by Tim Stannard 

Friday

HULL CITY V SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY 

Before the Game

Championship front-runners, Hull City, are no different to Barcelona and Manchester City in many ways: mo’ success, mo’problems. A draw with Arsenal in the FA Cup on Saturday – a result that did neither side any good – sees an already tough schedule for the Tigers become even harder, as the team battles to win promotion back to the Premier League.

That challenge continues on Friday for Hull City, just three days after an away date with Ipswich Town. Sheffield Wednesday are the visitors to the Kingston Communications Stadium, one of the surprise packages of the year in England’s second tier and a club without outside hopes of grabbing a top two finish and the riches of the Premier League.

Recent history is on the side of Wednesday, with Hull City having failed to beat the Yorkshire outfit over the past five encounters, although the Tigers have only been defeated once at home in 16 league matches, thanks in part to the goals of hotshot, Uruguayan forward, Abel Hernandez.

Prediction – Sheffield Wednesday to sneak a draw to keep title race wide open

SBK SUPERBIKES – Rea Wins at Phillip Island

Thrilling final lap as Jonathan Rea holds off Chaz Davies

Before the race

The 2016 SBK World Superbike Championships may be launching a brand new format for one of the most exhilarating contests on two wheels, but the action stays the same - unrelenting.  24 of the fastest bike riders in the world have gathered at the Phillip Island circuit in Australia, for the first of a 14 globe-spanning meets from the USA to the UK and from Italy to Thailand. Instead of both races taking place on the Sunday, the tension has been upped up a notch or two with the two contests taking place on the Saturday and Sunday.

Last year's edition became a (very fast) procession for the British rider, Jonathan Rea, who won this time last year Down Under with the Kawasaki rider then dominating the rest of the competition. The toughest test to Rea’s supremacy is likely to come from very close to home with fellow Kawasaki rider and fellow Brit, Tom Sykes, the 2013 champion. The 2015 winner, Sylvain Guintoli, will also be looking to reclaim his crown, after a disappointing campaign last year.

The action may be late at night in Australia, but trust us, you won’t be needing coffee when the Superbikes hit the screen.

Prediction – A Brit will be on top again…but will it be Rea or Sykes?

Interview with the Kentucky Kid, Nicky Hayden

Saturday

MADRID DERBY – Atletico condemn Real

Before the game

Real Madrid with everything to lose in another demolition derby

If there’s one team that Real Madrid supporters really don’t want to see at the Vicente Calderon on Saturday for an enormous city derby, it’s Atletico Madrid. But that didn’t used to be the case. Before the arrival of Diego Simeone to the Rojiblancos, Real Madrid used to be all but unbeatable in the derby.

But the Argentinean changed everything by putting a rod of steel through the previously jellylike backbone of the Vicente Calderon side. A banner from Bernabeu fans requesting “a dignified rival for a respectable derby,” was answered and then some, with Real Madrid winning just the one match over the past nine games between the pair.

Having all but blown their title chances with a series of under par performances away from home, a failure to break down the meanest defense in La Liga front of already disgruntled fans will see Zinedine Zidane understanding with a small part of both Carlo Ancelotti and Rafa Benitez won’t miss standing on the Santiago Bernabeu touchline at all.

Prediction – Tired Atletico legs from the Champions League to give Real Madrid a narrow win over neighbors.

Sunday

CAPITAL ONE CUP FINAL – MANCHESTER CITY TAKES CUP

Before the game

Two football worlds collide in Capital One Cup final

The change of truly biblical proportions that most Liverpool fans were hoping for under Jurgen Klopp has yet to come to pass. Instead, the Anfield club is still lost in the wilderness, looking for a burning bush of hope, 11 points from the Champions League places and out of the FA Cup. The last, best chance of some domestic silverware for Liverpool is the upcoming Capital One Cup final, a competition where Liverpool have lead the way historically, having won the trophy eight times.

Whilst City may have chucked the FA Cup in the trash can with a scratch team against Chelsea, the big guns will be out in force at Wembley Stadium. After all, this might be the only chance that Manuel Pellegrini has of ending his tenure at the Etihad with a nice tour bus trip with a trophy around Manchester city center before shuffling off to be replaced by the more glamorous figure of Pep Guardiola.

Another good reason to watch is that Mancs and Scousers from the respective cities never tend to get on, adding extra spice if any were needed to England’s first final of the season.

Prediction – Manchester City players to deliver possible farewell trophy to Manuel Pellegrini

JUVENTUS V INTER – Juventus extend lead; Inter sunk

Before the game

A huge tussle for Serie A supremacy in the Derby d’Italia

Last Friday’s goalless draw with Bologna was a hint of a possibility that Juve might have the same success at keeping all the balls in the air as a blind-folded juggler on a hover-board. With one eye clearly on the midweek clash at Bayern Munich in the Champions League, a huge chance to further cement the team’s position at the top of the table was lost.  Another severe test awaits on Sunday in a truly showpiece event in Serie A in the Derby d’Italia.

The previous encounter in the league this season was a typically tight goalless draw against an Inter team that was almost impervious at the back. However, the back four is a heck of lot leakier these days, an unfortunate reality for Roberto Mancini which sees Inter having had a forgettable start to 2016 and slipping down the table to fifth.

A morale-boosting 3-1 win over Sampdoria, last weekend, may have turned a few frowns upside down in the Inter camp, in a clash where the visitors will be looking to catch Juventus cold after a blistering encounter against Bayern Munich.

Prediction – Juventus to get the win, but it is going to be close