The battle for silverware is on

The Grand National is on April 14

AS the football season moves towards its business end, the fight for trophies is on across Europe – and few matches will be more keenly contested than the upcoming Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden when Glasgow’s big two meet.

The tie represents Rangers’ last opportunity to lift silverware this season and their only remaining chance to derail a second domestic treble for Hoops manager Brendan Rodgers; however, the fact they have not beaten Celtic in 90 minutes for over six years does not bode well for the Light Blues.

In England, the FA Cup semi-final between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur (April 21) should prove illuminating as two able sides also compete for what is their final shot at a trophy this term.

Away from football, the Grand National is back at Aintree. The big race takes place on Saturday (April 14) with the nine year old Blaklion, trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies, installed as early favourite. If that’s not enough for lovers of the sport of kings, action moves up north a week later for the Scottish Grand National at Ayr (April 21).

In rugby, fans of Glasgow Warriors can look forward to the Guinness Pro14’s return as they travel to Ulster (April 20).

And, staying in Northern Ireland, popular boxer Carl Frampton takes on Nonito Donaire in Belfast (April 21) in a fight that’s sure to please.

THURSDAY APRIL 12

13:30 ITV Horse racing
Grand National Festival, day 1
20:05 BT Sport tbc Football
CSKA Moscow v Arsenal, Europa League, quarter-final
20:05 BT Sport tbc Football
Sporting Lisbon v Atletico Madrid, Europa League, quarter-final

FRIDAY APRIL 13

13:30 ITV Horse racing
Grand National Festival, day 2
19:30 BT Sport 2 Football
Wolfsburg v FC Augsburg, Bundesliga

SATURDAY APRIL 14

12:15 BBC1 Football
Motherwell v Aberdeen, Scottish Cup, semi-final
12:30 SSPL Football
Southampton v Chelsea, EPL
13:30 ITV Horse racing
Grand National Festival, day 3 (race)
15:00 SSF Football
Aston Villa v Leeds United, Sky Bet Championship
17:30 BT Sport 1 Football
Liverpool v Bournemouth, EPL
17:30 BT Sport 2 Football
Bayern Munich v Borussia Monchengladbach, Bundesliga
17:30 BT Sport 1 Football
Liverpool v Newcastle United, EPL
19:45 SSPL Football
Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City, EPL
19:45 BT Sport 2 Football
Atalanta v Inter Milan, Serie A

SUNDAY APRIL 15

13:30 SSPL Football
Newcastle United v Arsenal, EPL
14:00 BT Sport ESPN Football
Juventus v Sampdoria, Serie A
14:30 SSF Football
Celtic v Rangers, Scottish Cup, semi-final
15:45 SSRB Football
PSV Eindhoven v Ajax, Eredivisie
16:00 SSPL Football
Manchester United v West Bromich Albion, EPL
19:45 BT Sport tbc Football
AC Milan v Napoli, Serie A

MONDAY APRIL 16

19:45 SSPL Football
West Ham United v Stoke City, EPL

TUESDAY APRIL 17

19:45 SSPL Football
Brighton v Tottenham Hotspur, EPL

WEDNESDAY APRIL 18

13:30 ITV4 Horse racing
Newmarket and Cheltenham
19:45 BT Sport 1 Football
Bournemouth v Manchester United, EPL

THURSDAY APRIL 19

19:45 SSPL Football
Burnley v Chelsea, EPL

FRIDAY APRIL 20

16:00 BT Sport 3 Football
Manchester City U19s v Barcelona U19s, UEFA Youth League, semi-final
19:35 BBC2 NI Rugby union
Ulster v Glasgow Warriors, Guinness Pro14
19:45 SSF Football
Millwall v Fulham, Sky Bet Championship

SATURDAY APRIL 21

13:30 ITV Horse racing
Scottish Grand National
17:15 BBC1 Football
Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur, FA Cup, semi-final
19:00 BT Sport tbc Boxing
Carl Frampton v Nonito Donaire, WBO Interim Featherweight Title
19:00 SS tbc Boxing
Amir Khan v Phil Lo Greco, welterweight bout
20:30 SSF Football
Barcelona v Sevilla, Copa del Rey, final