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Greetings to a fresh night of electrifying Champions League football. Nine fixtures are set for this evening, featuring 3 British clubs in action. The Blues face Barça in the standout match of the night, whilst Newcastle visit the French side and City host Bayer Leverkusen.

Current Standings

It's the halfway point of the league phase, so the rankings is beginning to form. All six English clubs are currently in the top 12, however there are only two pts separating fifth and 16th place, thus there's a sense of volatility about the whole thing. All remains open.

This Evening's Games

Here are this evening's matches, all starting at 8pm except where noted:

• Ajax 0-1 Benfica (17:45)
• Union SG and Galatasaray level at 0-0 (17:45)
• Juventus face Bodo/Glimt
• Barcelona take on Chelsea
• Dortmund v Villarreal
• Man City v Leverkusen
• Newcastle travel to Marseille
• Napoli v Qarabag
• Slavia Prague v Athletic Bilbao

Team News

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

Lamine Yamal starts for Barcelona; Rashford is on the bench.

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

Substitutes: Kjell Scherpen, Adarabioyo, Benoit Badiashile, Liam Delap, Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, Andrey Santos, Joao Pedro, Hato, Leo George, Acheampong, Marc Guiu, Facundo Buonanotte.

Barcelona (possible four-two-three-one): Joan Garcia; Jules Kounde, Ronald Araujo, Pau Cubarsi, Alejandro Balde; Garcia, Frenkie de Jong; Yamal, Lopez, Torres; Lewandowski.

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

Referee Vincic (Slovenia).

Historical Context

The only previous meeting between Marseille and Newcastle was the Uefa Cup semi-final of 2004, claimed by an emerging superstar from Côte d'Ivoire. Manchester City and Bayer Leverkusen have not faced each other previously. Barcelona and Chelsea have a peedie bit of history.

Early Match Updates

Only a single goal in the first half of the two early games. Dahl's sixth-minute goal has given Benfica under Mourinho a one-nil advantage at the Dutch side.

Marseille v Newcastle Preview

Although Newcastle traveled to the south of France coming off their confidence-boosting two-one home Premier League victory against City on the weekend, and having beaten Union SG, the Portuguese side and Athletic Bilbao in the European Cup, their only away win since the start of April came in the Belgian capital at Union SG.

It's not that Howe was eager to talk about the psychological aspect of this travel sickness. “The European Cup is different to domestic games,” said the coach, whose team are sixth in the European table, with 9 points from a possible twelve and direct qualification to the last 16 almost within touching distance. “I don’t know if you can compare them.”

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