The leading players and coaches are edging closer to silverware in football, rugby union and basketball. Follow all the highs and lows of elite-level sport on TNT Sports
By Chris Miller, Feature Writer
Crunch time. At this time of year, the victors get within touching distance of the spoils across a variety of sports – from the Premier League to the NBA, from the National League to rugby’s Champions Cup and Premiership and, of course, the men’s and women’s European football competitions. Play-offs, semi-finals, finals and trophies are tantalisingly close, so who will step up and show their class in the hunt for sporting glory?
There’s plenty of live action elsewhere on TNT Sports, from the nascent Major League Baseball season to MotoGP and Formula E motor racing to the best teams in Australia’s AFL Men’s league. Enjoy all this and more with TNT Sports in the coming month.
Remember, you can follow all the live action on TNT Sports wherever you are in the UK, as long as there’s WiFi, 3G or 4G, thanks to Virgin TV Go. Simply download the free app, which is free to all Virgin TV customers and is compatible with Android, iOS, Windows 10 and PC/Mac. Download the Virgin TV Go app.
Scroll down to discover all of the biggest sporting fixtures on TNT Sports this April and May. And bookmark this page for monthly updates.
Football: Premier League
Arsenal led the Premier League for 248 days last season, a record for a team that ended up not winning the title. This season, a couple of blips aside, they’ve been in the top three since the end of September but they’ve been top for only a few weeks. And yet – is it just us? – they look slightly more likely to claim their first title for 20 years this term. Home wins again Chelsea and Bournemouth, two games you can see live on TNT Sports, would push them closer.
Having said that, you’d be mad to make predictions with the race so close, and Liverpool will stay in the hunt if they get maximum points at the London Stadium on 27 April. Aston Villa, meanwhile, will be aiming to nail down a Champions League qualifying place when they take on Chelsea later that day. There’s plenty at stake in every live TNT Sports game this month.
Arsenal v Chelsea
Tuesday 23 April, 7pm, TNT Sports 2 HD (CH 528)
West Ham United v Liverpool
Saturday 27 April, 11am, TNT Sports 1 HD (CH 527)
Aston Villa v Chelsea
Saturday 27 April, 7pm, TNT Sports 1 HD (CH 527)
Arsenal v Bournemouth
Saturday 4 May, 11am, TNT Sports 1 HD (CH 527)
Football: UEFA Champions League
There’s no doubt about it: the quarter-final stage is when the Champions League levels up in skill, entertainment and all-round excellence. Eight elite teams with the finest players in the best form – it really does get any better, as anyone who saw the thrilling first legs featuring the English teams will attest.
Arsenal’s 2-2 draw at home to Bayern and Man City’s back-and-forth with Real Madrid that ended in a 3-3 at the Bernabeu were among the best matches of the season. And we can expect more of the same from the rest of the competition, including the final at Wembley on 1 June.
Quarter-final, 2nd Leg: Barcelona v Paris Saint-Germain
Tuesday 16 April, 7pm, TNT Sports 1 HD (CH 527)
Quarter-final, 2nd Leg: Borussia Dortmund v Atlético Madrid
Tuesday 16 April, 7.30pm, TNT Sports 2 HD (CH 528)
Quarter-final, 2nd Leg: Manchester City v Real Madrid
Wednesday 17 April, 7pm, TNT Sports 1 HD (CH 527)
Quarter-final, 2nd Leg: Bayern Munich v Arsenal
Wednesday 17 April, 7pm, TNT Sports 2 HD (CH 528)
Semi-final, 1st Leg
Tuesday 30 April, 7pm, TNT Sports
Semi-final, 1st Leg
Wednesday 1 May, 7pm, TNT Sports
Semi-final, 2nd Leg
Tuesday 7 May, 7pm, TNT Sports
Semi-final, 2nd Leg
Wednesday 8 May, 7pm, TNT Sports
Football: UEFA Europa League
West Ham and Liverpool had progressed through the Europa League fairly serenely, winning their groups and avoiding a play-off – but both were brought up short in their quarter-final first legs. The Hammers’ away defeat at unbeaten Leverkusen was perhaps predictable, and they still have a fighting chance of turning it around back in London.
Liverpool’s 3-0 crash at home to Atalanta was a much bigger surprise – but Reds fans will immediately point to the 2019 Champions League semi-final, when they overturned a 3-0 deficit against Barcelona. They’ll need to be on similarly scintillating form if they’re going to repeat the feat.
The winners of that tie will face Benfica or Marseille in the semis, while West Ham or Leverkusen will take on Roma or AC Milan ahead of the final in Dublin on 22 May.
Quarter-final, 2nd Leg: Atalanta v Liverpool
Thursday 18 April, 7pm, TNT Sports 1 HD (CH 527)
Quarter-final, 2nd Leg: West Ham United v Bayer Leverkusen
Thursday 18 April, 7.30pm, TNT Sports 2 HD (CH 528)
Quarter-final, 2nd Leg: Roma v AC Milan
Thursday 18 April, 7.45pm, TNT Sports 4 HD (CH 530)
Semi-finals, 1st Leg
Thursday 2 May, TNT Sports
Semi-finals, 2nd Leg
Thursday 9 May, TNT Sports
Football: UEFA Europa Conference League
Now that the away goals rule has been abolished, a 2-1 home win is a better result than it used to be – but Aston Villa fans will still be on edge ahead of their second leg in Lille. Bafodé Diakité’s late goal at Villa Park will give the French side renewed hope that they can progress. But one goal from Villa could change everything… They’ll play Olympiacos or Fenerbahçe if they get through, and the final is on 29 May at the Agia Sophia Stadium in Athens.
Quarter-final, 2nd Leg: Lille v Aston Villa
Thursday 18 April, 5pm, TNT Sports 3 HD (CH 529)
Quarter-final, 2nd Leg: Fiorentina v Viktoria Plzen
Thursday 18 April, 5.30pm, TNT Sports 4 HD (CH 530)
Semi-finals, 1st Leg
Thursday 2 May, TNT Sports
Semi-finals, 2nd Leg
Thursday 9 May, TNT Sports
Football: UEFA Women’s Champions League
Chelsea’s first attempt at revenge for their chastening 4-0 defeat to Barcelona in the 2021 Champions League final came in last year’s semi-final. But they fluffed their lines with a 1-0 home defeat in the first leg and were knocked out, even though they claimed a draw at Camp Nou. This year, the away leg comes first – could that help the Blues? The absence of Sam Kerr and Millie Bright won’t, of course, and although Chelsea have been as relentless as usual in the WSL, Barcelona are another matter.
It’s going to be a titanic clash, and one Chelsea boss Emma Hayes will be desperate to win before her departure. The winners of the all-French other semi will await the victors in the final at Bilbao’s San Mamés Stadium on 25 May.
Semi-final, 1st Leg: Barcelona v Chelsea
Saturday 20 April, 12.30pm, TNT Sports 2 HD (CH 528)
Semi-final, 1st Leg: Lyon v Paris Saint-Germain
Saturday 20 April, 6pm, TNT Sports 3 HD (CH 529)
Semi-final, 2nd Leg: Chelsea v Barcelona
Saturday 27 April, 5.30pm, TNT Sports 3 HD (CH 529)
Semi-final, 2nd Leg: Paris Saint-Germain v Lyon
Sunday 28 April, 3pm, TNT Sports 3 HD (CH 529)
Football: National League
Saturday 20 April marks the final day of the National League season, and although Chesterfield were promoted as champions before the end of March, there’s still plenty to sort out behind them with six play-off places to be filled. Potentially the most signficant fixture will be Gateshead v Bromley, so don’t be surprised if that’s the game chosen for coverage.
The play-offs begin just a few days later, as fourth faces seventh and fifth plays sixth for a place in the semi-finals against the second and third-placed teams. (Got that?!) The Wembley final is on 4 May, and you can see the National League North and South play-off finals (also at Wembley) on TNT Sports the next day as teams strive to get to the fifth tier.
National League: TBC
Saturday 20 April, 12pm, TNT Sports
National League: Play-off Eliminator – 5th v 6th
Tuesday 23 April, 7pm, TNT Sports 2 HD (CH 528)
National League: Play-off Eliminator – 4th v 7th
Wednesday 24 April, 7pm, TNT Sports 1 HD (CH 527)
National League: Play-off Semi-finals
Saturday 28 April, TNT Sports 1 HD (CH 527)
National League: Play-off Final
Saturday 4 May, TNT Sports 1 HD (CH 527)
National League North: Play-off Final
Sunday 5 May, TNT Sports 1 HD (CH 527)
National League South: Play-off Final
Sunday 5 May, TNT Sports 1 HD (CH 527)
Football: Serie A
When the Serie A fixture schedulers set a date for the Milan derby at the end of April, they were presumably hoping it would be a scudetto-defining showdown. Well, the Milanese clubs are the top two, but Inter are comfortably ahead of their city rivals and even if AC Milan can take the points, it’s unlikely they can prevent the Nerazzurri claiming the title this season. Even so, with the AC Milan ultras whipping up a fan frenzy in San Siro, it’s going to be a hell of a sporting spectacle – as always.
Earlier the same day, Roma v Bologna could have a significant impact on the fourth Champions League qualifying place – both have had a superb second half of the season and pushed themselves into European contention. Bologna won the reverse fixture 2-0, a result that helped hasten the departure of Jose Mourinho from his position as Roma coach. Curiously, since Daniele Di Rossi replaced him in mid-January, both these sides have lost only to Inter in Serie A. It’s an intriguing match-up and no mistake…
Genoa v Lazio
Friday 19 April, 5.30pm, TNT Sports 1 HD (CH 527)
Cagliari v Juventus
Friday 19 April, 7.45pm, TNT Sports 1 HD (CH 527)
Empoli v Napoli
Saturday 20 April, 5.15pm, TNT Sports 2 HD (CH 528)
Verona v Udinese
Saturday 20 April, 7.30pm, TNT Sports 2 HD (CH 528)
Sassuolo v Lecce
Sunday 21 April, 11.30am, TNT Sports 1 HD (CH 527)
Torino v Frosinone
Sunday 21 April, 2pm, TNT Sports 2 HD (CH 528)
Salernitana v Fiorentina
Sunday 21 April, 5pm, TNT Sports 2 HD (CH 528)
Monza v Atalanta
Sunday 21 April, 7.45pm, TNT Sports 1 HD (CH 527)
Roma v Bologna
Monday 22 April, 5.30pm, TNT Sports 1 HD (CH 527)
AC Milan v Internazionale
Monday 22 April, 7.45pm, TNT Sports 1 HD (CH 527)
Football: Ligue 1
It’s been a bizarre season in France in many ways, not least because Paris St-Germain are showing signs of leaving their galáctico period behind and winning the title by being a well-coached, well-structured team under Luis Enrique. Not something we were expecting to see. Neither was the success of Brest, who’ve been among the season’s most impressive performers and are closing in on a Champions League place. Monaco, their main rivals for the runners-up spot behind PSG, visit Stade Francis-Le Blé on 21 April for what should be a cracking game.
At the other end of the table, Lorient are clinging to their Ligue 1 status for dear life but face tricky fixtures against Nice and PSG. Don’t miss these crucial games on TNT Sports.
Nice v Lorient
Friday 19 April, 7.45pm, TNT Sports 2 HD (CH 528)
Lens v Clermont
Saturday 20 April, 7.45pm, TNT Sports 3 HD (CH 529)
Lille v Strasbourg
Sunday 21 April, 2pm, TNT Sports 3 HD (CH 529)
Brest v Monaco
Sunday 21 April, 4pm, TNT Sports 3 HD (CH 529)
Toulouse v Marseille
Sunday 21 April, 6pm, TNT Sports 1 HD (CH 527)
Paris Saint-Germain v Lyon
Sunday 21 April, 7.45pm, TNT Sports 1 HD (CH 527)
Lorient v Paris Saint-Germain
Wednesday 24 April, 6pm, TNT Sports 2 HD (CH 528)
Monaco v Lille
Wednesday 24 April, 6pm, TNT Sports 3 HD (CH 529)
Marseille v Nice
Wednesday 24 April, 8pm, TNT Sports 2 HD (CH 528)
Montpellier v Nantes
Friday 26 April, 7.45pm, TNT Sports 3 HD (CH 529)
Paris Saint-Germain v Le Havre
Saturday 27 April, 7.45pm, TNT Sports 2 HD (CH 528)
Metz v Lille
Sunday 28 April, 12pm, TNT Sports 3 HD (CH 529)
Rennes v Brest
Sunday 28 April, 4pm, TNT Sports 4 HD (CH 530)
Lyon v Monaco
Sunday 28 April, 6pm, TNT Sports 1 HD (CH 527)
Marseilles v Lens
Sunday 28 April, 8pm, TNT Sports 1 HD (CH 527)
Football: A-League Women
After a purple patch of four championships in five years from 2016 to 2020, Melbourne City – part of the City Group that includes Manchester City – have been through a tricky phase in which they’ve not got near the A-League’s Grand Final. It’s been a different story this season, when they’ve been a fixture in the top three since week two, and spent about half of the season top of the table.
A run of one win in seven from mid-January to early March could have derailed them, but no one else was able to take advantage and they go into the play-offs (or finals, as the Australians say) as favourites for the championship crown. Bosnia forward Emina Ekić, who joined ahead of the season after impressing on loan from Racing Louisville, has made a real difference with seven goals. We wouldn’t bet against City regaining the trophy.
Semi-final, 1st Leg: Newcastle Jets v Melbourne City
Sunday 21 April, 6am, TNT Sports
Semi-final, 1st Leg: Central Coast Mariners v Sydney FC
Sunday 21 April, 8.45am, TNT Sports
Semi-final, 2nd Leg: Sydney FC v Central Coast
Saturday 27 April, 6am, TNT Sports
Semi-final, 2nd Leg: Melbourne City v Newcastle Jets
Sunday 28 April, 4am, TNT Sports
Grand Final
Saturday 4 May, TBC, TNT Sports
Football: A-League Men
On the men’s side, with a handful of games to go, Melbourne City – who topped the table last season – are in danger of failing to make the play-offs (aka finals). A victory away at Western Sydney Wanderers, who they thrashed 7-0 at home, is essential but even that may not be enough. It’s a strange contrast to the success enjoyed by the women’s team and their sister clubs in men’s football, like Manchester City and Girona, this season. But if they can squeeze into the top six, perhaps that last-gasp momentum can push them on to glory.
Central Coast Mariners, who beat City in 2023’s Grand Final, look the most likely premiers but Wellington Phoenix have challenged them all the way. The leading contenders are all in action on TNT Sports as they sort out the finishing order, ahead of the start of the finals on 3 May. The 2024 Grand Final will be on the last weekend of May.
Newcastle Jets v Wellington Phoenix
Friday 19 April, 10.45am, TNT Sports 3 HD (CH 529)
Western Sydney Wanderers v Melbourne City
Saturday 20 April, 6.30am, TNT Sports 2 HD (CH 528)
Melbourne Victory v Brisbane Roar
Saturday 20 April, 8.30am, TNT Sports 4 HD (CH 530)
Macarthur FC v Sydney FC
Saturday 20 April, 10.45am, TNT Sports 3 HD (CH 529)
Central Coast Mariners v Adelaide United
Sunday 21 April, 6am, TNT Sports 4 HD (CH 530)
Perth Glory v Western United
Sunday 21 April, 8am, TNT Sports 2 HD (CH 528)
Brisbane Roar v Adelaide United
Friday 26 April, 10.45am, TNT Sports 3 HD (CH 529)
Elimination Finals
Friday 3 to Sunday 5 May, TNT Sports
Semi-finals, 1st Legs
Friday 10 to Sunday 12 May, TNT Sports
Semi-finals, 2nd Legs
Friday 17 to Sunday 19 May, TNT Sports
Rugby Union: European Champions Cup
Leinster finally had their revenge on La Rochelle in the quarter-finals after defeats in two consecutive finals, handing their French nemeses a 40-13 trouncing at the Aviva Stadium to progress to the semis. There were even bigger scores elsewhere, as Toulouse beat Exeter 64-26, Northampton racked up 59 points against the Bulls and the tightest quarter-final saw Harlequins squeak past Bordeaux in a 42-41 win.
A visit to Dublin will be a daunting prospect for the Saints as they try to get past their hosts and reach their first final since 2011, while Harlequins return to France to face the 2021 champions. Get ready for a thrilling weekend of top-class rugby.
Semi-final: Leinster v Northampton Saints
Saturday 4 May, 5pm, TNT Sports
Semi-final: Toulouse v Harlequins
Sunday 5 May, 2.30pm, TNT Sports
Rugby Union: Premiership
There’s still all to play for in this season’s Premiership, with the top eight teams bunched pretty closely together. Northampton are five points ahead going into this month’s batch of fixtures but they’ve got some tricky games coming up that could see that lead reduced, including Leicester at home and Harlequins away.
Behind the Saints there’s just seven points between Bath in second and Sale in eighth, so nothing is decided yet in terms of play-off places, and there’s plenty at stake in every match. Our pick of the games? Owen Farrell’s Saracens at Bath on 26 April, as the sometime England captain aims to lead his team to Premiership glory again in his swansong season.
Northampton Saints v Leicester Tigers
Saturday 20 April, 2.30pm, TNT Sports 1 HD (CH 527)
Exeter Chiefs v Bath
Saturday 20 April, 5.15pm, TNT Sports 1 HD (CH 527)
Sale Sharks v Harlequins
Sunday 21 April, 2.30pm, TNT Sports 1 HD (CH 527)
Bath v Saracens
Friday 26 April, 7pm, TNT Sports
Harlequins v Northampton Saints
Saturday 27 April, 2.30pm, TNT Sports
Gloucester v Exeter Chiefs
Sunday 28 April, 2.30pm, TNT Sports 1 HD (CH 527)
Sale Sharks v Leicester Tigers
Friday 10 May, 7pm, TNT Sports
Bristol Bears v Saracens
Saturday 11 May, 2.30pm, TNT Sports
Exeter Chiefs v Harlequins
Saturday 11 May, 5.15pm, TNT Sports
Rugby Union: Women’s Premiership
Gloucester-Hartpury have well and truly dominated the Premiership this season, following up their 2022/23 title with a string of victories including a crucial 24-15 win over their closest rivals Saracens. England back row Sarah Beckett and Wales hooker Kelsey Jones have been racking up the tries, while full-back Emma Sing has been deadly accurate with her kicking. All in all they’ll be an intimidating prospect for Loughborough, who have recorded some impressive wins but struggled to find consistency and are some way behind the top four.
Loughborough Lightning v Gloucester-Hartpury
Sunday 12 May, 2.30pm, TNT Sports
Rugby Union: World Sevens Championship
Also known as SVNS, this series of seven-a-side rugby union tournaments drew headlines in 2024 when superstar and France captain Antoine Dupont withdrew from the Six Nations to focus on helping the French men’s sevens team prepare ahead of a home Olympics. And his presence has clearly been helping, as Les Bleus won their first sevens world event for 19 years in Los Angeles in March. Argentina’s men have proved their credentials with victory in three of the six events so far, while New Zealand’s women have matched that achievement.
This fast-paced, high-scoring version of rugby union has been a welcome addition to the Olympics since its debut at Rio 2016 and the SVNS series is always an entertaining watch. This month it’s in Singapore, with one more event to come in Spain before the players’ focus switches to Paris.
Singapore: Day 1
Saturday 4 May, TNT Sports
Singapore: Day 2
Sunday 5 May, 2.30pm, TNT Sports
Singapore: Day 3
Bank Holiday Monday, TNT Sports
MMA: UFC
The Farmasi Arena in Rio is the venue for UFC 301, with a flyweight championship bout between Brazil’s Alexandre Pantoja – defending the title he won from Brandon Moreno at UFC 290 in July 2023 – and Steve Erceg of Australia scheduled as the headliner. Former featherweight champ José Aldo, who retired in 2022, is due to make a comeback at the event, moving down to bantamweight to take on Jonathan Martinez.
Ahead of that, there’s another flyweight headline bout, this time in Las Vegas as Matheus Nicolau aims to bounce back from defeat to Brandon Royval with a match against Alex Perez. Then the UFC is in St Louis for the first time since 2018 as heavyweights Derrick Lewis and Rodrigo Nascimento face off in the headliner, with Tabatha Ricci and Tecia Pennington meeting for a strawweight bout on the undercard.
UFC Fight Night: Nicolau v Perez
Sunday 28 April, TNT Sports
UFC 301: Pantoja v Erceg
Sunday 5 May, TNT Sports
UFC Fight Night: Lewis v Nascimento
Sunday 12 May, TNT Sports
Boxing
Denzel Bentley has been one of the highest-profile British middleweights of recent years, winning the national title against Mark Heffron in 2020 – a rematch after an epic draw in their first meeting – then losing it to Felix Cash in 2021 and reclaiming it in 2022 with a narrow split-decision win over Linus Udofia. Now he’s got his eye on global glory, starting with this contest for the WBO International belt against Danny Dignum at London’s York Hall. Dignum, who beat Lukasz Maciec on points at the same venue in 2023, will provide a stern test. Ahead of that bout, Kent fighter Sam Noakes takes on France’s Yvan Mendy for the European lightweight championship.
Boxing: Noakes v Mendy
Saturday 20 April, 7.45pm, TNT Sports 1 HD (CH 527)
Fight Night Live: Bentley v Dignum
Saturday 11 May, TNT Sports 1 HD (CH 527)
WWE
The Rock and The Undertaker joined John Cena in making a return to WWE this year, and Roman Reigns lost the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship he had held for three years to Cody Rhodes. It’s all happening in WWE this year – so tune in every Monday and Friday late night to keep up with the superstars of the ring.
WWE Friday Night SmackDown
Saturday 20 April, 1am, TNT Sports 1 HD (CH 527)
WWE Monday Night Raw
Tuesday 23 April, 12am, TNT Sports 1 HD (CH 527)
WWE Friday Night SmackDown
Saturday 27 April, 1am, TNT Sports
WWE Monday Night Raw
Tuesday 30 April, 1am, TNT Sports
WWE Friday Night SmackDown
Saturday 4 May, 1am, TNT Sports
WWE Monday Night Raw
Tuesday 7 May, 1am, TNT Sports
WWE Friday Night SmackDown
Saturday 11 May, 1am, TNT Sports
WWE Monday Night Raw
Tuesday 14 May, 1am, TNT Sports
Motorsport: MotoGP + Moto E
KTM rookie rider Pedro Acosta – the only newcomer in this season’s MotoGP field – has already proved himself one to watch with an eye-catching third place in Portugal. After winning the Moto3 championship in 2021 and Moto2 in 2023, the 19-year-old seems destined for greatness in the sport.
Brad Binder, also riding a KTM bike under Red Bull colours, had a good start to 2024 too with top-four finishes in Qatar and Portugal. But Jorge Martín is living up to his status as the pre-season favourite and looks a good bet to claim the title even at this early stage. This month’s races are in Jerez and Le Mans.
MotoGP of Spain: Practice 1
Friday 26 April, 8am, TNT Sports 2 HD (CH 528)
MotoGP of Spain: Practice 2
Friday 26 April, 12pm, TNT Sports 2 HD (CH 528)
MotoGP of Spain: Practice 2
Saturday 27 April, 7.30am, TNT Sports 2 HD (CH 528)
MotoGP of Spain: Qualifying
Saturday 27 April, 9am, TNT Sports 2 HD (CH 528)
MotoGP of Spain: Sprint Race
Saturday 27 April, 2pm, TNT Sports 2 HD (CH 528)
MotoGP of Spain: Race
Sunday 28 April, 1pm, TNT Sports 2 HD (CH 528)
MotoGP of France: Practice 1
Friday 10 May, 8am, TNT Sports 2 HD (CH 528)
MotoGP of France: Practice 2
Friday 10 May, 12pm, TNT Sports 2 HD (CH 528)
MotoGP of France: Practice 2
Saturday 11 May, 7.30am, TNT Sports 2 HD (CH 528)
MotoGP of France: Qualifying
Saturday 11 May, 9am, TNT Sports 2 HD (CH 528)
MotoGP of France: MotoE Race 1
Saturday 11 May, 11am, TNT Sports 2 HD (CH 528)
MotoGP of France: Sprint Race
Saturday 11 May, 2pm, TNT Sports 2 HD (CH 528)
MotoGP of France: MotoE Race 2
Saturday 11 May, 3pm, TNT Sports 2 HD (CH 528)
MotoGP of France: MotoGP Race
Sunday 12 May, 1pm, TNT Sports 2 HD (CH 528)
Motorsport: Rallying + Touring
The other drivers must have rubbed their hands with glee when double World Rally Championship-winning driver Kalle Rovanperä announced he wouldn’t compete in every 2024 race. Surely he would lose his edge when not taking part, while they retained driving sharpness and built momentum. The reality? When Rovanperä got back in the car, he and co-driver Jonne Halttunen stormed to victory in Kenya, leaving Toyota team-mates Takamoto Katsuta and Aaron Johnston in their dust. The Finns will be absent again in Croatia – so can anyone step up?
In Australia, Triple Eight team-mates Will Brown and Broc Feeney have been battling for the lead in the Supercars championship, winning five of the first six races between them. As the season heads for New Zealand for an event, the rest of the field has some work to do to catch the duo.
World Rally Championship – Croatia
Thursday 18 to Sunday 21 April, TNT Sports
Supercars: Taupō Super400 – Races 7 + 8
Saturday 20 to Sunday 21 April, TNT Sports
World Rally Championship – Portugal
Thursday 9 to Sunday 12 May, TNT Sports
Motorsport: Formula E
You want competitive motor racing? You want Formula E. The first five races of 2024 produced five different winning drivers, and TAG Heuer Porsche’s Pascal Wehrlein led the standings despite not finishing on the podium since his victory in the season’s opening race in Mexico. Jaguar led the teams’ championship, with 2023 winners Envision lagging after just a couple of second-place finishes for their drivers.
It’s a sport in which anything can happen and there are three races coming up on TNT Sports this month, one in Monte Carlo – the epitome of motor racing glamour – and two in Berlin.
Monte Carlo E-Prix: Practice
Friday 26 April, TNT Sports
Monte Carlo E-Prix: Qualifying + Race
Saturday 27 April, TNT Sports
Berlin E-Prix: Practice
Friday 10 May, TNT Sports
Berlin E-Prix: Qualifying + Race 1
Saturday 11 May, TNT Sports
Berlin E-Prix: Qualifying + Race 2
Sunday 12 May, TNT Sports
Basketball: NBA
The play-offs begin on 20 April, and winning 12 games out of 16 in March, the Boston Celtics were the first team to secure home advantage in the first round. The Bucks, Timberwolves and Thunder, as well as 2023 champs the Nuggets, swiftly joined them in nailing down postseason slots. First of all the play-in tournament decides the final play-off slots, and then the play-offs proper get going, live on TNT Sports.
Play-in Tournament: Los Angeles Lakers @ New Orleans Pelicans
Wednesday 17 April, 12.30am, TNT Sports 1 HD (CH 527)
Play-in Tournament: Golden State Warriors @ Sacramento Kings
Wednesday 17 April, 3am, TNT Sports 1 HD (CH 527)
Play-in Tournament: Miami Heat @ Philadelphia 76ers
Thursday 18 April, 12.30am, TNT Sports 1 HD (CH 527)
Play-in Tournament: Atlanta Hawks @ Chicago Bulls
Thursday 18 April, 3am, TNT Sports 1 HD (CH 527)
Play-offs: 1st Round
Saturday 20 April, 12am, TNT Sports 3 HD (CH 529)
Play-offs: 1st Round
Saturday 20 April, 2.30am, TNT Sports 2 HD (CH 528)
Play-offs: 1st Round
Sunday 21 April, 1.30am, TNT Sports 2 HD (CH 528)
Play-offs: 1st Round
Monday 22 April, 2.30am, TNT Sports 1 HD (CH 527)
Australian Rules Football: AFL Men’s
GWS Giants powered to the top of the AFL table thanks to five straight wins at the start of the season, wth Port Adelaide, Sydney, Geelong and Carlton right behind them. Their form is in stark contrast to that of 2023 champs Collingwood, who lost their first three and on this evidence will struggle to mount a credible defence of their title. You can see clashes between some of early pace-setters on 20 April when the Giants visit Carlton and then on 27 April when the Blues visit Geelong.
St Kilda v Western Bulldogs
Thursday 18 April, 10.30am, TNT Sports 1 HD (CH 527)
Adelaide Crows v Essendon
Friday 19 April, 10.30am, TNT Sports 2 HD (CH 528)
Collingwood v Port Adelaide
Saturday 20 April, 4.30am, TNT Sports 1 HD (CH 527)
Carlton v GWS Giants
Saturday 20 April, 7.30am, TNT Sports 1 HD (CH 527)
Brisbane Lions v Geelong Cats
Saturday 20 April, 10.30am, TNT Sports 3 HD (CH 529)
West Coast Eagles v Fremantle
Saturday 20 April, 11am, TNT Sports
Sydney Swans v Gold Coast Suns
Sunday 21 April, 4am, TNT Sports 1 HD (CH 527)
North Melbourne v Hawthorn
Sunday 21 April, 7am, TNT Sports 1 HD (CH 527)
Richmond v Melbourne
Wednesday 24 April, 10.20am, TNT Sports
Essendon v Collingwood
Thursday 25 April, 6.15am, TNT Sports
GWS Giants v Brisbane Lions
Thursday 25 April, 10.30am, TNT Sports
Port Adelaide v St Kilda
Friday 26 April, 10.30am, TNT Sports
North Melbourne v Adelaide Crows
Saturday 27 April, 4.30am, TNT Sports
Geelong Cats v Carlton
Saturday 27 April, 7.30am, TNT Sports
Fremantle v Western Bulldogs
Saturday 27 April, 10.30am, TNT Sports
Gold Coast Suns v West Coast Eagles
Sunday 28 April, 4am, TNT Sports
Hawthorn v Sydney Swans
Sunday 28 April, 7am, TNT Sports
Baseball: Major League Baseball
After three weeks of the 2024 season, the best record in Major League Baseball was shared by two teams that didn’t even make the play-offs in 2023 – the New York Yankees and Pittsburgh Pirates. Both held a win percentage of .800: the Yankees won all four of their games against the Houston Astros and then claimed victory in three-games series over the Diamondbacks and Blue Jays, with pitcher Luke Weaver particularly effective.
See if the Yankees can triumph over their American League East rivals again when they visit Toronto’s Rogers Center. World Series winners the Texas Rangers are also among the contenders and you can watch them on TNT Sports in road games at Detroit and Atlanta.
Texas Rangers @ Detroit Tigers
Tuesday 16 April, 6pm, TNT Sports 3 HD (CH 527)
Atlanta Braves @ Houston Astros
Wednesday 17 April, 1am, TNT Sports 2 HD (CH 528)
New York Yankees @ Toronto Blue Jays
Wednesday 17 April, 8pm, TNT Sports 3 HD (CH 529)
Arizona Diamondbacks @ San Francisco Giants
Friday 19 April, 2.30am, TNT Sports 1 HD (CH 527)
Miami Marlins @ Chicago Cubs
Friday 19 April, 7pm, TNT Sports 3 HD (CH 529)
Los Angeles Angels @ Cincinnati Reds
Friday 19 April, 11.30pm, TNT Sports 4 HD (CH 530)
Texas Rangers @ Atlanta Braves
Sunday 21 April, 12am, TNT Sports
Tampa Bay Rays @ New York Yankees
Sunday 21 April, 6.30pm, TNT Sports 4 HD (CH 530)
Texas Rangers @ Atlanta Braves
Monday 22 April, 12am, TNT Sports 2 HD (CH 528)
Oakland Athletics @ New York Yankees
Monday 22 April, 6pm, TNT Sports 2 HD (CH 528)
Squash
Cairo’s Black Ball Open is one of the Gold events on the PSA World Tour, with a prize fund of over $100,000. England’s Mohamed El Shorbagy claimed the men’s singles title last year and he’ll be keen to defend the title in the country of his birth. Then it’s on to the Red Sea coast for the even more prestigious El Gouna International, where defending champions and home favourites Ali Farag and Nouran Gohar will be among those competing for a chunk of the $750,000 at stake in this Platinum tournament.
Black Ball Open, Cairo – Final
Tuesday 16 April, 6pm, TNT Sports 4 HD (CH 530)
El Gouna International
Friday 19 to Friday 26 April, TNT Sports
Not heard about Virgin TV Go?
Don’t let anything get in between you and your essential viewing with Virgin TV Go. With loads of sport and Box Sets to try out, you’ll always be entertained wherever you are!
The app is available to all Virgin TV customers at no extra cost and is compatible with Android, iOS, Windows 10 and PC/Mac. Get downloading (from the links below) and you’ll be one step closer to watching what you want, when you want.
Download the Virgin TV Go app from the Apple app store
TV channels: Channels, content and features available depend on your chosen package. Channel line-ups and content are subject to change at any time and to regional variations.
HD: HD TV required to view HD channels. Number of inclusive HD channels depends on package.
Premium channels (add-ons): 30 days’ notice required to remove premium channels/packs.
TNT Sports can be taken as an add-on at additional monthly cost. Premium channels and upgrades must be kept for at least 30 days.
TV Go: Content available to view depends on TV package. Not all channels/content from relevant pack available. Live streaming and On Demand requires broadband/WiFi or 3G/4G access. UK only. Access via PC, Mac or TV Go App (selected iOS devices and Android™ devices only). Maximum 5 compatible devices per account can watch TV.