League match overseas by December

GM football fans. Route One here, and we’re covering the first competitive European match on US soil, Arsenal’s plans to expand its stadium and much more. Enjoy Route One? Share us with a friend on WhatsApp with this link.

TONIGHT’S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE STATS

Barcelona vs Bayern Munich (20:00 UK). The last six encounters have all gone in Bayern’s favour, including that 8 – 2 victory in 2020. But Barca boss, Hansi Flick, has won 17 of his 20 matches in the UCL – the best ratio of any manager in history. Manchester City vs Sparta Prague (20:00 UK). If Man City merely avoid defeat against the Maroons, they will set a new record for the longest unbeaten run (26) in the tournament’s history. RB Leipzig vs Liverpool (20:00 UK). Liverpool have won all five of their away games under Slot thus far – keeping three clean sheets and only giving up two goals in the process – and The Reds haven’t lost to a German side on the road since 2001-02. Full list of fixtures here.

Plus…

• Champions League results: Real Madrid 5 - 2 Dortmund | Arsenal 1 - 0 Shakhtar D | Aston Villa 2 - 0 Bologna | PSG 1 - 1 PSV (Full results here)

• Opta updates its Champions League predictions (More)

• Premier League match officials for Matchweek 9 (More)

• Francesco Totti, 48, hints at a return to playing in the Serie A (More)

• Inverness CT hit with a 15-point deduction after entering administration (More)

• Pep wants more communication from international managers after Walker's injury (More)

• Gordon signs new long-term deal with Newcastle (More)

FIRST GAME ABROAD

La Liga waits for Fifa’s approval to play Barcelona vs Atletico in Miami, as early as December

La Liga officials are hopeful that Fifa will approve a plan to see Barcelona’s league fixture against Atletico Madrid in Miami. It would be the first time a La Liga match has been played in the United States. If the Spanish top-flight opts to play competitive games abroad, it could open the floodgates for other leagues to follow suit.

Javier Tebas, the president of La Liga, has made no secret of wanting to play a league fixture in the US for some time. The Spanish FA have previously opposed La Liga’s suggestion of playing two competitive fixtures on US soil. But as Luis Rubiales is no longer the head of the FA, there’s more optimism that La Liga will be backed by Spain’s national association.

Uefa, despite always being opposed to the idea, has made hints to hold a Champions League final in the US. In May, Fifa also set up a working group to explore league matches to be played overseas.

POLL

HEAD START

🎾 Forlan to make his professional tennis debut. Former Manchester United and Atletico Madrid striker Diego Forlan will make his professional tennis debut at the age of 45. Forlan – who plays left-handed – will compete in the men’s doubles at the Uruguay Open in Forlan’s home city of Monetevideo. The Uruguay Open is an ATP Challenger Tour event, just one rung below the main ATP Tour. 

🥶 Chelsea freeze academy prospect out of side. Chelsea’s highly-rated defender Josh Acheampong (player profile) has been frozen out of the first team and Under-21s until he signs a new contract. The 18-year-old’s deal runs out in 2026. Chelsea have a history of taking a strong stance with academy graduates and have made it clear that they don’t want players to run their contracts down to 12 months or less.

💰 Tranmere joint owner wants a deal to sell ‘ASAP’. Tranmere Rovers joint owner Mark Palios told TalkSport that he wants to sell the League Two club “ASAP” amid speculation that rapper ASAP Rocky is set to be part of the takeover. (Yes, that’s not-so-cryptic wordplay from Palios). Additionally, Palios spoke about the gap in the market for American investors after seeing the success of Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney’s purchase of Wrexham in 2020.

ARSENAL STADIUM EXPANSION

Arsenal explore Emirates expansion to match rivals’ income and keep up with huge demand

Arsenal are exploring how they could upgrade and expand the Emirates Stadium. The aim is to catch up with their rivals’ matchday income as they currently fall behind Tottenham, Liverpool and Manchester United.

The ground’s capacity of 60,000 was the biggest in the capital when they moved from Highbury in 2006. It has since been surpassed by Spurs, whose £1bn renovation has increased the size of their stadium to 62,850. The Tottenham Hotspur stadium also earns the club close to £6mn from every match – up from £1mn at White Hart Lane.

As well as increasing revenue, Arsenal’s matches regularly sell out and they’re aware that they need to keep pace with the huge demand for tickets. The Gunners’ owner, Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, has already built one of the best stadiums in the world. The SoFi Stadium, the home of two NFL teams, has a capacity of 70,240 and has been the inspiration for Manchester United’s upcoming renovations.

AROUND THE FOOTBALL WORLD

Top Five European Leagues

> Thousands of Valencia fans protested against owner Peter Lim and the reported detention of two fans in Lim's home country of Singapore before and after its 3 – 2 loss to Las Palmas on Monday (More)

> Joshua Zirkzee reportedly open to leaving Manchester United, return to Italy (More) / in Italian

Rest of the World

> The “Messi Cam” is coming to MLS and TikTok as a special broadcast that will focus exclusively on Messi during the upcoming Inter Miami match; TikTok will broadcast the entire match (More)

> Former Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere, 32, is leaving his role as the club’s Under-18 head coach to become the manager of Norwich City (More)

> Tuv Azarganuud, from the Mongolian Premier League, have scored two goals and conceded 111 in just nine games (More)

Women’s Football

> Sweden’s 4th division has seen a club go unbeaten and not concede a goal all season, but still not win the league (More)

> Alessia Russo has been named England Women’s Player of the Year for 2023-24 (More)

ROUTER’S VOICE

Yesterday, we asked you: Do you think it's a problem when governments or states own football clubs?

🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🌍 Yes, it undermines fair competition... (70.37%)

🟨 🟨 ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ 💼 No, as long as they follow the rules... (24.7%)

⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⚽ I don’t care as long as the club performs well... (2.5%)

⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ✍️ Other (write it!)... (2.5%)

Your punditry takes:

• 🌍 Z.Z: “While politics are an inextricable part of global footy, clubs should not be extensions of political powers, particularly those authoritarian ones with poor human rights track records.”

• 🌍 M.W: “UK sports shouldn't be complicit in sportswashing, simple as that. Of course it undermines fair competition but worse is the PR cleansing of human rights abusers.”

• 💼 P.O: “Let's not fool ourselves that some owners are anything less than shining beacons of morality. As long as everyone operates within the rules, then it really doesn't matter who owns what.”

EXTRA TIME

Liverpool’s 25-26 kits to feature three different crests.

Premier League’s best-ever penalty takers. / w stats

Gattuso tries coconut water for the first time.

Neymar’s first message on his return to football. / via X

Most fouled players since 1966.

Jamie Carragher’s rogue goal of the season.

… and he picks Thomas Tuchel’s first England XI.

BBC’s Team of the Week revealed.

GAME FACE ON

Question: The emojis represent the names of footballers. Can you name who they are?

• 🦁 👹 | 🙋 🌊

• 🦶🦵 | 🚢

• 🐜 ☝️ | 🇬🇷 🧔

• 📕🅰️🪀  | 💼 🅰️

Scroll below for the answer.

ON TODAY

Champions League

17:45

• Atalanta vs Celtic

• Brest vs Bayer Leverkusen

20:00

• Atletico vs Lille

• Barcelona vs Bayern Munich

• Benfica vs Feyenoord

• Man City vs Sparta Prague

• Leipzig vs Liverpool

• RB Salzburg vs Dinamo Zagreb

• Young Boys vs Inter Milan

Champions League

15:30

• Galatasaray vs Elfsborg

• Braga vs Bodo/Glimt

Championship

19:45

• Blackburn vs West Bromwich

• Hull vs Burnley

• Luton vs Sunderland

• Millwall vs Plymouth

• Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United

20:00

• Middlesbrough vs Sheff United

*All times UK. EST -5. PST -8. CET +1. CST +8. JST +9.

Answer

Lionel Messi

Toni Kroos

Antoine Griezmann

Bukayao Saka