The first weekend of the Premier League winter break is set to take place this weekend with only five top-flight fixtures to look forward to. With a reduced Premier League fixture list, Premier League fans across the country may be looking to get their football fix elsewhere.
Fortunately, there is still plenty of other football taking place this weekend in England and abroad and with so much overseas football now televised, you won't have to go without this weekend. Below, we've listed the top five non-Premier League matches to watch this weekend.
Premier League winter break: Five non-PL matches to watch this weekend
Bayern Munich vs Hoffenheim – Friday 12 January, 19:30
Ever since Harry Kane moved to Bayern Munich in the summer, interest in the Bundesliga has increased. The England striker has taken the Bundesliga by storm and is leading the Golden Boot race with 21 goals in 15 matches.
In terms of the title race, things aren't going quite as well. Kane's Bayern trail Bayer Leverkusen by four points and any more dropped points could prove to be fatal. Their next match is on Friday against Hoffenheim and fans in the UK can watch the action live on Sky Sports Mix.
Ipswich Town vs Sunderland – Saturday 13 January, 17:30
While the Premier League begins its winter break, the show goes on as normal in the Championship with a full set of 12 fixtures set to take place this weekend. The pick of the games this weekend is Ipswich Town vs Sunderland with the home side's position inside the top two at risk for the first time this season.
Ipswich haven't won any of their last five league fixtures while Sunderland will be looking to bounce back after their disappointing loss to Newcastle in the FA Cup third round. The match is being shown live on Sky Sports Football on Saturday evening.
Ivory Coast vs Guinea-Bissau – Saturday 13 January, 20:00
If you're wondering why the likes of Mo Salah and Nicolas Jackson will be missing from Premier League action for the next month then the answer is the Africa Cup of Nations. AFCON 2023 is set to begin this weekend and the match kicking off the tournament is Ivory Coast vs Guinea-Bissau on Saturday 13 January.
There could be as many as four Premier League players taking part in this one with all of them lining up for the hosts, Ivory Coast. Nottingham Forest trio, Serge Aurier, Willy Boly and Ibrahim Sangare, and Brighton's Simon Adingra are all in the squad which makes this a particular match of interest for PL fans. The action will unfold live on Sky Sports Football.
Durham W vs Man City W – Sunday 14 January, 12:30
The Women's FA Cup fourth round is set to take place this weekend and the pick of the ties from the round will take place on Sunday afternoon when Championship side Durham host Women's Super League giants, Man City. The FA Cup has been built on shock results over the years and this one is set up for exactly that, particularly if City rest some of their big names.
Unlike other matches on this list, Durham W vs Man City W will be shown live on free-to-air television on BBC One so will the most accessible to all. Other Women's FA Cup ties this weekend are being streamed live for free on the FA Player.
AC Milan vs Roma – Sunday 14 January, 19:45
Sunday nights are reserved for Italian football and there is a real blockbuster of a clash taking place this weekend in Milan. AC Milan will welcome Jose Mourinho and Roma to the San Siro with the home side nine points behind Inter at the top of the Serie A table. Roma, meanwhile, trail Fiorentina by four points in the race for the top four.
It's a big game for both clubs and managers, but particularly for Mourinho whose record in big games since becoming Roma manager has been poor, to say the least. You are able to watch the match live on Sunday night via TNT Sports.