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Welcome to another evening of electrifying Champions League soccer. Nine games are set for tonight, with 3 English teams in play. The Blues take on Barcelona in the marquee match of the night, whilst Newcastle travel to Marseille and Manchester City host Leverkusen.

Group Rankings

It's the midway stage of the group stage, meaning the rankings is beginning to form. All six British sides are presently in the top 12, but there are only 2 pts separating fifth and sixteenth place, so there's a whiff of volatility about the entire situation. All remains open.

Tonight’s Fixtures

Here are tonight’s fixtures, all starting at 8:00 PM except where noted:

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

Team News

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

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

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

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

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

Substitutes: Szczesny, Diego Kochen, Raphinha, Rashford, Andreas Christensen, Marc Casado, Gerard, Dani Olmo, Bernal, Dario Fernandez, Roony Bardghji.

Referee Vincic (Slovenian).

Historical Context

The only previous meeting between Newcastle and Marseille was the Europa League semi-final of 2004, won by an rising superstar from Ivory Coast. Manchester City and Bayer Leverkusen have not faced each other previously. Barcelona and Chelsea have a notable history.

Initial Game Reports

Just one goal during the opening period of the early fixtures. Samuel Dahl's 6th-minute strike has given Jose Mourinho’s Benfica a one-nil advantage at the Dutch side.

Marseille v Newcastle Preview

Even though The Magpies arrived in the French south coming off their restorative 2-1 home English top-flight victory over Manchester City on Saturday, and having beaten Union SG, the Portuguese side and Athletic Bilbao in the Champions League, their sole away victory since early April came in Brussels at Union SG.

Not that Eddie Howe was eager to discuss the psychological aspect of this travel sickness. “The European Cup is distinct from domestic games,” said the coach, whose team are sixth in the European table, with nine pts from a available 12 and direct progression to the last 16 almost within touching distance. “I am not sure if you can draw parallels between them.”

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