[FOOTBALL] Pre-Christmas Fixtures ft. Bayern Munich vs the most hated club in Germany

[Reg]

There isn't a massive selection of fixtures but, with some good games and people having more time off, a thread might be worth it. 1st v 2nd in Germany tonight and the Italian equivalent of the Community Shield (played in Qatar) on Friday afternoon seem to be the picks. There's a round of SPL fixtures coming up (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/fixtures).

WEDNESDAY
Benfica v Rio Ave - 18:00 BT (in progress)
Bayern Munich v RB Leipzig - 19:00 BT
Inter Milan v Lazio- 19:45 BT
Newport County v Plymouth Argyle (FA Cup 2nd Round Replay) - 19:45 BT

THURSDAY
Gent v Anderlecht Belgian - 19:30 Premier Sports
Fiorentina v Napoli - 19:45 BT
Roma v Chievo - 19:45 BT
Bordeaux v Nice - 19:50 BT

FRIDAY
Brisbane Roar v Western Sydney Wanderers - 08:50 BT
Juventus v AC Milan (Italian Super Cup) - 16:30 Sky
Motherwell v Aberdeen - 19:45 BT

SATURDAY
Hamilton Academical v Celtic - 12:30 Sky

[Lewis]

I fail to see much difference between RB Leipzig and somebody like Wolfsburg or Bayer Leverkusen, since it's not as if they still field teams of factory workers, or any other artificially inflated club for that matter.

[Byron]

I think it's because of how blatant it is that the club is merely a vehicle to sell energy drinks.

Now if you watch F1 at all, you'll be fully aware that Red Bull is nothing more than a corporate machine, as are half the teams on the grid, but while it's existed in football, I'm not sure football fans up to now have had it shoved in their face in such a manner.

[Lewis]

Which is better than a vehicle to make Abu Dhabi/Qatar look like part of the civilised world.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Is it an original club or did they butcher an existing FC Leipzig to do it, like they did with Salzburg?

[mugbull]

I think they bought a 4th division team's license so they could start in that league rather than at the very bottom.

[Shindig]

It never occurred to me RB stood for Red Bull. I thought it was Rot Blau or something. Yeah, "Red Bull <your town> is a shameless act but maybe it has benefit for <your town>'s economy and job prospects?

[Jimmy Floyd]

It actually stands for Rasenballsport, which I presume is getting round some teutonic law or other.

Has anyone noticed the equivalent drink Carabao are suddenly sponsoring everything in football?

[Giggles]

It's a business. The days of Winfred Fiddington playing for his local factory is over, get over it.

[Shindig]

Those roots are deep, son. It's not America.