Champions League Fixtures This Evening: Chelsea v Barcelona & Additional Games

Greetings to another night of thrilling Champions League soccer. Nine games are scheduled for this evening, with three British teams in action. The Blues take on Barcelona in the marquee match of the evening, whilst Newcastle visit the French side and City welcome Bayer Leverkusen.

League Table

We're at the midway stage of the league phase, so the table is starting to take shape. Each of the six British clubs are currently in the upper twelve, but there are only 2 pts separating 5th and 16th place, thus there's a hint of snakes and ladders about the whole thing. It’s all up for grabs.

Match Schedule

Here are tonight’s games, each starting at 8pm except where noted:

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

Squad Updates

Fofana, Caicedo, Garnacho, Malo Gusto and Estevao join the Blues team. Out go Adarabioyo, Andrey Santos, Gittens, Joao Pedro and Delap.

Yamal starts for Barça; Marcus Rashford is on the bench.

The Blues (possible four-three-three) Robert Sanchez; Reece James, Fofana, Chalobah, Marc Cucurella; Gusto, Caicedo, Enzo; Estevao, Neto, Garnacho.

Substitutes: Jorgensen, Tosin Adarabioyo, Benoit Badiashile, Liam Delap, Bynoe-Gittens, Santos, Joao Pedro, Hato, Leo George, Joshua Acheampong, Marc Guiu, Buonanotte.

Barça (probable four-two-three-one): Garcia; Kounde, Ronald Araujo, Cubarsi, Alejandro Balde; Garcia, Frenkie de Jong; Lamine Yamal, Fermin Lopez, Torres; Lewandowski.

Substitutes: Szczesny, Diego Kochen, Raphinha, Marcus Rashford, Christensen, Casado, Gerard, Olmo, Bernal, Dario Fernandez, Bardghji.

Referee Slavko Vincic (Slovenian).

Historical Context

The sole past encounter involving Marseille and Newcastle was the Europa League semi-final of 2004, claimed by an emerging star from Côte d'Ivoire. Manchester City and Bayer Leverkusen have never met before. Barcelona and Chelsea have a peedie bit of history.

Early Match Updates

Only a single goal during the opening period of the two early games. Samuel Dahl's 6th-minute sizzler has earned Jose Mourinho’s Benfica a one-nil lead away to the Dutch side.

Newcastle’s Trip to Marseille

Although The Magpies traveled to the French south fresh from their restorative two-one home Premier League win over City on Saturday, and having beaten Union SG, the Portuguese side and Bilbao in the European Cup, their only away win since the start of April came in Brussels at Union Saint-Gilloise.

Not that Howe was overly keen to talk about the psychological aspect of this travel sickness. “The Champions League is different to domestic games,” said the manager, whose team are sixth in the European table, with nine pts from a possible 12 and automatic qualification to the last 16 almost within touching distance. “I am not sure if you can draw parallels between them.”

A dedicated live feed is available for Barcelona vs Chelsea. Murray, the minute-by-minute equivalent of Maradona is on duty for that.