Sport: What's On This Weekend? Jan 18th & 19th, 2025

2025 is well underway and we’re glad to see nothing has changed. The snow has cleared but the action-packed fixtures continue to come thick and fast up and down the country.

The focus here, as always, is on those fixtures taking place in Yorkshire, with a HUGE clash taking place between two Yorkshire based clubs that is destined to bring the drama. But before this fixture, we focus on two of Saturday’s games prior to the main event on Sunday.

Saturday 18th January: Sheffield United vs Norwich, 3pm

The Blades are twenty-six games into what has been a successful season for them so far, and without their two-point deduction, they would be sitting one point clear at the top of the Championship table. However, they currently sit in third place behind in form Burnley and a Leeds side that seem to have a never say die attitude. Wilder will be hoping this weekend will see his side return to form as the Blades have only won one of their last five games in all competitions.

Travelling to Bramall Lane are Johannes Hoff Thorup’s Norwich City side who are unbeaten in four games, winning three of those fixtures against tough opposition. The Canaries are the league’s joint second top scorers, netting forty-three times in the twenty-six games they have played. They will be hoping that their free-flowing football will be able to break down the league’s second-best defence, in what will be a tight contest in the Steel City on Saturday.

A win for Wilder’s side could see them go top for a day (reliant on Burnley being unable to claim all three points when they face Sunderland on Friday night). This incentive is sure to send the players out with a point to prove, as the will rightly believe due to their performances, they should be sitting top of the table.

The Blades will have to look beyond their long injury list however, as they go into this tie without many of their starting eleven, with notable absentees being Harry Souttar, Kieffer Moore, Gustavo Hamer, Vini Souza and Ollie Arblaster. This will be something Chris Wilder and his side will have to put to one side as they need to focus on collecting points and keeping their title charge alive.

Norwich will be hoping to defeat a depleted Sheffield United side, but will they be able to take all three points when Saturday comes?

This game is too close to call and is definitely worth tuning in for.

Date: Saturday 18th January
Kick Off: 15:00pm
Location: Bramall Lane, Bramall Ln, Highfield, Sheffield, S2 4SU

For details on tickets go to sufc.co.uk
Saturday 18th January: Rotherham United vs Charlton Athletic, 3pm

Only two places separate Rotherham and Charlton going into this fixture, and both sides are on a decent run of form, with only one loss between them in their last 5 fixtures. A win for either side would move them closer to the play-off places as the League One table remains as close as ever.

The Addicks are unbeaten in the league since the beginning of December and will be full of confidence going into this fixture. They have ten goals in their last five games, and as Nathan Jones approaches his one-year anniversary in charge of Charlton, he will finally be starting to feel like things are falling into place for him and his side.

They travel to face a Rotherham side who are also on a good run of form, unbeaten in five games and off the back of an EFL cup win against League Two Chesterfield on penalties. Three points for The Millers will draw them level on points with Charlton and give them a needed bit of extra confidence as we move into the second half of the season.

Both sides will be keen to take all three points, and Rotherham will be hoping to end their bad run of form when facing a Charlton side, having failed to beat them in their last nine games, losing four and drawing five.

Will The Millers be able to turn this record on its head? Another fixture that is difficult to predict, but that should be entertaining.

Date: Saturday 18th January
Kick Off: 15:00pm
Location: New York Way, Rotherham, S60 1FJ

For more details on tickets go to themillers.co.uk
Sunday 19th January: Leeds United vs Sheffield Wednesday, 12pm

Sitting top of the table, Leeds United welcome fellow Yorkshire club Sheffield Wednesday in a fixture that is destined for drama. The last meeting between these two sides ended up in The Whites taking all three points and they will be hoping to continue that feat when The Owls visit Elland Road.

The Owls are currently enjoying a very successful season under Danny Röhl, sitting just four points off the play-off places, having only lost one of their last seven games, scoring sixteen goals in the process. Travelling to face Leeds United is a tough task, but Wednesday will be hoping they can cause an upset at the home of the league leaders.

Daniel Farke’s side will be keen to continue their unbelievable run of form, winning six of their last nine games and looking unstoppable in the process. They are a side in hot form, and on their day, they have proved they are capable of beating any of the league’s top sides with ease. They will surely be hoping for a routine win here as they face a side that despite Wednesdays good run of form, are not able to produce the level of quality that Leeds are able to deliver…but form often goes out of the window in a derby match

These are the games that the fans look out for when the fixtures are released at the start of the season, and there is no doubt in my mind that the fans of both teams will turn out at Elland Road in their numbers, ready for a fiery contest between two of Yorkshire’s biggest clubs.

Will Leeds ease past Wednesday or will The Owls be able to put a stop to The Whites surge towards to the Championship title?

You will not want to miss this one!

Date: Sunday 19th January
Kick Off: 12:00pm
Location: Elland Rd, Beeston, Leeds, LS11 0ES

For details on tickets go to leedsunited.com