The World’s top football leagues return live to SuperSport!
As international sport starts making a comeback, live coverage is making a return to SuperSport, which has focused on historic and packaged programming since the start of the international Covid-19 crisis.
Liz Dziva, publicity and public relations manager of MultiChoice Zimbabwe, said the return of live coverage would be welcomed by sports fans, for whom SuperSport is key feature of their DStv experience.
“Nothing beats the thrill of live sports action, so we are delighted that the time has come to screen live sport for our viewers, “ she said.
Three major European leagues are moving back into action: the English Premier League, La Liga and Serie A. Spain’s La Liga is the first to return to SuperSport on Thursday June 11 featuring the derby match between Sevilla and Real Betis, with a further nine fixtures to complete a full round played over the weekend of June 12 to 14.
La Liga last week said there were 130 people working to make it happen in a new way and La Liga president Javier Tebas said. “We’re prepared and the important thing will be the day we finish the competition. The next will start on September 12.”
La Liga will feature the usual competition between Barcelona and Real Madrid, with only two points separating the teams at the top of the log. Los Blancos appeared to have more momentum behind them, having beaten Barca in Madrid in early March before the league was suspended, but the break has allowed the Catalans to regroup and recover from a major spate of injuries.
Next to follow will be the Premier League, with two catch-up fixtures – Manchester City v Arsenal and Aston Villa v Sheffield United – on Wednesday June 17 before a first full round of fixtures running from Friday June 19 to Monday June 22.
All eyes will be on leaders Liverpool, who need only two more wins to be crowned 2019/2020 champions, their first top-flight championship in 30 years. Their first game back will be away to Everton, with the match possibly at a neutral venue, and depending on the result of Manchester City’s earlier matches, the Reds could clinch the title with victor against their cross-town rivals.
Italy’s Serie A will start on the weekend of June 19 to 21, bringing with it one of the most thrilling title races anywhere in Europe. Champions Juventus hold a one-point lead over nearest chasers Lazio, who have become one of the most entertaining and effective teams in the Italian top flight. Internazionale are also on the fringes of the title race and could bring themselves back into contention if they win their game in hand.
Football is not the only sport returning live to SuperSport in coming days weeks. Rugby makes a comeback with New Zealand’s domestic Aotearoa on the weekend of June 13 to 14 June, when Highlanders take on the Chiefs and the Blues host the Hurricanes/
Golf’s PG Tour will host the Charles Schwab Challenge from June 11 to 14 and IAAF athletics will soon be back on the calendar with the Oslo Impossible Games on June 11. In horse racing the Investec Coronation Cup runs on Friday June 5, while in motorsport IndyCar run the Genesys 600 on Sunday June 7, followed by the continuation of series that have already been holding live events through the crisis: UFC 250 (Sunday June 7) and the NASCAR Cup (June 7, 11 and 14). Wrestling features in WWE’s latest pay-per-view special, Backlash, on Monday June 15.
“SuperSport remains the passport to all the top action from around the world and will be the first and best source of entertainment for when more and more sporting codes return to real time action and coverage around the world,” said Ms Dziva.
Major football leagues returning – Broadcast schedules TBC
La Liga:
Thursday 11 June
22:00: Sevilla v Real Betis
Friday 12 June
19:30: Granada v Getafe
22:00: Valencia v Levante
Saturday 13 June
13:00: Espanyol v Deportivo Alaves
17:00: Celta Vigo v Villarreal
19:30: Leganes v Real Valladolid
22:00: Mallorca v Barcelona
Sunday 14 June
13:00: Athletic Bilbao v Atletico Madrid
19:30: Real Madrid v Eibar
22:00: Real Sociedad v Osasuna
Premier League:
Wednesday 17 June
TBD: Manchester City v Arsenal
TBD: Aston Villa v Sheffield United
Friday 19 June – Monday 22 June
First full round of Premier League return
Serie A:
Friday 19 June – Monday 22 June
First full round of Serie A return
Major live events over the next two weeks on SuperSport – Confirmed broadcast schedules
Friday 5 June
14:30: Horse racing: Investec Coronation Cup – LIVE on SuperSport 1, SuperSport 10 and SuperSport
Sunday 7 June
02:00: MMA: UFC 250 preliminary card – LIVE on SuperSport 1, SuperSport 11 and SuperSport Maximo
02:40: IndyCar: Genesys 600 – LIVE on SuperSport 2 and SuperSport 8
04:00: MMA: UFC 250 main card – LIVE on SuperSport 1, SuperSport 11 and SuperSport Maximo
21:00: NASCAR Cup: Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 – LIVE on SuperSport 2 and SuperSport 8
Thursday 11 June
01:00: NASCAR Cup: Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 – LIVE on SuperSport 2 and SuperSport 8
20:00: IAAF Diamond League: Oslo Impossible Games – LIVE on SuperSport 1, SuperSport 8 SuperSport Maximo
21:00: PGA Tour: Charles Schwab Challenge Day 1 – LIVE on SuperSport 6
Friday 12 June
22:00: PGA Tour: Charles Schwab Challenge Day 2 – LIVE on SuperSport 6
Saturday 13 June
07:00: Aotearoa Rugby: Highlanders v Chiefs – LIVE on SuperSport 1, SuperSport 5
19:00: PGA Tour: Charles Schwab Challenge Day 3 – LIVE on SuperSport 6
Sunday 14 June
05:00: Aotearoa Rugby: Blues v Hurricanes – LIVE on SuperSport 1, SuperSport 5
19:00: PGA Tour: Charles Schwab Challenge Day 4 – LIVE on SuperSport 6
21:30: NASCAR Cup: Dixie Vodka 400 – LIVE on SuperSport 2 and SuperSport 8
Monday 15 June
01:00: WWE Pay-per-view: Backlash – LIVE on SuperSport 1, SuperSport 4, SuperSport 9, SuperSport Maximo 1, and WWE Channel 128
