Player Strikes Indefinitely In Chile

GM football fans. It’s Wednesday, Jan. 22 - footballers in Chile go on strike, record revenues for the women’s game, and everything else you need to know. Forwarded this email? Sign up here.

Enjoy reading Route One? Share with a friend using this link.

FIXTURES

Champions League: PSG vs Man City, 20:00 / 15:00. PSG have won just one of their seven matches against City in European competition. But Luis Enrique is one of only two managers to have beaten Pep Guardiola by three or more goals on multiple occasions. Arsenal vs Dinamo Zagreb, 20:00 / 15:00. Arsenal remain unbeaten in the Champions League at the Emirates under Mikel Arteta and have kept clean sheets in all three home games this season. Real Madrid vs RB Salzburg, 20:00 / 15:00. Real have scored in 32 consecutive home UCL matches, but lost their last such fixture 3-1 to AC Milan. See the full fixture list here.

Results…

• Champions League: Atalanta 5-0 Sturm | Monaco 1-0 Villa | Atletico 2-1 Leverkusen | Benfica 4-5 Barca (Match Report) | Bologna 2-1 Dortmund | Brugge 0-0 Juventus | Liverpool 2-1 Lille (League Table)

• Europa League: Galatasaray 3-3 Dynamo Kyiv (League Table)

TOP TALKING POINTS

Regulator Bill’s Critical Juncture

The UK’s culture minister Lisa Nandy accuses some opposition members of the House of Lords of trying to “kill off” the Football Governance Bill. This comes after the bill received hundreds of amendments during its first ‘committee stage’ in the Lords.

The majority of amendments to the bill have come from Conservative peers—400 of which have already been rejected. However, Nandy expressed her concerns about calls to reclassify the legislation as a 'hybrid bill', which she believes would “bury it in committee for years and years to come.” Conservative peers have denied claims they are trying to delay the bill.

The bill will now pass to the 'report stage' of its journey through the House of Lords, where some of the proposed amendments will be voted on. The UK government hopes it will come into law later this year.

Chilean Footballers Strike

Chilean footballers are on strike indefinitely as they wait for the country’s football federation to improve the situation faced by footballers. The captains' assembly, organised by Chilean player union SIFUP, voted unanimously at the end of December to go on strike.

The primary trigger for this strike was the decision to transform the Segunda Division, the third tier of Chilean football, into an under-23 category. While the aim of the age requirement is to foster young talent domestically, players fear that it will exclude many of them from the system.

In addition, the union is demanding three more changes: professional footballers' contracts should last longer than eight months, injured players should continue to be paid in full by the club, and the number of foreign players allowed on the pitch for each club should be reduced.

Record Women’s Revenue

Analysis of the top 15 women’s clubs shows revenues surpassed €100m collectively for the first time, according to a Deloitte report. This is a 35% rise from last year.

For the third year, FC Barcelona Femeni has generated the most revenue at €17.9m. Meanwhile, Arsenal Women ranks second with revenues of just below that figure, generating a 64% and 48% increase to matchday and commercial revenues respectively in the 2023/24 season. The top five are completed by two English clubs, Chelsea Women and Manchester United Women, and Real Madrid Femenino.

Matchday revenues were boosted by growing attendance, as well as the number of matches that were hosted in main club stadia. Greater interest from commercial and broadcast partners has contributed too. This includes Barclays’ sponsorship of the Women’s Super League, reported to have doubled to a value of £15m a year.

POLL

ON THE BALL

Europe

> Manchester City have made their second signing of the window with teenage defender Vitor Reis for £29.6m from Brazilian club Palmeiras (More); learn more about Reis’s playing style (More) | Former Arsenal Women defender Jen Beattie announces her retirement after a 16-year career (More)

> Kylian Mbappe says a “mentality issue” prevented him from finding his best form for Real Madrid (More)

> RB Leipzig are interested in signing Southampton’s Tyler Dibling (More)

> ‘Avengers’ director Joe Russo joins Sheffield United’s board (More) | A little-known website buys the media rights to Italy’s second division (More)

Americas

> David Luiz, 37, joins Brazilian Serie A side Fortaleza on a two-year contract (More)

> Greenland’s national team are pushing to be an officially recognised team as they pursue CONCACAF membership (More)

> Sixth Street, the private equity firm and majority owner of the National Women’s Soccer League’s (NWSL) Bay FC, is launching a new multi-club women’s soccer organisation (More)

Rest of the World

> A new report from the NEOM Sport sector showcases women’s football in Saudi Arabia; it analyses the achievements and milestones to date (More)

ROUTERS’ VOICE

Yesterday’s Poll: Do you think modern football has outgrown tiki-taka as a dominant style? 

🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🪦 Absolutely... (65%)

🟨 🟨 🟨 ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ 🙅 Nope... (32%)

⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ✍️ Other... (3%)

Your punditry takes:

• 🪦 P.O: “Teams are a lot happier now to allow ‘impotent possession’ in front of them, then spring a fast counter. As a result, the days of high percentage, low-risk football are numbered.”

• 🙅 P: “It's still magic when done right, and an absolute cock-up when it goes wrong.”

• ✍️ D.F: “Tactics in football and every other sport run in cycles. A style becomes dominant, and then another will counter it. As more clubs embrace the new style, another style will counter that, etc.”

EXTRA TIME

Remembering Le Coq Sportif’s iconic kits.

Raphina’s bizarre goal against Benfica.

Trailer for Liverpool’s behind-the-scenes documentary released.

Walsall’s unique low-possession style is creating a record-breaking season.

CBS discuss Micah Richards’ new haircut. (via X)

Women’s Championship trials alcohol in the stands.

BBC’s Premier League team of the week.

Diego Forlan blind ranks the best Atletico forwards. (via X)

Why Lyon are at war with the rest of French football.

Tottenham’s 25-26 home, away and third kits leaked.

Five reasons why the Premier League's 'Big Six' era is over.

GAME FACE ON

Question: Who is the youngest-ever hat trick scorer in Champions League history?

Clue: 383 goals.

Scroll below for the answer.

ON TODAY

Champions League

• Leipzig vs Sporting (17:45)

• Shakhtar D vs Brest (17:45)

• AC Milan vs Girona (20:00)

• Arsenal vs Dinamo Zagreb (20:00)

• Celtic vs Young Boys (20:00)

• Feyenoord vs Bayern Munich (20:00)

• PSG vs Man City (20:00)

• Real Madrid vs RB Salzburg (20:00)

• Sparta Prague vs Inter Milan (20:00)

Europa League

• Besiktas vs Athletic Club (15:30)

Women’s League Cup

• Chelsea vs Durham (18:45)

• Man Utd vs Man City (19:00)

• Brighton vs Arsenal (19:15)

• Spurs vs West Ham (19:30)

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

Answer

Raul for Real Madrid. He was 18 years, 114 days.