☀️🌇👋 Good Morning and Happy Friday team, we made it. All eyes will be on the South American Copa Libertadores final. The international club tournament has its grand finale at the historical Maracanã stadium, which claims to have been able to sit 200,000 spectators at one point. The final is between Argentinian club Boca Juniors and Brazilian side Fluminense.

Giveaway: We like to reward our supporters, and for our latest giveaway, we’re raffling off a $30 gift card to Miami based soccer jersey store: Golaco Kits. Every time you refer a new reader, you get an entry to the raffle, share us on your Instagram stories for some extra credit too 😉😉

Rivalry

Der Klassiker

🤺😡 Rivalry but make it German. As far as rivalries go, Der Klassiker is a young one. First official meeting only dates back to 1965, and this is where the term Klassiker comes into question for some. But when 26 out of the last 30 league titles have been won by either one of these teams (with Bayern doing the heavy lifting), the match up deserves some recognition.

🏆🌐 Dortmund putting German soccer on the map. Who was the first German club to win a European trophy? Dortmund fans won’t miss the opportunity to let you you know that back in 1966, they beat Liverpool to officially put German soccer on the map, 1 year before Bayern took that same trophy home.

⚖️🪨 Who to watch for. For Bayern, there’s a talented young leader in Jamal Musiala. The German international is only 20 years old, and in many ways resembles Jude Bellingham in his maturity and playing style. Harry Kane has also been on a tear for the Bayern side with 12 goals so far this season, not missing a beat from a historic season with the Spurs last season. For Dortmund, Julian Brandt leads his team with 4 goals and 4 assists, looking to be an impact player this weekend as well as the veteran Marco Reus. We also hope to see Gio Reyna get some minutes in for this match up, especially with starting the midweek league cup game against TSG Hoffenheim.

Eredivisie

How the Mighty Have Fallen

🔴 ⚪️ A true pioneer of modern futbol, AFC Ajax is one of the most successful football clubs in Europe. Known for their elite prosperous youth academy, which produced soccer legends like Johan Cruyff, Edgar Davids, Dennis Bergkamp, Clarence Seedorf, Wesley Sneijder, Matthijs de Ligt, Edwin van der Sar, and too many to list. They have won the European Cup/Champions League four times, and are one of three clubs that have won the competition three times consecutively.

🏆️ 🏆️ More trophies Ajax have also won the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup once, the UEFA Cup once, the UEFA Super Cup three times, the Intercontinental Cup twice and the International Football Cup once. Ajax has been no stranger to domestic success, after winning the the Eredivisie back-to-back-to-back-to-back from 2018-2021, all in all scoring over 350 goals.

⏳️ ⌛️ History only takes you so far, AFC Ajax's storied past, defined by its unparalleled youth academy and European triumphs, contrasts sharply with their recent struggles. After a series of domestic dominance, the club's recent results and lackluster performance in the Europa League have left fans puzzled and concerned. Ajax finished in third place last season, after topping the Eredivisie 4 consecutive times.

📆 ⏩️ Fast forward to today, Ajax currently sit in 15th, with only 2 wins, have only scored 15 goals, and are sitting dead last in their Europa League group. They had never previously been bottom of the Eredivisie table until now. Putting salt in the wound, Ajax recently suffered a humiliating 5-2 defeat against table-leaders PSV Eindhoven.

😟 🫣 What the in the Frank Rijkaard happened with Ajax? Following Erik ten Hag's departure and a short-lived tenure under Alfred Schreuder, the appointment of Maurice Steijn as the new manager raised eyebrows among the fanbase. With a lack of prior experience with the club and a questionable coaching style, Steijn's decisions have met with skepticism and discontent. AFC Ajax's ambitious overhaul, marked by numerous player acquisitions and language adjustments within the dressing room, has resulted in a disjointed squad dynamic.

🫠 📉 Despite a healthier net spend, the team's playing quality has suffered, as evidenced by the struggles of new foreign signings who are yet to integrate fully due to language barriers and tactical mismatches. Maurice Steijn's tactical approach, characterized by a slow, predictable style of play and a lack of cohesion in the midfield and attacking lines, has left Ajax grappling with a disjointed and stagnant on-field performance. Defensive vulnerabilities and a failure to effectively press opponents have exposed the team to increased scrutiny and criticism.

🙌 🥹 Road to Redemption? AFC Ajax's recent struggles have not only impacted the team's performance on the pitch but have also sparked unrest among Ajax’s F-Side Ultras, leading to the dismissal of Maurice Steijn as the head coach. As the club strives to regain its footing and revive its winning legacy, the appointment of former Ajax player, John Van't Schip, as the interim head coach has generated both curiosity and cautious optimism. Van't Schip, a former Ajax player with notable coaching experience, i.e. Greece National side, presents a glimmer of hope for the club and its supporters. Van't Schip and the Sons of the Gods host SC Heerenveen this Sunday.

Goals of the day

▶ Darwin Nunez with a powerful strike for Liverpool

▶ Brazilian 17 year old star Endrick with fancy footwork

Today’s Throwback Goal: 2016 Arsenal

▶ Mezut Ozil with an incredible solo goal for Arsenal

Weekend Matches

Matches To Catch This Weekend

Around The Web 🕸️

▶ Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan talk on their relationship dynamic

▶ Scottish club Rangers spare no flare in the stands

▶ Inter Miami sign Messi’s best buddy, Luis Suarez

▶ Terroristic guerrilla group responsible for kidnapping of Luis Diaz’s father

Tweet of the day: @Trollfootball

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