Day: October 26, 2026

From a huge Premier League weekend to midweek cup action and the next Champions League round, there is plenty for football fans to plan around. Kick-off times below are UK local time. Broadcast selections can change, so check the broadcaster’s listing before kick-off.

Where to watch in the UK

• Premier League: Sky Sports carries most televised league games; TNT Sports carries selected matches, including Chelsea v Manchester United on Saturday 31 October. Streaming availability depends on your package.
• EFL Championship, League One and League Two: Sky Sports and Sky Sports+ show a wide range of matches, with selected games on Sky Sports Football/Main Event. Some fixtures may also be simulcast by ITV/ITVX.
• UEFA Champions League: TNT Sports is the principal UK home, with matches available through its supported streaming options. Selected fixtures may be carried by Amazon Prime Video; check the individual listing.
• Highlights: Check BBC Sport, the official Premier League and EFL websites, and the competition’s official channels for highlights and reports.

Useful listings: Live Football on TV, Sky Sports Football, TNT Sports and BBC Sport Football.

Premier League: the next fixtures

Saturday 31 October

12:30 — Chelsea v Manchester United (TNT Sports). A high-profile opener in which Chelsea will want to use home advantage, while United need a composed defensive display and quick transitions to quieten the crowd.

15:00 — Bournemouth v Leeds United. Expect energy and pressing from both sides; the team that manages second balls and avoids turnovers in dangerous areas could take the points.

15:00 — Brentford v Nottingham Forest. A potentially physical, close contest. Set pieces and direct running may be decisive if neither side can establish sustained possession.

15:00 — Coventry City v Sunderland. Two ambitious sides will look to make their intensity count. Midfield discipline and taking chances early could set the tone.

15:00 — Hull City v Ipswich Town. A useful test of Ipswich’s ability to control the ball away from home against a Hull side likely to make the contest uncomfortable.

15:00 — Manchester City v Brighton. City will look to dictate possession; Brighton’s best route may be to press intelligently and attack the spaces left behind the first line.

Note: the 15:00 Saturday kick-offs are listed fixtures, but UK broadcast rules mean not every match is shown live.

17:30 — Tottenham Hotspur v Crystal Palace (Sky Sports). Spurs will aim to play on the front foot, but Palace can be dangerous if they win the ball and break into space.

20:00 — Aston Villa v Fulham (Sky Sports). Villa’s home tempo against Fulham’s organised build-up makes this an intriguing evening match. The first goal could shape the tactical balance.

Sunday 1 November

16:30 — Liverpool v Arsenal (Sky Sports). The standout league fixture of the weekend. Both sides have the quality to press high and punish mistakes; composure in the build-up and finishing under pressure will matter enormously.

Monday 2 November

20:00 — Newcastle United v Everton (Sky Sports). Newcastle will look to make home intensity count, while Everton will want to stay compact and make their chances on the break or from dead balls.

EFL midweek and weekend picks

The EFL schedule is busy, with selected fixtures shown on Sky Sports or Sky Sports+. Check the live listings for the exact channel and any late changes.

• Tuesday 27 October, 19:45 — Leicester City v Wigan Athletic (Sky Sports+): Leicester will be expected to take the initiative; Wigan’s challenge is to stay organised and make transitions count.
• Tuesday 27 October, 19:45 — Luton Town v Doncaster Rovers (Sky Sports+): A test of Luton’s home pressure against Doncaster’s ability to keep possession under pressure.
• Tuesday 27 October, 19:45 — MK Dons v Bromley (Sky Sports+): A chance for both teams to make a statement; an early goal could open the game up.
• Tuesday 27 October, 19:45 — Oxford United v Stockport County (Sky Sports+): A potentially tight tactical match where midfield control and set pieces may decide it.
• Tuesday 27 October, 19:45 — Sheffield Wednesday v Cambridge United (Sky Sports+): Wednesday will want to set the tempo, while Cambridge will look for a disciplined away performance.
• Tuesday 27 October, 19:45 — Barnet v York City (Sky Sports+): Expect a competitive League Two contest, with duels and second balls important.
• Friday 30 October, 20:00 — Sheffield United v Wrexham (Sky Sports): A strong Friday-night attraction. Sheffield United’s home approach meets Wrexham’s ambition and intensity; the opening spell should be lively.
• Saturday 31 October, 12:30 — Norwich City v Watford (Sky Sports+): A meeting of sides with attacking potential; defensive transitions could be the key.
• Saturday 31 October, 12:30 — Lincoln City v Birmingham City (Sky Sports+): A useful measure of both teams’ consistency; expect a competitive battle for territory.
• Saturday 31 October, 12:30 — Stoke City v Preston North End (Sky Sports): Likely to be a hard-fought game in which set plays and patience could separate the teams.
• Saturday 31 October, 12:30 — Leyton Orient v Cambridge United (Sky Sports+): An early kick-off where a sharp start and careful defending will be valuable.
• Saturday 31 October, 12:30 — Plymouth Argyle v Reading (Sky Sports+): Both will want to turn attacking pressure into clear chances rather than allow the match to become stretched.

Sky’s live EFL listings cover Championship, League One and League Two selections, and the Sky Sports app carries matches included in its coverage. See the Sky Sports EFL fixture guide.

Champions League: Tuesday 3 November

All listed matches are part of the league phase. TNT Sports/HBO Max carries most of this round’s games; Manchester United v Roma is listed on Amazon Prime Video. Confirm channels and access with your provider.

• 17:45 — Galatasaray v VfB Stuttgart (TNT Sports 2): A lively atmosphere should test Stuttgart’s composure; Galatasaray will hope to turn home energy into pressure.
• 17:45 — Shakhtar Donetsk v Sporting CP (TNT Sports 4): Sporting’s movement and pressing will be tested against Shakhtar’s technical play.
• 20:00 — Atlético Madrid v Bayern Munich (TNT Sports 2): A heavyweight tactical contest: Atlético’s compact defending and counter-attacks against Bayern’s attacking depth and ability to sustain pressure.
• 20:00 — Barcelona v Aston Villa (TNT Sports 1): Barcelona will seek control through possession and movement; Villa will need brave pressing, quick combinations and ruthless use of any space in transition.
• 20:00 — Bodø/Glimt v Lille (TNT Sports 6): Bodø/Glimt’s energetic approach and Lille’s structure make this an interesting contrast in styles.
• 20:00 — Feyenoord v Inter Milan (TNT Sports 5): Feyenoord’s intensity meets Inter’s experience and organised shape; the battle between pressing and patient build-up could decide it.
• 20:00 — LASK v Slovan Bratislava (TNT Sports 7): Both sides need to make their chances count in a fixture that could be decided by small details.
• 20:00 — Manchester United v Roma (Amazon Prime Video): A major European night with pressure on both teams to turn individual quality into a cohesive performance.
• 20:00 — Villarreal v Paris Saint-Germain (TNT Sports 4): PSG’s attacking talent makes them dangerous, but Villarreal can make this awkward if they keep their shape and exploit openings.

Champions League: Wednesday 4 November

• 17:45 — AEK Athens v Real Madrid (TNT Sports 3): Real’s European experience makes them formidable, but a passionate home crowd could make the opening period intense.
• 17:45 — Fenerbahçe v Liverpool (TNT Sports 1): Liverpool’s pressing and forward runs face a demanding atmosphere; managing the first wave of pressure will be crucial.
• 20:00 — Borussia Dortmund v Real Betis (TNT Sports 4): Dortmund will want to play at speed, while Betis will try to slow the game and build patiently.
• 20:00 — FC Porto v Napoli (TNT Sports 6): A quality matchup between teams comfortable competing at European level; midfield control could be decisive.
• 20:00 — PSV Eindhoven v Club Brugge (TNT Sports 5): Expect an open game if both sides press aggressively; defensive cover behind the full-backs matters.
• 20:00 — RB Leipzig v Manchester City (TNT Sports 2): Leipzig’s pace can trouble teams in transition, but City will look to control the ball and limit counter-attacks.
• 20:00 — RC Lens v Como (TNT Sports 7): A compelling meeting of different European journeys; intensity and concentration may matter more than reputation.
• 20:00 — Slavia Prague v Arsenal (TNT Sports 1): Arsenal must handle Slavia’s energy and crowd while trying to impose their technical quality and structured pressing.
• 20:00 — Viking FK v Sabah FK (TNT Sports 8): Both will see this as an opportunity to collect valuable league-phase points; a fast start could be important.

Two Champions League games to circle

Barcelona v Aston Villa — Tuesday 3 November, 20:00

This is a compelling contrast between Barcelona’s possession-led tradition and Villa’s ability to attack quickly when space opens. Barcelona can dominate territory through short passing and rotations, but Villa’s route to a result is to press at the right moments, break forward quickly and make transitions count. Watch the wide areas and how Villa cope when Barcelona pin them back. The key question is whether Villa can turn defensive work into meaningful attacks rather than simply absorb pressure.

Atlético Madrid v Bayern Munich — Tuesday 3 November, 20:00

This is the round’s classic tactical clash: Atlético’s discipline, compact lines and counter-attacking threat against Bayern’s depth, forward movement and sustained attacking pressure. Atlético can make space scarce and punish careless possession; Bayern will aim to stretch the defence and create overloads around the box. The side that wins the second balls and stays calm after losing possession may gain the decisive edge.

These are tactical previews, not claims of guaranteed results. Team news, injuries and current form can change the picture before kick-off.

Our picks: what to watch

• Best Premier League spectacle: Liverpool v Arsenal — two top-level sides with the quality to punish mistakes.
• Best EFL story: Sheffield United v Wrexham — a Friday-night fixture with plenty of attention around both clubs.
• Best Champions League tactical battle: Atlético Madrid v Bayern Munich.
• Most intriguing style contrast: Barcelona v Aston Villa.

Sources and fixture checks

• Live Football on TV — Premier League listings
• Where’s the Match — EFL Championship listings
• Sky Sports — EFL 2026/27 live fixtures
• Radio Times — Champions League TV schedule
• Premier League — official fixture list

Editorial note: Fixture and channel information was checked on 26 October 2026. Broadcasters can alter schedules; check the official listing on match day. This article provides previews, not betting advice.

Mr Simon B. Gemmill — Webmaster