Here's what our news editors have circled in their calendars this weekend:
Saturday, January 24th
Villarreal vs Real Madrid - 21:00 CET
There’s a juicy prime-time clash in LaLiga on Saturday as Real Madrid travel to Villarreal’s Ceramica stadium in a battle between second and third in the standings.
There is plenty to unpack ahead of this one. Real Madrid only installed Alvaro Arbeloa as their new head coach less than two weeks ago, after sacking Xabi Alonso. They then got dumped out of the Copa del Rey, but steadied things with wins in the league and Champions League, thrashing Monaco on Tuesday.
The biggest result of Arbeloa’s reign, however, might have come in San Sebastián last Sunday when Real Sociedad stunned LaLiga leaders Barcelona, to reduce the Catalans' lead to just one point. Suddenly, the title race felt very much back on.
Next up for Los Blancos are Marcelino’s formidable Yellow Submarine - the overachievers of the season to date, and certainly no pushovers. Villarreal have not fared too well in this fixture in recent times, however.
Real Madrid have won four of the last five meetings (drawing the other), and Villarreal haven’t beaten the Merengues since April 2023.
Bearing that head-to-head record in mind and Real Madrid’s strong recent form, the visitors will be strong favourites going into this one. What's more, with Barca playing on Sunday, they will have their eye on going top of the league. With the stakes so high, though, anything could happen!
Pat Dempsey
Sunday, January 25th
Day 8 at the Australian Open - all morning
We're reaching the business end of tennis' first Grand Slam of the season, with the fourth round of the Australian Open starting on Sunday with some tantalising match-ups.
On the men's side of the draw, world number one Carlos Alcaraz will take on 19th seed Tommy Paul. While Alcaraz is undoubtedly the favourite, Paul has beaten him in two of the four hard-court clashes that they've contested over the years, so the Spaniard won't have it easy in Melbourne.
The winner of that will play the winner of an equally enticing clash between home hero Alex De Minaur and world number 10 Alexander Bublik. De Minaur will have the whole nation behind him as he looks to end their 50-year wait for a male champion, but will face a serious challenge from Bublik, who is an absolute sensation on his day and is playing the best tennis of his career right now.
On the women's side, meanwhile, world number one Aryna Sabalenka will take on teenage sensation Victoria Mboko for the first time, while Coco Gauff will go up against Karolina Muchova. With Mboko and Muchova both genuinely elite players when at their best, the two biggest names on the WTA Tour could be seriously tested.
With a clash between Grand Slam semi-finalists Mirra Andreeva and Elina Svitolina also on the agenda along with a repeat of last year's five-set epic between Learner Tien and Daniil Medvedev, it promises to be a thrilling day of action.
Finley Crebolder
Arsenal vs Manchester United - 17:30 CET
What a difference a manager makes! After interim Manchester United boss Michael Carrick led his side to a superb 2-0 win over city rivals Manchester City last weekend, he now faces an even sterner test this Sunday as they take on Premier League front-runners Arsenal.
The return to a back four and more expansive football was on show at Old Trafford in that victory, but the Red Devils now come up against one of Europe's meanest defences. The Gunners have conceded just 14 goals in 22 league games, and have already beaten Man Utd in domestic football this season, winning 1-0 away from home on the opening day.
They are also unbeaten all season long in North London, and will be in confident mood after a midweek Champions League victory over Inter. One player to watch is Bukayo Saka, who hopes his strong record in this fixture helps him end a 12-game goal drought, as he directly contributed to a goal in three of his last four home games between the sides.
Under the lights at the Emirates, this has all the ingredients to be a real weekend blockbuster.
Josh Donaldson
Juventus vs Napoli - 18:00 CET
It’s a massive night of Serie A action in Turin on Sunday, as Luciano Spalletti’s Juventus welcome third-placed Napoli to the Allianz Stadium.
Only four points separate the two sides ahead of the clash, with reigning Scudetto champions Napoli desperately looking to keep pace with Inter Milan at the summit.
The Partenopei have won six of the previous nine head-to-head meetings with Juve, although head coach Antonio Conte has never managed a top-flight away victory against the Bianconeri in three attempts (D1, L2).
Spalletti’s men, who suffered a shock Serie A defeat to Cagliari last time out, will fancy their chances of bouncing back against Napoli, given they’re unbeaten on home soil since March 2025 (W13, D6).
It promises to be a thriller, so make sure you tune in!
Danny Clark
Monday, January 26th
Seattle Seahawks vs Los Angeles Rams - 00:30 CET
It's yet another NFC West playoff matchup for the Seahawks after they throttled the San Francisco 49ers 41-6 during the Divisional Round of the playoffs last week. The two teams will clash for the third and final time this season, with their previous matchup going into overtime for what some might even consider the NFL's most exciting game of the year, ultimately ending in a 38-37 win for Seattle.
Los Angeles have continued to find ways to win in the final moments during the playoffs this year, winning on a last-minute touchdown against the Carolina Panthers in the Wild Card, winning 34-31, and then again against the Chicago Bears in overtime during the Divisional Round, winning 20-17.
This time, it's the NFC Championship on the line.
The two teams split the regular season series, with the Rams winning the first matchup 21-19. They'll continue to be led by MVP-favourite quarterback Matthew Stafford, who has thrown for 561 yards and three touchdowns in these playoffs - all road games.
On the Seahawks' side, running back Kenneth Walker III had a career game in their win, posting 145 total yards and three rushing touchdowns. It was QB Sam Darnold's first-ever career playoff win and head coach Mike MacDonald's playoff debut. The team has not allowed a single touchdown in the past eight quarters they have played in - making them the best defence in these playoffs with the Houston Texans out.
Expect another intense and physical matchup between these division rivals as the winner moves on to the Super Bowl!
Eric Himmelheber