Champions League Action Tonight: Marseille v Newcastle & More

Welcome to another night of thrilling European Cup soccer. 9 games are scheduled for tonight, featuring 3 English clubs in action. Chelsea face Barça in the key fixture of the night, while Newcastle visit Marseille and Manchester City welcome Leverkusen.

Current Standings

We're at the halfway stage of the group stage, so the rankings is taking form. Each of the six English clubs are presently in the upper twelve, but there are only two points separating 5th and sixteenth position, so there's a hint of uncertainty about the whole thing. It’s all up for grabs.

This Evening's Games

These are this evening's games, all starting at 8pm unless stated:

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

Lineup Changes

Wesley Fofana, Caicedo, Garnacho, Gusto and Estevao are included in the Chelsea side. Out go Tosin Adarabioyo, Andrey Santos, Gittens, Joao Pedro and Liam Delap.

Lamine Yamal is in the starting lineup for Barcelona; Marcus Rashford is on the bench.

Chelsea (probable four-three-three) Sanchez; James, Fofana, Trevoh Chalobah, Cucurella; Gusto, Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez; Estevao, Neto, Garnacho.

Substitutes: Kjell Scherpen, Tosin Adarabioyo, Benoit Badiashile, Liam Delap, Bynoe-Gittens, Santos, Joao Pedro, Jorrel Hato, George, Acheampong, Guiu, Buonanotte.

Barça (possible 4-2-3-1): Garcia; Jules Kounde, Araujo, Cubarsi, Balde; Garcia, Frenkie de Jong; Yamal, Fermin Lopez, Ferran Torres; Robert Lewandowski.

Substitutes: Wojciech Szczesny, Diego Kochen, Raphinha, Marcus Rashford, Andreas Christensen, Marc Casado, Gerard, Olmo, Noah Darvich, Dro Fernandez, Bardghji.

Referee Vincic (Slovenia).

Previous Encounters

The sole past encounter involving Marseille and Newcastle was the Uefa Cup semifinal of 2003-04, won by an emerging superstar from Ivory Coast. Bayer Leverkusen and Manchester City have never met before. Barcelona and Chelsea have a notable history.

Initial Game Reports

Only a single goal during the opening period of the two early games. Dahl's 6th-minute goal has given Benfica under Mourinho a one-nil advantage away to Ajax.

Marseille v Newcastle Preview

Although The Magpies traveled to the south of France coming off their restorative 2-1 home English top-flight victory over Manchester City on Saturday, and having defeated Union Saint-Gilloise, the Portuguese side and Bilbao in the Champions League, their sole on the road win since early April came in the Belgian capital at Union SG.

Not that Howe was eager to talk about the mental side of this travel sickness. “The Champions League is distinct from Premier League games,” said the coach, whose side are 6th in the Champions League standings, with 9 pts from a possible 12 and automatic progression to the knockout phase almost within touching distance. “I am not sure if you can draw parallels between them.”

We have a separate live blog for Chelsea v Barcelona. Murray, the MBM equivalent of Maradona is handling for that.
Christopher Jackson
Christopher Jackson

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