Player strikes loom

GM football fans. It’s Thursday, Nov. 21, and we’re covering the upcoming Premier League fixtures, La Liga’s plans to go abroad and much more. First time reading? Sign up here.

TONIGHT’S WOMEN’S UCL STATS

Arsenal Women vs Juventus Women (20:00 GMT / 15:00 ET). The Gunners began their three-game winning run with a dominant 5-0 win over Brighton before they swept past Juventus 4-0 in last week's European clash in Italy. St Polten Women vs Barcelona Femeni (20:00 GMT / 15:00 ET). Barcelona have embarked on a seven-game winning run in all competitions since suffering a 2-0 defeat in their UWCL opener against Man City. Hammarby Women vs Man City Women (17:45 GMT / 12:45 ET). Man City’s 12-match unbeaten run came to an end after losing to Chelsea in the WSL, but they’ve taken maximum points from their first three group stage UWCL matches.

Plus…

• What next for the Nations League as the group stage ends? (More)

• Cristiano Ronaldo to “Break The Internet” with YouTube star MrBeast (More)

• Spurs will appeal against Benancur’s seven-match suspension (More)

• Former player Kieron Dyer settles phone-hacking case against the Daily Mirror (More)

• There will be no relegation break clause in Pep’s new City deal (More)

EPL TITLE RACE

Liverpool and City face toughest path in title race until new year, next nine games crucial

Liverpool and Manchester City have tougher fixture runs compared to title rivals over the next nine games, according to Opta and the league’s Fixture Difficulty Rating (FDR). The ratings suggest that Arsenal and Chelsea, both nine points behind Liverpool, have easier fixtures over the same period.

League leaders Liverpool are currently title favourites. Opta predicts the Reds have a 60.3 per cent chance. But Arne Slot’s men face a tough run of games, hosting Real Madrid in the Champions League only three days before they face Man City in the league. They then travel to Newcastle and Everton over the next seven days. City’s domestic run is slightly tougher, but they face an arguably easier ride in the Champions League — facing Feyenoord at home.

In the Premier League, 51.6 per cent of teams that lead at Christmas go on to win the title. If Liverpool emerge unscathed from their toughest stretch of the season, it could prove their title credentials.

POLL

HEAD START

⛑️ Player strikes re-upped as report finds football is failing safety standards. A report commissioned by players’ union FIFPro has found that professional football is failing to apply required safety standards for players. A spokesperson from the union says a strike by top players cannot be ruled out. The report’s findings will be submitted as evidence to the complaint filed to European anti-trust regulators against Fifa. If the claims against Fifa hold up in court, it’s likely the governing body will have to make changes. This could result in reducing the number of games, u-turning on expanded tournaments or even imposing a requirement for bigger squads.

🇮🇹 U.S. investors eye a bid for Italy’s oldest club. Multiple U.S. investors are considering buying Serie A side Genoa. The existing owners are demanding up to €170mn ($180mn) to sell the club. In recent years, Italy’s top flight have become a favoured destination for American investors, driven by two factors: low cost and growth potential. In Serie A, nine clubs are owned by North American investors, while the English Premier League surpasses that figure, with ten clubs under North American control.

😥 Dumbarton FC has entered administration. The Scottish League One club Dumbarton, founded in 1872, have entered administration. A statement from the administrators said that directors were “left with no option” after failing to receive “significant funds” – around £1.8mn – from land that the club couldn’t sell. Dumbarton, who have won the Scottish top-flight title twice, have been hit with a 15-point deduction that leaves the club bottom of the table. Last month, Inverness Caledonian Thistle were met with the same punishment for entering administration – they now find themselves five points above Dumbarton.

MATCHES ABROAD DELAYED

La Liga drops plan to play Barcelona vs Atletico fixture in Miami next month

La Liga has dropped plans to host next month’s fixture between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid in the United States. The Spanish top flight, which needed permission from Fifa, Uefa and the Spanish Football Association (RFEF) to grant the move, accepts December is too tight a deadline.

The La Liga president, Javier Tebas, has tried to host a league game in the U.S. for around six years. In 2018, a game between Barcelona and Girona in Miami was blocked by the RFEF and Fifa. But the RFEF’s new president, Pedro Rocha, is more open to the idea than his predecessor. This makes the proposal more likely to go ahead. A single game held in the U.S. is estimated to generate upwards of €200mn.

No major European league has staged a competitive game overseas. The Premier League is largely against the idea. But, other leagues are warming to it as a way to grow their global fanbases. If La Liga breaks decades of tradition it could open the floodgates across European leagues to play competitive league games abroad.

AROUND THE FOOTBALL WORLD

Top Five European Leagues

> France’s wealthiest family plans to draw on Jurgen Klopp’s expertise as part of their ambitious plan to get Paris FC into Ligue 1 and contest PSG (More)

> Barcelona official has suggested that PSG bid €250mn for 17-year-old Lamine Yamal last summer (More) 

Rest of the World

> MLS side FC Cincinnati is likely to break the league transfer record with the signing of striker Kevin Denkey from Belgium side Cercle Brugge. The deal is expected to be worth $16.2mn, with the current record set when Atalanta United paid $16mn for Thiago Almada (More); FC Dallas name Eric Quill as head coach (More)

> Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis is in talks to buy historic Brazilian club Vasco da Gama; Former Arsenal sporting director Edu likely given key role (More) / paywall

ROUTER’S VOICE

Yesterday, we asked you: Do you think it's ever OK to book a player for their celebration? (Take off shirt, 'political' gestures, crowd surfacing, etc.) 

🟨 🟨 🟨 🟨 🟨 ⬜️ ⛔️ Absolutely... (45%)

🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🥳 Nope... (51%)

🟨 ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ✍️ Other (write in!)... (4%)

Your punditry takes:

• ⛔️ M.T: “Absolutely book them! What kind of example are we setting for youth players if we allow foolishness at the highest levels? Show some class, be respectful, and set a good example for our youth!”

• 🥳 E.D: “Celebrations are not part of the action so no booking. In this day of robotic players following maddeningly pass, pass, pass and possession systems, celebrations allow players to express themselves.”

• ✍️ W.H: “Yes, but only if it's about serious things like politics. However, I'm totally against booking for taking off shirt - that rule is just all about the money and not having any commercial underneath.”

EXTRA TIME

How iconic clubs got their kit colours.

The stats behind Pep Guardiola’s contract extension at Man City.

Ashley Cole breaks down defending as a full-back. / video via X

The story behind Brandi Chastain’s iconic photo.

Lockers used by Real Madrid stars are up for auction.

Every league’s net transfer spending.

Premier League’s best-ever free-kicks. / video

Ousmane Dembele is obsessed with dictators. / via X

The biggest under and over-achievers in Premier League history.

GAME FACE ON

Question: Which La Liga player has created the most chances, both from open play and overall, in Europe’s top five leagues this season? 

Bonus: How many chances has he created?

Scroll below for the answer.

ON TODAY

Women’s Champions League

• Valerenga vs Bayern Munich (17:45)

• Hammarby vs Man City (17:45)

• Arsenal vs Juventus (20:00)

• St. Polten vs Barcelona (20:00)

Spanish Copa Del Rey

• Jove vs Real Sociedad (20:00)

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

Answer

Raphinha (32 from open play, 44 overall).