All posts tagged: Champions League live

Anthony Gordon smashes Newcastle records after Eddie Howe’s tactical masterstroke

Anthony Gordon smashes Newcastle records after Eddie Howe’s tactical masterstroke

Published by Sam Flores

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has challenged his players to make more history by reaching the last 16 of the Champions League for the first time. Howe’s team face Qarabag at the Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium in Baku on this evening in the first leg of their play-off tie with a place in the business end of the competition at stake and head coach Howe, who led the club to their first major domestic trophy in 70 years by clinching last season’s Carabao Cup, is determined to write a new chapter. Speaking at his pre-match press conference, he said: “It means everything to us. The opportunity for us to get to the last 16 of this competition would be an incredible achievement. “We’re trying to embrace it in that way and look at the excitement and the possibility rather than feel the burden of the pressure of the occasion. “We want to turn these moments into history and into moments people talk about for a long time. There’s a real excitement with this game.” Newcastle …

Guardiola has Mourinho to thank as Man City scrape into Champions League top eight

Guardiola has Mourinho to thank as Man City scrape into Champions League top eight

Published by Sam Flores

Four changes to the City side that beat Wolves at the weekend. No shock to see Erling Haaland, but fact Omar Marmoush is in may raise a few eyebrows with Pep Guardiola looking likely to play 4-4-2. Rayan Ait-Nouri starts, with Nathan Ake and Jeremy Doku also returning. Marc Guehi and Antoine Semenyo are cup-tied so are not involved, Rodri is suspended after his red card at Bodo/Glimt, while Tijjani Reijnders drops to the bench. MAN CITY XI TO FACE GALATASARY: Donnarumma, Nunes, Khusanov, Ake, Ait-Nouri, Silva, O’Reilly, Marmoush, Cherki, Doku, Haaland There are two well-known faces in the Galatasaray side – well-known in the very specific sense of Manchester City, rather than simply Premier League. Former City winger Leroy Sane comes into the side, while City’s former midfielder Ilkay Gundogan captains the Turkish giants. Other familiar faces include former Fulham man Mario Lemina and ex-Tottenham defender Davinson Sanchez. GALATASARY XI TO FACE MAN CITY: Cakir, Sallai, Sanchez, Bardakci, Jakob, Gundogan, Lemina, Sane, Sara, Yilmaz, Osimhen. Source link

Cole Palmer proves he really is ‘untouchable’ in Chelsea victory over Napoli

Cole Palmer proves he really is ‘untouchable’ in Chelsea victory over Napoli

Published by Sam Flores

Good evening, and welcome to live coverage of Napoli vs Chelsea from a blockbuster final round of league-phase fixtures in the Champions League, as Liam Rosenior’s side hope to secure their spot in the last 16 with a win over the Serie A champions, who are fighting to stay in the competition. With all 36 teams kicking off at the same time tonight, Chelsea come into this evening’s game occupying the final spot in the all-important top eight, but they are one of eight teams on 13 points, from Paris Saint-Germain in sixth down to Atalanta in 13th. Therefore, the two-time Champions League winners will almost certainly need a victory in Naples to cement their spot in the automatic qualification places, and even then, their fate may well come down to goal difference. Following a slump in form that contributed to Enzo Maresca’s exit, Chelsea are enjoying a new-manager bounce under Rosenior, winning four of their five games since the 41-year-old took over, including against Pafos last time out in Europe and at Crystal Palace …

Harvey Barnes miss condemns Newcastle to play-offs but they will be a threat

Harvey Barnes miss condemns Newcastle to play-offs but they will be a threat

Published by Sam Flores

PSG Safonov; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Niuno Mendes, Zaïre-Emery, Vitinha, Joao Neves; Kvaratskhelia, Dembélé, Barcola. Substitutes Chevalier, James, Lucas Beraldo, Zabarnyi, Gonçalo Ramos, Doué, Hernández, Mayulu, Mbaye. Newcastle  Pope; Thiaw, Botman, Burn; Miley, Ramsey, Tonali, Hall; Elanga, Willock; Woltemade. Substitutes Ramsdale, Trippier, Wissa, Gordon, Barnes, Osula, Jacob Murphy, Alex Murphy, Guimaraes, Shahar, Harris.  Referee Slavko Vincic (Slovenia Source link

Tottenham are the fourth-best team in Europe

Tottenham are the fourth-best team in Europe

Published by Sam Flores

Eintracht Frankfurt: Santos, Amenda, Koch, Theate, Buta, Hojlund, Larsson, Brown, Skhiri, Gotze, Knauff. Subs: Zetterer, Grahl, Chaibi, Dahoud, Kristensen, Bahoya, Doan, Chandler, Collins, Doumbia, Dills, Staff. Tottenham Hotspur: Vicario, Spence, Romero, Danso, Udogie, Gray, Joao Palhinha, Odobert, Sarr, Simons, Muani. Subs: Kinsky, Austin, Solanke, Scarlett, Kyerematen, Hardy, Byfield, Rowswell, Olusesi, Hall. Referee: Jesus Gil Manzano (Spain) Source link

Liverpool rout Qarabag to reach last 16 but joy tempered by Frimpong injury

Liverpool rout Qarabag to reach last 16 but joy tempered by Frimpong injury

Published by Sam Flores

Ryan Gravenberch looks set to start at centre-back with Joe Gomez (injury) and Ibrahima Konate (compassionate leave) unavailable. Andy Robertson is given the nod to start at left-back ahead of Milos Kerkez. There is no Curtis Jones in the squad. Liverpool: Alisson, Frimpong, Gravenberch, Van Dijk, Robertson, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Wirtz, Salah, Gakpo, Ekitike.Substitutes: Mamardashvili, Woodman, Endo, Kerkez, Chiesa, Nyoni, Nallo, Morrison, Ngumoha. Qarabag: Kochalski, Cafarquliyev, Medina, Mustafazada, Silva, Jankovic, Bicalho, Zoubir, Montiel, Andrade, Duran.Substitutes: Mmaee, Kouakou, Akhundzada, Addai, Bolt, Kashchuk, Qurbanli, Bayramov, A. Huseynov, B. Huseynov, Ramazanov, Buntic. Source link

Kai Havertz is back and can now lead Arsenal’s title charge

Kai Havertz is back and can now lead Arsenal’s title charge

Published by Sam Flores

Arsenal XI: Kepa; White, Mosquera, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly; Norgaard, Eze, Havertz; Madueke, Gyokeres, Martinelli Subs: Setford, Porter, Gabriel, Salmon, Hincapie, Zubimendi, Ibrahim, Ødegaard, Bailey-Joseph, Saka, Trossard, Jesus Mikel Arteta makes 11 changes from the defeat against Manchester United, with Kai Havertz making his first start for a year. He will be playing in a more withdrawn role with Gyokeres up front. Source link

Questioning Arne Slot about Xabi Alonso is disrespectful

Questioning Arne Slot about Xabi Alonso is disrespectful

Published by Sam Flores

Arne Slot has all but confirmed that Mohamed Salah will go straight back into Liverpool’s starting line-up for tonight’s crucial Champions League tie against Marseille. The head coach said his team selection would reflect whether there is a problem between him and the Egypt forward who has just returned from his country’s involvement in the Africa Cup of Nations. “The first time he’s able to be in the squad again, he is because he trained with us today and is in the squad for tomorrow. Let’s see for the lineup tomorrow if you still think there’s an issue,” Slot said, when asked whether Salah’s time away has given him time to reflect on the apparently strained relationship between the pair. In early December, Salah declared that he felt he had been “thrown under the bus” after being dropped to the bench for three successive games, including the draw away to Leeds United after which he spoke out. At the time Slot responded by saying he was surprised by Salah’s angry comments and left the 33-year-old …

Anthony Gordon moves ahead of Alan Shearer as Newcastle’s king of Europe

Anthony Gordon moves ahead of Alan Shearer as Newcastle’s king of Europe

Published by Sam Flores

Hello and welcome to live, minute-by-minute coverage of Newcastle v PSV Eindhoven at St James’ Park. Newcastle’s last Champions League campaign went south because of a dodgy penalty decision in their penultimate group game against PSG; this year they hope to have more joy in their penultimate league game against PSV. Permutations ain’t what they used to be, not in a 32-team league, so it’s hard to say with complete certainty how many points Newcastle need from their last two games against PSV and – yep – PSG next week. But a win tonight would probably ensure qualification for the playoff round, while also keeping Newcastle right in contention for a top-eight finish and automatic qualification for the round of 16. Newcastle have 10 points from their six Champions League games. That’s two more than PSV, who start the night in 21st place. They’re a hard side to read: they started the campaign by losing home to Union Saint-Gilloise, who Newcastle thrashed 4-0 a fortnight later. PSV have also lost at home to Atletico Madrid …

Moises Caicedo spares Chelsea’s blushes against Pafos in Champions League

Moises Caicedo spares Chelsea’s blushes against Pafos in Champions League

Published by Sam Flores

Liam Rosenior has made six changes from the 2-0 win over Brentford. Filip Jorgensen, Malo Gusto, Benoit Badiashile, Wesley Fofana, Jorrel Hato and Liam Delap all coming in. There is no Cole Palmer in the matchday squad. Chelsea: Jorgensen, Gusto, Badiashile, Fofana, Hato, James, Caicedo, Neto, Fernandez, Garnacho, Delap.Substitutes: Sanchez, Cucurella, Gittens, Santos, Pedro, Chalobah, George, Acheampong, Guiu, Estevao, Walsh, Emenalo. Former Chelsea defender David Luiz is only on the bench for the visitors. Pafos: Gorter, Sema, Luckassen, Pileas, Bruno, Pepe, Sunjic, Jaja, Orsic, Dragomir, Anderson.Substitutes: Petrou, Michael, David Luiz, Goldar, Quina, Bassouamina, Dimata, Langa, Michael, Fontoura Caldierado. Source link