European Cup Fixtures This Evening: Chelsea v Barcelona & Additional Games
Greetings to another evening of thrilling European Cup soccer. Nine games are scheduled for this evening, with three British clubs in play. Chelsea take on Barcelona in the standout match of the night, whilst Newcastle visit the French side and Manchester City welcome Bayer Leverkusen.
Group Rankings
We're at the midway stage of the group phase, so the standings is taking form. Each of the six British sides are presently in the upper twelve, but there are only 2 points between 5th and sixteenth position, so there's a sense of volatility about the whole thing. Everything is to play for.
Tonight’s Fixtures
These are tonight’s matches, all starting at 8pm except where noted:
- Ajax 0-1 Benfica (5.45pm)
- Galatasaray 0-0 Union SG (5.45pm)
- Bodo/Glimt v Juventus
- Chelsea v Barcelona
- Dortmund v Villarreal
- Leverkusen visit Man City
- Marseille v Newcastle
- Napoli v Qarabag
- Slavia Prague v Athletic Bilbao
Team News
Fofana, Moises Caicedo, Garnacho, Gusto and Estevao join the Chelsea team. Dropped are Tosin Adarabioyo, Andrey Santos, Jamie Gittens, Joao Pedro and Liam Delap.
Lamine Yamal is in the starting lineup for Barcelona; Rashford is on the bench.
The Blues (possible 4-3-3) Sanchez; Reece James, Fofana, Trevoh Chalobah, Cucurella; Malo Gusto, Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez; Estevao, Pedro Neto, Alejandro Garnacho.
Subs: Kjell Scherpen, Tosin Adarabioyo, Badiashile, Delap, Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, Santos, Pedro, Jorrel Hato, George, Acheampong, Marc Guiu, Buonanotte.
Barça (probable 4-2-3-1): Joan Garcia; Jules Kounde, Araujo, Cubarsi, Alejandro Balde; Eric Garcia, Frenkie de Jong; Yamal, Fermin Lopez, Torres; Robert Lewandowski.
Subs: Szczesny, Kochen, Raphinha, Rashford, Christensen, Marc Casado, Gerard, Olmo, Bernal, Dro Fernandez, Bardghji.
Official Vincic (Slovenia).
Previous Encounters
The only previous meeting between Marseille and Newcastle was the Uefa Cup semi-final of 2003-04, won by an emerging star from CĂ´te 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
Just one goal in the first half of the early fixtures. Samuel Dahl's 6th-minute goal has given Jose Mourinho’s Benfica a one-nil advantage at Ajax.
Marseille v Newcastle Preview
Although Newcastle arrived in the south of France fresh from their restorative 2-1 home Premier League win against Manchester City on Saturday, and having defeated Union Saint-Gilloise, Benfica and Athletic Bilbao in the Champions League, their sole on the road win since early April came in Brussels at Union Saint-Gilloise.
It's not that Eddie Howe was eager to discuss the psychological aspect of this away form issue. “The Champions League is different to Premier League games,” said the coach, whose team are sixth in the Champions League standings, with nine points from a available 12 and direct progression to the last 16 almost within touching distance. “I don’t know if you can draw parallels between them.”
A dedicated live feed is available for Chelsea v Barcelona. Murray, the MBM equivalent of Maradona is on duty for that.
