Sports round-up: 18th - 24th August 2012
Last year's last gasp champions kick-off against Southampton
The Premier League football season kicks off, Barcelona and Real Madrid contest the first Clasico of the season and England and South Africa head into their one-day series. Here's a reminder of the sporting highlights in the week ahead.
Football - English Premier League, Manchester City v Southampton: 19th August (Sky Sports 1) Three months ago Manchester City scored twice in stoppage time to be crowned champions for the first time in 44 years, as they beat Queen's Park Rangers to win the Premier League on goal difference from Manchester United. Roberto Mancini's men return to the scene of the feat for their first game of the new campaign, welcoming newly promoted Southampton to the Etihad. Nigel Atkins has worked wonders at the south coast club, with back-to-back promotions - returning the Saints to the top flight for the first time since 2005.
Check the odds for Manchester City v Southampton
Football - Supercopa de Espana, Barcelona v Real Madrid: 23 August (Sky Sports 2) The first Clasico of the season sees the two giants of Spanish football meet as winners of last year's domestic trophies in the first leg of the Supercopa at the Nou Camp. Copa del Rey winners Barcelona will be looking to put last year's relatively unsuccessful campaign behind them but will have to do so without the Midas touch of Pep Guardiola. Assistant manager Tito Vilanova takes over a squad that has won an incredible 14 trophies in the last 4 years. La Liga champions Real Madrid have had no such upheavals, with Jose Mourinho looking to mastermind another winning season in the capital.
Check the odds for Barcelona v Real Madrid
Cricket - First ODI, England v South Africa: 24 August (Sky Sports 1) With the controversial three match Test series over, England and South Africa now do battle to see who are the better team in the one-day format of the game. England, this time, will be led by opening batsman Alistair Cook, who captained the team to an impressive 4-0 win against world number one team Australia earlier this summer. He will be looking to continue this fine run of form against a team who didn't enjoy any success in their last 50 over series on these shores. Touring in 2008, the Proteas were comprehensively defeated 4-0.
Check the odds for England v South Africa
Best of the rest:
Tennis - Western & Southern Open final, Cincinnati: 19 August (Sky Sports 4)
Golf - Johnnie Walker Championship, Gleneagles: 23 August (Sky Sports 2)
Athletics - IAAF Diamond League, Lausanne: 23 August (BBC Three)
