Every time this newsletter provides an update on Bordeaux it seems they have dropped another division or two.
The former Ligue 1 champions are now down in the SIXTH tier of the French league pyramid after suffering financial issues that saw the club unable to repay €20m of debt.
Saturday, however, was a rare good day to be a Bordeaux fan as they finally got started in Regional 1. It’s a long way back to the top, but Les Girondins have taken the first step.
VAR (Valuable Alternative Reading) is a weekly newsletter sent every Monday reviewing all the good stuff you might have missed from the weekend in football!
Elsewhere, Orlando City scored a goal that wouldn’t have looked out of place at the circus, there’s a new leader at the top of the J-League table and Zimbabwean champions Scottland FC moved closer to CAF Champions League qualification.
Let’s take a look at everything 👇
Something in the sixth tier
Former French champions Bordeaux are starting all over in the French sixth tier and they scored their first goal down there on Saturday.
450 Bordeaux fans travelled to watch their team play the reserve side of Aviron Bayonnais and were rewarded with a 2-0 victory. The long road back to the top of French football starts here!
The club that won Ligue 1 as recently as 2009 was sold to a US investment form for just €1 only a few weeks ago.
This came after Bordeaux were banned from participating in all national-level competitions by French football’s financial watchdog over the summer. The club faced the very real prospect of disappearing entirely!
Bordeaux have now joined an investment group that also has interests in Scottish club Dunfermline Athletic and Spanish side Cordoba.
Over 40,000 fans are expected to show up for Bordeaux’s first home game of the season. That would break the all-time attendance record for the French sixth tier by roughly 30,000…
Something in CAF 🌍
This week’s in-depth newsletter was all about Scottland FC, Zimbabwe’s new predominant force aiming to qualify for the CAF Champions League for the first time.
Well, good news - they won Sunday’s first leg against Petro Atletico of Angola 2-0, giving them a good chance of reaching the group stage.
The Soccer Dispatch curse is broken! For now…
Something acrobatic
Some goals belong at the circus, like this one scored by Martin Ojeda for Orlando City.
The Argentine put the finishing touch on a move that was reminiscent of Jack Wilshere’s goal for Arsenal against Norwich City all those years ago. One-touch magic in Major League Soccer!
Something in Thailand 🇹🇭
There’s an unfamiliar name near the top of Thai League!
12-times Thai champions Buriram United are setting the pace, sitting one point clear, but Prachuap FC deserve a mention for their impressive start to the campaign.
The team from the west of Thailand have never won the top flight in their history, but Saturday’s away win over Chonburi FC kept them within one point of top spot.
Something from waaaaay out
Brighton’s Diego Gomez wasn’t the only one to find the back of the net from over 40 yards out this weekend!
Lachlan Bayliss scored this stunner for Auckland FC in their A-League season opener over Melbourne City. What a way for the reigning champions to kick off their title defence!
This was the midfielder’s league debut for his new team too!
Something repeated
Barcelona Femenino don’t lose many games, but there’s just something about playing Real Sociedad they don’t like!
For the second successive season, the Catalans suffered a defeat to La Real, meaning the only two games Barca have lost in the last two Liga F campaigns have come against the same opponents.
Something in Stockholm 🇸🇪
The rivalry between AIK and IFK Goteberg is one of the fiercest in Swedish football - and Saturday’s encounter certainly lived up to the fixture’s reputation!
Goteberg twice took the lead over their rivals only to be pegged back twice. Axel Kouame scored this excellent equaliser for AIK, adding to the Ivorian winger’s growing reputation.
He’s been linked with a move to the Premier League!
Something detailed
Derek Rae might be the commentary GOAT and he has shared the secret to his craft - really, really detailed notes!
The ESPN and EA Sports FC announcer posted his notes for Sunday’s Real Madrid-Sevilla game. There is beauty to the chaos, but I have absolutely no idea how he can read any of this.
Something in Japan 🇯🇵
There’s a new leader at the top of the J-League after the weekend’s round of fixtures.
Sanfrecce Hiroshima’s 3-0 win over Kyoto Sanga coupled with Kashiwa Reysol’s 3-1 home defeat to Nagoya Grampus Eight saw La Viola rise to the top of the standings.
Two points is all that separates the top FIVE teams in the J-League right now!
Something thumped
You might remember what happened the last time Hearts visited Celtic Park. This documentary by Copa90 might jog your memory…
Sunday’s visit to the east end of Glasgow was just as painful for The Jam Tarts, albeit for different reasons. Celtic scored FIVE times in the first half alone! Complete domination from the champions.
Something postponed ❌
Heavy rain on the Balearic Islands made this pitch in the Spanish third tier unplayable, although the referee had to make sure before officially postponing the match.
SCR Pena Deportiva were due to play a home, but the pitch was just a little bit soggy…
Something Belgian in Turkey 🇧🇪 🇹🇷
Back in the Fenerbahce lineup, Romelu Lukaku showed his quality by finding the back of the net in a comfortable 3-0 win over Alanyaspor on Saturday.
This was Lukaku’s first goal since joining the Istanbul club in the summer transfer window. Something about the Belgian being in the Turkish Super Lig just feels right.
Next weekend, it’s the Intercontinental Derby!
Something in Brazil 🇧🇷
Philippe Coutinho is off the mark for Santos, scoring his first goal for the club in Sunday’s comeback win over Fluminense at the Maracana.
The former Barcelona and Liverpool playmaker left Vasco da Gama earlier this year because he was “tired mentally.” Now, though, he appears refreshed and is combining with Neymar and Gabigol!
This is Brazilian football heritage!
Something in Northern Ireland
Big Dunc has a new job!
The former Everton assistant manager and striker has been hired by Glentoran in the Northern Irish Premiership. "I want to win trophies here... I want to play with confidence, get forward and give the supporters football they enjoy watching,” he said.
Big words from a big man!
Something familiar
At 39 years old, Jamie Vardy has still got it!
The former Leicester City striker scored his first goal for Burnley against Wolves on Saturday, meaning he has now scored at least one league goal in 20 (TWENTY) consecutive seasons.
Vardy’s still having a party!
Something off the post
Talking of things that are familiar…
Darwin Nunez missed this penalty for Al-Diriyah in the Saudi Pro League. The year is 2056 and the Uruguayan striker is still searching for consistent form in front of goal…
Some things never change!
Some TSD content you might have missed… 🗞️
🇿🇼 Zimbabwe’s new dominant team is chasing a place among African football’s elite
Founded in 2023, Scottland FC are aiming to qualify for the CAF Champions League!