This Week in Sport: 1st January − 7th January 2024
The first week of 2024 offers up some extremely exciting sporting events. On Monday, the NCAA College Football Playoff Semifinals, the Rose Bowl and the Sugar Bowl, will take place; Tuesday will see the Oklahoma City Thunder take on the Boston Celtics in the NBA, and the World Darts Championship Final will take place on Wednesday. On Thursday, the Dallas Stars host the Colorado Avalanche in the NHL, and Friday will see United Cup tennis action.
Heading into the weekend, the FA Cup will see some exciting action take place, with Sunderland taking on Newcastle United on Saturday and Arsenal hosting Liverpool on Sunday.
NCAA College Football: Alabama v Michigan
Monday 1st January 10:00PM GMT/2:00PM Local Time
Rose Bowl, Pasadena
The week begins with the Rose Bowl, as Alabama face Michigan in Pasadena in one of the two NCAA College Football Semifinals taking place on Monday, the other being the Sugar Bowl between Texas and Washington. The Michigan Wolverines went a superb 13-0 in the regular season, whilst their opponents, the Alabama Crimson Tide, managed an impressive record of 12-1. This is sure to be a high-quality affair. The winners of the two Semifinals will take part in the College Football Playoff National Championship.
NBA: Oklahoma City Thunder v Boston Celtics
Tuesday 2nd January 1:00AM (3rd) GMT/7:00PM Local Time
Paycom Center, Oklahoma City
There is NBA action on Tuesday, as the Oklahoma City Thunder host the Boston Celtics at the Paycom Center. The Celtics are currently top of the Eastern Conference with a record of 26-6, and have a win streak of six, so will prove tough opponents for the Thunder, who sit second in the Western Conference with their own impressive record of 22-9.
PDC Darts: Paddy Power World Darts Championship Final
Wednesday 3rd January 8:00PM GMT/8:00PM Local Time
Alexandra Palace, London
The PDC World Darts Championship will take place on Wednesday to crown the 2024 champion. The tournament has seen some exciting matches with shocks throughout. The favourites amongst those remaining to reach the Final are three-time World Champion, Michael van Gerwen, as well as Rob Cross, Luke Humphries, and Luke Littler.
NHL: Dallas Stars v Colorado Avalanche
Thursday 4th January 1:00AM (5th) GMT/7:00PM Local Time
American Airlines Center, Dallas
The NHL Central Division will see exciting action on Thursday, as top of the division, the Colorado Avalanche, travel to the American Airlines Center to face third place, the Dallas Stars. The home side currently have a record of 22-9-4, whilst the Avalanche sit on a record of 23-11-3, so the two sides are closely matched.
ATP and WTA Tour: United Cup Day 8
Friday 5th January 6:30AM (30th) GMT/5:30PM Local Time
Ken Rosewall Arena, Sydney
The United Cup tennis tournament continues this week, and Friday, the eighth day of the competition, will see the fourth Quarter-Final take place in Sydney, with the winner of Group B facing the best runner-up from the group stages. The other three Quarterfinals will take place on Wednesday and Thursday in both Sydney and Perth. The current favourites for the tournament are Poland, with reigning champions, the USA, closely behind.
FA Cup: Sunderland v Newcastle United
Saturday 6th January 12:45PM GMT/12:45PM Local Time
Stadium of Light, Sunderland
The FA Cup Third Round takes place this week, and there are exciting fixtures around the country, with perhaps one of the most notable being between North-East rivals Sunderland and Newcastle United at the Stadium of Light. The home side have enjoyed a reasonably strong season in the Championship, sitting seventh in the league, but will have a tough task to beat Newcastle, who are currently ninth in the Premier League.
FA Cup: Arsenal v Liverpool
Sunday 7th January 4:30PM GMT/4:30PM Local Time
Emirates Stadium, London
FA Cup Third Round action continues Sunday, as Arsenal host Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium. If the two sides carry their league form into this matchup, it is sure to deliver excitement, with both sides currently sitting in the top four, and Liverpool topping the table.
Photo by: Newcastle United
Written and information correct on 1st January 2024 at 6AM GMT
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