The sporting week ahead (30/09/12)

Today

What a week for Adrian Chiles. First he is pictured romancing Catherine Tate and now his first love, West Bromwich Albion, go into their derby with Aston Villa as the Second City's first force. And they haven't done that since Christine Bleakley was born. But all that whooping and hollering around The Hawthorns probably won't match that at the Medinah Country Club in Chicago as the Ryder Cup concludes in its usual crescendo of jingoistic frenzy.

Tomorrow

What will Robert Green make of today's west meets east London derby? He might have been in the West Ham goal but he chose to leave because he thought he could do better; he might have been in the QPR goal had he not been replaced after a couple of games for being, well, not very good. Now he's on the bench, thinking of what might have been.

Tuesday

Not one of the Champions' League's more glamorous weeks, with Manchester United paired with CFR Cluj, who always sound like a spare part for a 1980s Trabant. Chelsea are in Denmark to face Nordsjaelland while Celtic travel to Spartak Moscow and a reunion with their former golden boy Aiden McGeady.

Wednesday

Manchester City, who succumbed to a Real Madrid smash-and-grab a fortnight ago, desperately need a solid result against Borussia Dortmund, while Arsenal will be brimful of confidence against Olympiacos.

Thursday

In Nevada it's the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospital for Children Open, which has to be the most convoluted title for a golf tournament anywhere in the world. In Scotland it's the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, which sounds altogether more homely.

Friday

The Formula One roadshow rolls ever onwards like a tropical storm. Suzuka in Japan is the latest destination to batten down the hatches for today's qualifying.

Saturday

Stoke were the sort of team that Liverpool failed to beat at home last season, so today's meeting should provide an interesting test as to whether there is any substance to Brendan Rodgers's new regime there. In rugby league it's the Stobart Super League Grand Final.