🔗 Share this article

Greetings to another night of exciting European Cup soccer. Nine fixtures are planned for this evening, including 3 British teams in action. The Blues face Barça in the marquee fixture of the evening, while Newcastle travel to Marseille and Manchester City host Bayer Leverkusen.

Group Rankings

We're at the midway stage of the group stage, meaning the rankings is taking form. Each of the six British teams are presently in the upper twelve, however there are only 2 points between 5th and 16th place, thus there's a whiff of uncertainty about the entire situation. It’s all up for grabs.

Match Schedule

Here are tonight’s games, each kicking off at 8:00 PM unless stated:

• Benfica lead Ajax 1-0 (5.45pm)
• Galatasaray 0-0 Union SG (17:45)
• Bodo/Glimt v Juventus
• Barcelona take on Chelsea
• Villarreal meet Dortmund
• Man City v Leverkusen
• Marseille v Newcastle
• Qarabag play Napoli
• Slavia Prague v Athletic Bilbao

Team News

Fofana, Caicedo, Garnacho, Malo Gusto and Estevao join the Chelsea team. Dropped are Adarabioyo, Santos, Jamie Gittens, Pedro and Liam Delap.

Lamine Yamal is in the starting lineup for Barça; Marcus Rashford is on the bench.

The Blues (possible 4-3-3) Robert Sanchez; James, Wesley Fofana, Trevoh Chalobah, Cucurella; Malo Gusto, Moises Caicedo, Enzo; Estevao, Pedro Neto, Garnacho.

Subs: Kjell Scherpen, Adarabioyo, Badiashile, Delap, Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, Santos, Pedro, Jorrel Hato, George, Acheampong, Guiu, Buonanotte.

Barcelona (possible four-two-three-one): Joan Garcia; Kounde, Araujo, Pau Cubarsi, Balde; Garcia, Frenkie de Jong; Lamine Yamal, Lopez, Torres; Lewandowski.

Subs: Wojciech Szczesny, Kochen, Raphinha, Rashford, Christensen, Marc Casado, Gerard, Olmo, Noah Darvich, Dario Fernandez, Bardghji.

Referee Vincic (Slovenian).

Historical Context

The sole past encounter between Newcastle and Marseille was the Europa League semifinal of 2003-04, claimed by an rising superstar from Côte d'Ivoire. Bayer Leverkusen and Manchester City have not faced each other previously. Barcelona and Chelsea have a peedie bit of history.

Initial Game Reports

Only a single goal during the opening period of the early fixtures. Samuel Dahl's sixth-minute goal has given Jose Mourinho’s Benfica a one-nil advantage away to Ajax.

Newcastle’s Trip to Marseille

Although The Magpies arrived in the French south coming off their confidence-boosting two-one home Premier League victory against City on the weekend, and having beaten Union SG, Benfica and Athletic Bilbao in the Champions League, their sole away win since the start of April came in Brussels at Union SG.

Not that Howe was eager to talk about the psychological aspect of this travel sickness. “The Champions League is different to Premier League games,” said the coach, whose side are 6th in the Champions League standings, with nine pts from a possible twelve and automatic progression to the knockout phase nearly secured. “I am not sure if you can compare them.”

We have a separate live blog for Barcelona vs Chelsea. Scott Murray, the MBM version of Diego Maradona is handling for that.