📢📢Happy Monday everyone, and a special retirement Monday to Julie Ertz. Word on the street is that Julie is a big fan of SSB and is sharing the referral link with everyone she knows in order to get a chance to win the giveaway, and we think you should too! 😉

Today we take a look at:

• A Classico Weekend Strikes Back

• A rising star in the Bundesliga

• Farwell to a USWMNT legend

• Headlines that caught our attention

Classic Weekend Pt II

🎯 DOWN AND DERBY, that’s right this weekend brought us 5 derbies putting historic rivals head-to-head, and an abandoned match. We’ll see you at kick off.

☀️ El Classico del Sol. The Sunshine State is the host to one of the most exciting interstate derbies in the MLS. A rivalry with a catchy nickname has been brewing between Orlando City SC and Inter Miami CF. Often referred to as "El Clásico del Sol," has quickly become a highlight on our calendar. Despite its relatively short history, this matchup has already captured the hearts of fans in the Sunshine State. Let's dive into the details of this exciting rivalry.

A stalemate between the two, as Inter Miami entered the match without their ex-Barca trio Alba, Busquets, and Messi. Both teams walked out with a 1-1 draw, David Ruiz gaining the lead for Miami until Duncan McGuire bagged a goal in the 66th minute.

🇪🇸 El Derbi Madrileno. On a not so chill night in Madrid, Diego Simeone and Co ran an utter mockery of Los Merengues cashing in a 3-1 victory. In their 233 match up, Alvaro Morata score a brace to keep their La Liga hopes alive. Real Madrid hope to bounce back in their midweek fixture against Las Palmas, while Atletico travels to take on Osasuna.

• Taking a Step Back. One of Spain’s oldest yet most fierce Derbies known to man, dating back to December 1906, El Derbi Madrileno has not disappointed. With the top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo bagging 22 goals, this derby fuels the veins of the Spanish Capital.

🇫🇷 🥐 Le Classique. Titans faced off this weekend, as Paris Saint Germain hosted Olympique Marseille. What some may call a massacre, PSG thrashed Marseille 4-0 with bag contributions brought to you by Archaf Hakimi, Randal Kolo Muani, and a brace from the Portuguese sensation Goncalo Ramos. Won the battle, but at what cost? PSG may wonder as Mbappe was subbed off due to injury.

• Trip Down Memory Lane: This was their 105th meeting, with PSG extending their head-to-head victory margin to 49. Dating back to 1971, this parles-vous-Francais classique is crown by Zlatan Ibrahimovic and his 11 goals.

• 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 🦁 The 194th North London Derby. In well over one hundred years, this Derby has yet failed to deliver. The Emirates Stadium hosted the Tottenham Spurs in an epic duel that resulted in a 2-2 draw. Goal contributions were brought to you by Bukayo Saka, an own goal (“OG”) on part of Cristian Romero, and a brace by the South Korean star Sonny (“Heung-Min Son”). Note-worthy performance, James Maddison released that dog in him, as our intern Jose would say. Check out the highlights, and let us know if we should yell at Jose.

  

  Foto Olaf Kraak/ANP

• 🇳🇱 De Klassieker Abandoned. In what would have been their 204th match up, the fans’ roar could not be tamed. The game was initially stopped at the end of the first-half but then resumed leading to 9 minutes of stoppage time. However by the 55th minute, the referee called off the match after Ajax fans continue to flood the pitch with flares and smoke. To be fair, Feyenoord put three three past Ajax well within the first 30 minutes at the Johan Cruyff Arena. The City of Amsterdam demanded the skulls specifically from Igor Paixao and Santiago Gimenez after the two bagged a goal and a brace respectfully. Ajax currently sit 10 points behind league leaders PSV after just five games into the new season

The Goal Machine: Serhou Guirassy 🤖

⚡️🎯 Lightning-fast and Clinical. Serhou Guirassy, the Guinean forward that plays for VfB Stuttgart, has set the Bundesliga ablaze with his incredible goal-scoring prowess. With ten goals under his belt, he now stands at the top of the scorers' list 🔝. His lightning-fast pace and clinical finishing have left defenders trembling in their boots. The German league has witnessed a true goal machine in action.

⚔️ Battling The Best. In a remarkable feat, Guirassy has become only the second player in Bundesliga history to reach double digits after five games 👑. The only other player to do it was, of course, Robert Lewandowski with Bayern Munich back in the 2020/21 season. His consistent performances have propelled him to the top of the European goal-scoring charts 📈. He has currently surpassed renowned goal machines like Haaland, Mbappe, & Harry Kane. Fans around the world are taking notice of this rising talent, eagerly anticipating the heights he will reach.

A Farewell to Glory

📢😭 The Final Whistle. Julie Ertz, a name that resonates with power, skill, and determination, bid farewell to the field in a retirement game that left fans both teary-eyed and beaming with pride. After an illustrious career spanning over a decade, the American soccer superstar hung up her boots with the grace and poise that defined her game.

🏆🥇 A Legacy Written in Gold. Julie Ertz's retirement game was not just a regular match; it was a celebration of an athlete who has left an indelible mark on the sport. Ertz's journey has been nothing short of extraordinary. Her tenacity, skill, and unwavering determination earned her numerous accolades, including World Cup triumphs and individual honors. She has been a key figure in the success of the United States Women's National Team, contributing to their dominance in the international arena.

✨💪 A Role Model and Inspiration. Beyond her exceptional skills on the field, Julie Ertz has become a symbol of strength and perseverance for aspiring athletes worldwide. Her dedication, work ethic, and unwavering spirit have inspired countless young girls and boys to pursue their dreams fearlessly. May her retirement game serve as a celebration of her remarkable career and a reminder of the impact one individual can have on the world.

Headlines That Caught Our Eyes

8️⃣The Ocho. Newcastle had 0 chill this weekend when they took on Sheffield. 8 different goal scorers, the first in Premier League history, took part of the fun this weekend for Newcastle but we’re sure they would have liked to have had those 8 goals split up with the midweek Champions League game against AC Milan and the upcoming EFL Cup match against Manchester City.

💥💥Three goals in 10 minutes. Xavi’s men were losing 2-0 entering the 80th minute of the game when suddenly the team woke up and decided to put on an epic comeback. The additions of Joao Felix and Joao Cancelo have boded well so far for the squad and their off to Xavi’s best start to the season.

✅✅ 2 more clinch Playoffs spot. The MLS season is winding down, and we have two more teams that secured their spots in the post season. Atlanta United and New England Revolution are the latest to do so with only one more spot to claim in the Eastern conference.

Introducing: Saturdays Football

It’s 5pm, drop is live! If you let the season pass you by and you missed getting your favorite players jersey, it’s incredibly hard to find that that jersey again. Meet Saturdays Football. A soccer lifestyle brand based out of Los Angeles that recently set up a permanent location in Rockefeller Center. They pride themselves on having the largest vintage collection of soccer jerseys in the US and their inventory has some absolute gems.

How to buy? They have physical locations in LA or NYC where you can stop by and browse their current inventory. They restock daily and their inventory varies on the jerseys they have been able to buy from the kit purchase events they hold. If you’re not located in either of those cities, you’re in luck. Every day at 5pm they drop new kits and if you download the app you’ll get the notification reminders and be ready to go when the drop is live.

Pro Tip. Set yourself a reminder and make sure to have apple/google pay ready on your phone. The team will post on their Instagram the kits that will go live at 5pm EST, and if you want to be quick to make sure to get the jersey you want, you can DM or ask on their post what size a certain jersey is.

Tell a Friend, Get Rewarded!

Share our newsletter with your friends and family, and get rewarded for doing so. Ending on October 13th, the top 10 readers with the most referrals will be submitted to a raffle for a chance to win a vintage soccer jersey.

We will announce the winner at the end of the month and give them a week to reply and claim their prize!