This Week in Sport: 29th December − 4th January 2025
We welcome in 2026 with some unmissable sport. On Monday, Zambia face Morocco in the Africa Cup of Nations. On Tuesday, Arsenal host Aston Villa in the Premier League. On Wednesday, the San Antonio Spurs take on the New York Knicks in the NBA. That’s followed by the Indiana Hoosiers meeting the Alabama Crimson Tide in the NCAA College Football Playoffs on Thursday, and on Friday, the Brisbane Heat welcome the Melbourne Stars to The Gabba in the Big Bash League.
The first weekend of 2026 is also packed with great fixtures. On Saturday, the Final of the PDC World Darts Championship takes place, and on Sunday, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens meet for an NFL clash with a Playoff place on the line.
Africa Cup of Nations: Zambia v Morocco
Monday 29th December 7:00PM GMT/8:00PM Local
Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat
Zambia take on Morocco in the Africa Cup of Nations at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat. Group A has turned out to be surprisingly competitive, with all four teams still in with a chance of qualifying for the knockouts on the final day of play. Zambia have recorded two draws so far, and enter this match in third place. Any result may see them through to the next round, but a win would be especially sweet for a Patson Daka-led team that has not beaten Morocco since 2019 and is on a five-game losing streak against the continental juggernauts. Zambia has not progressed past the group stage since their title-winning run in 2012. Meanwhile, Morocco can finish no lower than third in the group, but a draw against Mali in their most recent match was a definite blow to one of the tournament favourites. Can the talented hosts, led by Golden Boot contender Brahim Díaz, bounce back with a win to capture a group many fans thought they would dominate? The final order of Group A will also be determined by the result of the match between Comoros and Mali, which kicks off at the same time, in Casablanca.
Premier League: Arsenal v Aston Villa
Tuesday 30th December 8:15PM GMT/8:15PM Local
Emirates Stadium, London
Arsenal host Aston Villa in the Premier League at the Emirates Stadium in London. Heading into this crucial match, Arsenal remain atop the Premier League with a two-point lead over second-place Manchester City. The Gunners are on a five-game win streak in all competitions and possess the second best goal difference in the league. However, if any team can best Arsenal, it's Aston Villa, who beat them in the reverse fixture earlier this month. Villa’s win streak across all competitions stands at eleven matches after a come-from-behind victory against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge over the weekend. Sitting third in the table, the Villans are beginning to look like genuine title contenders. However, goalscoring has sometimes been an issue for the Midlands club, with the recent rise of Morgan Rogers serving as a vital development for the club. Will Villa be able to complete the season sweep of the league leaders and make the race for the Premier League title all the more exciting?
NBA: San Antonio Spurs v New York Knicks
Wednesday 31st December 12:00AM GMT (1st)/6:00PM Local
Frost Bank Arena, San Antonio
The San Antonio Spurs host the New York Knicks in the NBA at the Frost Bank Arena in San Antonio. This rematch of the NBA Cup Final sees the Spurs in fine form, marked by two dominant wins over the NBA-leading Oklahoma City Thunder last week. With Victor Wembanyama fully recovered from the injury that sidelined him for a month, the sky is seemingly the limit for this young San Antonio squad that is slowly closing the gap at the top of the Western Conference. While they lost their last meeting with the Knicks, they enter this one at full strength and with the knowledge that New York has struggled a little on the road this season. As for the Knicks, they are locked in their own battle at the top of the Eastern Conference. With an 8-2 record in their last 10 games, they have truly established themselves as a title contender this season. Despite their occasional struggles away from Madison Square Garden, will the megastar tandem of Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns once again power them to victory?
NCAA College Football: Indiana v Alabama
Thursday 1st January 9:00PM GMT/1:00PM Local
Rose Bowl, Pasadena
The Indiana Hoosiers face the Alabama Crimson Tide in the NCAA College Football Playoff Quarterfinals at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. The undefeated Hoosiers will look to take one step closer to the National Championship amid undeniably the best season in the team's history. Heisman-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza has been one of college football's most consistent players all season and will look to lead the team to victory in their first-ever meeting with the legendary Crimson Tide. Meanwhile, Alabama seems to have been bolstered by their disappointing loss against the Georgia Bulldogs in the SEC Championship earlier in December. They overturned a 17-0 deficit in the first round of the playoffs against the Oklahoma Sooners to reach this Rose Bowl matchup, showing just how tenacious this Alabama roster can be. Now they will attempt to break the hearts of the Bloomington faithful as they continue their pursuit of the team’s 19th National Championship. A Semi-final against the Oregon Ducks or Texas Tech Red Raiders in the Peach Bowl awaits the winner of this game.
Big Bash League: Brisbane Heat v Melbourne Stars
Friday 2nd January 8:15AM GMT/6:15PM Local
The Gabba, Brisbane
The Brisbane Heat host the Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League at the Gabba in Brisbane. The Heat enter the week sitting in third place in the table. Matt Renshaw has been one of the league's best batters so far and looks set to continue being the powerhouse the Heat need to chase their second title in the last three seasons. Meanwhile, the first-place Stars are off to a perfect start to the season behind the batting prowess of Sam Harper and the clinical bowling of Tom Curran, Haris Rauf, and Peter Siddle. As the Stars eye another deep playoff run and their maiden Big Bash title, they will look to mark their first-ever 5-0 start at Brisbane’s expense. Historically, the Heat have held the upper hand in this matchup, boasting a 13-8 series lead. However, will they have an answer to Melbourne’s white-hot start to the season, even with the home advantage provided by the Gabba?
PDC Darts: World Darts Championship - Grand Final
Saturday 3rd January 8:00PM GMT/8:00PM Local
Alexandra Palace, London
The PDC World Darts Championship concludes at Alexandra Palace in London. Entering the week, four of the top five seeds in the competition still remain in contention for the grand prize. Luke Littler, the top overall seed and defending champion, is seeking to become the first player since Gary Anderson in 2016 to successfully defend his title at the tournament. Furthermore, he would also become the youngest person to win multiple titles at the event. However, the likes of Luke Humphries, Michael Van Gerwen, and Jonny Clayton are all eager to topple Luke the Nuke. There are also a number of wildcards left in the tournament, from lower-ranked Order of Merit players to underdogs enjoying Cinderella runs. That said, the fifth-seeded Clayton will be the first of the contenders to get a shot at Littler, as the two men will meet in the Semifinals if the seeding holds. Play continues throughout the week, beginning with the first matches of the fourth round on Monday.
NFL: Pittsburgh Steelers v Baltimore Ravens
Sunday 4th January 1:20AM GMT (5th)/8:20PM Local
Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh
The Pittsburgh Steelers host the Baltimore Ravens at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on the final day of the NFL regular season. This game is a simple win-and-in for both teams in terms of the NFL Playoffs. The Steelers, looking to secure their first division title since 2020, have already beaten the Ravens once already this season. However, they will be without wide receiver DK Metcalf, who was vital in that previous game against Baltimore. Furthermore, failure to reach the playoffs potentially might mark the end of quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ legendary NFL career. Meanwhile, a win for the Ravens would not only see them steal the AFC North crown and a place in the playoffs, but also cap off an incredible turnaround for a squad that began the season 1-5. However, the status of quarterback Lamar Jackson remains uncertain, and the Ravens will be at a distinct disadvantage if he is unable to recover from a recent back injury in time for this match-up. The Steelers have won four of their last five home games against Baltimore. Can they do it again when the result matters most?
Photo by: Alabama Football
Written and information correct on 29th December 2025 at 6AM GMT.
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