Here is what our editors will be watching over Christmas:
Thursday, December 25th
NBA on Christmas Day - 18:00 CET
NBA on Christmas Day is always an absolute treat. With five back-to-back blockbuster games to look forward to, you can park up on your sofa and enjoy!
Up first, Eastern Conference favourites, the New York Knicks, take on the inconsistent Cleveland Cavaliers, before defending champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, face Victor Wembanyama's San Antonio Spurs, as the NBA's best team looks to exact revenge following their NBA Cup semi-final defeat.
Steph Curry and the struggling Golden State Warriors then go head-to-head with a team that has had a miserable season, the Dallas Mavericks, led by Rookie of the Year favourite Cooper Flagg.
Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves will then be in action for the Los Angeles Lakers, as they come up against another team doing really well in the Western Conference, the Houston Rockets, who possess the likes of Alperen Sengun and Kevin Durant.
Finally, the NBA's best player, Nikola Jokic, rounds out the day with the Denver Nuggets, who meet Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves - a team that they have notoriously struggled against.
What a day!
Tolga Akdeniz
NFL on Christmas Day - 19:00 CET
‘Twas the day of NFL Christmas, and throughout all the homes, fans prepared to watch three divisional matchups, one without Patrick Mahomes.
Without Mahomes and Gardner Minshew to start, it's on Chris Oladokun to make something happen in his first NFL start.
But in the brisk night of Kansas City winter air, the Broncos will hope to make the AFC West division theirs.
And while the Commanders are preparing for a trip to Cancun, they’ll at least hope to play spoiler to a Cowboys Christmas afternoon.
In the midday game, fans prepare for an NFC North scrap, where the Lions need a win against the Vikings in a divisional rematch.
As playoff hopes remain alive for the Lions, it wouldn’t be fun without the Vikings trying. Detroit’s Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jahmyr Gibbs will lead the way, as Minnesota is still wondering if J.J. McCarthy will be okay.
The three games on Thursday are rivalries galore, so I couldn’t think of any way this Christmas could possibly be a bore.
Eric Himmelheber
Friday, December 26th
Australia vs England, fourth Test - 00:30 CET
As far as cricket goes, the annual Boxing Day Test at the colossal Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) is very much an iconic event. The same venue, the same day, the same epic attendances every year. What changes, of course, is Australia’s opponent. And this time it’s their oldest of enemies, England, for the fourth Ashes Test, which runs from Boxing Day for five days, if needed.
In 1877, the first international Test match of all time took place between Australia and England at the MCG! That fact alone explains some of the weight around this rivalry. The Ashes, as a concept, didn’t start until 1882, but that still marks it out as one of the longest ongoing series in any sport globally.
Ok, so this series is over in a results sense. Australia have ground their visitors into the sunburnt dust, and hold an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series, but don’t let that dissuade you in a viewing sense. There’s plenty more to be enjoyed in this contest, and you wouldn’t call any Test between these two a completely ‘dead’ rubber.
For Pat Cummins’ Aussie side, this Test and the next in Sydney will be about winning the series 5-0, and in doing so, making a real statement, silencing their detractors, and establishing their legacy.
For Ben Stokes and his bruised and battered ’Bazballers’, it’s now about restoring pride, and quite likely trying out some fresher faces. Heavy losses in Ashes series always spell change, and the visitors might just start that renewal process in Melbourne.
They might be down and out of the series, but even England’s harshest critics will admit that they are one of the more aggressive and entertaining sides on the world stage. If their talents finally combine, they might just give their fans a first Test win down under since 2011.
The ageing, regularly record-breaking hosts, however, won’t be dishing out any favours. 100,000 people are expecting to pile into the ground on day one for this one, and as always, it’s going to be gripping!
Pat Dempsey
Manchester United vs Newcastle - 21:00 CET
After a festive period full of Christmas dinner and socialising with your relatives, there is nothing like escaping from it all for some Boxing Day football. In Christmas past, a full schedule of Premier League fixtures would land on the 26th, allowing every set of supporters a chance to watch their team play just like every other league in the English football pyramid.
So to have just one Premier League fixture on Boxing Day in 2025 that doesn't kick off until the evening? Disappointing.
However, the one game we do have to look forward to is a juicy one and feels like a must-win for both clubs. Manchester United played well against Aston Villa last weekend, but ultimately it was another defeat in a Premier League season littered with them, and Ruben Amorim's side are quickly losing ground on the Premier League's top four.
Eddie Howe's Newcastle United played well in the first half against Chelsea on Saturday lunchtime, but collapsed in the second half and were forced to settle for a 2-2 draw. After a slow start to the season, Newcastle needed to bounce back from their underwhelming Tyne-Wear derby defeat, and their inability to do so puts all the more pressure on getting a result at Old Trafford.
Therefore, with Man United in seventh and Newcastle down in 11th heading into the final game of 2025, a point isn't really good enough for either side on Boxing Day.
Manchester United have been involved in thrilling games almost every week this season, and Friday night's clash under the lights promises to be no different. Expect plenty of goals as two teams in desperate need of a win go head-to-head in a Festive cracker.
Harry Dunnett
Saturday, December 27th
PDC World Championships - 13:30 CET
It’s been a typically enthralling first couple of weeks at the PDC World Darts Championship, with no shortage of dramatic moments, box-office walk-ons and surprise big-name exits.
The action ramps up again over the weekend at Alexandra Palace as several of the sport’s top players continue their campaign in the last 32.
Fresh from a three-day hiatus over the Christmas period, defending champion Luke Littler faces experienced Austrian Mensur Suljovic, world number two Luke Humphries takes on Gabriel Clemens and young star Gian van Veen comes up against Madars Razma.
Aside from the headline names, there are also plenty of intriguing match-ups to look forward to, including world number 16 Damon Heta against former champion Rob Cross and talented German Martin Schindler vs Ryan Searle.
With eight matches taking place on both Saturday and Sunday, the darts certainly provides the perfect entertainment to fill the gap between Christmas and New Year, so make sure you tune in!
Danny Clark
Senegal vs DR Congo - 16:00 CET
With the Africa Cup of Nations moving ‘forward’ to the festive slot, it means football fans have a slice of tournament action to go with their Christmas pudding.
AFCON always provides thrills and spills, and in the second round of games, there’s none bigger than Senegal’s Group D clash with dark horses DR Congo on December 27th.
The Lions of Terranga boast one of the best squads in Morocco. Sadio Mane will lead the line, whilst Ismaila Sarr and Nicolas Jackson will provide ample support.
But DR Congo will be their sternest test in the group stages. The Leopards head into the tournament with good form, winning eight of their last nine games. That defeat? It was to Senegal during World Cup qualification in September.
That match ended 3-2 to Senegal; something similar during AFCON would be most welcome.
Josh Donaldson
Sunday, December 28th
Sabalenka vs Kyrgios - 17:00 CET
In a modern-day Battle of the Sexes, 52 years on from the first match to carry such a title, Aryna Sabalenka will take on Nick Kyrgios in Dubai. However, while Billie Jean King’s win over Bobby Riggs was a big moment for gender equality, it’s difficult to see the benefits that this addition will bring to the women’s game.
King’s win gained female players respect and recognition that was sorely lacking up at the time, but in an age where that’s less of an issue, many would argue the best way to deal with those in the sport who don’t provide that respect is to ignore them, not give them a platform and a chance to - in their eyes at least - prove their point.
Kyrgios has faced numerous accusations of misogyny for controversial comments over the years, and has stated he won’t even have to try his hardest to beat Sabalenka. What’s more, if he doesn’t, he has plenty of excuses to fall back on, from a distinct lack of fitness to the fact that measures have been introduced to assist his opponent, with no second serves allowed and her side of the court smaller.
That begs the question: what exactly can Sabalenka and the women’s side of the sport gain from playing such a match?
Nevertheless, it will at the very least be fascinating to see how the best female player in the world compares to one of the best male servers ever, and for all its faults, it will undeniably be a contest like no other.
Finley Crebolder
Atalanta vs Inter - 20:45 CET
An Atalanta side starting to find their feet again have a stiff test to end their calendar year - a visit from league leaders Inter on Sunday.
The Bergamaschi have won six of eight matches under new coach Raffaele Palladino, including each of their last three. They have also scored in every match under the tutelage of the former Monza and Fiorentina boss. Sitting three points outside of a European spot, winning will be key to maintaining touching distance with those above them.
Cristian Chivu’s Inter lead the way, having won a league-high 11 matches. This is despite having played a game less than most of their competitors. Goals have not been a problem either for the Nerazzurri. Their 34 is also the most in the division. They are coming off a Supercoppa Italiana defeat on penalties to Bologna in the semi-finals, and will hope to return to winning ways soon.
This head-to-head has been dominated by Inter in recent years. They have won their last eight competitive clashes with their blue-and-black brethren, keeping a clean sheet in the last four. Atalanta’s last victory came seven years ago in the league, beating Internazionale 4-1. They are 0-5-10 since that match.
Can La Dea finally prevail in this fixture, or will I Nerazzurri continue their domination? Sunday night’s clash in Bergamo will be a must-watch.
David Parkes