Away tickets capped

GM football fans. Route One here, and we’re covering dynamic prices coming to the game, Mbappe feeling no pressure and much more. Enjoy Route One? Share us with a friend on WhatsApp with this link.

MATCHDAY 3 BEST STATS

Everton were leading Bournemouth 2-0 until the 87th minute. This is the latest a team has ever been 2+ goals ahead in a game and gone on to lose in Premier League history. Only Erling Haaland has a better minutes-per-goal rate than Aston Villa’s Jhon Duran in Premier League history (Min 5+ goals). Granted, it’s only seven goals but he’s proving to be the ultimate super sub. Virgil van Dijk records the most wins for Liverpool after 200 Premier League games. The Dutchman has 140 wins in 200 games for the Reds, bettering Andy Robertson (136) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (134). 

Plus…

• Nations League fixture list during the international break (More)

• Europa League fixture difficulties revealed by Opta (More)

TICKET PRICES

Dynamic pricing is on the way to European football

Dynamic pricing is on its way to European football as Valencia becomes the first club to announce the strategy for the 2024-25 season.

With the “support and technology of La Liga”, Valencia will put tickets on sale with a base price, which could increase as the days go by. Dynamic pricing can be based on almost anything - the opponent, league position, performance, time, day and even the weather forecast.

Anyone who’s tried to purchase an Oasis reunion ticket will know that dynamic pricing is a common tactic to encourage fans to buy as early as possible in the entertainment world - but football is a different story.

The impact on fans

Most football finance experts online say that this is bad for fans, who will see a rise in ticket prices overall.

When San Francisco baseball team tested dynamic pricing - for just 2000 of the 41,500 seats - it showed an increase in revenue of half a million dollars. That’s a 20% increase over 17 games.

In the football world, Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem tested ticket prices based on the willingness of fans to pay - higher prices for some and lower prices for others. The results of the test were reportedly positive:

• 54% mentioned that an attractive price was the biggest motivation to purchase a ticket.

• Almost 52% of ticket buyers didn’t plan to visit a match but were attracted by the personal offer they could take.

• 86% were very satisfied with the ticket price they paid.

It’s hard to know how true these findings are. But when Derby Country introduced a watered-down version of dynamic pricing in 2021, a study found tickets were 20% cheaper if bought 27 days in advance. Two other Championship sides, Bristol City and Cardiff City, trialled dynamic pricing. But they both ultimately reverted to other models, perhaps because it was unpopular amongst fans.

POLL

HEAD START

🎟️ Away tickets capped by UEFA. The Champions League, Europa League and Conference League will each have a maximum ticket price for supporters of away clubs. The 2024-25 season will see away match tickets capped at €60 (£50.50) in the Champions League, €40 (£33.68) in the Europa League and €20 (£16.84) in the  Conference League. Caps will be further reduced in the 2025-26 campaign - €50, €35 and still €20, respectively.

⛔ No talks over leaving Man City for De Bruyne. Manchester City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne says he did not hold talks with any other clubs about leaving the Etihad this summer. Despite admitting to speaking to his family about a possible move to Saudi Arabia, the 33-year-old still remains part of Pep Guardiola’s plans. 

🔁 Reading takeover on the cards soon. Reading FC released a statement to say that they hoped to have completed the takeover before the transfer window deadline. But the “complexities of the deal” have delayed the takeover. It’s reported that American lawyer and former Wycombe owner Rob Couhig is set to takeover the club. His time at Wycombe is viewed as a success after creating a sustainable framework during the pandemic and helping the club achieve five of its six highest all-time league finishing positions.

LA LIGA

Mbappe brushes off pressure

Kylian Mbappe said he hadn’t felt under pressure to score his first La Liga goal after grabbing a brace in Real Madrid’s 2-0 win over Real Betis on Sunday. 

“I’ll score goals for sure. Three games [without scoring] is a lot for me, but it’s OK,” Mbappe said, speaking to journalists afterwards. “No pressure, it’s football. I don’t think of Cristiano Ronaldo, with all due respect, everyone knows how much respect I have for him. I come to be Kylian.”

Aside from receiving a belated celebration from Jude Bellingham as the camera panned on him in the stands, Mbappe will be happy with the standing ovation from the home crowd as he was substituted in the 83rd minute. 

Back on track

Real Madrid’s start to the La Liga season hasn’t been spotless. They sit four points behind Barcelona after drawing two of their four opening games.

Still, Los Blancos have a 36-game unbeaten streak in the competition and are just two games away from tying Real Sociedad for the 2nd-longest unbeaten run in La Liga history.

Ancelotti’s side are unbeaten in 35 games in all competitions, the club's longest such streak since a 43-game streak from January 2012 to January 2013.

THE WEEK AHEAD

Ballon d’Or nominees announced tomorrow. The ceremony will take place on Monday 28 October but nominees for the period 1 August 2023 to 31 July 2024 will be announced on Wednesday. 

The Nations League starts this week. Matches will take place from Thursday 5 to Tuesday 10. Spain are in action for the first time since they won Euro 2024, against Serbia; while San Marino have not won a game in 20 years and they face Liechtenstein, the last team they beat. Friday is more box office. Heavy hitters, France and Italy face each other, while Wales vs Turkey should produce an exciting encounter. Saturday sees Lee Carsley’s first game in charge of England against the Republic of Ireland.

Transfer windows are still open. While Saudi Arabia, Germany and the Netherlands shut up shop yesterday, there are still a few open: Belgium (September 6), Qatar (September 9), Turkey (September 13) and Portugal (September 16). Expect to see your club shift some deadweight that is hanging around.

MORE NEWS

Around the football world

• Victor Osimhen close to joining Galatasaray on a season-long loan after being part of Naploli’s bomb squad (More) / in French

• Thomas Muller became Bayern Munich’s record appearance holder with 710 appearances (More)

• Bayern Munich board member Max Eberl confirms Kingsley Coman is staying at the club this summer (More)

• Al Ittihad have made a €35mn bid to Arsenal for Leandro Trossard; Arsenal turn down proposal (More)

ROUTER’S VOICE

Yesterday, we asked you: Do you think this is Mo Salah’s last year at Liverpool?

🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🥳 Definitely staying, he’s just playing hardball… (52.1%)

🟨 🟨 🟨 🟨 🟨 ⬜️ 👎 He’s gone, he’s hinted that already…   (47.9%)

Your punditry takes:

• 🥳 A.K: “I don’t see him leaving this season, at least. This is just a way to put pressure on Liverpool’s board whilst he’s performing at his best.”

• 👎 T.B: “Mo has been a great asset and he deserves to decide for himself where he wants to play.”

• 👎 S.S: “Saudi Arabia is the next move for the twilight of his career.”

EXTRA TIME

Slot breaks down why it’s easy to get at Man United in 1v1 situations.

Caley Thistle unveil new 30th anniversary gold kit.

Will Still argues with Monaco’s manager in heated exchange.

Amadou Onana embraces meme about his name.

St Johnstone fan wasn’t happy with the Motherwell TV commentator.

Casemiro’s wife hits back at criticism after Liverpool game.

The biggest La Liga wins in history.

Burnley’s documentary trailer looks intense.

Troy Deeney’s Premier League Team of the Week.

GAME FACE ON

Question: Cole Palmer becomes the first player to provide 4+ assists in the first three matches since 2021-22. Can you name the player who achieved five assists in the same number of games?

Clue: Nicknamed ‘Paul the Octopus’ in Italy.

Scroll below for the answer.

ON TODAY

EFL Trophy 

• Full list of fixtures here.

Scottish Challenge Cup - 3rd round

• Hamilton vs Dundee United (19:45 BST)

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

Answer

Paul Pogba for Manchester United. However, Pogba only managed four more assists the rest of that season to finish on nine overall – some way off the Premier League season record (20).