Thanks for joining us tonight for all the action. See you soon!
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You will be very excited to know that Paul Doyle’s report from the King Power has landed in our laps.
Get in the mood for the weekend with Karen Carney on Demarai Gray.
“The roar in Naples when Osimhen scored the equaliser was quite something and pre-empted the rather slow streaming I’m following,” emails Napoletano Colum Fordham. “Pleased that Ounas is proving important for Napoli as he’s had a tough time proving his worth.”
The One Show’s Jermaine Jenas is presenting. What a little treat.
Full-time scores
Group A
Brondby 0-0 Sparta Prague
Rangers 0-2 Lyon
Group B
Monaco 1-0 Sturm Graz
PSV Eindhoven 2-2 Real Sociedad
Group C
Leicester City 2-2 Napoli
Group D
Eintracht Frankfurt 1-1 Fenerbahce
Olympiakos 2-1 Royal Antwerp
Full-time! Leicester City 2-2 Napoli
A cracking comeback from from Napoli thanks to two wonderful finishes from Osimhen.
Full-time! Rangers 0-2 Lyon
Not the performance or result Rangers wanted.
RED CARD! Ndidi picks up a second yellow for a little tug on a red shirt.
Napoli get a free-kick out on the left ... it is swung into the box where it finds the head of Rrahmani but his effort goes just over the bar.
Five minutes added on at the King Power.
GOAL! Olympiakos 2-1 Antwerp. Reabciuk puts the Greeks ahead once more.
GOAL! Leicester City 2-2 Napoli (Osimhen , 87)
Osimhen gets above Soyuncu and hangs there to flick a cross from the right into the corner, leaving Schmeichel no chance.
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Bertrand blocks a shot with his knee and ends up in a heap. I’d be surprised if it was anything too serious but he’s having a decent amount of treatment.
GOAL! Olympiakos 1-1 Antwerp. Samatta cancels out the opener.
Elmas cuts in from the rest and looks to curl one towards the far post but Schmeichel gets a strong punc on the shot.
The assistant referee waves his flag furiously to indicate a free-kick to Leicester but I haven’t a clue why.
Politano swings the free-kick a yard or so over.
Ounas is kicked to the floor by Soyuncu after getting the better of the Turkey defender, who goes into the book for his indiscretion. Meanwhile, Napoli have a free-kick 22 yards out in a central position ...
“Napoli bring on Politano?” asks Peter Oh. “Smart Napolitano substitution, and top, top nominative determinism!”
Aribo and Morelos go into the book for Rangers after the former lunges into a tackle and the latter shouts at the ref a bit.
GOAL! Monaco 1-0 Sturm Graz. Diatta is on the money in Monte Carlo.
GOAL! Leicester 2-1 Napoli (Osimhen, 69)
Some cracking interplay by Napoli, ends with a stunning first touch by Osimhen to earn some space in the box and then dink it over an onrushing Schmeichel. GAME ON!
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Leicester did very well to weather the storm from Napoli, which is something they might need to do quite often to succeed in Europe.
GOAL! Leicester 2-0 Napoli (Barnes, 64)
The Foxes have doubled their lead now! Barnes collects the ball 25 yards out, gets it out of his feet and dribbles into the box before flashing it across the goalkeeper into the bottom corner.
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Napoli send on Politano and Elmas for Zielinski and Lozano after the fourth official belatedly works out how the board works.
NO GOAL! A first goal for the club from summer signing Daka is ruled out. The forward spins onto a pass into the box and rifles his shot into the bottom corner but VAR rules him to be an inch off.
Lots of fouls from Leicester as they try to contain a rampant Napoli. The fans are taking it out on the ref who is generally getting things right.
GOAL! Olympiakos 1-0 Antwerp. El-Arabi breaks the deadlock.
GOAL! PSV 2-2 Real Sociedad. Gakpo strikes to level things up once more.
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GOAL! Rangers 0-2 Lyon (Tavernier og, 55)
Lyon have a couple of chances in the Rangers box but it takes a ricochet off Tavernier after a Goldson block on the line for a goal to be produced.
Another yellow card for Leicester as Vestergaard is cautioned for taking down a sprinting Anguissa.
Lyon’s Boateng goes into the book for fouling Morelos after the Colombian gets the better of him.
Some top notch shithousery from Di Lorenzo who chucks himself to the floor clutching his face as if Iheanacho has just elbowed him despite nothing of the sort taking place. Napoli still get a free-kick.
Zielinski pulls the ball back into the box but Soyuncu is alert to the danger and sends it behind.
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Changes for Leicester as Soyuncu and Tielemans replace Evans and Perez.
Second-half!
Here we go again.
Half-time scores:
Group A
Brondby 0-0 Sparta Prague
Rangers 0-1 Lyon
Group B
Monaco 0-0 Sturm Graz
PSV Eindhoven 1-2 Real Sociedad
Group C
Leicester City 1-0 Napoli
Group D
Eintracht Frankfurt 1-1 Fenerbahce
Olympiakos 0-0 Royal Antwerp
Half-time
GOAL! Eintracht Frankfurt 1-1 Fenerbahce. Lammers makes things all square.
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Another cracking chance for Napoli as Lozano runs into space to head a cross at goal but Schmeichel reacts well to palm it away. Fabian Ruiz gets the ball for a follow up but the Dane is behind it again.
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GOAL! PSV 1-2 Real Sociedad. Isak has put the Basques in front in the Netherlands. I thought it would be a good game tonight and, for once, I am right.
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Napoli are getting on top of Leicester and it looks like a case of when they will equalise. I say that but Osimhen looks like he couldn’t hit a barnyard door with a banjo as he snatches at a another chance in the area, sending it a good mile or two wide.
Lyon almost double their lead through Gusto but his shot flashes past the post.
Things should be level at the King Power where Osimhen lays it on a plate for Zielinski six yards out but he fails to make good contact. Castagne tries to help him out by diverting the ball towards goal but Schmeichel reacts superbly to stop it.
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GOALS! PSV 1-1 Real Sociedad. Gotze gets the ball rolling for the hosts but Januzaj levels things up two minutes later.
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Di Lorenzo goes into the book for pulling back Daka. The pulling back derby as this match is known.
Soumare joins Ndidi in the book after pulling back Lozano.
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Osimhen takes from 30 yards, only to completely miscue his shot and send it embarrassingly high and wide.
GOAL! Rangers 0-1 Lyon (Ekambi, 23)
It was coming at Ibrox where Lyon have been the better side. Ekambi is the man who has put the French side into the lead thanks to some confusing footwork, before pinging a shot from 25 yards across the goalkeeper and into the corner.
Malcuit gives away the ball with a pitiful pass backwards, which Daka picks up and starts running towards the area but the defender, intent on making up for his error, gets back to win back possession.
GOAL! Eintracht Frankfurt 0-1 Fenerbahce. Ozil (remember him?) gives the Turkish side the lead.
Ndidi catches Anguissa on the top of his foot after winning the ball, picking up a yellow card for his troubles and leaving the Napoli midfielder writhing in agony.
Goldson sends a long ball over the top for Kent, who gets the wrong side of the defence but he can’t control the pass, allowing Lyon to recover and retrieve the ball.
Down in the Europa Conference League, former Plymouth Argyle midfielder Graham Carey has put CSKA Sofia a goal up against Jose Mourinho’s Roma in the Italian capital.
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Because of an ongoing dispute over access for independent photographers, we are not publishing any live pictures from Rangers v Lyon in the blog this evening.
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Napoli get a free kick around 20 yards out just to the left of the goal. Insigne lines it up and curls the ball over the bar.
Leicester fans do a rendition of God Save The Queen. I think I will turn over to Rangers ...
A long straight ball is sent towards the Napoli box but Ospina reads it and comes flying out to the edge of the area to punch clear.
GOAL! Leicester City 1-0 Napoli (Perez, 9)
Speaking of Perez ... Barnes gets down the left and digs out a cross to the back post for the onrushing Perez to run into space where he meets it on volley, sending the ball beyond Ospina.
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Perez is playing at a very high tempo every time he gets near the ball. He is getting the crowd going with his energetic work-rate.
What a save! Perez does some fine work to get into the box, before laying it into Iheanacho’s path, who slips it to Barnes in space six yards from goal but Ospina comes out quickly to divert a fierce shot wide.
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There is a cracking atmosphere at Ibrox and Rangers are looking positive in the early stages, putting in a couple of dangerous crossed but nothing comes of them.
An early chance for Napoli as Osimhen picks up a loose ball 25 yards out from goal, turns towards the net and fires off a shot which bounces just in front of Schmeichel who gets behind it, before a defender clears.
Kick-off
Here we go!
Pierre Emile Hojberg is asked if it was a good point for Spurs and I am not sure he knows the full format of the competition judging by his non-committal answer.
Thanks Tom for a fine shift there. I will be taking over for the late kick-offs as I have no social life.
Here are your 8pms.
Group A
Brondby v Sparta Prague
Rangers v Lyon
Group B
Monaco v Sturm Graz
PSV Eindhoven v Real Sociedad
Group C
Leicester City v Napoli
Group D
Eintracht Frankfurt v Fenerbahce
Olympiakos v Royal Antwerp
Right, that’s my stint in the chair done. I’ll put you in the more than capable hand of Will Unwin to guide you through the late action. Thanks for your attention and emails. Bye.
Europa League results
Here’s yer early results summary:
GROUP E
Galatasaray 1-0 Lazio
Lokomotiv Moscow 1-1 Marseille
GROUP F
Red Star Belgrade 2-1 Sporting Braga
FC Midtjylland 1-1 Ludogorets
GROUP G
Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 Ferencváros
Real Betis 4-3 Celtic
GROUP H
Dinamo Zagreb 0-2 West Ham
Rapid Vienna 0-1 Genk
Full-time: Rennes 2-2 Tottenham
Spurs’ half-strength team take a point from a feisty-looking opener in the competition they’re not sure they want to be in.
Full-time: Real Betis 4-3 Celtic
Betis have won a cracker in Seville. Their attacking play was superb, led by the outstanding Sergio Canales, though Celtic impressed going forward too, through Jota, Rogic and Turnbull in particular, but their tendency to leave wide open spaces at the back and switch off just has to be addressed.
Full-time: Dinamo Zagreb 0-2 West Ham
The whistle goes on an extremely accomplished West Ham performance. They look the team to catch in this group. Solid all the way through, from Zouma to Rice to Soucek to Antonio.
And Lokomotiv Moscow have snatched a late leveller against Marseille. It’s 1-1 there thanks to Tino Anjorin’s goal.
Also in Celtic’s group, Bayer Leverkusen lead Ferencvaros 2-1 thanks to a goal from Florian Wirtz
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Goal! Real Betis 4-3 Celtic (Railston 87)
Now then … David Turnbull sends a fine teasing cross over from the left that Anthony Railston gets his head to to put Celtic back in it. This is a tremendous match. Celtic pressing again now.
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86 mins: The Zagreb sub Juric sends in a devillish low cross to the near post that Fabianski does well to cut out.
Rangers v Lyon
The teamsheet from Ibrox is in:
Rangers: McGregor, Tavernier, Goldson, Balogun, Barisic, Lundstram, Davis, Kamara, Aribo, Morelos, Kent. Subs: Bassey, Patterson, Bacuna, Scott Wright, Roofe, Kelly, McCrorie, Sakala,
McLaughlin, Arfield, McClelland.
Lyon: Lopes, Gusto, Denayer, Boateng, Emerson Palmieri, Bruno Guimaraes, Lucas Paqueta, Caqueret, Toko Ekambi, Slimani, Aouar. Subs: Diomande, Lukeba, Henrique, Cherki, Keita, Damien Da Silva, Shaqiri, Pollersbeck, Bonnevie, Bradley Barcola.
Referee: Andreas Ekberg (Sweden)
82 mins: Another West Ham sub, Declan Rice being replaced by club mascot Mark Noble, the most West Ham-looking footballer in the history of the game. And the excellent Antonio is hooked for Yarmolenko.
Leicester v Napoli teams
Here’s yer lineups for later:
Leicester: Schmeichel, Castagne, Vestergaard, Evans, Bertrand, Perez, Ndidi, Soumare, Daka, Iheanacho, Barnes. Subs: Soyuncu, Tielemans, Vardy, Maddison, Albrighton, Ward, Amartey, Choudhury, Ricardo Pereira, Dewsbury-Hall, Thomas, Lookman.
Napoli: Ospina, Malcuit, Rrahmani, Koulibaly, Di Lorenzo, Zambo, Fabian, Zielinski, Lozano, Osimhen, Insigne. Subs: Juan Jesus, Elmas, Politano, Ounas, Petagna, Manolas, Idasiak, Zanoli, Boffelli.
Referee: Tiago Martins (Portugal)
Elsewhere, it’s now Red Star Belgrade 1-1 Braga, the visitors swiftly responding to going behind.
West Ham have made some subs – Bowen for Vlasic and, earlier, Benrahma for Lanzini. Iglesias nearly makes it 5-2 for Betis meanwhile with a low angled shot.
Goal! Rennes 2-2 Tottenham. Hojbjerg levels it up for Spurs with a sharp instinctive finish from close range after a deflected cross.
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I’ve not mentioned much about events in Zagreb of late and that’s because West Ham have got this match in the palm of their hand. Measured, efficient and threatening when needed. Fornals just offers one such example with a decent shot from distance that’s well held.
Goal! Rennes 2-1 Tottenham. Gaetan Laborde slots the home side into the lead after Pierluigi Gollini can only palm a shot from distance into his path.
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Real Betis sub off Guardardo for William Carvalho, casually making the point about their superior playing resources. Apropos of nothing, can I just say the late evening sunset in Seville, and the stadium, look absolutely gorgeous, and I want to be there.
Nonetheless, Celtic continue to probe and Rogic hits the post with a fierce left-foot volley after more expansive work from the impressive Jota on the right. It remains a hugely compelling watch, this game, even if one suspects the result is a foregone conclusion.
“It seems that Celtic were the inspiration for the Real Betis strip, which makes the lack of green and white chaos even more disappointing,” writes Thomas Meehan. I think Celtic’s defence has seen quite enough green and white chaos in the past year or so.
A goal in Moscow: it’s Lokomotiv Moscow 0-1 Marseille after Cengiz Under’s penalty puts Jorge Sampaoli’s side ahead.
Chance for Zagreb! Good interplay between Petkovic and Ivanusec culminates in the latter squeezing a shot just wide after neat footwork. Better from the home side.
Goal! Real Betis 4-2 Celtic (Juanmi 53)
This could become a rout. Juanmi gets his second, Celtic can’t fully clear from a cross and the ball comes out to Juanmi whose right-footed half-volley goes in off the post. The Estadio Benito Villamarín is bouncing now.
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Goal! Real Betis 3-2 Celtic (Iglesias 50)
Rennes have turned this round, a low cross from the left expertly clipped into the corner past Hart by Iglesias. A neat move, but Celtic were again wide open on the flank. Told you there’d be more goals. The worry for Celtic now is that more of them may come at their end.
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Goal! Dinamo Zagreb 0-2 West Ham (Rice 50)
The Hammers double their lead, Declan Rice skipping clear down the left from the halfway line, bearing down on goal and thumping a low angled shot under the keeper.
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48 mins: Rogic gets a sniff just inside the box after an intricate Celtic passing move but the defender does enough to muzzle the shot’s effectiveness. Fekir goes down the other end and has a fizzing shot from the left well held by Hart.
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46 mins: A sprightly start to the second half from Zagreb as Petkovic makes room for himself before rifling a right-foot shot narrowly past the post from 20 yards.
Peep! They’re all back under way. Juric comes on for Theophile-Catherine for Dinamo Zagreb.
Half-time reading:
Here’s today’s Fiver, on forlorn fallen European giants:
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Half-time scores
Turns out Ferencvaros’s second goal at Leverkusen was ruled out. Here’s all the Europa League half-times:
Galatasaray 0-0 Lazio
Lokomotiv Moscow 0-0 Marseille
Red Star Belgrade 0-0 Sporting Braga
FC Midtjylland 1-1 Ludogorets
Bayer 04 Leverkusen 1-1 Ferencváros
Real Betis 2-2 Celtic
Dinamo Zagreb 0-1 West Ham
Rapid Vienna 0-0 Genk
Europe Conference League half-time: Rennes 1-1 Tottenham. Spurs have been in a game too, and they’ve lost Steven Bergwijn to injury.
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Half-time: Real Betis 2-2 Celtic
A thrilling first half comes to a close in Seville, with Betis ending it strongly but Celtic still maintaining attacking threat and intention. I’ll be amazed if there are no more goals in this one.
Half-time: Dinamo Zagreb 0-1 West Ham
Orsic’s blocked shot on the whistle was almost as threatening as the Croat side got in that first half. West Ham in control and in the lead.
45 mins: Zagreb end the first half with a bit of a flurry, but the best they can muster is a high snatched half-volley well over the bar.
Ferencvaros are ahead again at Bayer Leverkusen, Balint Vecsei with the goal.
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41 mins: West Ham have had six attempts at goal to Dinamo Zagreb’s one, Vlasic being foiled with their most recent one.
Goal in Germany - it’s now Bayer Leverkusen 1-1 Ferencvaros after Exequiel Palacios’s equaliser for the Bundesliga side.
Meanwhile in Zagreb, West Ham are still looking pretty comfortable and merit their 1-0 lead.
Goal! Real Betis 2-2 Celtic
Classic Celtic in Europe, they’ve been sliced through twice in a minute. A break down the right catches out Carter-Vickers and Jimenez Juanmi is left with a simple tap-in from the low ball in.
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Goal! Real Betis 1-2 Celtic (Miranda 32)
The home side get one back, Celtic failing to clear a cross and Miranda seizing on some pinball to burst through and belt it under Joe Hart.
Ludogorets have equalised at Midtjylland through Kiril Despodov. It’s 1-1 there
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“I was hoping to get a chaotic all green and white, hoops vs stripes in the Betis/Celtic match,” writes Rob Coughlin as Betis hit the outside of the post. “However, there’s not a green and white jersey to be found on the pitch. What gives?” Agreed. Two of Europe’s most distintive kits, each denied us.
Goal! Real Betis 0-2 Celtic (Juranovic pen 27)
Ajeti brought down by the keeper, Bravo, after being played in by Jota. Ajeti needs a bit of treatment, after which Juranovic belts it into the right hand corner. What a start to their campaign … so far.
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Goal! Rennes 1-1 Tottenham. Flavien Tait brings the French side level with a fine shot from 20 yards, and Rennes’ fans go pretty wild with some “limbs”-style bedlam. They’re up for this anyway.
And in Zagreb Ryan Fredericks nearly makes it two when he gets clear on the right but is well denied.
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Goal! Dinamo Zagreb 0-1 West Ham (Antonio 21)
West Ham lead, Antonio seizing on an underhit back pass, nudging it wide of the keeper and then flicking it deftly into the corner with the touch and assurance of the in-form striker he is.
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18 mins: Rogic wins a corner for Celtic with a deflected volley after another fine counterattack, but Betis break quickly from it and Fekir’s low shot on the left is well beaten away by Hart. In Zagreb, Dinamo are having a bit more of the play now after an assertive start by West Ham.
Goal! Real Betis 0-1 Celtic (Ajeti 14)
Celtic get the ball in the net after a fine move down the right, it’s disallowed but there’s a VAR check. They’re taking their time … and it’s overruled! The goal stands. I only saw the initial move out of the corner of my eye, but it began down the right with a fine run and cross by Jota and then seemed to be deflected in via Ajeti. It’s deserved. Celtic are playing really well here.
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Goal for Spurs! Tottenham are ready for that fight it would appear, a Loic Bade own goal gifting them the lead.
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Another goal: It’s Bayer Leverkusen 0 Ferencvaros 1, Ryan Mmaee striking for the team that dumped Celtic out of the Champions League last year.
9 mins: West Ham’s third corner, to the far post, is scrambled behind again for a fourth, but that again is dealt with by the home side. For Celtic, Soro gets himself booked for a crude challenge on Fekir but they too then win a corner after Juranovic leads a promising swift break, but it comes to nothing.
Early goal for football boffins Midtjylland, Gustav Isaksen giving the Danish side a 1-0 lead against Ludogorets.
3 mins: West Ham win two early corners, the first of which keeper Livakovic punches firmly away, and the attack is squandered, the second of which creates rather more danger, leading to Zouma teeing up Lanzini for a shot that’s well over. Celtic enjoying some early possession against Real Betis meanwhile.
Peep! With depressing predictability, some Dinamo Zagreb fans boo the taking of the knee, and with that we’re under way.
There’s a big banner draped over the entirety of the home end at Rennes, asking “Are you ready for a fight?” Nothing like being asked to step into the car park to herald a European campaign. Their ground looks around half-full, as does Zagreb’s, which includes a couple of thousand travelling Hammers. It’s a bit busier at Betis.
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David Moyes speaks: BT Sport have former West Ham Coles Carlton and Joe in the studio to whoop them along, and they lead the pre-match chat with the Moyesiah: “It’s an incredible achievement to have got into this position and even though we challenged for a Champions League place last season I’ve got a say I’d have taken the Europa League place any time last season – we’re all excited about this game.”
Carlton Cole asks Moyes what he’d regard as acceptable in this competition. “I’m trying not to make it about too big expectations, to get through in the group would be big, plenty of our players have not been in this season, and we’re really pleased to be here, the players are in good shape.” Though Moyes Freudian slips at one point, describing his charges as “Everton”.
Real Betis v Celtic teams
Here’s how they line up in southern Spain:
Real Betis: Bravo, Montoya, Edgar Gonzalez, Victor Ruiz, Miranda, Guardado, Canales, Joaquin, Nabil Fekir, Juanmi, Iglesias. Subs: Akouokou, Tello, Willian Jose, Rui Silva, William Carvalho, Alex Moreno, Pezzella, Bellerin, Rodriguez, Ruibal, Roberto Gonzalez, Sanchez.
Celtic: Hart, Ralston, Carter-Vickers, Starfelt, Juranovic, Soro, Rogic, Turnbull, Montgomery, Ajeti, Jota. Subs: Scales, Barkas, McCarthy, Urhoghide, Bain, Shaw, Murray, Henderson, Welsh.
Referee: Fran Jovic (Croatia)
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Fancy a run-down of all tonight’s Conference League games? You know you want to:
GROUP A HJK v. Lask (KO 5.45) GROUP B Anorthosis Famagusta v. Partizan Belgrade (KO 8.00) Flora Tallinn v. Gent (KO 5.45) GROUP C Bodo/Glimt v. Zorya (KO 8.00) Roma v. CSKA Sofia (KO 8.00) GROUP D Jablonec v. CFR Cluj (KO 8.00), Randers FC v. AZ (KO 8.00) GROUP E Slavia Prague v. Union Berlin (KO 5.450 GROUP F Lincoln Red Imps v. PAOK (KO 5.45), Slovan Bratislava v. FC Copenhagen (KO 5.45) GROUP G Mura v. Vitesse (KO 5.45) Rennes v. Tottenham Hotspur (KO 5.45) GROUP H Kairat Almaty 0-0 Omonia Nicosia (at half-time) Karabakh v. Basel (KO 5.45)
Some pre-match reading, from Jacob Steinberg, on how West Ham have got all good in the past year or so:
Spurs are fielding a few of their big guns in Rennes, including Harry Kane, Stephen Bergwijn and Lucas Moura. Here’s the team news from France.
Rennes: Salin, Traore, Bade, Aguerd, Truffert, Santamaria, Bourigeaud, Laborde, Sulemana, Tait, Guirassy. Subs: Gomis, Tchaouna, Abline, Diouf, Assignon, Omari, Meling, Ugochukwu, Martin, Bonet, Tel.
Tottenham Hotspur: Gollini, Doherty, Rodon, Tanganga, Davies, Ndombele, Skipp, Bergwijn, Lucas Moura, Gil Salvatierra, Kane. Subs: Lloris, Reguilon, Hojbjerg, Winks, Emerson, Alli, Austin, John, Scarlett, Omole, Markanday.
Dinamo Zagreb v West Ham teams
A pretty strong team selection from David Moyes there, with some tasty attacking options off the bench in Benrahma and Bowen. And a club debut in defence for Kurt Zouma, and in midfield for Nikola Vlasic. They line up thusly:
Dinamo Zagreb: Livakovic, Sutalo, Lauritsen, Theophile-Catherine, Ristovski, Ademi, Misic, Franjic, Ivanusec, Petkovic, Orsic. Subs: Zagorac, Moharrami, Stefulj, Gojak, Andric, Tolic, Bulat, Juric, Baturina, Dilaver, Menalo, Spikic.
West Ham: Fabianski, Fredericks, Zouma, Diop, Cresswell, Rice, Soucek, Vlasic, Lanzini, Fornals, Antonio. Subs: Coufal, Yarmolenko, Areola, Dawson, Noble, Bowen, Ogbonna, Benrahma, Masuaku, Johnson, Kral, Randolph.
Referee: Ruddy Buquet (France)
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Anyway, here’s yer full rundown of tonight’s Europa League fixtures (5.45pm kick-off unless stated):
Group A: Brondby v Sparta Prague (8pm); Rangers v Lyon (8pm)
Group B: Monaco v Sturm Graz (8pm); PSV Eindhoven v Real Sociedad (8pm)
Group C: Leicester v Napoli (8pm)
Group D: Eintracht Frankfurt v Fenerbahce (8pm); Olympiakos v Royal Antwerp (8pm)
Group E: Galatasaray v Lazio; Lokomotiv Moscow v Marseille
Group F: Red Star Belgrade v Sporting Braga; FC Midtjylland v Ludogorets
Group G: Bayer Leverkusen v Ferencvaros; Real Betis v Celtic
Group H: Dinamo Zagreb v West Ham; Rapid Vienna v Genk
Preamble
Evening everyone, and welcome to the start of the long, exhausting Europa League campaign. But for all that Thursday night European action may be sneered at or overlooked by some some sparky-looking match-ups present themselves before us tonight.
Early doors, we’ve got West Ham, in the Europa League group stage for the first time, visiting Dinamo Zagreb, conquerors of Spurs last term. The Croat side top their domestic league at present but David Moyes has presided over a none-too-shabby start in the Premier League, and the Hammers really do look disorientatingly competent under the Scot these days.
Also among the early games, Celtic visit Real Betis, renewing a fond acquaintance with the city of Seville, which their fans took over for the Uefa Cup final 18 years ago. The Hoops have been hapless in Europe in recent times but they have shown some encouraging signs under their new manager, Ange Postecoglou, though Manuel Pellegrini’s side will be fancied to beat them at the atmospheric Estadio Benito Villamarín.
Later on, Leicester v Napoli should in theory be a cracker, with Luciano Spalletti’s side boasting a 100% record in Serie A this term and real potential to win a competition such as this. The visit of Lyon to Rangers will be an intriguing test for Steven Gerrard’s side too, who have shown patches of real potential, as well as flaws, in recent European campaigns.
And what of the maligned Europa Conference League? There are two ways of looking at this: hurrah for the opportunity it theoretically offers to clubs and fans not used to the joys of continental excursions; or boo to the burden it adds to an already bloated fixture list, particularly as many of its participants have been European regulars in the recent past anyway. Like Tottenham. Nuno Espírito Santo drags a half-strength side to France tonight to face Rennes, who will be one of their more demanding opponents. Let’s see how the mood takes them.
Early kick-offs are at 5.45pm BST, later ones 8pm BST.
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