MiD DAY's Weekend Sports Guide

With formula one, cricket and football lined up this weekend, you will hardly want to do anything else

FORMULA ONE

Home, sweet home for Alonso
Will the Spaniard leave his mark in Valencia?
Two-time drivers world champion Spaniard Fernando Alonso delighted his home fans yesterday afternoon when he dominated the second free practice session ahead of Sunday's European Grand Prix.
The 28-year-old Renault ace was fastest overall with a late quickest lap of one minute and 39.404 seconds round the sweeping Mediterranean harbour-side street circuit.

This lap time was three seconds faster than the best set in the morning session by veteran Brazilian Rubens Barrichello of Brawn GP and proved the asphalt surface was providing increasing grip as the temperature rose in hot sunshine.
Alonso set his time late in the day after being given a replacement nose section for his car following a collision earlier with German Nick Heidfeld's BMW Sauber, the latter failing to see the Spaniard as he approached to pass him at the final corner.
Championship leading Briton Jenson Button was second fastest ahead of his Brawn GP team-mate Barrichello as the duo proved beyond doubt that the team had rediscovered much of its early season form.u00a0u00a0- AFP

Live on Star Sports
Qualifying: Saturday, 17: 20
Race: Sunday, 17:15

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Saturday: Man U vs Wigan Athletic, Live on ESPN, Saturday 19:25
Saturday: Arsenal vs Portsmouth, Live on Star Sports 19:25
Sunday: West Ham vs Tottenham Hotspurs, Live on ESPN 17:55, Fulham
vs Chelsea, Live on ESPN 20:25

ENGLAND VS AUSTRALIA CRICKET

Day Three and Four, Live on Star Cricket:
Saturday & Sunday 15:28

SRI LANKA vs NEW ZEALAND

Day Five
Live on Ten Sports, Saturday 09:55

OTHER ACTION

Saturday:
Badminton: Macau Open semi-finals, Live on Neo Sports 11:30
German football: Borussia Dortmund vs Stuttgart, Live on Neo Sports 19:00,
Mainz vs Bayern Munich 22:00

Sunday:
Badminton: Macau Open finals, Live on Neo Sports 11:30
football: Wolfburg vs Hamburg , Live on Neo Sports 21:00
Tennis: Rogers Cup, Live on Neo Sports 16:30

WAYNE ROONEY

Rooney has added pressure after the exit of Cristiano Ronaldo and Manchester United will be looking up to him after the loss to Burnley.

Wigan Athletic vs Manchester United, live on ESPN Sat 19:25

ANDREW FLINTOFF

England have the advantage and the time is right for Big Fred to stamp his authority on the Ashes-decider and his farewell Test.

England vs Australia, Fifth Test, Live on Star cricket 15:28

CESC FABREGAS

Arsenal may have lost a few stars this season but in skipper Fabregas they have a player who can dictate terms from the midfield and inspire the side.

Arsenal vs Prtsmouth, Live on Star Sports Sat 19:25

JENSON BUTTON

His lead has been trimmed in the last three races but the Brit is the same force as he was at the start of the season winning six of the first seven races.

European GP, Live on Star Sports Sat 17:20 and Sun 17:15

MUTTIAH MURALITHARAN

His four wickets in the first innings against New Zealand set Sri Lanka up and he will hold the key again as the hosts go for the kill on Day Five

SL vs NZ, First Test Day Five, live on Ten Sports Sat 09:55