The Uefa Champions League returns with holders Real Madrid facing a tough trip to Borussia Dortmund. Also, Nico Rosberg will attempt to put more daylight between him and Lewis Hamilton at the Malaysian Grand Prix while West Indies look to avoid a series whitewash against Pakistan in Dubai. Here are five things for UAE sport fans to watch this week.
1. Uefa Champions League: Matchday 2, Tuesday and Wednesday, all kick-off times 10.45pm UAE, BeIn Sports
Matchday 2 of the Uefa Champions League coughs up a humdinger in Group F as Real Madrid travel to Germany on Tuesday to face a Borussia Dortmund side intent on maintaining their 100 per cent home record in all competitions. Tottenham Hotspur face a long trip to the Russian capital to face CSKA Moscow with Mauricio Pochettino’s men targeting their first points in Group E after a 2-1 defeat to Monaco in their opening match. On Wednesday Barcelona are back in action minus star striker Lionel Messi. Following a thrashing of Celtic in their Group C opener at Camp Nou, Luis Enrique’s side travel to Germany to face Borussia Monchengladbach while the group throws up a “Battle of Britain” tie as Celtic, the champions of Scotland, welcome Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City looking for a 12th straight victory in all competitions.
2. Ryder Cup: US v Europe, Tuesday-Sunday, OSN Sports
US captain Davis Love III says his side “is the best golf team maybe ever assembled” as the home team attempt to wrest back the Ryder Cup from a dominant Europe team at Hazeltine National Golf Club. Holders Europe have won three Ryder Cups in a row, six of the past seven, eight of the past 10 and 10 of the past 15 events. Can Team US live up to their captain’s billing?
3. Formula One: Malasyian Grand Prix, Friday-Sunday, 11am, BeIn Sports
Nico Rosberg has found the winning formula again to retake the lead in the drivers’ standings ahead of Mercedes-GP teammate Lewis Hamilton. Rosberg won last time out in Singapore to open up an eight-point lead on the three-time world champion but the Sepang circuit has never been a happy hunting ground for the German, while Hamilton was victorious there as recently as 2014.
4. Arabian Gulf Cup: Matchday 3, Thursday and Friday, various kick-off times, Abu Dhabi Sports and Dubai Sports
The Arabian Gulf Cup returns this week with three teams looking to maintain their 100 per cent winning records in the competition. Al Dhafra and Al Wasl lead Group A with six points after winning their opening two matches while Al Shabab top Group B. Al Jazira make the trip to the Western Region to try to dent Dhafra’s ambitions (Thursday, 5.30pm) while Al Wahda will attempt to do the same when they meet Al Wasl at Zabeel Stadium on Friday (5.20pm). Al Shabab face a local derby when they host crosstown Dubai rivals Al Ahli at their Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum Stadium on Thursday at 8pm.
5. Twenty20 international: Pakistan v West Indies, Dubai International Stadium, 8pm, OSN Sports
World champions West Indies go into the third and final T20 against Pakistan in the UAE hoping to avoid a whitewash in the shortest format before the one-day series begins next week. Pakistan took the series beyond West Indies’ grasp with a 16-run win at the Dubai International Stadium on Saturday, with Khalid Latif’s 40 at the top of the order and Sarfraz Ahmed’s 32-ball unbeaten 46 doing most of the damage.
Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE
Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheNationalSport
