Champions League Action Tonight: Marseille v Newcastle & Additional Games
Greetings to another night of exciting Champions League soccer. 9 games are set for this evening, with three British clubs in play. Chelsea take on Barça in the key match of the evening, whilst Newcastle travel to the French side and City host Bayer Leverkusen.
Group Rankings
It's the midway stage of the group stage, so the rankings is taking form. All six British clubs are presently in the top 12, but there are only 2 pts separating 5th and 16th place, so there's a whiff of volatility about the entire situation. All remains open.
This Evening's Games
These are this evening's fixtures, all starting at 8:00 PM except where noted:
- Ajax 0-1 Benfica (5.45pm)
- Union SG and Galatasaray level at 0-0 (5.45pm)
- Bodo/Glimt v Juventus
- Barcelona take on Chelsea
- Villarreal meet Dortmund
- Leverkusen visit Man City
- Newcastle travel to Marseille
- Qarabag play Napoli
- Slavia Prague v Athletic Bilbao
Team News
Fofana, Caicedo, Alejandro Garnacho, Gusto and Estevao join the Chelsea side. Excluded are Adarabioyo, Andrey Santos, Gittens, Pedro and Delap.
Yamal is in the starting lineup for Barcelona; Marcus Rashford is among the substitutes.
Chelsea (possible 4-3-3) Robert Sanchez; James, Wesley Fofana, Chalobah, Marc Cucurella; Gusto, Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez; Estevao, Neto, Garnacho.
Substitutes: Kjell Scherpen, Tosin Adarabioyo, Badiashile, Delap, Bynoe-Gittens, Santos, Pedro, Jorrel Hato, George, Acheampong, Marc Guiu, Buonanotte.
Barcelona (possible 4-2-3-1): Garcia; Kounde, Ronald Araujo, Cubarsi, Balde; Garcia, Frenkie de Jong; Lamine Yamal, Fermin Lopez, Ferran Torres; Lewandowski.
Substitutes: Szczesny, Diego Kochen, Raphinha, Marcus Rashford, Christensen, Marc Casado, Gerard, Olmo, Bernal, Dario Fernandez, Bardghji.
Official Vincic (Slovenian).
Past Meetings
The only previous meeting involving Newcastle and Marseille was the Europa League semifinal of 2004, claimed by an emerging superstar from Côte d'Ivoire. Manchester City and Bayer Leverkusen have never met before. Chelsea and Barcelona have some past encounters.
Initial Game Reports
Only a single goal during the opening period of the two early games. Samuel Dahl's 6th-minute strike has earned Benfica under Mourinho a one-nil lead at Ajax.
Newcastle’s Trip to Marseille
Although The Magpies arrived in the south of France coming off their restorative 2-1 home English top-flight win over Manchester City on the weekend, and having defeated Union Saint-Gilloise, Benfica and Athletic Bilbao in the European Cup, their only on the road victory since the start of April came in the Belgian capital at Union Saint-Gilloise.
It's not that Eddie Howe was eager to discuss the psychological aspect of this travel sickness. “The Champions League is distinct from domestic games,” said the coach, whose side are 6th in the Champions League standings, with nine points from a possible twelve and automatic qualification to the knockout phase almost within touching distance. “I don’t know if you can compare them.”
A dedicated live feed is available for Chelsea v Barcelona. Scott Murray, the MBM version of Maradona is handling for that.
