Alcohol-free World Cup

GM football fans. It’s Thursday, Feb. 13 - Champions League round-up, an alcohol-free World Cup and everything else you need to know. Forwarded this email? Sign up here.

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FIXTURES

Europa League Knockout Round Play-offs: Fenerbahce vs. Anderlecht, 17:45 / 12:45. Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce are unbeaten in 12 matches and have won eight of their last 10 home matches. But Anderlecht secured 14 points from their last six games in Europe. Porto vs. Roma, 20:00 / 15:00. Porto haven’t won in five straight league matches for the first time this century. Meanwhile, Roma have won only three of their last 19 Europa League away fixtures. AZ Alkmaar vs. Galatasaray, 20:00 / 15:00. AZ have lost only two of their last 35 home matches across all competitions, while Galatasaray have failed to win any of their last six visits to the Netherlands. See the full Europa League fixture list here.

More results…

• Champions League: Club Brugge 2-1 Atalanta | Celtic 1-2 Bayern Munich (Match Report) | Feyernoord 1-0 AC Milan | Monaco 0-1 Benfica

• Premier League: Everton 2-2 Liverpool (Match Report)

TOP TALKING POINTS

Champions League Favourites

Liverpool are favourites to win the Champions League, according to Opta’s latest projections. Arne Slot’s men have been given a 24% chance of winning the tournament—though they could face fifth-favourites Paris-Saint Germain if the Parisian side sees out the second leg following their 0-3 win over Brest on Tuesday.

Arsenal are second favourites across Opta’s supercomputer simulations, winning the tournament in 16.4% of sims. That’s ahead of Serie A champions Inter Milan (15%) and Barcelona (10.1%), despite the Catalan side’s impressive finish in the league stage. Reigning champions Real Madrid have a 4% chance of securing back-to-back victory.

Aston Villa—who have already secured their place in the last 16—are given just a 1.3% chance of repeating their 1982 success. That’s below six teams that have yet to reach the round of 16.

The first leg of the inaugural Champions League Knockout Play-off has concluded—see the full results here. The second leg fixtures begin on Tuesday, February 18.

Alcohol-Free World Cup

The 2034 FIFA World Cup in Saudi Arabia will not permit the sale or consumption of alcohol to supporters, the country’s ambassador to the United Kingdom has confirmed. This is the first time that a tournament representative has publicly confirmed this.

Asked whether fans would be able to drink once they returned to their hotels, Prince Khalid bin Bandar Al Saud said: "No, there is no alcohol at all… rather like our weather, it’s a dry country.”

Alcohol was not sold at stadiums during Qatar’s 2022 World Cup, but supporters were able to buy it from selected hotels and designated fan zones. This will not be the case in Saudi Arabia, where the sale of alcohol has been prohibited since the ban by King Ibn Saud in 1952. Drinking in the country is technically punishable by public flogging, fines, or lengthy imprisonment.

Chairman Protest Plan

Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy could retain his title as executive chairman of the club even if it is bought by a Qatari consortium. The North London club have been subject to interest from investors in America and the Middle East, but no one has met the £3.75bn valuation.

A group of Qatari investors, unnamed, are reportedly (unconfirmed) open to the idea of offering Levy a management contract to run the club upon purchasing a majority stake. They want control of Spurs, but the proposed takeover could take the form of a phased buyout. In December, reports suggested that Amanda Staveley, who helped broker the Saudi-led takeover of Newcastle United, was close to taking a stake in Spurs.

Levy has faced criticism from the club’s fan base recently. Some Spurs supporters are planning to participate in a protest after Sunday’s Premier League fixture against Manchester United. The disgruntlement concerns the club’s perceived lack of investment in the squad and unfulfilled promises. Off the pitch, Levy has transformed Spurs’ financial position, orchestrating the building of their stadium and establishing Tottenham as one of the richest clubs in Europe with an annual income of more than £500m.

POLL

ON THE BALL

Europe

> Kai Havertz, Arsenal forward, is set to miss the rest of the season after sustaining a torn hamstring during the team’s training camp in Dubai (More) | Wrexham midfielder Elliot Lee was taken to the hospital after being involved in what is described as a “road traffic incident” (More)

> Barcelona will face Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey semifinals while Real Madrid will be pitted against Real Sociedad (More) | Robert Lewandowski, 36, is likely to extend his contract with Barcelona for one more season (More)

> Paris FC, recently bought by the Arnault family, will move to the Stade Jean-Bouin from next season, located right next to PSG’s Parc des Princes (More / see how close the stadiums are here) | Saint-Etienne supporters have been banned by French authorities from travelling to Marseille for this weekend’s Ligue 1 game (More)

> Benjamin Mendy, former Manchester City defender, signs for Swiss side FC Zurich (More)

Americas

> The Leagues Cup 2025 schedule has been announced; when and where MLS and Liga MX teams will play (More) | Lionel Messi is expected to play at least 45 minutes on Friday night at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, as Inter Miami faces its final preseason test against Orlando City (More)

> A staffer at FIFA has reportedly been arrested in Miami on suspicion of serious charges while on a work trip from Zurich (More)

> Issa Rae, actress and producer, has joined the ownership group of Major League Soccer expansion club San Diego FC (More) | Emma Hayes, USWNT head coach, has named a 23-player roster for the 2025 SheBelieves Cup (More)

> Two blunders by goalkeeper Ezequiel Centurion helped Boca Juniors to a 2-0 victory over Independiente Rivadavia (More)

Rest of the World

> Football Australia has officially launched its new national second-tier competition, naming it the Australian Championship; there is no pathway to promotion and relegation with the A-League yet (More)

> Ulsan HD have been knocked out of the Asian Champions League Elite after the former continental champions from South Korea lost 2-1 to Thailand’s Buriram United (More)

ROUTERS’ VOICE

Yesterday’s Poll: Are you for or against playing European Cup competitions outside of Europe?

🟨 ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ 👏 For... (18%)

🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🙅 Against... (79%)

⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ✍️ Other (write in!)... (3%)

Your punditry takes:

• 👏 C.S: “Allow the rest of the world to enjoy the beautiful game.”

• 🙅 T.S: “As an American, I think it's bonkers to play [European] games in America. One of the best parts of football is being able to play in front of a home crowd. More importantly, we have to think about the players. Adding that much travel for a mid-week game means less time to recover properly and train and prepare for weekend league games. Don't get me wrong, I'd love the chance to see big teams play, but there's no reason other than money to play European Cup competitions outside Europe.”

• ✍️ C.S: “I'm against it for the most part. But I would be open to having a Conference or Europa League final in the US once in a decade, maybe. But right now, I firmly stand on the fact that European football should be played in Europe.”

EXTRA TIME

James Tarkowski scores the last-ever Goodison Park goal. (Alternative broadcast)

The most interesting league tables in history.

Vini Jr’s response to Man City’s Ballon d’Or tifo. (via X)

Everything to know about Australia’s new Championship.

Visiting the ‘ugliest’ stadiums in English football. (video)

A drunk Rod Stewart talks to the CBS crew about Celtic-Bayern. (via X)

Louis Vuitton's football shirts are made of footballs.

Stats behind Ousmane Dembele’s insane form.

Analysing Arsenal’s injury problems…

… and their interesting options to replace Kai Havertz.

Can Pakistan’s football recover from three suspensions in eight years?

GAME FACE ON

Guess the player by their transfers (loans included): 

• 2015 - IF Brommapojkarna

• 2018 - Brighton

• 2019 - St. Pauli

• 2020 - Swansea City

• 2021 - Coventry City

• 2023 - Sporting CP

Scroll below for the answer.

ON TODAY

Europa League Knockout Round Play-offs

• Fenerbahce vs Anderlecht (17:45)

• Ferencvaros vs Plzen (17:45)

• Midtylland vs Real Sociedad (17:45)

• R Union SG vs Ajax (17:45)

• AZ vs Galatasaray (20:00)

• PAOK vs FCSB (20:00)

• Porto vs Roma (20:00)

• Twente vs Bodo/Glimt (20:00)

Conference League Knockout Round Play-offs

• Celje vs APOEL (17:45)

• Molde vs Shamrock (17:45)

• TSC vs Jagiellonia (17:45)

• Vikingur R vs Panathinaikos (17:45)

• Borac BB vs Olimpija (20:00)

• Gent vs Betis (20:00)

• Kobenhaven vs Heidenheim (20:00)

• Omonia vs Pafos (20:00)

*All time in UK. ET -5. CST -6. PST -8. MST -7. CET +1.

Answer

Viktor Gyokeres.