier League
12.30pm, BT Sport 1 & NOW TV

The weekend’s televised Premier League action begins with Pep Guardiola bringing his champion Manchester City side to St James’ Park to get a win that will get them within five points of Liverpool. Following that, Frank Lampard returns to his old club West Ham as boss of a Chelsea side that are tipping along nicely.

Chelsea v West Ham
Premier League
3pm, Premier Sports 1 & NOW TV

Southampton v Watford
Premier League
5.30pm, Sky Sports Main Event & NOW TV

Sunday

Ross County v Celtic
SPL
12pm, Sky Sports Main Event & NOW TV

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Formula One
1.05pm, Sky Sports Racing & NOW TV

TG4 are showing deferred footage of the Munster football and Leinster hurling club finals, later on Sunday, but the viewing fun begins with the Ulster football final between Down top dogs Kilcoo and Donegal champions Naomh Conaill.

Kilcoo v Naomh Conaill
Ulster club SFC final
2pm, TG4

Norwich v Arsenal
Premier League
2.05pm, Sky Sports Main Event & NOW TV

Nemo Rangers v Clonmel Commercials
Munster club SFC final (full match, deferred coverage)
4pm, TG4

Leicester v Everton
Premier League
4pm, Sky Sports Main Event & NOW TV

49ers @ Baltimore Ravens
NFL
7.30pm, Sky Sports Main Event & NOW TV

Atletico Madrid v Barcelona
La Liga
8pm, Premier Sports 1 & NOW TV

Nice way to round off the weekend’s viewing, but we’re not done yet.

Monday

Preston v West Brom
English Championship
7:35pm, Sky Sports Main Event & NOW TV

Ireland’s Seani Maguire and Alan Browne (and the rest of the Preston boys) trying to keep pace with Leeds United by taking on fellow high flyers West Brom.

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The FootballJOE quiz: Were you paying attention? – episode 10