Football viewers can look forward to extended action from the Premier League, La Liga and Serie A, with matches scheduled to run from Friday 10 to Monday 13 December 2021.
The key match from this weekend of Premier League football sees Liverpool host Aston Villa at Anfield, with Steven Gerrard’s return set to be the major narrative. The new Villa manager holds iconic status with the Reds – having played more than 700 matches in a Liverpool shirt from 1998 to 2015 – but he will be looking to put a big dent in their title hopes come Saturday afternoon.
“You are trying to control your emotions, but inside you are kicking every ball. I want to coach from the side, I want to be visible and help them, guide them. Inside is what was with me as a player, that will to win, that drive…. I hate losing,” said Gerrard.
The round opens on Friday evening with a crunch clash between promoted sides Brentford and Watford, who are both very keen on the three points as they look to ensure top-flight survival, while Saturday’s early kick-off sees Manchester City welcoming Wolverhampton Wanderers to the Etihad Stadium.
Wolves have proved tricky opponents for the Citizens in the past, and the Midlands club have a new lease on life under manager Bruno Lage this season, but Pep Guardiola’s side will start the match as clear favourites to claim all three points.
“We are trying to create a new cycle and we want to improve every day. After 10 or 15 years, when I finish, then it is time to relax and be comfortable. But when I look back I don’t want to have wasted time just being there. That is what I want from my players,” said Lage.
Saturday also features Arsenal and Chelsea looking for home wins against Southampton and Leeds United respectively, while Sunday sees Crystal Palace host Everton in the headline clash, with Patrick Vieira hoping his side continue their progress.
The Eagles have made major strides under the former Gunners midfielder, but there are still rough edges. “I was a little bit disappointed with how we managed the game but that’s just showing the team needs to grow,” said Vieira after a recent 3-3 draw with Burnley. “There is a maturity we didn’t have today to really manage the game better.”
SuperSport is also the only place to get English commentary on the legendary La Liga, where the top match for this round is the Madrid derby (El Derbi Madrileño) between Real and Atletico at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on the evening of Sunday 12 December.
Not only a fearsome clash over the capital city’s bragging rights, this match could be key in the title race, with Los Blancos hoping to claim three key points against the defending champions and boost their hopes of reclaiming the Spanish crown.
“Since the last international break the team has improved and we’ve looked for increased continuity,” said Real manager Carlo Ancelotti. “We are confident and have a good team dynamic. We have to keep it up because we have some important games. We’re coming into this point of the season in good shape, I have absolute faith that we’ll do a good job up until Christmas.”
This round of La Liga action also sees Sevilla face a tricky test with a trip to the Basque region to face Athletic Bilbao, whose coach Marcelino is hoping to see more ruthlessness from his team if they are to climb the table and challenge for a European spot.
“We need to take our chances, capitalise on the good passing play that we produce,” said the Bilbao boss. “If we can take this next step then we will be competing with bigger clubs, as Athletic Bilbao deserves to be because of her history and importance.”
Other games to watch from Spain’s top flight this round includes Barcelona visiting Osasuna and looking to continue their progress under new boss Xavi; Real Sociedad looking to keep up their title challenge with a tricky clash away to Real Betis; and a Monday-night relegation six-pointer between Cadiz and Granada to close out Matchday 17.
This round of Serie A action opens on the evening of Friday 10 December with the ‘Derby della Lanterna’ (derby of the lanterns) between Genoa and Sampdoria from the Luigi Ferraris Stadium. The derby’s name is derived from the Torre della Lanterna, the ancient landmark and the main lighthouse for the city’s port.
Regarded as one of Italian football’s great derbies, this clash features two teams looking to push themselves away from the danger of the relegation zone, with Genoa having turned to Andriy Shevchenko to try and turn their fortunes around.
“We know the importance of this derby in historical terms and also what it means to both teams with their current situations on the log,” said the Ukrainian. “We must play for pride and for points. The emotions will be strong, but we must focus on our plan and our desire to win.”
Saturday sees heavyweights Juventus and Milan chasing away wins over Venezia and Udinese respectively, while Fiorentina could produce another thrilling performance when they welcome Salernitana to Stadio Artemio Franchi. La Viola will look to the striking exploits of Dusan Vlahovic, who is regarded as the hottest property on the transfer market ahead of January’s window.
Sunday sees Napoli and Internazionale looking to keep up their title pushes with matches at home to Empoli and Cagliari respectively. Inter will hope that Turkish midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu continues the great form he has shown since his switch from AC Milan in the offseason.
“He [Calhanoglu] had another great performance and another game in which he proved to be growing, then he came back again today on the spot-kick,” said former Inter defender Marco Andreolli. “Maybe he didn’t have the best condition at the beginning of the season, he had to play and train continuously, but he is growing a lot and has shown it.”
The round wraps up on the evening of Monday 13 December with Roma hosting Spezia. The Giallorossi have unearthed a new gem in Ghanaian attacker Felix Afena-Gyan, who recently stole the headlines with a brace against Genoa.
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Premier League broadcast details, 10-12 December 2021
All times CAT
Friday 10 December
22:00: Brentford v Watford – LIVE on SuperSport Premier League and SuperSport Maximo 1
Saturday 11 December
14:30: Manchester City v Wolverhampton Wanderers – LIVE on SuperSport Premier League and SuperSport Maximo 1
17:00: Goal Rush – LIVE on SuperSport Premier League
17:00: Arsenal v Southampton – LIVE on SuperSport Variety 1
17:00: Chelsea v Leeds United– LIVE on SuperSport Variety 3 and SuperSport Maximo 1
17:00: Liverpool v Aston Villa– LIVE on SuperSport Variety 2, SuperSport Maximo 360 and SuperSport GOtv Football
19:30: Norwich City v Manchester United – LIVE on SuperSport Premier League and SuperSport Maximo 1
Sunday 12 December
16:00: Brighton & Hove Albion v Tottenham Hotspur – LIVE on SuperSport Premier League and SuperSport Maximo 1
16:00: Burnley v West Ham United – LIVE on SuperSport Variety 2, SuperSport Maximo 360 and SuperSport GOtv Football
16:00: Leicester City v Newcastle United – LIVE on SuperSport Variety 3
18:30: Crystal Palace v Everton – LIVE on SuperSport Premier League and SuperSport Maximo 1
La Liga broadcast details, 10-13 December 2021
All times CAT
Friday 10 December
22:00: Mallorca v Celta Vigo – LIVE on SuperSport La Liga, SuperSport Maximo 2 and SuperSport GOtv La Liga
Saturday 11 December
15:00: Espanyol v Levante – LIVE on SuperSport La Liga, SuperSport Maximo 2 and SuperSport GOtv La Liga
17:15: Alaves v Getafe – LIVE on SuperSport La Liga, SuperSport Maximo 2 and SuperSport GOtv La Liga
19:30: Valencia v Elche – LIVE on SuperSport La Liga, SuperSport Maximo 2, SuperSport Maximo 360, SuperSport GOtv Football and SuperSport GOtv La Liga
22:00: Athletic Bilbao v Sevilla – LIVE on SuperSport La Liga, SuperSport Maximo 2 and SuperSport GOtv La Liga
Sunday 12 December
15:00: Villarreal v Rayo Vallecano – LIVE on SuperSport La Liga, SuperSport Maximo 2 and SuperSport GOtv La Liga
17:15: Osasuna v Barcelona – LIVE on SuperSport La Liga, SuperSport Maximo 2 and SuperSport GOtv La Liga
19:30: Real Betis v Real Sociedad – LIVE on SuperSport La Liga, SuperSport Maximo 2 and SuperSport GOtv La Liga
22:00: Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid – LIVE on SuperSport La Liga, SuperSport Maximo 2 and SuperSport GOtv La Liga
Monday 13 December
22:00: Cadiz v Granada – LIVE on SuperSport La Liga, SuperSport Maximo 2, SuperSport Maximo 360, SuperSport GOtv Football and SuperSport GOtv La Liga
Serie A broadcast details, 10-13 December 2021
All times CAT
Friday 10 December
21:45: Genoa v Sampdoria – LIVE on SuperSport Football, SuperSport Maximo 360 and SuperSport GOtv Select 1
Saturday 11 December
16:00: Fiorentina v Salernitana – LIVE on SuperSport Football and SuperSport GOtv Select 1
19:00: Venezia v Juventus – LIVE on SuperSport Football and SuperSport GOtv Select 1
21:45: Udinese v AC Milan – LIVE on SuperSport Football, SuperSport Maximo 1, SuperSport Maximo 360 and SuperSport GOtv Select 1
Sunday 12 December
13:30: Torino v Bologna – LIVE on SuperSport Football, SuperSport Maximo 360 and SuperSport GOtv Select 1
16:00: Verona v Atalanta – LIVE on SuperSport Football and SuperSport GOtv Select 1
19:00: Napoli v Empoli – LIVE on SuperSport Football, SuperSport Maximo 360 and SuperSport GOtv Select 1
19:00: Sassuolo v Lazio – LIVE on SuperSport Variety 3
21:45: Internazionale v Cagliari – LIVE on SuperSport Football, SuperSport Maximo 1 and SuperSport GOtv Select 1
Monday 13 December
21:45: Roma v Spezia – LIVE on SuperSport Football, SuperSport Maximo 1 and SuperSport GOtv Select 1
