The Week in Sport: 2nd – 8th December 2019
Another week of unmissable sporting action lies in wait, starting with Monday night football from the NFL as the Seattle Seahawks meet the Minnesota Vikings in a heavyweight NFC clash. Tuesday sees the Denver Nuggets take on the Los Angeles Lakers in the Mile High City where the visitors will hope to extend their impressive winning run. There is midweek Premier League action on Wednesday in the shape of Manchester United versus Tottenham, with Jose Mourinho returning to his old stomping ground. The World Rugby Sevens Series begins on Thursday in Dubai, with fixtures including New Zealand versus Wales and France versus Argentina. There is an East versus West clash in the NHL as the Pittsburgh Penguins welcome the Arizona Coyotes to PPG Paints Arena. The biggest fight of the year will play out on Saturday night as Anthony Joshua touches gloves with Andy Ruiz Jr. for the second time hoping to win back his world titles. The week concludes with plenty of offerings from the NFL, with the headline matchup pitting the New England Patriots against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Monday 2nd December 1:15AM GMT (Tuesday 3rd) – American Football: Seattle Seahawks versus Minnesota Vikings
Week 13 in the NFL concludes with a mouth watering match in Seattle.
The Seahawks will look to extend their record to 10-2 on the season as they welcome an in-form Minnesota side to CenturyLink Field. In his eighth season, Russell Wilson is continuing to play MVP-worthy football and, just behind Lamar Jackson, is second in the league in touchdown passes with 24. He will be hoping for another fruitful outing on his home turf against the 17th ranked defence in the league. Minnesota are one of the NFL’s form teams right now, having won six of their last seven fixtures, leaving them in great shape to make a return to the playoffs this term.
Tuesday 3rd December 2:00AM GMT (Wednesday 4th) – Basketball: Denver Nuggets versus Los Angeles Lakers
Two heavyweights of the NBA locks horns in Denver.
Denver will have their sights set on scuppering the Lakers’ impressive run of form, as they welcome the Purple and Gold to the Pepsi Center. Between them, these two sides have lost just seven games all year and currently reside first and second in the Western Conference. LA’s LeBron James is showing no signs of slowing down in his 16th season, with the three-time NBA champ leading the league in assists, adding 25.7 points per game too. However, he will have his hands full on Tuesday night against the number one ranked defence in the league who will hope to defend their home court to dethrone the conference leaders.
Wednesday 4th December 7:30PM GMT – Football: Manchester United versus Tottenham Hotspur
The race for Champions League football heats up in the Premier League on Wednesday night in Manchester.
Tottenham Hotspur will make the trip north on Wednesday as they prepare to face Manchester United at Old Trafford. Since their recent managerial shakeup, Spurs have won three games on the bounce and have been scoring at will under Jose Mourinho’s tutorage. However, their defensive frailties have yet to be addressed, with Paulo Gazzaniga picking the ball out of his net six times since the Portuguese tactician took the reins. United will hope to capitalise, therefore, but will have to put their humiliating midweek loss against Astana out of their minds as the Red Devils look to get one over on their old mentor.
Thursday 5th December 1:06PM GMT – Rugby Union: World Rugby Sevens Series in Dubai
Day 1 of the World Rugby Sevens Series will produce some unmissable matchups in Dubai.
There will be fourteen games played on Thursday at the World Rugby Sevens Series, headlined by USA’s clash with Brazil in the women’s game. The USA currently top the standings having accumulated 20 points, and they will be confident of overcoming the Brazilians who are currently propping up the table and will hope to really kickstart their campaign in Dubai. Meanwhile, the trip to Dubai marks the beginning of the men’s season and there are plenty of mouth watering clashes to raise the curtain in some style. The reigning champions are in action on Day 1 of this first round as Fiji take on Japan.
Friday 6th December 12:00AM GMT (Saturday 7th) – Ice Hockey: Pittsburgh Penguins versus Arizona Coyotes
The NHL season continues with this intriguing matchup in Pittsburgh.
The Pittsburgh Penguins will take to the ice with the Arizona Coyotes for the first time this season, with both teams desperate for a win at PPG Paints Arena. The hosts have made a mixed start to the new campaign, winning 14 and losing nine of their opening 23 games. However, only the Washington Capitals have netted more times in the Metropolitan Division than Pittsburgh, who continue to prove a handful for any team on the offensive end. Meanwhile, Arizona are continuing to go well in the Pacific Division and currently sit second in the standings. It has been seven years since the Coyotes appeared in a playoff series, but they can go one step further to clinching a playoff berth this time round with a win on Friday night.
Saturday 7th December 8:45PM GMT – Boxing: Andy Ruiz Jr. versus Anthony Joshua
The Clash on the Dunes in Saudi Arabia is one of the most highly anticipated bouts in recent years.
Anthony Joshua will have the chance to reclaim his belts in Saudi Arabia as he takes to the ring one more time with Andy Ruiz Jr. Ruiz shocked the boxing world last June when he forced a round seven stoppage to become champion of the world in the most unlikely of circumstances. On Saturday night, the two heavyweights will do it all over again in a career-defining bout for both men. Another victory for ‘The Destroyer’ could leave Joshua’s career in tatters, but should AJ prevail, the Englishman will have his sights set on a unification fight with Deontay Wilder next year. This is certainly one not to be missed.
Sunday 8th December 9:25PM GMT – American Football: New England Patriots versus Kansas City Chiefs
Two of the NFL’s heavy hitters will do battle on Sunday night as New England host Kansas City.
The leaders of the AFC East meet the frontrunners in the AFC West on what will be an electrifying Sunday night in Massachusetts. There has been nothing surprising about the Patriots’ impressive start to the season, with Tom Brady and Bill Belichick continuing to exert their dominance in the AFC. Sunday’s clash pits them against one of the league’s better offences though, led by Patrick Mahomes, who has thrown for 19 touchdowns and just two interceptions so far. This is bound to be a breathless affair in what could prove to be the dress rehearsal for a playoff meeting.
Other sports highlights around the globe
Honourable mentions around the globe go to the UK Snooker Championship which plays out all week long at York Barbican. There is plenty of cricket to sink your teeth into with New Zealand facing England in the 2nd Test, the West Indies’ Tour of India starts this week with two T20 Internationals, and there are two Semifinals to keep an eye on in the Women’s Big Bash League, with Strikers facing Scorchers and Heat tussling with Renegades on Saturday before Sunday’s grand final. Manchester City will look to get their Premier League title bid back on track this week with two pivotal outings, starting with a trip to Burnley before meeting local rivals Manchester United on Saturday. The NBA will throw up plenty more electrifying clashes this week, including the Boston Celtics versus the Miami Heat and the Utah Jazz versus the Los Angeles Lakers. Later in the week the Philadelphia 76ers take on the Toronto Raptors, the Milwaukee Bucks host the LA Clippers, the Celtics entertain the Denver Nuggets and the Raptors tussle with the Houston Rockets. The first Merseyside derby of this Premier League season will play out on Wednesday as high-flying Liverpool host Everton. The Hero World Challenge begins on Wednesday - the Tiger Woods run event is always a great spectacle. Bath Rugby play host to Clermont Auvergne in the European Rugby Champions Cup on Friday, whilst Munster face Saracens and Northampton entertain Leinster in the same competition over the weekend. In the NFL, the New Orleans Saints will look to continue their impressive form of late as they take on San Francisco 49ers at home. In a week filled with derbies, the weekend will see the Old Firm meet in the Scottish League Cup final as Celtic play Rangers. In NCAA College Football (with link), there are an amazing selection of Championship Games - LSU meet Georgia, Oregon play Utah, Oklahoma clash with Baylor and Wisconsin take on Ohio State.
A week of world class sport awaits. Whatever you’re watching, enjoy!
Photos by NFL, Lakers, Tottenham Hotspurs, Dubai 7s, Penguins, DAZN Global, NFL
Written and information correct on 1st December at 10pm GMT