🔗 Share this article English Top-Flight Pre-Match Buzz, La Liga, Afcon Knockout Stage and Celtic v Rangers – Saturday Action Introduction Hello. It’s … (checks diary) … Saturday. Following the holiday blur, it’s now day three in the 2026 house although a schedule of only four top-flight matches indicates things aren't back to normal. Nevertheless, for many out there, this is the last holiday weekend so a perfect opportunity to head to the match. That selection of four EPL games includes Aston Villa v Nottingham Forest at 12.30pm while, starting simultaneously, we have the not-so-small issue of an Old Firm derby. One with particular intrigue given the current chaos at Celtic. In the evening at half past five, leaders Arsenal travel to a Bournemouth side who are struggling for victories but are still capable of playing out entertaining draws with the bigger sides. While the lower leagues have a day off, there is plenty of action in Serie A, La Liga and Ligue 1 while we’ve entered the knockout phase of Afcon. Senegal v Sudan at 4pm and Mali v Tunisia at 7pm keep the fun flowing. As usual with matchday live, we’re keen to hear from you so hit us with comments and emails. Are you going to a game? Has the new year brought renewed hope for your club? Or simply just tell us if your day consists of wall-to-wall football on the tellybox as you polish off the final chocolate oranges. I think we can all agree that the caramel version is nowhere near as good. Right, it's time to begin the weekend's action! Early Contender for Longest Traveller An early contender for longest traveller. Christer Aakeroy emails this: “Journeying more than 4,400 miles from Manhattan, Kansas – the 'Little Apple' – to support my beloved Seagulls, I really hope that they live up to their undoubted potential and bring plenty of warmth and joy to the Amex this afternoon.” Brighton host Burnley (three o'clock) so statistics suggest a positive outcome, Christer. Then again, this piece of data might be worrying: Burnley are without a loss in their last seven league visits to Brighton (W2 D5) since a defeat in August 2013. They’ve never lost at the Amex Stadium in the Premier League (Two wins, four draws). Live Coverage Galore For fans of live text commentary, we offer extensive coverage. And more! 12.30pm Aston Villa v Nottingham Forest – Coverage by Sarah 12.30pm Celtic v Rangers – me, David Tindall 5.30pm Bournemouth v Arsenal – Barry Glendenning Additionally, live updates from the 3pm EPL games will be provided by Billy Munday in his clockwatch while Dominic Booth will cover the opening Afcon knockout matches (4pm and 7pm kick-offs). Also, keep your eyes peeled for live coverage of the fifth and final Ashes Test (Tim de Lisle and Angus Fontaine) and the PDC World darts final (Rob Smyth)! Last Night's Results from the Continent Here are some key European scores from Friday. Serie A Cagliari 0-1 AC Milan La Liga Rayo Vallecano 1-1 Getafe Ligue 1 Toulouse 0-3 Lens Over in Italy, Rafael Leao marked his comeback with the opening Serie A strike of the new year. His 50th-minute winner put Milan at the summit of the table although local rivals Inter can return to the summit when they host Bologna on Sunday. Serie A Table (Top 5): 1. AC Milan – 38 pts 2. Inter Milan – 36 pts 3. Napoli – 34 pts 4. Roma – 33 pts 5. Juventus – 32 pts Meanwhile in France, Lens increased their lead at the top to four points over champions PSG with a convincing three-nil victory at eighth-place Toulouse, who were significantly hindered by being having a player sent off after just 20 minutes. Lens have now won seven consecutive matches. They couldn’t, could they? Ligue 1 Table (Top 5): 1. Lens – 40 pts 2. PSG – 36 pts 3. Marseille – 32 pts 4. Lille – 32 pts 5. Lyon – 27 pts Get In Touch Off to a top-flight game this afternoon? Or perhaps you’ve made a maverick trip to the Afcon? Send your thoughts and hopes with us.
Introduction Hello. It’s … (checks diary) … Saturday. Following the holiday blur, it’s now day three in the 2026 house although a schedule of only four top-flight matches indicates things aren't back to normal. Nevertheless, for many out there, this is the last holiday weekend so a perfect opportunity to head to the match. That selection of four EPL games includes Aston Villa v Nottingham Forest at 12.30pm while, starting simultaneously, we have the not-so-small issue of an Old Firm derby. One with particular intrigue given the current chaos at Celtic. In the evening at half past five, leaders Arsenal travel to a Bournemouth side who are struggling for victories but are still capable of playing out entertaining draws with the bigger sides. While the lower leagues have a day off, there is plenty of action in Serie A, La Liga and Ligue 1 while we’ve entered the knockout phase of Afcon. Senegal v Sudan at 4pm and Mali v Tunisia at 7pm keep the fun flowing. As usual with matchday live, we’re keen to hear from you so hit us with comments and emails. Are you going to a game? Has the new year brought renewed hope for your club? Or simply just tell us if your day consists of wall-to-wall football on the tellybox as you polish off the final chocolate oranges. I think we can all agree that the caramel version is nowhere near as good. Right, it's time to begin the weekend's action!
Early Contender for Longest Traveller An early contender for longest traveller. Christer Aakeroy emails this: “Journeying more than 4,400 miles from Manhattan, Kansas – the 'Little Apple' – to support my beloved Seagulls, I really hope that they live up to their undoubted potential and bring plenty of warmth and joy to the Amex this afternoon.” Brighton host Burnley (three o'clock) so statistics suggest a positive outcome, Christer. Then again, this piece of data might be worrying: Burnley are without a loss in their last seven league visits to Brighton (W2 D5) since a defeat in August 2013. They’ve never lost at the Amex Stadium in the Premier League (Two wins, four draws).
Live Coverage Galore For fans of live text commentary, we offer extensive coverage. And more! 12.30pm Aston Villa v Nottingham Forest – Coverage by Sarah 12.30pm Celtic v Rangers – me, David Tindall 5.30pm Bournemouth v Arsenal – Barry Glendenning Additionally, live updates from the 3pm EPL games will be provided by Billy Munday in his clockwatch while Dominic Booth will cover the opening Afcon knockout matches (4pm and 7pm kick-offs). Also, keep your eyes peeled for live coverage of the fifth and final Ashes Test (Tim de Lisle and Angus Fontaine) and the PDC World darts final (Rob Smyth)!
Last Night's Results from the Continent Here are some key European scores from Friday. Serie A Cagliari 0-1 AC Milan La Liga Rayo Vallecano 1-1 Getafe Ligue 1 Toulouse 0-3 Lens Over in Italy, Rafael Leao marked his comeback with the opening Serie A strike of the new year. His 50th-minute winner put Milan at the summit of the table although local rivals Inter can return to the summit when they host Bologna on Sunday. Serie A Table (Top 5): 1. AC Milan – 38 pts 2. Inter Milan – 36 pts 3. Napoli – 34 pts 4. Roma – 33 pts 5. Juventus – 32 pts Meanwhile in France, Lens increased their lead at the top to four points over champions PSG with a convincing three-nil victory at eighth-place Toulouse, who were significantly hindered by being having a player sent off after just 20 minutes. Lens have now won seven consecutive matches. They couldn’t, could they? Ligue 1 Table (Top 5): 1. Lens – 40 pts 2. PSG – 36 pts 3. Marseille – 32 pts 4. Lille – 32 pts 5. Lyon – 27 pts
Get In Touch Off to a top-flight game this afternoon? Or perhaps you’ve made a maverick trip to the Afcon? Send your thoughts and hopes with us.