WEEK AHEAD: The start of a new sporting week – what can we look forward to?
MONDAY
The week warms up with the hustle and bustle of the NFL as last season’s Super Bowl winners the Tampa Bay Buccaneers take on the New England Patriots, live at 01:00 on Sky Sports. A long wait till the evening proves to be worth it with the conclusion of the Darts World Grand Prix first round matches at 18:00.
TUESDAY
Tuesday has a similar look to it when the Las Vegas Riders look to continue their perfect start to the season against the Los Angeles Chargers. The second round of darts gets under way from 19:00 on Sky Sports.
WEDNESDAY
Could there be a shootout on Wednesday? Italy will be once again looking to hit the bullseye when they face Spain in Nations League semi-final, a rerun of their nail-biting semi from the Euros. It looks to be another fascinating contest and is not one to miss on Sky Sports at 19:45.
THURSDAY
Europe may have fallen well short in the Ryder Cup last week, but as it happens both the Open de Espana and the Nevada-based Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, that get underway on Thursday, are currently held by Europeans, in Martin Laird and Jon Rahm.
Those on the course will be hoping to hit plenty of greens, while in front of the dart board red is likely to be the colour of choice.
The evening brings the second Nations League semi-final and another cracker in prospect as world number one ranked Belgium take on fourth ranked France in a match where there is sure to be no love lost.
FRIDAY
The NFL continues early on Friday morning with the Seattle Seahawks travelling down the West Coast to take on the Los Angeles Rams. If tries rather than touch downs are more your thing, then you’re in luck as Harlequins are in action against Bristol Bears from 19:00 on BT Sport.
You can follow both golf tournaments from early afternoon on Sky Sports. Sit back for the semi-final of the darts or catch the first of the World Cup qualifiers live at 19:45, when Wales travel to face the Czech Republic in Prague.
SATURDAY
Saturday brings a bit of everything. The third round of the golf gets underway in the Open de Espana from 12:30 on Sky Sports, before more rugby action with Saracens against Newcastle Falcons on BT Sport at 14:30.
There are three Home Nations World Cup qualifiers, beginning with Scotland v Israel at 17:00 (Sky Sports). England can be expected to cruise past Andorra later at 19:45 (ITV), but it will be a tough task for Northern Ireland when they play Switzerland (Sky Sports).
The Darts World Grand Prix concludes with the grand final from the Morningside Arena in Leicester. Catch every dart from 20:30 on Sky Sports.
SUNDAY
There’s no time for rest on Sunday either, as the Hamilton v Verstappen battle moves to Turkey, with the race live from 13:00. The golf concludes, but the highlight of the weekend should be the Nations League final which, whoever makes it there, promises to be a brilliant showdown in the San Siro.
