⚽️The Superclásico (Feat. Nico Cantor)
Episode 1 of The Football Weekend podcast. Plus: Chelsea face Liverpool in the League Cup final.
It’s a revolution at The Football Weekend.
You might have noticed a new feature on Wednesday: THE MIDWEEK, a newsletter tackling a big idea, a big piece of news, or—in this week’s case—a big interview with Riqui Puig of the LA Galaxy. The newly minted #10 talked coming up in Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy, making the move to MLS as a 22-year-old, and playing his old teammates Sergio Busquets and Lionel Messi when Inter Miami come to Los Angeles this weekend.
The other news around TFW HQ this week is THE FOOTBALL WEEKEND PODCAST. Every Friday, I’ll recruit a special guest to chat about the biggest game of the weekend and embed our conversation here in this newsletter. (Also: on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.) You’ll still get the full rundown of which matches are worth watching in text form, but you’ll get an audio deep dive on one of them. Up first? River Plate vs. Boca Juniors—the Superclásico—with guest Nico Cantor:
This show is about telling the stories of the world's game: the history of a rivalry, a behind-the-scenes look at a club and its culture, and a healthy dose of Narrative before the ball gets rolling. I hope you’ll give it a listen (and leave a review!) wherever you get your podcasts.
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THE HEADLINES
➡️ Brentford are up for sale, reports Tom Sunderland of The Daily Star, with owner Matthew Benham seeking £400m. The former financier moved into the gambling world before gradually acquiring Brentford and dragging his boyhood club out of the tough times. When he took over, the West London outfit were in League Two, but Benham’s data-driven approach has yielded serious dividends for the club and the man himself.
➡️ Ex-Barcelona and Brazil fullback Dani Alves was sentenced to four years in prison by a Spanish court this week after he was convicted of sexually assaulting a woman in a Barcelona nightclub in 2022.
➡️ In the Champions League this week: Napoli 1-1 Barcelona; Porto 1-0 Arsenal; PSV 1-1 Borussia Dortmund; Inter Milan 1-0 Atlético Madrid.
➡️ “Guys, short and painless,” Real Madrid’s Toni Kroos said Thursday via Instagram, “I will play for Germany again in March.” The 34-year-old retired from the Mannschaft in 2020, but he will return ahead of this summer’s European Championships, which would be his sixth major tournament with Germany.
➡️ Ronaldinho made an appearance on Survivor: Turkey for some reason.
FRIDAY
LEEDS UNITED vs LEICESTER CITY (3pm ET, 8pm GMT)
It’s a top-of-the-table clash in the Championship, although Leicester are running away with things this season. They’re nine points clear of second-place Leeds, who are trying to keep hold of the second ticket for automatic promotion to the Premier League. If they’re caught by Ipswich Town—who are only behind on goal difference—or Southampton, they’ll need to navigate the playoffs to get back to the big time.
SATURDAY
ASTON VILLA vs NOTTINGHAM FOREST (10am ET, 3pm GMT)
The Villans have been up-and-down in recent weeks, but victory over Fulham last time out got them back into the fourth and final Champions League place. That will be Unai Emery’s goal this season, and the best way to snatch it will be to beat up on the Nottingham Forests of the world. Nuno Espírito Santo’s side have sunk down to 16th, four points clear of the relegation zone, and a points deduction may still await after Forest were charged with breaches of the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules. They need points desperately, in other words, but Villa Park is a tough place to get them.
BAYERN MUNICH vs RB LEIPZIG (12:30pm ET, 5:30pm GMT)
The history of the Tottenham is alive and well in Bayern Munich, where Harry Kane took his talents after 10 goal-laden but trophy-less years in North London. Bayern brought his mate Eric Dier over from Spurs in January as well, and as it stands the Bavarians are on track for their first season without silverware since 2011/12. Manager Thomas Tuchel has been given his marching orders, though he will stay on until the end of the season in an increasingly common phenomenon. (Xavi is doing the same at Barcelona.) They’ll be desperate to get back on track against Leipzig, who are chasing a Champions League spot.
ARSENAL vs NEWCASTLE (3pm ET, 8pm GMT)
This match has become a kind of cultural and stylistic derby, as the cosmopolitan Londoners of Arsenal clash with the British everymen from the Northeast. It’s hardly that simple, of course: this Arsenal side have physicality and the league’s best record from set pieces, while Newcastle have their own tricksters and technicians from all over the world.
But these two clubs and their fans do not like each other one bit after some spiky encounters over the last two seasons, and both are in need of a result. The Gunners must keep pace with Man City and Liverpool at the top of the league, but they’re reeling from a loss away at Porto in the Champions League in midweek. The Magpies have picked up just 1.1 points per game over their last 10, falling out of the race for the Top Four. They’re now just looking to secure European football of any variety next season. This should be spicy.
SUNDAY
CHELSEA vs LIVERPOOL (10am ET, 3pm GMT)
It’s the final of the Football League Carabao Energy Drink Cup. Hardly the most prestigious competition in world football, or even England, but it’s a trophy nonetheless.
Liverpool are seeking the first -uple of the quadruple they’re hoping to claim this season as a sendoff for beloved manager Jürgen Klopp, who is departing in May. His opposite number, Mauricio Pochettino, could really use a piece of silverware for the cabinet considering Chelsea’s highly mediocre league form. (They are, always have been, and always will be 10th.) Plus, despite his transformation of Tottenham Hotspur during his time with the club, he never actually got them over the line and onto the winners’ podium. (See above: Kane, Harry.) If the Argentine can secure his first gold medal in English football after two silvers with Spurs, he might also secure his current job for a bit longer.

RIVER PLATE vs BOCA JUNIORS (3pm ET, 8pm GMT)
Have a listen to the podcast up top for a full preview of El Superclásico. Nico Cantor sets the stage for Argentina’s biggest match better than I ever could!
LA GALAXY vs INTER MIAMI (8:30pm ET)
If you missed Lionel Messi’s season debut on Wednesday—and his impetuous little flick over a Real Salt Lake defender who lay stricken on the pitch—here’s your chance to see the great one in action. He’ll be joined by his ex-Barcelona teammates, and not just the ones wearing Miami pink: Riqui Puig will also feature, and for more background on all the Barça legacy here, check out the Q&A with Riqui for THE MIDWEEK. There’s Luis Suarez, there’s Jordi Alba, but there’s also Sergio Busquets. Keep an eye out for how that man runs the show and whether Puig can disrupt him in the midfield trenches.
THE FPL STOCK MARKET
↗️Pedro Neto (£5.7m) is back fit and got an assist last time out. There should be more to come with Wolves’ favorable fixture list, though the Portuguese winger is always, unfortunately, an injury risk.
↗️Pascal Groß (£6.5m) is one of the form midfielders in the league with 29 points over his last three games, and Brighton have Everton, Fulham, and Nottingham Forest coming up.
↘️As a major fan of Jarrod Bowen (£7.7m), it gives me no pleasure to list him as a drop, but he’s without a goal or assist since December 28 and West Ham are in some very poor form. Their fixtures are decent and they could get it together, though they’ve lost their last five against this week’s opponents, Brentford, in the league. I am looking hard at a sale here.
↗️Rasmus Hojlund (£7.2m) has picked up a muscular problem and is out. was a pick in this space on February 2, and I only wish I’d taken my own advice and signed him for The Weekenders. The Danish striker has stacked up 27 points since—48 in his last five matches—and apart from Man City next week, United’s fixture list is plain sailing.⚽︎