MILAN vs JUVE (Feat. Alasdair Mackenzie)
Two Serie A big fish in battle.
This week we’ve got something new for you below the podcast. It’s called The 4-4-2:
4 matches worth watching
4 stories worth reading
2 items of football gear worth snagging.
Check it out after you’ve listened to this week’s show, which as always previews the very biggest match of the weekend to come. A.C. MILAN host JUVENTUS at the San Siro on Saturday in an early season must-win for the hosts. The whole thing has a distinctly American flavor for a top-shelf Serie A clash, and joining us to preview the festivities is a Scotsman in Rome: Alasdair Mackenzie, who covers the Italian game for TNT Sports, Eurosport, FourFourTwo, and more:
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Or check it out on APPLE PODCASTS🍎
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MATCHES
ARSENAL vs NOTTINGHAM FOREST
Saturday @ 10am ET, 3pm UK
Who’d have pegged this one as a Top Six clash coming into the Premier League season? These two are even on 19 points. Forest may not be long for the European places, but they’ve made a fine start to the campaign and will provide a serious test for this hiccuping Arsenal side, even at the Emirates. There’s no two ways about it: Mikel Arteta’s team must win here. Already nine points adrift of leaders Liverpool, four back from Man City, the Gunners need three to keep their title aspirations alive.
MAN CITY vs TOTTENHAM
Saturday @ 12:30pm ET, 5:30pm UK
Spurs could use something for the trophy cabinet, and Pep’s Bogey Team might just make do as some silverware. Tottenham have a frankly phenomenal record against City over the last few years, particularly in the league: five wins, two draws, and three losses is nothing to sniff at, and they already beat the Citizens this season in a League Cup encounter last month.
They’ve done better at home than at the Etihad, however, and City will be powered by multiple engines: Pep Guardiola has signed a new contract to stay on with the club for another two years, and like Arsenal, they really need a result. Liverpool will not run the table from here to May, but they are stretching out in front going into the first turn. We’re coming up towards that time when the Sky Blues normally start rattling off 18 wins in a row, though they normally have Rodri.
IPSWICH vs MAN UNITED
Sunday @ 11:30am ET, 4:30pm UK
It’s Rúben Amorim’s first match as Manchester United manager, and a jaunt over to Suffolk is a proper introduction to English football. Portman Road is a grand old ground, home to Ipswich Town since 1884, and the 30,000 in the stands will seek to drive their Tractor Boys over the new United boss and the somewhat chaotic outfit he’s taken over. The Red Devils have been disjointed and in disarray for a long time now, and it will take an extraordinary force of personality to put them right—or at least a guy who knows how to spend £200 million properly in the next transfer window.
ATHLETIC CLUB vs REAL SOCIEDAD
Sunday @ 3pm ET, 8pm UK
The battle of the Basque country, a meeting of two cities with separatist sympathies and a healthy distaste for Madrid—which doesn’t mean they always agree. They’ve got philosophical differences (which you can hear more about in a recent episode of the podcast with Graham Hunter) starting with Athletic’s determination to field only Basque, or at least Basque-trained, players. La Real used to do the same, until they didn’t, and now their old local foes mock them for it. Two points separate them going into this one, with Athletic in sixth on 20 points and Sociedad in eighth on 18. Both will have designs on a Champions League place next season.
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READS
⚽︎ In the Guardian, Jonathan Wilson suggests the aforementioned Rúben Amorim has “the Ferguson aura,” but will it be enough to survive at a club that’s lost its aura since Ferguson’s departure?
⚽︎ The Athletic has published part two of a long look at the state of football punditry in the current moment. This section is focused on non-British commentators, including those based in the United States.
⚽︎ Earlier this month, Grace Robertson wondered whether Barcelona are back for real.
⚽︎ And in the New York Times, Rory Smith reflects on what he’s learned from coaching his son’s youth team.
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GEAR
👕 Love this sweater from KidSuper commemorating Ronaldinho’s outrageous free kick that beat David Seaman in the England goal at World Cup 2002.
👕 Adidas are out with some throwback shirts commemorating the 50-year anniversary of their first joining forces with Argentina.⚽︎