This Week in Sport: 8th December − 14th December 2025
A busy week of amazing sport lies ahead. On Monday, the Toronto Maple Leafs face the Tampa Bay Lightning in the NHL. On Tuesday, India host South Africa for the first of five T20 International matches. On Wednesday, Real Madrid take on Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League. That’s followed on Thursday by the start of the World Darts Championship, and on Friday, the Golden State Warriors meet the Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA.
There’s plenty of action at the weekend too. On Saturday, Chelsea face Everton in the Premier League, and on Sunday, there’s a pivotal NFL clash, as the New England Patriots host the Buffalo Bills.
NHL: Toronto Maple Leafs v Tampa Bay Lightning
Monday 8th December 12:30AM GMT (9th)/7:30PM Local
Scotiabank Arena, Toronto
The Toronto Maple Leafs host the Tampa Bay Lightning in the NHL at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. This clash marks a crucial match-up in one of hockey’s tightest divisional races. Just four points separate these two teams, who meet for the first time this season, with the Leafs eager to properly join the Lightning in the Atlantic Division title race. The Leafs have won three of their last four as they look for an end-of-year surge. Meanwhile, the Lightning have been streaky, entering this match-up on a three-game losing streak after riding a seven-game winning streak. The Lightning desperately need this win to avoid losing ground to the Boston Bruins, Montreal Canadiens and Detroit Red Wings, who currently stand as their primary rivals for the division title. Watch out for the battle between the Maple Leafs’ goal-scoring trio of John Tavares, William Nylander, and Auston Matthews, and the Lightning’s Andrei Vasilevskiy, who is ranked in the top ten of most goal-tending metrics this season.
Cricket in India: India v South Africa (1st T20I)
Tuesday 9th December 1:30PM GMT/7:00PM Local
Barabati Stadium, Cuttack
India host South Africa in the first of five T20 Internationals matches, at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack. Heading into the final format of South Africa’s month-long tour, there is parity between the two cricketing powerhouses in terms of series wins. The visitors swept the two Tests between the two sides, including a monumental 408-run victory in the second Test. India then responded by winning two of the three ODI matches, including a dominant nine-wicket win, over the weekend in the deciding game. That just leaves the T20 Internationals, a format that likely favours the hosts. 2025 has seen India go 13-2 across 15 completed T20I matches, which puts them firmly in the driver’s seat for next year’s T20 World Cup. Meanwhile, South Africa are 5-9 in the format this year, including a loss to minnows Namibia two months ago. While the visitors have earned some big wins this year as well, they will be looking for a boost of confidence before next year’s World Cup.
UEFA Champions League: Real Madrid v Manchester City
Wednesday 10th December 8:00PM GMT/9:00PM Local
Bernabéu, Madrid
Real Madrid host Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League at the Bernabéu in Madrid. Real Madrid find themselves in fifth in the Champions League table, matching the records of Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, and Inter Milan, but trailing the three juggernauts in terms of goal difference. Kylian Mbappé currently leads the Golden Boot race, with nine goals in five matches as Madrid hunt for their 16th Champions League title. Meanwhile, Manchester City find themselves in ninth after a disappointing loss to Bayer Leverkusen in their last outing. With just three matches left in the league stage, City need to beat the team that eliminated them last season, to move up the standings into the coveted top eight positions. Furthermore, this match will provide fans with a thrilling preview of next year’s World Cup, now that Mbappé’s France and Erling Haaland’s Norway, who is third in the Golden Boot standings, have been drawn into the same World Cup group.
PDC Darts: Paddy Power World Darts Championship Day 1
Thursday 11th December 7:00PM GMT/7:00PM Local
Alexandria Palace, London
The World Darts Championship begins at Alexandra Palace in London. The tournament is newly expanded for this year’s edition, with 128 participants and a record £5,000,000 prize pool. World number one, Luke Littler, will enter as the defending champion and will look to make the tournament’s first successful title defence since 2016. Littler has won six major titles in 2025, including most recently at the Players Championship. However, he will face tough competition from his closest rival, world number two Luke Humphries. Humphries is also having an exceptional year, having won the PDC World Masters and Premier League Darts titles. Elsewhere, 2025 runner-up Michael van Gerwen will look to bounce back and become just the second player, after the legendary Phil Taylor, to win four World Championships.
NBA: Golden State Warriors v Minnesota Timberwolves
Friday 12th December 3:00AM GMT (13th)/7:00PM Local
Chase Center, San Francisco
The Golden State Warriors host the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Chase Center in San Francisco. The Warriors and Timberwolves are jockeying for position in a crowded Western Conference playoff picture, with both teams hoping to avoid the play-in tournament come the end of the season. Meeting for the first time this season, this match-up is a rematch of last year’s Conference Semifinal, where the Timberwolves beat the Warriors 4-1. Entering the week, the Wolves are riding a five-game winning streak, while the Warriors are hovering around a .500 record. Furthermore, this game pits the Wolves’ Anthony Edwards, widely seen as one of the future faces of the league, against living legend Steph Curry, with both men leading their respective teams in scoring.
Premier League: Chelsea v Everton
Saturday 13th December 3:00PM GMT/3:00PM Local
Stamford Bridge, Chelsea
Chelsea host Everton in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge in London. Chelsea enter this match in fifth place, looking for a reversal of fortunes in domestic play. They are winless in three matches, having drawn with Arsenal and Bournemouth, and suffering a shock loss to Leeds United. With a vital match against Aston Villa later in the month, this is a must-win for the Blues. Meanwhile, Everton have emerged as one of the surprise stories of the season. After finishing no higher than 10th in the last six seasons, the Toffees are currently in sixth place and just one point behind Chelsea. A balanced attack and a new home ground have helped Everton turn the corner and challenge for European football. However, Everton have not beaten Chelsea since 2023, have not won at Stamford Bridge in the league since 1994, and have been outscored 7-0 in their last three meetings. Can they find a historic win? Or will Chelsea continue their dominance over the side from Liverpool at Stamford Bridge?
NFL: New England Patriots v Buffalo Bills
Sunday 14th December 6:00PM GMT/1:00PM Local
Gillette Stadium, Foxborough
The New England Patriots host the Buffalo Bills in the NFL, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough. The Patriots, under first-year head coach and team legend Mike Vrabel, have stormed to the NFL’s joint-best record of 11-2, with just two losses and a 10-game winning streak entering the week. Quarterback Drake Maye is flourishing in his sophomore season and the team is well on their way to the first Playoff appearance since 2021 and their first division title since 2019. Meanwhile, the Buffalo Bills, led by reigning MVP Josh Allen, need this win to keep pace with the Patriots and keep their streak of division titles alive for the sixth year in a row. The Bills remain one of the best teams in the league, but they have struggled away from home, only managing a 3-3 record on the road. Furthermore, they haven’t beaten the Patriots in Foxborough since 2022. Will they be able to find the win and keep the divisional battle alive?
Photo by: Chelsea FC
Written and information correct on 8th December 2025 at 6AM GMT.
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