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Welcome to the Nutmeg, each week, you can expect: Exclusive previews of major football events – Spotlight features on top football creators – In-depth analysis of trending football culture.Delivered as consistently as Beckham’s crosses.

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MUST-WATCH MATCHES

Aston Villa vs Arsenal | Saturday, August 24 | 12:30pm EST

Match week two sees the rematch between the second- and fourth-place finishers, with Arsenal likely bringing a competitive mindset. During the 2023–24 campaign, Emery’s Aston Villa won both matches and were partly responsible for stealing the title away from the Gunners.

Both teams finished week one with wins in their pockets and solid outings. It’s time to put the big names to the test. Each team had a name on the PFA 2023–24 Team of the Season. Even though the Gunners had four more names on that list, Aston Villa is not to be overlooked. This should be an intense match for the full 90.

Barcelona vs Athletic Bilbao | Saturday, August 24 | 1:00pm EST

This is a must-watch for only one reason: Nico Williams. Nico Williams. We'd put money on him racing out of the gates, as if he had something to prove. After all of the back-and-forth this summer, all of the Barça fans will write it off as a positive thing he didn't come through. He’s not going to let that happen.

Barcelona secured three points in their first match against Valencia, while Athletic Club only managed a draw against Getafe. Jules Kounde is going to play a pivotal role at right back, lining up against Williams. They'll be thinking back to when they played each other in the Euro finals. We’d say that Kounde did more than enough to keep the Spaniard quiet, but can he do it again?

RONDO

🇩🇪A German farewell. This week, both goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and midfielder İlkay Gündoğan have announced their retirement from international football. Although whispers have been going around that Gündoğan may be on his way back to Manchester City to finish out his club career.

💰Money bag PSG has massive dues owed. Kylian Mbappe, who recently left the club, has reportedly filed a claim with UEFA and the LFP over some unpaid wages and bonuses. Nearly €55 million worth. Are PSG hurting for money, or are they just bitter over not receiving a check from his transfer?

🚫Silver just wasn’t good enough. After winning 2nd place at the Paris Olympics, Thierry Henry has resigned as U21 manager. It seems he doesn’t love staying in one place for too long.

📄Someone take their credit card away. After a summer of retail therapy, Chelsea not only find themselves as this season's biggest spenders, but also as the club with the longest contracts. If you add everyone’s contracts together, it sums up to 191 years. For reference, that’s nearly twice as long as the next total.

Leading 5-a-side soccer facilities in North America 🇺🇸 🇨🇦

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