🔗 Share this article English Top-Flight Pre-Match Buzz, Spanish Football, Africa Cup Last 16 and Old Firm Derby – Matchday Live Kickoff Greetings. It’s … (checks diary) … Saturday. After the festive confusion, 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 final weekend of the holiday so a chance to head to the match. That quartet of Premier League offerings includes Aston Villa v Nottingham Forest at half past twelve while, starting simultaneously, we have the not-so-small issue of an Old Firm derby. This one is especially fascinating due to the ongoing turmoil at Celtic Park. In the evening at half past five, leaders Arsenal travel to a Bournemouth side who can’t win anymore 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 action coming. As usual with matchday live, we’re looking for interaction so send us your thoughts and messages. Attending a match today? 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. Alright, it's time to begin the weekend's action! A Fan's Epic Journey One fan has made an epic trip. A message arrives from Christer Aakeroy: “Journeying more than 4,400 miles from Manhattan, Kansas – the 'Little Apple' – to support my beloved Seagulls, I really hope that they fulfill their obvious talent 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 remained undefeated at the Amex in the top flight (Two wins, four draws). Live Coverage Galore If you like an MBM (minute-by-minute), we have you covered. And then some! 12.30pm Aston Villa v Nottingham Forest – Sarah Rendell 12.30pm Celtic v Rangers – me, David Tindall 5.30pm Bournemouth v Arsenal – Barry Glendenning Additionally, Billy Munday will bring you live updates from the two 3pm Premier League kick-offs in his Saturday clockwatch while Dominic Booth will cover the opening Afcon knockout matches (starting at four and seven). Oh, 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 top of Serie A by two points 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 In France, Lens extended their advantage at the summit over champions PSG with a convincing three-nil victory at eighth-place Toulouse, who were significantly hindered by being reduced to 10 men after just twenty minutes. That’s seven straight wins now for Lens. 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 Share Your Matchday Experience Heading to a Premier League match today? Or perhaps you’ve made a maverick trip to the Afcon? Send your thoughts and hopes with us.
Kickoff Greetings. It’s … (checks diary) … Saturday. After the festive confusion, 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 final weekend of the holiday so a chance to head to the match. That quartet of Premier League offerings includes Aston Villa v Nottingham Forest at half past twelve while, starting simultaneously, we have the not-so-small issue of an Old Firm derby. This one is especially fascinating due to the ongoing turmoil at Celtic Park. In the evening at half past five, leaders Arsenal travel to a Bournemouth side who can’t win anymore 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 action coming. As usual with matchday live, we’re looking for interaction so send us your thoughts and messages. Attending a match today? 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. Alright, it's time to begin the weekend's action!
A Fan's Epic Journey One fan has made an epic trip. A message arrives from Christer Aakeroy: “Journeying more than 4,400 miles from Manhattan, Kansas – the 'Little Apple' – to support my beloved Seagulls, I really hope that they fulfill their obvious talent 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 remained undefeated at the Amex in the top flight (Two wins, four draws).
Live Coverage Galore If you like an MBM (minute-by-minute), we have you covered. And then some! 12.30pm Aston Villa v Nottingham Forest – Sarah Rendell 12.30pm Celtic v Rangers – me, David Tindall 5.30pm Bournemouth v Arsenal – Barry Glendenning Additionally, Billy Munday will bring you live updates from the two 3pm Premier League kick-offs in his Saturday clockwatch while Dominic Booth will cover the opening Afcon knockout matches (starting at four and seven). Oh, 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 top of Serie A by two points 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 In France, Lens extended their advantage at the summit over champions PSG with a convincing three-nil victory at eighth-place Toulouse, who were significantly hindered by being reduced to 10 men after just twenty minutes. That’s seven straight wins now for Lens. 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
Share Your Matchday Experience Heading to a Premier League match today? Or perhaps you’ve made a maverick trip to the Afcon? Send your thoughts and hopes with us.