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If you’re on the Guardian app, why not hit the Puzzles tab at half-time and give our new football game a go?
League Two’s big game tonight is Notts County v MK Dons – and the promotion chasing pair have put the Champions League to shame with four goals in 26 minutes. It’s 2-2 at the break.
Champions League half-times
More goals please!
Atalanta 0-1 Chelsea
Barcelona 0-1 Eintracht Frankfurt
Inter 0-0 Liverpool
Monaco 0-0 Galatasaray
PSV 1-1 Atlético Madrid
Union SG 1-2 Marseille
Tottenham 1-0 Slavia Prague
Half time: Inter 0-0 Liverpool
Ibrahima Konaté’s header was chalked off for handball in an otherwise uneventful first half.
Eintracht go close again! Another sweeping counter in behind Barça’s high line, and Ellyes Shkiri fires just over the bar from the edge of the area. It’s been a rough first half for Hansi Flick’s team.
Half time: Tottenham 1-0 Slavia Prague
Spurs also hold a narrow lead thanks to David Zima’s own goal, and look the more likely side to get the second.
Half time: Atalanta 0-1 Chelsea
So far, so good for Enzo Maresca’s side, with João Pedro’s goal the difference against a very passive Atalanta.
In League One, Stevenage and Cardiff are goalless in a top of the table clash, while promotion chasers Lincoln and Bolton both lead 1-0, against Barnsley and Mansfield respectively. Bradford’s trip to bottom club Port Vale was called off due to a waterlogged pitch.
Championship half-times:
Blackburn 0-1 Oxford Utd
Charlton 0-2 Middlesbrough
Preston 0-0 Coventry
Sheffield Utd 0-0 Norwich
Southampton 3-0 West Brom
Swansea 0-0 Portsmouth
Watford 0-1 Sheffield Wed
QPR 1-0 Birmingham (latest)
GOAL! Union SG 1-2 Marseille (Greenwood 40′)
Marseille have turned things around in Brussels. Mason Greenwood carries the ball forward, exchanges passes with Aubameyang and squeezes his shot under the keeper.
João Palhinha goes into the book for a hefty challenge, joining Micky van de Ven on the proverbial tightrope.
“It’s evident how PSV have scored 46 goals in 15 league matches this year,” writes Matt Burtz in a prescient email sent 15 minutes ago. “Their attack is unrelenting and the build up for the goal they scored earlier was a thing of beauty. Their shakiness in defense, though, makes this one very watchable even if Atlético haven’t offered much.”
GOAL! PSV 1-1 Atlético Madrid (Alvarez 37′)
PSV have been dominant going forward but they’ve given Atlético a gift of an equaliser, possession lost as they try to play out from the back. Sorloth squares for Julian Alvarez to tap into an empty net.
No goal! After a long, long VAR check, Konaté’s goal is chalked off for an Ekitike handball. It remains Inter 0-0 Liverpool.
“How many Frankfurt fans are at the Camp Nou, considering what happened last time?” asks Tim Stappard.
Back in 2022, thousands of away fans took over the ground as Eintracht dumped Barça out of the Europa League. I think away tickets were limited to 2,000 for tonight’s game, but there’s a strangely quiet atmosphere.
Sweet relief for Arne Slot, as Ibrahima Konaté of all people has headed Liverpool in front against Inter – although there is a check for handball. Rob Smyth is all over that one.
More Championship goals: Middlesbrough lead at the Valley through Riley McGree, Southampton are 3-0 up at home to West Brom, and Oxford lead at fellow strugglers Blackburn.
GOAL! Tottenham 1-0 Slavia Prague (Zima OG 27′)
London nights! Spurs follow Chelsea’s example as Cristian Romero’s flick is turned into his own net by the unfortunate David Zima. A deserved lead for the hosts.
GOAL! Atalanta 0-1 Chelsea (João Pedro 25′)
Reece James crosses for João Pedro to poke the ball home, but the Brazilian is flagged offside. After a VAR review, it’s determined that Pedro wasn’t interfering with play – and James was onside. The goal stands!
GOAL! Barcelona 0-1 Eintracht Frankfurt (Knauff 20′)
Well, well. Barcelona’s Champions League troubles continue as Ansgar Knauff latches on to Nathaniel Brown’s pass and finishes clinically on the counter. The Camp Nou is not impressed.
Spurs look for holes in the Slavia defence, but only find Holes – Tomas Holes, that is. The visiting captain hoofs off the line as Kudus looked to find a teammate in the middle.
Here’s more on Bayern’s comeback win at a smoky Allianz Arena.
A first opening for Atalanta, with Ademola Lookman’s shot blocked at close range. From a Slavia corner, Spurs threaten to break but Xavi Simons is penalised for handball, much to his own frustration.
Arsenal are in need of a win in the Women’s Champions League – and they lead Twente 1-0 through Beth Mead’s early goal.
Atalanta 0-0 Chelsea: Still not much happening here, save for a Gittens run and a half-shout for a penalty. Raoul Bellanova has had to go off for the hosts, and is replaced by former Chelsea man Davide Zappacosta.
GOAL! Union SG 1-1 Marseille (Paixao 14′)
These two teams hogging the goals so far – and Marseille are level, Igor Paixão tidying up after Aubameyang’s shot is saved. That’s his fourth goal in the league phase for the club-record signing.
In a game where I fancy a whole heap o’ goals, Ilkay Gundogan has missed a decent chance to put Galatasaray in front against Monaco.
Spurs have had a couple of early openings and threaten again here, Richarlison taking aim from the edge of the area and forcing another save from Stanek.
GOAL! PSV 1-0 Atlético (Til 10′)
The hosts have started on the front foot and take the lead, Guus Til slotting home with the Atlético defence all over the shop.
Meanwhile in Barcelona, Robert Lewandowski – who has 15 goals in 15 games against Frankfurt – is denied a 16th as Raphinha is flagged offside before crossing the ball.
Atalanta 0-0 Chelsea: A pretty pedestrian start to the game in Bergamo. Raffaele Palladino, the new-ish Atalanta manager, apparently spent a bit of time at Cobham with Enzo Maresca before landing the job – so the two coaches know each other well.
GOAL! Union SG 1-0 Marseille (Khalaili 3′)
The first goal in the Champions League 8pm games, and it comes in Belgium. Anan Khalaili cuts inside 25 yards out and drills the ball inside the near post. Finish!
It’s also a big night of EFL action; in the Championship, in-form Southampton lead West Brom 2-0, and bottom club Sheffield Wednesday are a goal up at Watford.
Big chance for Spurs! Richarlison shoots from 10 yards out, and really should score – but Slavia keeper Stanek throws up an arm to deflect his shot behind.
Here we go
It’s a huge night for clubs in the capital. This is your soundtrack …
An emotional moment at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where Son Heung-min is back at the stadium to bid Spurs fans an overdue farewell, having left for LAFC in the summer. “This will always be my home,” he tells a rapturous crowd, before being presented with a golden cockerel statue by Ledley King. “It’s been an incredible 10 years,” Son adds. “I’m always Spurs, always with you.”
Another team on 10 points are Manchester City, who visit Real Madrid on Wednesday. As Sid Lowe reports, Xabi Alonso is under serious pressure with just one win in five league games.
Full time: Bayern 3-1 Sporting
Jonathan Tah added a late third before Alphonso Davies came off the bench to end his long injury layoff. Disaster averted for Bayern, who join Arsenal on 15 points at the top of the table. Sporting’s defeat is good news for Chelsea and Atalanta, who sit alongside them on 10 points.
Monaco v Galatasaray teams
Monaco (4-2-3-1): Hradecky; Vanderson, Kehrer, Salisu, Henrique; Camara, Zakaria (c); Akliouche, Minamino, Golovin; Balogun.
Subs: Kohn, Lienard, Teze, Pogba, Biereth, Idumbo-Muzambo, Ilenikhena, Ouattara, Michal, Coulibaly.
Galatasaray (4-2-3-1): Cakir; Sallai, Sanchez, Bardakci (c), Jakobs; Gundogan, Torreira; Sané, Gabriel Sara, Yilmaz; Osimhen.
Subs: Sen, Guvenc, Icardi, Akgun, Kutlu, Kutucu, Demir, Kahraman, Arac, Karasu, Kocak, Balta.
Union SG v Marseille team news
Union Saint-Gilloise (3-4-1-2): Scherpen; Kevin Mac Allister, Burgess (c), Leysen; Khalaili, Zorgane, Van De Perre, Niang; Schoofs; Florucz, Rodríguez.
Subs: Chambaere, Barry, Rasmussen, Ait El Hadj, Smith, David, Giger, Boufal, Sykes, Patris.
Marseille (4-3-3): Rulli; Weah, Murillo, Aguerd, Emerson; Vermeeren, Højbjerg (c), O’Riley; Igor Paixão, Greenwood, Aubameyang.
Subs: de Lange, Van Neck, Egan-Riley, Balerdi, Garcia, Gomes, Kondogbia, Nadir, Pavard, Vaz, Bakola, Mmadi.
PSV v Atlético team news
PSV Eindhoven (4-3-3): Kovar; Dest, Schouten (c), Gasiorowski, Saleh-Eddine; Saibari, Mauro Júnior, Veerman; Wanner, Til, Driouech.
Subs: Olij, Schiks, Obispo, Perisic, Flamingo, Pepi, Bajraktarevic, Sildialli, Man, Fernández, Nagalo.
Atlético Madrid (4-4-2): Oblak; Molina, Pubill, Hancko, Ruggeri; Giuliano Simeone, Barrios, Koke (c), Nico González; Sørloth, Álvarez.
Subs: Musso, Esquivel, Gallagher, Johnny, Griezmann, Almada, Martin, Galan, Raspadori, Le Normand, Bonar, Martínez.
Barcelona v Eintracht Frankfurt team news
Barcelona (4-3-3): Joan García; Koundé, Cubarsí, Gerard, Balde; Eric García, Pedri, Fermín López; Yamal, Lewandowski, Raphinha (c).
Subs: Ter Stegen, Szczesny, Torres, Rashford, Christensen,
Casadó, de Jong, Bernal, Torrents, Dro Fernández, Bardghji.
Eintracht Frankfurt (4-4-1-1): Zetterer; Kristensen, Koch (c), Theate, Brown; Doan, Larsson, Chaibi, Skhiri; Götze; Knauff.
Subs: Grahl, Santos, Baum, Amenda, Oscar Højlund, Wahi, Dahoud, Bahoya, Buta, Ngankam, Collins, Uzun.
There’s more London-based live action in the Women’s Champions League, where holders Arsenal are hosting FC Twente. Join Sarah Rendell for that one.
Liverpool head to San Siro tonight to face Inter without Mohamed Salah. Isak and Ekitike both start, and Arne Slot has named just eight substitutes from a possible 12. Rob Smyth has that game covered.
Bayern have responded in typically ruthless fashion, with Serge Gnabry levelling from a corner and teenage talent Lennart Karl firing them in front at home to Sporting.
Atalanta v Chelsea teams
Atalanta (3-4-2-1): Carnesecchi; Kossounou, Bernasconi, Djimsiti; Bellanova, Ederson Silva, de Roon (c), Kolasinac; De Ketelaere, Lookman; Scamacca.
Subs: Sportiello, Hien, Musah, Pasalic, Samardzic, Scalvini, Brescianini, Zalewski, Ahanor, Maldini, Zappacosta, Krstovic.
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Sánchez; Chalobah, Acheampong, Badiashile, Cucurella; James (c), Caicedo; Pedro Neto, Fernández, Gittens; João Pedro.
Subs: Jorgensen, Merrick, Adarabioyo, Santos, Hato, Gusto, Fofana, George, Guiu, Buonanotte, Estevão, Garnacho.
Tottenham v Slavia Prague teams
Tottenham Hotspur (4-2-3-1): Vicario; Porro, Romero (c), van de Ven, Spence; João Palhinha, Gray; Kudus, Simons, Odobert; Richarlison.
Subs: Gunter, Kinsky, Danso, Tel, Bergvall, Sarr, Bentancur, Davies, Kolo Muani, Scarlett, Olusesi, Williams-Barnet.
Slavia Prague (4-5-1): Stanek; Holes (c), Chaloupek, Ogbu, Zima; Doudera, Moses, Provod, Sadilek, Sanyang; Chytil.
Subs: Markovic, Saracevic, Hashioka, Kusej, Zafeiris, Mbodji, Boril, Dorley, Chory, Schranz, Vlcek, Prekop.
Why only one 5.30pm game? Well, because Kairat Almaty hosted Olympiakos earlier this afternoon. The Greek side won 1-0 but not after missing a veritable hatful of chances – the highlights are worth a look.
There’s been a goal in the 5.30pm (GMT) kick-off – and Bayern Munich have gone behind at home to Sporting, Joshua Kimmich scoring an Eigentor amid a fug of firework smoke.
Depressing news emerging from the Spurs game, where the club’s rainbow flag has been moved away from its usual spot, close to visiting fans, after a request from Slavia Prague.
A statement by Proud Lilywhites said: “Slavia have raised concerns that some of their supporters may damage the flag and cause disorder. Once an away club raises a potential safety issue, Uefa and the home club is required to assess the risk and act accordingly.
“The outcome for tonight is that the flag will be relocated. Let’s be honest about what this means. The risk here isn’t the flag. It’s the reaction of a small number of opposition supporters. “It’s another reminder of the hostility LGBTQI+ fans still face across European football.
Preamble
Which Chelsea will we see tonight in Bergamo? Last time out in the Champions League, they dispatched Barcelona 3-0 in a high watermark for Enzo Maresca’s reign. They followed that up with a creditable draw at home to Arsenal – then went to Elland Road and were well beaten.
Saturday’s dour draw at Bournemouth means they arrive in Italy with momentum sapped, and face a dangerous opponent sitting level on points in Uefa’s big league ladder. Atalanta lost their opener 4-0 at PSG but are unbeaten in Europe since, defying their deeply mid-table league form.
Much like their cross-town rivals, Tottenham can only be relied upon to be unreliable. A 5-3 defeat in Paris, sandwiched between painful losses to Arsenal and Fulham, put Thomas Frank under pressure – but four points from six in the Premier League have steadied the ship.
In town tonight are winless Slavia Prague, the kind of opponents that simply must be put away if Spurs are to claw their way to a top-eight finish, with games against Dortmund and Eintracht Frankfurt to come.
Elsewhere, Barça look to bounce back at home to Frankfurt, free-scoring PSV will test Atlético Madrid’s defence, and Monaco host Galatasaray in a game that feels like it could be any score at all. Kick-offs: 8pm (GMT).
#Atalanta #Chelsea #Tottenham #Slavia #Prague #Champions #League #live #Champions #League
