European Cup Fixtures Tonight: Chelsea v Barcelona & Additional Games
Welcome to a fresh night of electrifying Champions League football. Nine games are scheduled for this evening, featuring 3 British teams in action. Chelsea take on Barcelona in the marquee fixture of the evening, while Newcastle visit Marseille and City welcome Bayer Leverkusen.
League Table
We're at the halfway stage of the group phase, so the standings is taking form. All six British teams are currently in the top 12, but there are only 2 points separating fifth and 16th place, thus there's a sense of volatility about the entire situation. Everything is to play for.
Tonight’s Fixtures
Here are this evening's fixtures, each kicking off at 8pm unless stated:
- Ajax 0-1 Benfica (17:45)
- Galatasaray 0-0 Union SG (17:45)
- Juventus face Bodo/Glimt
- Barcelona take on Chelsea
- Villarreal meet Dortmund
- Man City v Leverkusen
- Marseille v Newcastle
- Napoli v Qarabag
- Athletic Bilbao clash with Slavia Prague
Squad Updates
Fofana, Caicedo, Garnacho, Malo Gusto and Estevao are included in the Chelsea side. Dropped are Tosin Adarabioyo, Santos, Jamie Gittens, Pedro and Delap.
Lamine Yamal is in the starting lineup for Barça; Rashford is among the substitutes.
Chelsea (probable four-three-three) Sanchez; James, Wesley Fofana, Trevoh Chalobah, Marc Cucurella; Malo Gusto, Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez; Estevao, Neto, Garnacho.
Subs: Jorgensen, Adarabioyo, Badiashile, Delap, Bynoe-Gittens, Santos, Joao Pedro, Jorrel Hato, George, Acheampong, Guiu, Facundo Buonanotte.
Barcelona (probable four-two-three-one): Joan Garcia; Kounde, Araujo, Cubarsi, Balde; Eric Garcia, De Jong; Yamal, Fermin Lopez, Torres; Robert Lewandowski.
Subs: Szczesny, Kochen, Raphinha, Rashford, Andreas Christensen, Marc Casado, Gerard, Olmo, Noah Darvich, Dario Fernandez, Bardghji.
Official Slavko Vincic (Slovenia).
Historical Context
The sole past encounter involving Newcastle and Marseille was the Europa League semifinal of 2003-04, claimed by an emerging superstar from Côte d'Ivoire. Manchester City and Bayer Leverkusen have never met before. Barcelona and Chelsea have some past encounters.
Early Match Updates
Just one goal in the first half of the two early games. Dahl's 6th-minute sizzler has given Jose Mourinho’s Benfica a 1-0 lead at the Dutch side.
Marseille v Newcastle Preview
Even though The Magpies arrived in the French south coming off their restorative 2-1 home Premier League win over Manchester City on the weekend, and having beaten Union Saint-Gilloise, Benfica and Bilbao in the European Cup, their only away win since early April came in the Belgian capital at Union Saint-Gilloise.
It's not that Eddie Howe was overly keen to discuss the mental side of this travel sickness. “The European Cup is different to domestic games,” said the coach, whose team are 6th in the Champions League standings, with nine points from a available 12 and direct qualification to the knockout phase nearly secured. “I don’t know if you can compare them.”
A dedicated live feed is available for Barcelona vs Chelsea. Murray, the minute-by-minute equivalent of Diego Maradona is on duty for that.
