This Week in Sport: 21st – 27th October 2019
Another thrilling week in the sporting calendar lies in wait. Monday’s offering comes from the NFL as the New York Jets try and topple the undefeated Patriots. The showpiece of the MLB season begins on Tuesday with the World Series getting underway. The return of Champions League football is marked with an exciting clash this week between Ajax and Chelsea. The Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State Warriors will meet in a must watch Californian clash in the NBA. There is an exciting instalment of Premier League football on Friday night as Southampton take on Leicester City. The two Semifnals at the Rugby World Cup will play out at the weekend, whilst the Mexico Grand Prix takes place on Sunday in the Formula 1.
Monday 21st October 12:15AM GMT (Tuesday 22nd) – American Football: New York Jets v New England Patriots
In the NFL, the New York Jets face the undefeated New England Patriots at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford.
The New York Jets come off an invigorating win against the Dallas Cowboys. Now they will face the undefeated Patriots for the second time this season. In week 3, New England beat the Jets 30-14. Now, the Jets will look to take the momentum from their Dallas win and start a streak. The Patriots have encountered little resistance so far and Tom Brady leads a top-five passing offense. Can the Jets pull off an upset?
Tuesday 22nd October 12:08AM GMT(Wednesday 23rd) – Baseball: Houston Astros v Washington Nationals
The Houston Astros welcome the Washington Nationals to Minute Maid Park for Game 1 of the MLB World Series.
After 162 regular season games each and two exciting postseasons, the Houston Astros and the Washington Nationals will meet in the series that will define the last seven months. Houston ultimately proved too strong for the Yankees in the ALCS, winning the series by four games to two. Meanwhile, Washington swept St. Louis 4-0 in the NLCS and will hope to upset the odds in this best of seven series. Tuesday’s game marks a momentous juncture in National’s history, as they make their first ever appearance in a World Series. For Houston however, they are no strangers to this showpiece occasion, and they will be eyeing their second World Series win in three seasons.
Wednesday 23rd October 4:55PM GMT – Football: Ajax v Chelsea
The Champions League pool stage continues as Ajax host Chelsea at Amsterdam ArenA,
Ajax will welcome Chelsea to the Johan Cruyff Arena where the hosts will look to extend their perfect start in Group H. Ajax have won two out of two so far and are yet to concede, earning them top spot in the group. Chelsea meanwhile can ignite their return to Europe’s top table with a win in Amsterdam, having won just one of their opening two group outings. Two of Europe’s most dynamic young teams go head to head in this one, but who will come out on top?
Thursday 24th October 2:30AM GMT (Friday 25th) – Basketball: Golden State Warriors v Los Angeles Clippers
The Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles continue a new NBA season at the brand-new Chase Center in San Francisco.
The Golden State Warriors open their season without franchise mainstays Kevin Durant, Andre Iguodala and Klay Thompson. Durant and Iguodala left during the offseason and Thompson is out with injury. In their new arena, they will face a new-look Clippers team. The Los Angeles side now boasts Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, making them a contender in the West. The Clippers are going to be a threat to the Warriors this season, but can they capitalise early?
Friday 25th October 7:00PM GMT – Football: Southampton v Leicester City
Southampton and Leicester City face off at St Mary’s Stadium in the Premier League.
Leicester have the opportunity to move up to second in the league as they take on Southampton at St. Mary’s Stadium. The Foxes recorded their fifth win of the season last time out and remain on track to secure their first top four finish since their league winning season. Southampton meanwhile have been flirting with the relegation zone all season long and will be desperate to put some distance between themselves and the bottom three in this Friday night clash.
Saturday 26th October 8:00AM GMT – Rugby Union: England v New Zealand
The Semifinals of the Rugby World Cup begin with England and New Zealand facing off at the International Stadium in Yokohama.
England and New Zealand will lock horns at International Stadium Yokohama, the location of next week’s final. Both teams impressed in their respective Quarterfinals, with England dispatching Australia 40-16, whilst the All Blacks demolished the Irish by 46 points to 14. England are hoping to qualify for their first World Cup final since 2007 but they meet a New Zealand team that have aspirations of winning their third straight World Cup title. Many believe the eventual World Cup winner will come from this Semi-final, so don’t miss the biggest game of the competition so far.
Sunday 27th October 6:10PM GMT – Formula 1: Mexican Grand Prix
The F1 season continues with the Mexican Grand Prix at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City.
We’re into the final stretch of the F1 season. Mexico is the fourth from last race and Lewis Hamilton can secure the Drivers’ Championship if all goes well. If Hamilton can secure a podium finish and his teammate Valtteri Bottas doesn’t, Hamilton wins his sixth Championship. However, Bottas comes off a win in Japan and has been competitive all season. It will be hard to keep Bottas out of the top three. This should be a thrilling race that you won’t want to miss.
Other sports highlights from around the globe
Honourable mentions around the globe go to the cricket as India host South Africa in the 3rd Test of the series. In golf, The Challenge: Japan Skins takes place this week in the build-up to the ZOZO Championship on the PGA Tour. The Portugal Masters will play out this week on the European Tour. There are two competitions to watch out for on the ATP World Tour as the Erste Bank Open and Swiss Indoors Basel begin in earnest. Two local rivals will battle it out in the NBA as the LA Clippers meet the LA Lakers at the Staples Center, whilst reigning champions, the Toronto Raptors host the New Orleans Pelicans in the season’s curtain raiser. There will be further meetings of playoff candidates this week as the Philadelphia 76ers entertain the Boston Celtics and the Houston Rockets battle it out with the Milwaukee Bucks. The Six Day Series takes place this week in the world of Track Cycling. A full fixture list in the Champions League will play out this week, with Inter Milan hosting Borussia Dortmund and Atletico Madrid facing Bayer Leverkusen. On the WTA World Tour, the Elite Trophy Zhuhai will play out this week. In the MLS, the conference semifinals take place with New York City versus Toronto FC set to be an exciting clash along with the LA derby between the Galaxy and LAFC. The PDC Tour continues this week as the Unibet European Championship gets underway at Lokhalle in Germany. Bath Rugby host Exeter Chiefs in Premiership Rugby action. There is plenty of NCAA College Football to watch out for on Saturday, with the showpiece clashes pitting LSU against Auburn and Ohio State against Wisconsin. In heavyweight boxing, Derek Chisora will return to the ring as he goes up against David Price who is replacing the injured Joseph Parker. The weekend’s NFL action is headlined by Green Bay’s trip to Kansas City and San Francisco’s clash versus Carolina. The 2019 Champions League finalists will meet once more in the Premier League on Sunday as Liverpool welcome Spurs to Anfield. Finally, there is MotoGP action to look forward to as the Australian Grand Prix gets underway.
A week of world class sport awaits. Whatever you’re watching, enjoy!
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Photos by NFL, Houston Astros, Chelsea FC, NBA, Premier League, England Rugby, Formula 1
Written and information correct on 20th October at 6:30pm GMT