Takeover twist

GM football fans. Route One here, and we’re covering the secrecy around City’s hearing, Everton’s takeover twist and much more. Enjoy Route One? Share us with a friend on WhatsApp with this link.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE STATS

AC Milan vs Liverpool (20:00 UK). The Reds have won eight of their last 10 away fixtures in the Champions League, with Mo Salah scoring in his last two outings at the San Siro. Real Madrid vs Stuggart (20:00 UK). Real Madrid have lost just one of their previous 21 against German opposition in the Champions League, while Stuggart are winless in their six meetings against Spanish opposition. Bayern Munich vs Dinamo Zagreb (20:00 UK). Among teams to have played at least 50 Champions League games, Bayern are second only to Real Madrid for the highest win percentage (59.5% compared to 60%). Zagreb rank the lowest with 13%.

Plus…

• The new Champions League song ahead of tonight’s fixtures (More)

• Champions League fixtures this week (More) and Carabao Cup fixtures this week (More)

• French outlet claims Neymar sent a note to Real Madrid players to ‘warn’ them about Kylian Mbappe (More)

• Birmingham City outclass Wrexham 3-1 in Hollywood derby (Highlights)

• Aston Villa European Cup winner Gary Shaw dies aged 63 (More)

• Stoke City sack head coach Steven Schumacher (More)

• Hearts in talks with Brighton over recruitment and investment (More)

MAN CITY HEARING

Clubs frustrated by secrecy around City’s 115 charges hearing, lawyers call for more transparency

Manchester City’s lawyers arrived at London’s International Dispute Resolution Centre (IDRC) yesterday. And Premier League clubs have expressed their frustrations over the secrecy that surrounds the hearing, per The Telegraph.

Under Section W of the league’s rules, the hearing is confidential and is held in private in front of an unnamed three-person commission. Despite their frustrations, Premier League clubs have collectively agreed upon the rules in previous votes. Only some decisions deemed “appropriate” will be shared with clubs - and the next definite update will be only when the commission’s “final awards” are published on the league website. In other words, don’t expect much news on the case until the 10-week hearing is up.

In general, the secrecy around such cases is being challenged. Nick De Marco, the lawyer who successfully argued Leicester’s case against the Premier League, is among the sports lawyers calling for greater transparency and publicity. In an article, De Marco says that “decisions taken behind closed doors are more prone to corruption or neglect” - and so the tribunals themselves should be held accountable in public. Plus, in his view, sport is in the public interest, and not simply a private matter.

POLL

HEAD START

💰 Bonmati becomes highest paid in women’s game. Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati has extended her contract with Barcelona to make her the highest-paid player in the women’s game. She is the club’s all-time top goalscorer, with 96 goals in 275 games from midfield. While her salary has not been revealed, top earners in the women’s game earn around €400,000 to €600,000 annually.

🎟️ Aston Villa ticket saga. 41 supporters have been sold season tickets that don’t exist, per The Athletic. According to the article, these fans have been charged £1,800 for a season ticket but are yet to be allocated a seat.

✈️ Birmingham CEO wants league game abroad. Blues’ CEO Garry Cook said he would like to see his club play Wrexham in an official league game in the United States. But he recognises that the English Football League is against the idea of competitive games being played away from home soil. Fifa is still in the process of exploring the impact of playing domestic games abroad.

PREMIER LEAGUE

Another twist in the Everton takeover, as Friedkin reignites interest

US billionaire Dan Friedkin has reignited his plan to buy Everton just two months after cooling his interest, per Bloomberg. Friedkin - who owns the Italian side AS Roma - is getting an idea about the feasibility of an offer and how it would be structured.

It was thought that John Textor was the likely next suitor, but Friedkin’s interest adds another twist to the takeover tale. While Textor secured the backing of investment firm Aliya Capital Partners last week, he is yet to sell his shares in Crystal Palace. Without selling his stake in the Selhurst Park club, he won’t be able to purchase Everton. But it has been reported that Textor is accelerating the sale of his 45% stake - and with Friedkin on his tale, it’s only going to ramp up his urgency. 

Things are looking rough on and off the pitch for The Toffees this season. They’re making their worst start to a season in 66 years after losing all four of their opening Premier League games. On top of this, the club is saddled with hundreds of millions in debt, a result of a new stadium being built at Bramley Dock in Liverpool. It’s not a great look for one of the oldest and storied clubs in English football.

AROUND THE FOOTBALL WORLD

🇪🇸 La Liga: Barcelona’s Dani Olmo is expected to be out of action for around 4 to 5 weeks (More)

🇫🇷 Ligue 1: Marseille have reached an agreement in principle with free agent Adrien Rabiot (More)

🇸🇦 Saudi Pro League: Cristiano Ronaldo has been diagnosed with a viral infection and won’t travel with Al-Nassr to Iraq (More)

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scottish Premiership: Celtic report £13.4mn profit for 2023-24 (More)

THE WEEK AHEAD

Champions League

The new format for the Champions League begins. The first set of games starts tonight, with Aston Villa making a trip to Switzerland to face Young Boys. Real Madrid begin their defence against Stuttgart, and Liverpool travel to play AC Milan. Wednesday will see a repeat of the 2023 final as Manchester City host Inter Milan, while Paris Saint-Germain face Girona.

Then on Thursday - yes, you heard that right, Thursday - the remaining Champions League fixtures take place. Arsenal travel to play Europa League winners Atalanta, Atletico Madrid host Leipzig, Bayer Leverkusen take a trip to Feyenoord and Monaco face Barcelona. The Europa League starts next week, and the Conference League the week after that. 

Carabao Cup

The third-round Carabao Cup starts today. Seven games will take place today, with Man United being at home to Barnsley, as well as a top-flight match-up between Everton and Southampton. Wednesday will see two games. The first is another Premier League clash with Brighton hosting Wolves, whilst Spurs travel to play Coventry.

Women’s Super League

The Women’s Super League begins on Friday. Defending champions Chelsea will open the season on Friday evening as they host Aston Villa. Full fixture list for the opening WSL weekend here.

ROUTER’S VOICE

Yesterday, we asked you: Is Uefa’s threat to ban English teams serious or just a bluff?

🟨 🟨 🟨 🟨 ⬜️ ⬜️ 🚨 Serious, they could follow through. (40%)

🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 💨 Bluff, nothing will happen. (58%)

⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ✍️ Other (write in!)... (2%)

Your punditry takes:

• 💨 C: “Nothing happens to anyone anymore. Too much money involved. “Too big to fail” but actually true.”

• 🚨A.C: “It’s all about power and this threatens their power”

• ✍️ J.M: “I think it is a serious threat, however it is extremely unlikely to ever come to pass as I think the government will ensure that its regulator/watchdog does not contravene any of UEFA's (or FIFA's) requirements for independence of the football association.”

EXTRA TIME

Bayern Munich reveal Oktoberfest 2024 shirt.

Opta say which clubs have the easiest and hardest fixtures in the Champions League.

Ademola Lookman with a magical assist. 

FC25’s soundtrack has been released.

The six best Premier League stats from Matchday 4.

Troy Deeney’s BBC Premier League team of the week.

Sandro Tonali’s first interview since betting ban.

Declan Rice takes the catwalk.

Chris Smalling has the worst debut for Al-Fayha as humanly possible.

Gary Neville involved in a bizarre social media exchange with ex-Liverpool striker.

GAME FACE ON

Question: Who am I… 

• I’ve played for Genk, Aston Villa, Liverpool and Crystal Palace.

• I was part of the Belgium side that reached the quarter-finals of Euro 2016 and Euro 2020.

• I currently play for D.C. United in the MLS.

Scroll below for the answer.

ON TODAY

Champions League league stage

• Juventus vs PSV (17:45)

• Young Boys vs Aston Villa (17:45)

• Bayern Munich vs Dinamo Zagreb (20:00)

• AC Milan vs Liverpool (20:00)

• Real Madrid vs Stuttgart (20:00)

• Sporting Lisbon vs Lille (20:00)

Carabao Cup - 3rd Round

• Stoke City vs Fleetwood Town (19:30)

• Blackpool vs Sheff Wed (19:45)

• Brentford vs Leyton Orient (19:45)

• Everton vs Southampton (19:45)

• Preston vs Fulham (19:45)

• QPR vs Crystal Palace (19:45)

• Man Utd vs Barnsley (20:00)

La Liga

• Mallorca vs Real Sociedad (18:00)

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

Answer

Christian Benteke.