As the Champions League returns, a number of big match-ups have played out including Real Madrid taking on Inter Milan and Liverpool facing Atletico Madrid, but where is the jeopardy?

Kate Mason is joined by Adam Crafton, Matt Slater and Rob Green to analyse the growth and investment within the Champions League and discuss whether the change to the league phase format has led to a closed-shop for the clubs capable of winning the tournament.

Plus, ahead of Sunday's Manchester derby, former Man City CEO Garry Cook joins the podcast to discuss the role the two clubs have played in raising the global profile of the city.

From a sporting, economical and political sense he reflects on his involvement with the Abu Dhabi investment into Man City back in 2008 and the ambitions of the project as well as the opportunity to be part of the growth of the city.

Host: Kate Mason

With: Adam Crafton, Matt Slater and Rob Green

Featuring: Garry Cook

Executive Producer: Guy Clarke

Producer: Jay Beale

Videographer: Lara Sinclair

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Real Madrid’s 2-1 victory over Inter in their opening Champions League fixture was far from convincing.

Emma Paton is joined by The Athletic's Liam Twomey and Tomas Hill Lopez-Menchero to get into Jose Mourinho’s return to the Spanish capital, the panel discuss whether he’s the man to bring silverware back to the Bernabeu amid familiar problems to last season.

Plus, with the shortlist for the Ballon d'Or revealed, could Harry Kane become just the fourth Englishman to win the award?

Host: Emma Paton

Co-hosts: Liam Twomey, Tomas Hill Lopez-Menchero

Featuring: Guillermo Rai

Exec Producer: Guy Clarke

Producers: Jay Beale

Videographer: Liam Warburton

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After seeing a late move for Folarin Balogun collapsed Everton have been left with 18 senior first team players, something manager David Moyes seems less than pleased by.

Emma Paton is with David Ornstein and James Horncastle to analyse Everton's transfer dealings, discuss why things played out in the manner they did - including looking likely to strike a deal to sell Harrison Armstrong to Nottingham Forest.

The Friedkin Group are also exploring investment opportunities in the club, so the panel assess the relationship the owners have with the club having only taken control in December 2024.

Plus there's the latest Ask Ornstein and The Athletic's Barcelona correspondent Pol Ballus also joins us to talk about Marcus Rashford's reintegration at Manchester United, following his loan spell at the Camp Nou last season.

Host: Emma Paton

With: David Ornstein and James Horncastle

Featuring: Pol Ballus

Executive Producer: Guy Clarke

Producer: Jay Beale

Videographer: Grayson Moody

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Arsenal made it three wins from three at the start of the new Premier League season, coming from behind to beat Chelsea 2-1 at the Emirates.

Emma Paton is joined by former England goalkeeper Rob Green and The Athletic's Matt Slater to look back on the weekend's action.

Art de Roche shares his thoughts on Arsenal's attacking rotations on show against Chelsea, with Liam Twomey assessing how far off becoming title challengers Xabi Alonso's side are.

Moving away from the Emirates, the panel assess who else could challenge for the title this season, with Man City being the only other side to take maximum points so far.

Plus, Rob analyses the most noteworthy goalkeeping performances of the weekend and with the transfer window now closed, there's a look at which players could still be available on free transfers!

Host: Emma Paton

With: Rob Green and Matt Slater

Featuring: Art de Roche and Liam Twomey

Executive Producer: Guy Clarke

Producer: Jay Beale

Videographer: Liam Warburton

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For episode two of What If... we're talking Chelsea's former owner Roman Abramovich - and the parallel universe where he buys Spurs, or even Arsenal, instead of the Blues.

Emma Paton is joined by The Athletic's Tim Spiers and Spurs writer Jack Pitt-Brooke and Chelsea writer Liam Twomey to delve into the influence of Abramovich and how he changed the game forever.

Our alternative timeline ponders what would happen to Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United, Mourinho and the Premier League's ownership and investment landscape had Abramovich not taken over.

Host: Emma Paton

Guests: Tim Spiers, Jack Pitt-Brooke, Liam Twomey

Executive Producer: Adam Jones

Producers: Mike Stavrou, Grayson Moody

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to the Tactical Preview, this week, our focus is on Arsenal vs Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

Kate Mason is joined by former England goalkeeper Rob Green and The Athletic’s Tactics writer Liam Tharme to analyse Xabi Alonso’s low-possession style from their first two games and how their potent attack could go about breaking down a stubborn Arsenal side.

The panel also discuss squad building, with multiple clubs going through big changes in personnel over the summer window.

They also look at Everton vs Manchester United, Nottingham Forest vs Spurs and Newcastle vs Bournemouth - and focus on how the three B’s: Bournemouth, Brentford and Brighton, constantly reinvent themselves.

Host: Kate Mason

Guests: Rob Green, Liam Tharme

Executive Producer: Adam Jones

Producers: Mike Stavrou, Liam Warburton

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This summer the Premier League smashed the record for spending within the division, with £1.7bn worth of transfers between Premier League clubs alone. 

Kate Mason is joined by Adam Crafton, Matt Slater and Rob Green to get into what this means for football here in the UK and why player prices are so high.

Plus, Tim Bridge, lead partner of Deloitte's Sports Business Group, drops in to talk about the impact on the wider game and growing wealth gaps across Europe.

Host: Kate Mason

With: Adam Crafton, Matt Slater, Rob Green

Featuring: Tim Bridge

Executive Producer: Adam Jones

Producer: Jay Beale

Videographer: Lara Sinclair

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The transfer window is now closed after another summer of truly bonkers spending. 

Emma Paton is joined by The Athletic's David Ornstein & James Horncastle to get into the deals that stood out and the deals that fell through, including Folarin Balogun's failed move to Everton that had repercussions for Chelsea.

Plus, the panel reveal their favourite signing of the summer, the transfer that made them double take and which set of fans shout be most concerned now the window has shut.

Host: Emma Paton

With: David Ornstein and James Horncastle

Executive Producer: Adam Jones

Producer: Jay Beale

Videographer: Grayson Moody

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to our Deadline Day coverage with The Athletic's transfer specialist, David Ornstein, hosted by Emma Paton. 

They are joined by football analyst JJ Bull and other The Athletic reporters to figure out what transfers could still happen and analyse the latest news.

Host: Emma Paton

Co-hosts: David Ornstein, JJ Bull, Seb Stafford-Bloor

Exec Producer: Adam Jones

Producers: Don Ma, Mike Stavrou 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chelsea made it two wins from two against Brighton & Hove Albion, having scored seven goals in their opening two whilst also conceding five in that time.

Emma Paton is alongside former Chelsea and England goalkeeper Rob Green and The Athletic's Cerys Jones to assess the Blues' chances of challenging under Xabi Alonso.

Elsewhere over the Premier League weekend, Manchester United got their first win of the season seeing off newly-promoted Ipswich Town at Old Trafford, Hull City made it two from two while Tottenham Hotspur suffered a second successive defeat.

Seb Stafford-Bloor joins the panel in-studio to dissect Spurs' latest loss before moving onto his interview with England captain Harry Kane for the latest 'My Game In My Words' feature on The Athletic. Plus, with transfer deadline day looming David Ornstein whets the appetite for what may be to come.

Host: Emma Paton

With: Rob Green, Cerys Jones and Seb Stafford-Bloor

Featuring: David Ornstein

Executive Producer: Guy Clarke

Producer: Lucy Oliva

Videographer: Liam Warburton

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.