European Cup Action Tonight: Chelsea v Barcelona & Additional Games

Greetings to another night of exciting Champions League soccer. Nine matches are set for tonight, including three British clubs in play. Chelsea take on Barça in the key fixture of the night, while Newcastle visit the French side and Manchester City host Bayer Leverkusen.

League Table

We're at the midway stage of the group stage, so the table is starting to take shape. All six English teams are currently in the top 12, however there are only 2 pts between fifth and sixteenth place, so there's a sense of uncertainty about the entire situation. Everything is to play for.

Match Schedule

Here are tonight’s games, each starting at 8:00 PM except where noted:

  • Ajax 0-1 Benfica (17:45)
  • Union SG and Galatasaray level at 0-0 (17:45)
  • Bodo/Glimt v Juventus
  • Barcelona take on Chelsea
  • Dortmund v Villarreal
  • Man City v Leverkusen
  • Marseille v Newcastle
  • Napoli v Qarabag
  • Athletic Bilbao clash with Slavia Prague

Lineup Changes

Fofana, Caicedo, Garnacho, Malo Gusto and Estevao are included in the Chelsea team. Excluded are Tosin Adarabioyo, Andrey Santos, Jamie Gittens, Joao Pedro and Liam Delap.

Lamine Yamal starts for Barcelona; Marcus Rashford is among the substitutes.

Chelsea (possible 4-3-3) Robert Sanchez; James, Wesley Fofana, Chalobah, Marc Cucurella; Malo Gusto, Caicedo, Enzo; Estevao, Pedro Neto, Alejandro Garnacho.

Substitutes: Jorgensen, Tosin Adarabioyo, Badiashile, Delap, Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, Santos, Pedro, Hato, George, Joshua Acheampong, Guiu, Facundo Buonanotte.

Barcelona (probable four-two-three-one): Garcia; Kounde, Ronald Araujo, Pau Cubarsi, Alejandro Balde; Eric Garcia, De Jong; Yamal, Fermin Lopez, Ferran Torres; Robert Lewandowski.

Subs: Wojciech Szczesny, Kochen, Raphinha, Rashford, Andreas Christensen, Casado, Gerard, Dani Olmo, Bernal, Dro Fernandez, Bardghji.

Official Vincic (Slovenia).

Historical Context

The sole past encounter between Marseille and Newcastle was the Europa League semifinal of 2004, won by an emerging star from Ivory Coast. Manchester City and Bayer Leverkusen have never met before. Barcelona and Chelsea have a notable history.

Initial Game Reports

Only a single goal in the first half of the early fixtures. Dahl's sixth-minute sizzler has earned Benfica under Mourinho a one-nil lead away to the Dutch side.

Marseille v Newcastle Preview

Even though The Magpies arrived in the French south fresh from their restorative 2-1 home Premier League victory over City on the weekend, and having beaten Union SG, Benfica and Athletic Bilbao in the European Cup, their only on the road victory since the start of April came in Brussels at Union SG.

Not that Howe was overly keen to discuss the psychological aspect of this away form issue. “The European Cup is distinct from Premier League games,” said the manager, whose side are sixth in the European table, with nine points from a possible 12 and automatic qualification to the last 16 almost within touching distance. “I am not sure if you can draw parallels between them.”

We have a separate live blog for Barcelona vs Chelsea. Scott Murray, the MBM equivalent of Maradona is on duty for that.
Paul Liu
Paul Liu

A passionate fiber artist and educator sharing her love for spinning and sustainable crafting practices.

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