Sport

5 Big Sports Matches You Need to Watch this Weekend

There’s a wealth of big sporting encounters taking place this weekend. Here’s the ones you need to see…

Published

9 years ago

August 12, 2016

This weekend sees an overwhelming amount of sport hitting our screens. From Olympics to the return of the Premier League, there are some massive encounters to witness, but we’ve highlighted five big events to keep your eye on:

Hull City v Leicester City (Premier League football)

Saturday, 13:30

All eyes will be on the KC Stadium as another highly anticipated Premier League campaign gets underway, with the defending champions Leicester City kicking off their season against Hull. Leicester could not have wished for an easier start to their title defence. Hull are in a mess and with fan protest expected during the match, it could be a toxic atmosphere. Meanwhile, the Foxes looked in good form despite defeat against United in the Community Shield. Everything points to an away win, but as Leicester proved last season, everything is possible in the Premier League.

Prediction: 2-0 to Leicester City

Men’s 100m sprint preliminary round (Olympics)

Saturday, 14:30

The world’s fastest runners will be on show on Saturday when the prelimnary qualifying rounds for the men’s 100m get underway. The likes of Usain Bolt, Justin Gatlin, Yohan Blake, and our very-own Akani Simbine will all feature to see where they place ahead of the finals.

Lions v Pumas (Currie Cup)

Saturday, 15:00

The Golden Lions will bring some Super Rugby momentum into their opening match with a number of players who featured in the final against the Hurricanes last weekend expected to face the Pumas this weekend. The visitors, however, will be charged up to challenge them after going down against the Sharks last week. History favours the men from Johannesburg, who have only suffered two defeats against the Nelspruit side in Johannesburg since 1996, the last of which was in 2010.

Prediction: Lions by 10

Free State Cheetahs v Blue Bulls (Currie Cup)

Saturday, 17:00

The Blue Bulls will be hunting their fifth successive victory against the Free State Cheetahs when the teams line up in Bloemfontein. The Pretoria side won the last three Premier Division matches against their Bloemfontein counterparts and pipped them in them 2017 in the Currie Cup Qualifiers earlier this year. Before last year’s defeat at home, however, the Free State Cheetahs won four and drew one of their last five matches against the Blue Bulls in Bloemfontein.

Prediction: Cheetahs by 7

Arsenal v Liverpool (Premier League football)

Sunday, 17:00

The stand out game of the Premier League’s opening weekend sees Arsenal host Liverpool at the Emirates on Sunday evening. Arsenal come into the game on the back of a 3-2 friendly win over Manchester City last weekend; Liverpool, meanwhile, played in a staggering 9 pre-season friendlies, winning 6 of them. We saw a thrilling 3-3 draw when these two sides met at Anfield last season. However, the Gunners are on a five match unbeaten run against Liverpool at the Emirates stadium, with 4 wins and a draw. Moreover they look like a settled side during the pre-season friendlies. If that form is not deceptive, the Gunners must edge this.

Prediction: 1-0 to Arsenal