This Week in Sport
Get ready for a week of rivalries and championships! On Monday, the second Test between South Africa and Australia continues. On Tuesday, the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers mark the opening night of a new NBA season. On Wednesday, Bayern Munich host Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League. That’s followed by an NFL showdown between the Chicago Bears and New England Patriots on Thursday. On Friday, Game 1 of the MLB World Series takes place.
There is plenty more to enjoy at the weekend. On Saturday, UFC 333 takes place, with two champions putting their belts on the line. On Sunday, Barcelona host Real Madrid in La Liga.
Cricket in South Africa: South Africa v Australia (2nd Test) Day 2
Monday 19th October 8:00AM GMT/10:00AM Local
St George's Park, Gqeberha
The second Test between South Africa and Australia continues at St George’s Park in Gqeberha. After Australia prevailed in the high-scoring first Test, the visitors converted that momentum into a hot start for this clash. Rain limited the first day to just 12.2 overs, but Scott Boland still managed to take a pair of wickets on back-to-back balls - a sensational feat for a player making his first Test appearance in ten months - as South Africa faced a dismal 20/2 start. When play resumes, Marques Ackerman and captain Temba Bavuma will attempt to rally a Proteas squad that produced two disappointing 200-run innings in the first Test. However, Boland, who last earned a fifer in January 2025, will likely be on the prowl for a chance to truly define this first innings. Australia have not won back-to-back Tests in South Africa since 2009, but appear well on their way to breaking that record.
NBA: New York Knicks v Philadelphia 76ers
Tuesday 20th October 11:00PM GMT/7:00PM Local
Madison Square Garden, New York
A new NBA season begins, with the New York Knicks hosting the Philadelphia 76ers at Madison Square Garden in New York City. As they raise their Championship banner, the Knicks’ repeat chances will be given a swift litmus test as they welcome the new-look Sixers to New York. The defending champions didn’t do much to change the roster that brought them their first title since 1973, with the only notable addition being veteran Andre Drummond. Meanwhile, Philadelphia made two league-altering moves in the offseason as they acquired Jaylen Brown and LeBron James. If V.J. Edgecombe continues to develop and Joel Embiid remains healthy, the Sixers will be contenders to end their own lengthy drought, which stretches back to 1983. While they split their four regular season meetings last season, the Knicks swept the Playoff series and have won eleven of the last thirteen games between this pair of rivals.
UEFA Champions League: Bayern Munich v Arsenal
Wednesday 21st October 7:00PM GMT/9:00PM Local
Allianz Arena, München
Bayern Munich host Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League at Allianz Arena in Munich. Bayern will be looking to deliver a decisive rebound performance after being held to a shocking 3-3 draw in their last continental outing by Viking, the reigning Norwegian champions. Their path to redemption began with a 6-1 demolition of RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga, which should serve as a stark warning to Arsenal. Despite this, the Gunners will be feeling extremely confident ahead of their trip to Germany. They are undefeated in their European campaign so far, with wins over Napoli and Lille. However, the Londoners were relatively lucky to beat Nottingham Forest in the Premier League at the weekend, meaning that a win over Bayern will provide confidence as they face a run of three games between Wednesday and next Tuesday. These two sides are meeting for the second league stage in a row, with Arsenal coming out on top last year in what was a clash of lengthy undefeated streaks for both teams when they met.
NFL: Chicago Bears v New England Patriots
Thursday 22nd October 12:15AM GMT (23rd)/7:15PM Local
Soldier Field, Chicago
The Chicago Bears host the New England Patriots in the NFL at Soldier Field in Chicago. The 4-2 Bears will look to live up to their high preseason expectations now that Caleb Williams is fully fit and back under center. Williams played his first game since suffering an injury in Week 2 over the weekend in a 31-23 win over the Atlanta Falcons. However, Case Keenum’s heroics against the Philadelphia Eagles aside, the absence of Williams has allowed the Minnesota Vikings to take a sturdy division lead that the Bears must now work to erase. Meanwhile, the Patriots are also 4-2 and ride a three-game winning streak into Soldier Field. New England has been beset by offensive injuries in recent weeks but will be eager to keep the pressure on the Buffalo Bills, who have a one-game lead over them in their divisional battle. The Patriots have won six of the last seven games between these two sides, while the Bears will try to find their first home win against New England since 2000.
MLB (World Series): Milwaukee Brewers v TBC
Friday 23rd October 12:00AM GMT (24th)/7:00PM Local
American Family Field, Milwaukee
The World Series begins at American Family Field in Milwaukee. The Milwaukee Brewers appear in their first World Series since 1982 behind their young core of homegrown talent and a select group of veterans to guide the ship. Whether it’s burgeoning superstar Jackson Chourio, flame-throwing pitcher Jacob Misiorowski, or club talisman Christian Yelich, there is no shortage of reasons why the Brewers are the best team in baseball this season. They reached the Fall Classic with a sweep of the beleaguered Los Angeles Dodgers, with the two-time defending champions finally meeting their match amid a rash of crucial injuries. However, the Brewers’ opponent is yet to be decided - the Tampa Bay Rays hold a 3-2 lead over the Cleveland Guardians in the American League Championship Series, with Games 6 and 7 of that series scheduled for Monday and Tuesday. It would be Tampa Bay’s first World Series appearance since 2020 and Cleveland’s first appearance since 2016.
UFC: UFC 333: Volkanovski vs. Evloev
Saturday 24th October 6:00PM GMT/10:00PM Local
Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi
UFC 333 takes place at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. Two huge title fights, whose results will shake up the UFC for months to come, headline the card. Alexander Volkanovski defends his Featherweight belt against the 20-0 Movsar Evloev. Volkanovski, who would set the record for Featherweight title fight wins if he can see off Evloev, recently pitched the idea of a dual retirement ‘send-off fight’ against Justin Gaethje if he retains the belt. Meanwhile, Evloev, who earns his first title bout since joining the UFC in 2019, has a chance to make his mark on the Featherweight division. While Evloev is one of the best technical wrestlers in MMA, he has won just seven of his 20 fights by knockout or submission, and none since joining the UFC. In the co-main event, Petr Yan defends his Bantamweight belt. He faces Merab Dvalishvili for a third time, having beaten the Georgian for the belt at UFC 323. With the likes of Song Yadong or Sean O’Malley awaiting the winner, this clash will once again pit Yan’s elite striking against Dvalishvili’s record-setting takedown ability.
La Liga: Barcelona v Real Madrid
Sunday 25th October 8:00PM GMT/9:00PM Local
Camp Nou, Barcelona
Barcelona take on Real Madrid in La Liga at Camp Nou in Barcelona. The defending Spanish champions have won their first nine games of the season, equalling the record achieved twice by Madrid in the 1960s. Raphinha and Lamine Yamal have established themselves as true game changers, sitting first and third respectively in the goal-scoring lists as the campaign nears the one-third mark. They enter the week with a five-point cushion in the standings and look truly unstoppable. Meanwhile, Madrid, who have not won a league match at Barcelona since 2023, face a must-win El Clásico to stand any chance of capturing the league title for the first time since 2024. Madrid are currently six points behind Barcelona in third place. While Kylian Mbappé is second amongst La Liga goalscorers this season, early team setbacks against Real Betis and Atlético Madrid account for the two-game deficit in the sides’ comparative records. Since 2018, the first El Clásico of the season has never been later than Matchday 11, but there have been few times in that stretch when it has felt quite as pivotal as this one. If Barcelona win and set a new La Liga record, they go nine points clear of Madrid. However, if Madrid can snatch the win, then the title race is thrown wide open, with Madrid only three points behind their bitter rivals.
Photo by: Philadelphia 76ers
Written and information correct on 19th October 2026 at 1PM GMT.
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