As we welcome back club football after the international break, it is time to get excited for the remainder of the season and what it has in store for us. There are now no more breaks from club football and April promises to be an absolutely enthralling month, with Champions League and Europa League quarter-finals, key fixtures up and down the Football League and titanic clashes in the top flight.
There’s also a load of derbies to look forward to in April - and to make life a little easier for you, the viewer, we’ve boiled it down to some of the best you can see on your screens over the next month.
Date: Saturday 1st April
Kick-off: 12.30pm
TV: Sky Sports Football
The West Lancashire derby returns this weekend live on Sky Sports as one of the fiercest rivalries in the Championship is resumed. Make no mistake, these two properly hate each other and even though PNE are set to finish in mid-table, nothing would make them happier than plunging Blackpool further towards the drop. It’s set to be a belting atmosphere at Deepdale and Mick McCarthy’s men are desperate for all three points.
Date: Saturday 1st April
Kick-off: 12.30pm
TV: Sky Sports Red Button
If you’d prefer to watch a Championship derby that features two teams striving to get into the play-offs - Sky Sports have another offering on at the same time. 4th Luton Town have been in remarkable form under Rob Edwards and look set to finish in the top six for the second consecutive season. This derby also has another storyline to it given Edwards was in charge and then sacked by Watford at the start of the season - and the Hornets are onto their third manager of the campaign in Chris Wilder. Should be a belter on the red button!
Bayern Munich v Borussia Dortmund
Date: Saturday 1st April
Kick-off: 5.30pm
TV: Sky Sports Football
Der Klassiker never needs selling but this season more than any other it is a must-watch game. Dortmund are top of the league by one point from their fiercest rivals, and there is a feeling that a win on away soil could end Bayern’s run of ten titles in a row. Talking of Bayern, they’ve been busy this week dumping Julian Nagelsmann in favour of Thomas Tuchel - who has been thrown straight into the fire with this cracker of a first game.
Date: Wednesday 5th April
Kick-off: 5.30pm
TV: BT Sport
Barcelona and Real Madrid go head-to-head in midweek in a corking Copa del Rey semi-final second leg. Xavi’s men won the first leg 1-0 and will now take on their fierce rivals for a place in the final. The two met in the league before the break when a late Franck Kessie winner for Barca took the within touching distance of the title, and they’ll be hoping to make it a league and cup double with success in the Copa del Rey.
Date: Saturday 8th April
Kick-off: 12.30pm
TV: Sky Sports Football
Moving past this weekend and north of the border. We’ve got an Old Firm double header to look forward to in April as, on the 8th, Rangers travel to Celtic Park for a league match which they will surely have to win to keep any hope of winning the title alive. Michael Beale’s men are currently nine points adrift and Celtic will surely seal the title if they fail to win.
They’ll also be a rematch on the 30th however, as the two Glasgow rivals meet in the Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden Park which should be a terrific occasion for both sets of supporters. Rangers are the current holders having beaten Hearts in last year’s final and they will be desperate to defend their crown, especially if Celtic have wrapped up the league by then.
Date: Saturday 15th April
Kick-off: 5.30pm
TV: Sky Sports Football
The Edinburgh derby is always worth a watch. Lee Johnson’s Hibs are 5th at the time of writing and will host 3rd placed Hearts as they look to overhaul them as the season reaches its pinnacle. There many not be any silverware on the line, but there are those all-important bragging rights and you can expect another hotly-contested affair.
Date: Sunday 16th April
Kick-off: 9.30pm
TV: Apple TV
El Trafiico - arguably the greatest named derby in world football returns this month as LAFC hosts LA Galaxy in MLS. It might be the worst city in the world to drive around, but these two have produced some spicy encounters in their recent meetings and this one could be another exciting affair. With Giorgio Chiellini and Carlos Vela turning out for 3rd placed LAFC and Jurgen Klinnsmann’s son in goal for LA Galaxy - tune in if you have a quiet moment on a Sunday night.
*18+ | BeGambleAware
