Three sporting events to watch this week: Your handy guide to sport on television

Tennis

Women’s world number one Aryna Sabalenka takes on former men’s Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios in a ‘Battle of the Sexes’. The exhibition match, in Dubai, is along the same lines as Billie Jean King v Bobby Riggs in the 1970s, and Jimmy Connors v Martina Navratilova in the ’90s. - Tuesday, BBC

Racing

The Leopardstown Christmas Festival runs from St Stephen’s Day to Monday. There are seven Grade One National Hunt races spread over the four days - with the highlights including the Racing Post Novice Chase (Friday), Paddy Power Chase (Saturday), Savills Chase (Sunday) and Irish EBF Mares Hurdle (Monday). – Friday-Monday, RTÉ

Rugby

It’s been a mixed bag for both Leinster and Munster so far this season. Leinster have surely been looking forward to this fixture since the 31-14 defeat at Croke Park in October. These Christmas derby clashes are always high-energy and high-stakes. - Saturday, Premier Sports

MONDAY (Dec 22)

NFL - Sky Sports NFL - 1.20am Patriots @ Ravens
DARTS - Sky Sports Darts, 12.30pm-4.30pm, 7pm-11pm World Championship
SOCCER - 4seven & Channel 4 streaming - Africa Cup of Nations - 2pm Mali v Zambia, 5pm S Africa v Angola, 8pm Egypt v Zimbabwe
EQUESTRIAN - BBC Red Button, 6.10pm-10.25pm London International Horse Show
SOCCER - Sky Sports Premier League - 8pm Fulham v Nottingham Forest

TUESDAY (Dec 23)

NBA - Sky Sports Plus - Midnight Hornets @ Cavaliers, 2.30am Grizzlies @ Thunder
NFL - Sky Sports NFL - 1.15am 49ers @ Colts
DARTS - Sky Sports Darts, 12.30pm-4.30pm, 7pm-11pm World Championship
SOCCER - 4seven & Channel 4 streaming - Africa Cup of Nations - 12.30pm Congo DR v Benin, 3pm Senegal v Botswana, 5.30pm Nigeria v Tanzania, 8pm Tunisia v Uganda
SOCCER - UTV & Sky Sports Football - League Cup Quarter-final - 8pm Arsenal v Crystal Palace

WEDNESDAY (Christmas Eve)

NBA - Sky Sports Plus - 1am Nuggets @ Mavericks, 4am Rockets @ Clippers
SOCCER - 4seven & Channel 4 streaming - Africa Cup of Nations - 12.30pm Burkina Faso v Equatorial Guinea, 3pm Algeria v Sudan, 5.30pm Côte d’Ivoire v Mozambique, 8pm Cameroon v Gabon

THURSDAY (Christmas Day)

NBA - Sky Sports Plus - 5pm Cavalliers @ Knicks, 7.30pm Spurs @ Thunder, 10pm Mavericks @ Warriors
NFL - Sky Sports NFL - 6pm Cowboys @ Commanders, 9.30pm Lions @ Vikings, 1.15am Broncos @ Chiefs

FRIDAY (St Stephen’s Day)

NBA - Sky Sports Plus - 1am Rockets @ Lakers, 3.30am Timberwolves @ Nuggets
SOCCER - Sky Sports Showcase – Championship - 12.30pm Birmingham v Derby
SOCCER - 4seven & Channel 4 streaming - Africa Cup of Nations - 12.30pm Angola v Zimbabwe, 5.30pm Zambia v Comoros, 8pm Morocco v Mali
RACING - UTV, 12.30pm-3pm Kempton Park
RACING - RTÉ 2, 1pm-3.20pm Leopardstown
SOCCER - Channel 4 - Africa Cup of Nations - 3pm Egypt v S Africa
SOCCER - Sky Sports Football - League 2 - 3pm Chesterfield v Notts County
RUGBY - Premier Sports 1 – URC - 3pm Cardiff v Dragons, 5.30pm Scarlets v Ospreys
RUGBY - TNT Sports 1 - English Premiership - 5.30pm Sale v Harlequins
SOCCER - Sky Sports Football – Championship - 5.30pm Wrexham v Sheffield Utd
SOCCER - Sky Sports Premier League - 8pm Man Utd v Newcastle

SATURDAY (Dec 27)

DARTS - Sky Sports Darts, 12.30pm-4.30pm, 7pm-11pm World Championship
SOCCER - 4seven & Channel 4 streaming - Africa Cup of Nations - 12.30pm Benin v Botswana, 3pm Senegal v Congo DR, 5.30pm Uganda v Tanzania, 8pm Nigeria v Tunisia
SOCCER - TNT Sports 1 - Premier League - 12.30pm Nottingham Forest v Man City
SOCCER - Sky Sports Football - Scottish Premiership - 12.30pm Hibernian v Hearts, 3pm Livingston v Celtic
RACING - UTV, 12.30pm-3pm Kempton Park
RACING - RTÉ 2, 1pm-3.25pm Leopardstown
SOCCER - Premier Sports 1 - Premier League - 3pm Liverpool v Wolverhampton
RUGBY - Premier Sports 2 – URC - 3pm Edinburgh v Glasgow
RUGBY - TNT Sports 1 - English Premiership - 3.05pm Gloucester v Saracens, 5.30pm Bath v Northampton
RUGBY - Premier Sports 2 – URC - 3.20pm Zebre v Benetton
SOCCER - Sky Sports Premier League - 5.30pm Chelsea v Aston Villa
RUGBY - TG4 & Premier Sports 1 – URC - 5.30pm Connacht v Ulster
RUGBY - Premier Sports 1 – URC - 7.45pm Munster v Leinster
SOCCER - Premier Sports 2 - Scottish Premiership - 5.45pm Aberdeen v Dundee Utd
SOCCER - TNT Sports 2 - Serie A - 7.45pm Pisa v Juventus
SOCCER - BBC 1, 10.25pm-11.55pm Match of the Day

SUNDAY (Dec 28)

DARTS - Sky Sports Darts, 12.30pm-4.30pm, 7pm-11pm World Championship
SOCCER - 4seven & Channel 4 streaming - Africa Cup of Nations - 12.30pm Gabon v Mozambique, 3pm Eq Guinea v Sudan, 5.30pm Algeria v Burkina Faso, 8pm Côte d’Ivoire v Cameroon
RACING - RTÉ 2, 1pm-3.25pm Leopardstown
SOCCER - Sky Sports Premier League - 2pm Sunderland v Leeds, 4.30pm Crystal Palace v Tottenham
RUGBY - TNT Sports 1 - English Premiership - 3pm Exeter v Leicester
RUGBY - Premier Sports 1 - Top 14 - 3pm Pau v Montpellier
TENNIS - BBC 1, 3.45pm-5.30pm - Dubai Nick Kyrgios v Aryna Sabalenka
SOCCER - TNT Sports 1 - Serie A - 7.45pm Atlanta v Inter
RUGBY - Premier Sports 1 - Top 14 - 8.05pm Toulouse v La Rochelle
SOCCER - BBC 1, 10.25pm-11.15pm Match of the Day

MONDAY (Dec 29)

NFL - Sky Sports NFL - 1.20am Bears @ 49ers
DARTS - Sky Sports Darts, 12.30pm-4.30pm, 7pm-11pm World Championship
RACING - RTÉ 2, 1pm-3.35pm Leopardstown
RACING - ITV4, 1.30pm-4pm Newbury
SOCCER - 4seven & Channel 4 streaming - Africa Cup of Nations - 4pm Angola v Egypt, 7pm Zambia v Morocco
SOCCER - Channel 4 YouTube - Africa Cup of Nations - 4pm Zimbabwe v S Africa, 7pm Comoros v Mali
SOCCER - Sky Sports Football – Championship - 6pm Coventry v Ipswich
SOCCER - Sky Sports Football – Championship - 8.15pm Birmingham v Southampton

TUESDAY (Dec 30)

NFL - Sky Sports NFL - 1.15am Rams @ Falcons
NBA - Sky Sports Plus - 1am Cavalliers @ Spurs, 4am Mavericks @ Blazers
DARTS - Sky Sports Darts, 12.30pm-4.30pm, 7pm-11pm World Championship
SOCCER - 4seven & Channel 4 streaming - Africa Cup of Nations - 4pm Uganda v Nigeria, 7pm Benin v Senegal
SOCCER - Channel 4 YouTube - Africa Cup of Nations - 4pm Tanzania v Tunisia, 7pm Botswana v Congo DR
SOCCER - Sky Sports Main Event - Premier League - 7.30pm Chelsea v Bournemouth
SOCCER - Sky Sports Tennis - Premier League - 7.30pm Burnley v Newcastle
SOCCER - Sky Sports Cricket - Premier League - 7.30pm Nottingham Forest v Everton
SOCCER - Sky Sports Golf - Premier League - 7.30pm West Ham v Brighton
SOCCER - Premier Sports 1 - Scottish Premiership - 8pm Motherwell v Celtic
SOCCER - Sky Sports Football - 8.15pm Arsenal v Aston Villa
SOCCER - Sky Sports Premier League - 8.15pm Man Utd v Wolves
SOCCER - BBC 1, 10.30pm-11.45pm Match of the Day

WEDNESDAY (Dec 31)

NBA - Sky Sports Plus - 1am 76ers @ Grizzlies, 4am Kings @ Clippers
SOCCER - 4seven & Channel 4 streaming - Africa Cup of Nations - 4pm Eq Guinea v Algeria, 7pm Gabon v Côte d’Ivoire
SOCCER - Channel 4 YouTube - Africa Cup of Nations - 4pm Sudan v Burkina Faso, 7pm Mozambique v Cameroon
NBA - Sky Sports Plus - 6pm Warriors @ Hornets