This Week in Sport: 14th – 20th October 2019

Get ready for another fabulous week of sport. England look to secure their place in Euro 2020 as they face Bulgaria. The MLB postseason continues. In the ALCS, the New York Yankees facing the Houston Astros. In NLCS, the Washington Nationals playing the St Louis Cardinals.  The PGA Tour continues in South Korea with the CJ Cup on Jeju Island. Premiership Rugby returns, with Bristol and Bath playing the opening match. The Quarterfinals of the Rugby World Cup get underway. The first knockout match sees England face Australia. Manchester United go up against Liverpool in an exciting Premier League fixture.

Monday 14th October 6:45PM GMT – Football: Bulgaria v England

Bulgaria hunt for their first win in Euro 2020 qualifying as they host England at Sofia’s Vasil Levski National Stadium.

England squandered a perfect opportunity to secure direct qualification to next year’s European Championships over the weekend. They choked against the Czech Republic to add extra pressure to an already in a tight battle for qualification. That loss makes a win against Bulgaria vital. However, though winless, Bulgaria still have a shot at the play-offs if they do well in their final matches. They will look to capitalize against a shaken England in a match you won’t want to miss. 

Tuesday 15th October 8:08PM GMT – Baseball: New York Yankees v Houston Astros

The thrilling ALCS between the New York Yankees and Houston Astros continues at Yankee Stadium in New York.

Wednesday 16th October 3:00AM GMT (Thursday 17th) – Ice Hockey: Anaheim Ducks v Buffalo Sabres 

In the NHL, the Anaheim Ducks and Buffalo Sabres look to continue their early season success at the Honda Center.

A three-game homestand is just what the Ducks need. After starting the season 3-0, they have lost two of their last three. Now at home for three games, the Ducks will aim to bounce back. Their first challenge are the 5-0-1 Sabres. The Sabres have started hot as they look to be real contenders this season. Leading the way is rookie Victor Olofsson, who has five goals in six games. This is a game between two high-flying teams you won’t want to miss.

Thursday 17th October 12:00AM GMT – Golf: CJ Cup Day 1 

The sixth event of the PGA Tour gets underway at the Nine Bridges Golf Club on the South Korean island of Jeju. 

The PGA Tour continues as competitors travel to South Korean island of Jeju. Home fans will be cheering for island native and 2019 Rookie of the Year Im-Sung-jae. The 21-year-old finished T19 in the Tour standings last year and has a bright future ahead of him. Reigning PGA Player of the Year, and world number one, Brooks Kopeka returns to Jeju to defend his 2018 title. With many players opening their tour here, don’t miss the day’s action. 

Friday 18th October 6:45PM GMT – Rugby Union: Bristol Bears v Bath 

The Premiership Rugby season gets underway with a rivalry match between the Bristol Bears and Bath at Ashton Gate. 

The 2019-20 Premiership Rugby season opens with a thrilling rivalry match between Somerset teams Bristol and Bath. Bath were a playoff contender last season but fell short. With numerous academy promotions, they will look to contend with a younger squad this season. Bristol will look to improve on a ninth place finish with a new team captain and some new additions. While difficult for either side to challenge the league’s status quo, anything is possible. Get ready, rugby union’s back.

Saturday 19th October 8:15AM GMT – Rugby Union: England v Australia 

In the first Quarter-final of the Rugby World Cup, England face Australia at the Showa Denko Dome in Ōita. 

England have established themselves as a title contender after a strong pool stage. With three wins in three matches played, England has shown what they can do. Now they will face an old rival in Australia. Australia finished second in their pool with three wins and a loss, as well as a habit to fall behind early. However, with England displaying such a high-scoring offence, will they be able to contend? Don’t miss what will be an unmissable match.

Sunday 20th October 3:30PM GMT – Football: Manchester United v Liverpool 

Manchester United face a tough challenge in the Premier League as they host Liverpool at Old Trafford. 

Manchester United find themselves struggling in the Premier League. They are 12th and have one win in their last five matches. However, they will look to upset a Liverpool squad who have gone 8-0 to start the season. After falling short of the Premier League title by a single point last year, Liverpool have exploded out of the gates. The Reds appear unstoppable and the question remains, can anyone beat them? Though the definite underdogs, United are often full of surprises. 

Other sports highlights from around the globe 

Honourable mentions around the globe go to the Rugby World Cup. After a thrilling pool stage, the Quarterfinals begin at the weekend. New Zealand face Ireland, Wales play France and Japan go head-to-head with South Africa. There is plenty of NFL action to enjoy. On Monday, the Packers play the Lions. Thursday Night Football is Cowboys versus Eagles while Stanford play UCLA in an exciting college rivalry match. Sunday sees the Broncos face the Chiefs. For football fans, the Euro 2020 qualifiers continue through the first half of the week. Of note, Greece play Bosnia and Herzegovina. In the MLS playoffs, Toronto FC play DC United on Saturday. Also on Saturday, Crystal Palace host Manchester City in the Premier League. In cricket, the third Test between India and South Africa begins in Ranchi on Saturday. The much-anticipated WBBLSydney rivalry takes place on Friday. On the European Tour, the Open de France gets underway on Thursday. In the MLB postseason, the NLCS and ALCS continue throughout the week. On Saturday, the Champions League of Darts begins in Leicester. On both the ATP and WTA tours, the Kremlin Open runs throughout the week. The week ends with MotoGP’s Japan Grand Prix.