A weekend with out Premier League motion is often a trigger for despair amongst soccer followers in England.
Dominating the TV schedule every week, it is absence is often keenly felt, with a scarcity of high quality motion to fill the void.
That's not the case this time round, nevertheless. Regardless of the highest flight breaking as a result of added spherical of worldwide fixtures for South American, Asian and North American nations, there's nonetheless a jam-packed schedule on the field this Saturday and Sunday.
Right here, Sportsmail takes you thru the perfect of the motion to take pleasure in over the following 48 hours.
SATURDAY
Ross County v Rangers (Sky Sports activities Primary Occasion) 12.30pm
For the hardcore footballing fanatic, there is a chance to begin your Saturday binge with the A-League conflict between Western United and Carl Jenkinson-featuring Melbourne Metropolis at 8.45am on BT Sport 2.
For these of a extra wise persuasion, and who respect the virtues of a weekend lie in, the motion will get underway in Dingwall within the north of Scotland at lunchtime.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst's Rangers facet scraped to victory midweek towards Livingston to keep up their four-point lead over Celtic on the prime of the Scottish Premiership.
With the re-arranged Outdated Agency fixture penned in for subsequent Wednesday, victory over struggling Ross County might be key in sustaining the higher hand forward of their journey to Parkhead.
There's additionally the opportunity of the primary viewing of Amad Diallo in blue, after the league leaders secured a mortgage transfer for the Manchester United teen earlier this week.
Gambia v Cameroon (BBC Two and iPlayer) 4pm
The most important competitors on present this weekend is undoubedtly the Africa Cup of Nations.
We have reached the quarter-finals, with most of the pre-tournament favourites nonetheless concerned and plenty of massive names.
The hosts Cameroon kick off the last-eight fixtures once they tackle the little-fancied Gambia, who can have taken coronary heart from the exploits of goalkeeper-less Comoros within the earlier spherical.
Reims v Bastia (Mola TV) 5.30pm
Regardless of the internationals window, there is no such thing as a relaxation for prime groups in France, who might be competing within the Spherical of 16 within the French Cup this weekend.
Little-known Indonesian streaming service Mola TV have the unique UK rights, and people interested by watching can register without cost to observe the motion this weekend.
First up is Reims towards Ligue 2 facet Bastia. The highest-flight facet reached this stage courtesy of a late winner by former Everton striker and Scotland Underneath-21 worldwide Fraser Hornby.
Additionally on present may very well be teenager Hugo Ekitike, who's phenomenal kind this season in entrance of aim had seen him linked with a transfer to Newcastle amongst different Premier League sides earlier this window.
A chance for armchair followers to hold out their very own scouting mission, then.
Burkina Faso v Tunisia (Sky Sports activities Premier League) 7pm
The second AFCON semi-finalists might be selected Saturday night.
With Aston Villa's Bertrand Traore main the road, Burkina Faso overcame Gabon in a tense shoot-out within the final spherical, ultimately triumphing 7-6.
They're going to be up towards Tunisia, who knocked out Nigeria within the last-16. The perimeters will head into the match realizing their semi-final opponent, too.
Marseille v Montpellier (Mola TV) 8pm
Whereas not a family title in England simply but, you get the sensation Stephy Mavididi may simply be heading that means.
The previous Arsenal youth product left the membership for Juventus and has since settled in France at Montpellier after a mortgage spell at Dijon.
The left-sided winger has been flying for La Paillade in Ligue 1 this season, scoring eight objectives and helping an extra three. The 23-year-old has additionally been tentatively linked with a return to England this winter.
You would possibly catch a glimpse of him main the road as soon as extra for his facet as they tackle fellow Ligue 1 facet Marseille in an attention grabbing conflict at Stade Veledrome on Saturday night.
SUNDAY
Arsenal Ladies v London Metropolis Lionesses (BBC Crimson Button and iPlayer) 12.30pm
Extra cup motion follows on Sunday lunchtime, as the ladies take centre stage.
Arsenal are flying excessive on the prime of the Ladies's Tremendous League, consolidating their place after victory towards Brighton on Thursday night.
Jonas Eidevall's facet might be seeking to keep away from a monumental shock then once they welcome Ladies's Tremendous League 2 facet London Metropolis Lionesses for his or her fourth spherical tie.
Derby v Brimingham (Sky Sports activities Primary Occasion) 1.30pm
There is no such thing as a denying the job that Wayne Rooney has completed at Derby County. From a close to inconceivable place of a 21-point deduction, the Rams are nonetheless nicely within the struggle for survival.
It's now getting right down to the crunch nevertheless, and an eight-point hole nonetheless exists between Rooney's males and that coveted twenty first place within the desk.
They host a Birmingham Metropolis facet which have removed from satisfied this season, themselves languishing in 18th place.
If the previous Manchester United striker goes to drag off the unthinkable, this can be a sport they merely must win.
Egypt v Morocco (Sky Sports activities Premier League) 4pm
Time for the massive weapons. Mohamed Salah and Egypt held their nerve towards the Ivory Coast to e book their spot within the quarter finals towards a Morocco workforce who've up to now impressed.
Achraf Hakimi was their hero within the last-16, producing a thunderbolt of a free-kick to see off Malawi.
Egypt have been on the backfoot for a lot of the event, having sweated over their qualification for the knockout rounds after shedding to Nigeria of their opener.
They're going to be hoping the considerably subdued Salah can lastly come to the fore.
Cardiff Metropolis v Nottingham Forest (Sky Sports activities Primary Occasion) 4pm
A Championship sport with big implications at each ends of the desk wraps up the weekend's home choices.
Nottingham Forest have been unrecognisable since ditching Chris Hughton and hiring Steve Cooper.
They have been crushed simply 3 times in 22 matches since swapping coaches and are pushing onerous for a play-off spot. Victory on Sunday may elevate them as excessive as fifth.
It is a fully totally different story for Cardiff, who's season began poorly and has gone downhill from there.
Steve Morison's males could be lower adrift within the relegation locations with out the factors deductions handed right down to each Studying and Derby. They presently appear to be a workforce ready for different outcomes to go their means, fairly than taking a grasp of the scenario themselves.
If this does not float your boat although, there's extra French Cup motion, and the most important likelihood of a shock this weekend. Bergerac are within the fourth tier of the pyramid, however Ligue 1's basement boys Saint-Etienne will not be relishing the prospect of a go to to the Stade de Campreal (Mola TV, 5.30pm).
Senegal v Equatorial Guinea (BBC Two and Sky Sports activities Soccer) 7pm
The motion involves a detailed with the ultimate Africa Cup of Nations quarter, which may produce a blockbuster of a semi-final if outcomes go a sure means.
The tantalising prospect of Mohamed Salah versus Sadio Mane may develop into a actuality ought to Egypt beat Morocco and Mane's Senegal beat Equatorial Guinea.
It stays to be seen what half the Liverpool ahead will play on Sunday night after being faraway from the last-16 victory over Cape Verde with concussion.
If you're AFCONed out, then there's extra French Cup motion within the type of RC Lens versus Monaco (Mola TV, 8pm) or perhaps a Portuguese providing, with Primeira Liga leaders Porto - the wound of shedding star ahead Luis Diaz to the Premier League nonetheless recent - welcoming Maritimo to Estadio do Dragao (BT Sport 2, 8.30pm).