European Cup Fixtures This Evening: Chelsea v Barcelona & Additional Games
Greetings to another evening of exciting European Cup football. 9 matches are scheduled for this evening, including 3 British clubs in action. Chelsea face Barça in the marquee fixture of the night, whilst Newcastle visit Marseille and Manchester City welcome Bayer Leverkusen.
Current Standings
We're at the midway stage of the group phase, meaning the standings is beginning to form. All six British sides are presently in the top 12, but there are only 2 points between 5th and 16th position, thus there's a sense of snakes and ladders about the entire situation. It’s all up for grabs.
This Evening's Games
These are tonight’s games, each starting at 8pm unless stated:
- Ajax 0-1 Benfica (5.45pm)
- Galatasaray 0-0 Union SG (5.45pm)
- Juventus face Bodo/Glimt
- Barcelona take on Chelsea
- Villarreal meet Dortmund
- Man City v Leverkusen
- Newcastle travel to Marseille
- Napoli v Qarabag
- Slavia Prague v Athletic Bilbao
Squad Updates
Fofana, Caicedo, Alejandro Garnacho, Malo Gusto and Estevao are included in the Chelsea lineup. Out go Adarabioyo, Andrey Santos, Gittens, Joao Pedro and Delap.
Lamine Yamal is in the starting lineup for Barcelona; Marcus Rashford is on the bench.
The Blues (possible four-three-three) Sanchez; James, Fofana, Chalobah, Marc Cucurella; Gusto, Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez; Estevao, Pedro Neto, Alejandro Garnacho.
Substitutes: Kjell Scherpen, Adarabioyo, Badiashile, Delap, Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, Andrey Santos, Pedro, Hato, Leo George, Joshua Acheampong, Guiu, Facundo Buonanotte.
Barcelona (possible four-two-three-one): Garcia; Kounde, Ronald Araujo, Pau Cubarsi, Alejandro Balde; Eric Garcia, De Jong; Yamal, Fermin Lopez, Ferran Torres; Lewandowski.
Subs: Wojciech Szczesny, Kochen, Raphinha, Marcus Rashford, Christensen, Marc Casado, Gerard, Olmo, Noah Darvich, Dario Fernandez, Bardghji.
Official Slavko Vincic (Slovenian).
Historical Context
The only previous meeting between Marseille and Newcastle was the Uefa Cup semifinal of 2003-04, claimed by an rising superstar from Ivory Coast. Manchester City and Bayer Leverkusen have never met before. Chelsea and Barcelona have a peedie bit of history.
Early Match Updates
Just one goal in the first half of the two early games. Samuel Dahl's 6th-minute goal has given Benfica under Mourinho a one-nil advantage at Ajax.
Marseille v Newcastle Preview
Even though Newcastle traveled to the south of France coming off their restorative 2-1 home Premier League victory against Manchester City on the weekend, and having beaten Union SG, the Portuguese side and Athletic Bilbao in the European Cup, their only on the road victory since early April came in the Belgian capital at Union SG.
Not that Howe was overly keen to discuss the psychological aspect of this travel sickness. “The European Cup is distinct from Premier League games,” said the manager, whose team are 6th in the Champions League standings, with 9 pts from a possible twelve and automatic progression to the last 16 almost within touching distance. “I don’t know if you can compare them.”
We have a separate live blog for Chelsea v Barcelona. Scott Murray, the minute-by-minute equivalent of Maradona is on duty for that.
