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

Greetings to a fresh evening of exciting Champions League soccer. Nine games are scheduled for this evening, featuring three English clubs in action. Chelsea meet Barça in the standout match of the night, whilst The Magpies visit the French side and City host Leverkusen.

Group Rankings

We're at the midway stage of the league phase, meaning the standings is starting to take shape. Each of the six English teams are presently in the top 12, however there are only 2 pts separating 5th and 16th place, so there's a sense of uncertainty about the entire situation. Everything is to play for.

Tonight’s Fixtures

These are this evening's matches, each kicking off at 8pm unless stated:

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

Team News

Wesley Fofana, Moises Caicedo, Garnacho, Malo Gusto and Estevao are included in the Chelsea lineup. Dropped are Tosin Adarabioyo, Santos, Gittens, Joao Pedro and Delap.

Lamine Yamal is in the starting lineup for Barcelona; Marcus Rashford is among the substitutes.

Chelsea (possible 4-3-3) Sanchez; James, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella; Gusto, Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez; Estevao, Pedro Neto, Garnacho.

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

Barcelona (possible 4-2-3-1): Joan Garcia; Jules Kounde, Araujo, Pau Cubarsi, Alejandro Balde; Eric Garcia, De Jong; Yamal, Fermin Lopez, Ferran Torres; Robert Lewandowski.

Substitutes: Szczesny, Kochen, Raphinha, Rashford, Christensen, Casado, Gerard, Dani Olmo, Noah Darvich, Dario Fernandez, Bardghji.

Referee Slavko Vincic (Slovenia).

Past Meetings

The only previous meeting between Marseille and Newcastle was the Uefa Cup semi-final of 2003-04, won by an emerging star from Ivory Coast. Bayer Leverkusen and Manchester City have not faced each other previously. Chelsea and Barcelona have a peedie bit of history.

Early Match Updates

Just one goal during the opening period of the two early games. Samuel Dahl's 6th-minute sizzler has given Benfica under Mourinho a one-nil lead away to the Dutch side.

Marseille v Newcastle Preview

Even though Newcastle traveled to the French south coming off their confidence-boosting 2-1 home Premier League win over City on the weekend, and having defeated Union SG, Benfica and Bilbao in the European Cup, their sole away victory since early April came in the Belgian capital at Union SG.

It's not that Eddie Howe was eager to discuss the mental side of this travel sickness. “The Champions League is different to Premier League games,” said the coach, whose team are 6th in the Champions League standings, with nine points from a available 12 and direct qualification to the last 16 almost within touching distance. “I am not sure if you can compare them.”

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