European Cup Fixtures This Evening: Manchester City v Bayer Leverkusen & More

Welcome to a fresh night of thrilling European Cup football. Nine matches are planned for this evening, featuring three English teams in action. The Blues meet Barcelona in the standout fixture of the evening, whilst The Magpies travel to Marseille and City host Bayer Leverkusen.

Current Standings

We're at the midway point of the league phase, so the rankings is starting to take shape. All six British sides are presently in the top 12, but there are only two points between fifth and 16th place, thus there's a sense of volatility about the entire situation. All remains open.

This Evening's Games

These are this evening's games, all starting at 8:00 PM except where noted:

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

Squad Updates

Wesley Fofana, Moises Caicedo, Garnacho, Gusto and Estevao are included in the Blues side. Excluded are Adarabioyo, Santos, Jamie Gittens, Pedro and Delap.

Yamal starts for Barça; Rashford is among the substitutes.

The Blues (possible 4-3-3) Sanchez; James, Wesley Fofana, Chalobah, Marc Cucurella; Malo Gusto, Caicedo, Enzo; Estevao, Pedro Neto, Alejandro Garnacho.

Subs: Kjell Scherpen, Tosin Adarabioyo, Badiashile, Liam Delap, Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, Santos, Joao Pedro, Hato, George, Joshua Acheampong, Guiu, Facundo Buonanotte.

Barcelona (probable 4-2-3-1): Garcia; Kounde, Ronald Araujo, Pau Cubarsi, Balde; Eric Garcia, Frenkie de Jong; Lamine Yamal, Lopez, Torres; Lewandowski.

Subs: Szczesny, Diego Kochen, Raphinha, Rashford, Christensen, Marc Casado, Gerard, Dani Olmo, Noah Darvich, Dario Fernandez, Roony Bardghji.

Official Slavko Vincic (Slovenia).

Historical Context

The sole past encounter involving Marseille and Newcastle was the Uefa Cup semi-final of 2004, claimed by an emerging superstar from Ivory Coast. Bayer Leverkusen and Manchester City have never met before. Chelsea and Barcelona have a peedie bit of history.

Initial Game Reports

Only a single goal during the opening period of the early fixtures. Dahl's 6th-minute goal has given Benfica under Mourinho a one-nil lead away to the Dutch side.

Newcastle’s Trip to Marseille

Although Newcastle arrived in the French south fresh from their restorative two-one home English top-flight victory over Manchester City on Saturday, and having beaten Union SG, Benfica and Athletic Bilbao in the European Cup, their sole away victory since the start of April came in Brussels at Union SG.

It's not that Howe was overly keen to discuss the mental side of this travel sickness. “The European Cup is distinct from Premier League games,” said the coach, whose team are 6th in the European table, with 9 points from a possible twelve and direct progression to the knockout phase nearly secured. “I don’t know if you can compare them.”

We have a separate live blog for Chelsea v Barcelona. Scott Murray, the MBM version of Diego Maradona is handling for that.