FootBiz newsletter #110: Apollo's big sports bet, Champions League, Man United stadium doubts
PLUS: Sheffield Wednesday hit by further EFL sanctions over unpaid wages
The Champions League is back, and with it the usual glamorous twirl of narratives. Conference League play also gets going, signalling we are now full-go in European football until next May.
Barcelona vs PSG on Wednesday night is undoubtedly the main attraction, though Jose Mourinho’s return to Chelsea has come at a slightly awkward time for Enzo Maresca, with the Italian coach this week getting the dreaded vote of confidence from his board.
Mourinho’s surprise return to Benfica has made him somewhat the centre of attention this week. Which he hates. But it does at least provide a bit of juice to a match which may otherwise have lacked it, with both teams needing points after losing on matchday one (Benfica’s defeat at home to Qarabag was responsible for Bruno Lage’s departure and Mourinho’s return to Lisbon).
Tuesday also sees Real Madrid travel to Kazakhstan to face Kairat. It is one of the greatest financial gaps between opponents ever, as well as one of the largest geographically, with much coverage in the Spanish media of the Galacticos’ 11-hour flight to the largest landlocked country in the world.
The horror. That’s the sort of journey usually reserved for money-spinning friendly matches.
Liverpool go from a defeat at title rivals Crystal Palace, probably the most intimidating away atmosphere in the Premier League, to Galatasaray, the Champions League’s equivalent. ‘Welcome to Croydon’ just doesn’t hit quite as hard as ‘Welcome to Hell’ though.
Newcastle go to Brussels to face Union Saint-Gilloise and will be in for a shock if they don’t respect the Belgian champions. The philosophies of the two clubs couldn’t be more different, and our first item below the paywall details the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund’s latest investment in the club.
There’s a lot more besides, including news that the Club World Cup might not have been good for player welfare and be contributing to injuries (no, honestly) and Manchester United’s potential switcharoo not just on stadium design but also who they partner with.
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