That it’s for tonight’s blog. I’ll leave you with David Hytner’s match report from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Thanks for your company and emails, goodnight!
Updated
These are the final scores in the 8pm games
- Group A CFR Cluj 0-2 Roma
- Group B Dundalk 1-3 Rapid Vienna
- Group C Leverkusen 4-1 HB Sheva, Nice 1-3 Slavia Prague
- Group D Rangers 2-2 Benfica, Standard Liege 2-1 Lech Poznan
- Group E Granada 2-1 Omonia Nicosia, PSV 3-2 PAOK
- Group F AZ Alkmaar 0-0 Real Sociedad, Napoli 2-0 Rijeka
- Group J Tottenham 4-0 Ludogorets
- View the Europa League tables
Full time: Rangers 2-2 Benfica
Peep peep! Another cracking, high-scoring draw between Rangers and Benfica. Rangers were 2-0 up thanks to Scott Arfield and a belter from Kemar Roofe, but Benfica scored twice in the space of five minutes to grab a deserved point. Both have a five-point cushion and should go through to the knockout stages.
Full time: Tottenham 4-0 Ludogorets
Peep peep! An easy win for Spurs. Carlos Vinicius scored twice in the first half, his first goals for the club; Harry Winks added a third with a mishit cross from 56 yards and Lucas Moura finished the job. It could easily have been six or seven.
Rangers 2-2 Benfica Rangers would take a point now. Benfica are putting them under plenty of pressure, and Gabriel has just wafted an excellent long-range volley that brushed the roof of the net.
GOAL! Rangers 2-2 Benfica (Pizzi 81)
Benfica are level! The substitute Pizzi danced onto a loose ball in the area and leathered it past McGregor. Benfica have come from two down to equalise, just as they did in the return fixture.
Tottenham 4-0 Ludogorets Scarlett almost scores immediately! He was put through by Winks and hit a shot that was blocked by Iliev.
Rangers 2-1 Benfica Alfredo Morelos has hit the bar for Rangers! A fierce shot was pushed up in the air by Helton Leite, who might have done better, and the ball dropped onto the bar.
Tottenham 4-0 Ludogorets Dane Scarlett, aged 16, has come to replace Lucas Moura for Spurs. He was born in March 2004!
GOAL! Rangers 2-1 Benfica (Tavernier og 77)
Benfica are back in it! Allan McGregor made a fine save from the substitute Goncalo Ramos, but the ball hit James Tavernier and rebounded into the net.
Napoli 2-0 Rijeka Hirving Lozano has scored the second on an emotional night in Naples.
Rangers 2-0 Benfica It’s still 1-1 in Belgium, but a winner for Standard Liege - who are down to 10 men - would put Rangers into the knockout stages with two games to spare.
Updated
GOAL! Tottenham 4-0 Ludogorets (Lucas Moura 73)
Lucas Moura gets a fourth for Spurs, sweeping insouciantly into the net after being set up by Carlos Vinicius.
Updated
After a fine team move, Roofe cut inside from the left and smashed a rising drive into the net from 20 yards. Pick that out!
GOAL! Rangers 2-0 Benfica (Roofe 69)
Kemar Roofe has scored another Europa League belter!
Rangers 1-0 Benfica Rangers are unlucky not to get a penalty when Roofe’s cross hits the raised arm of Vertonghen just inside the area. VAR is not in use for the group stages.
GOAL! Dundalk 1-3 Rapid Vienna (Shields 63 pen)
A penalty from Chris Shields has given Dundalk a soupcon of hope in Dublin.
GOAL! Tottenham 3-0 Ludogorets (Winks 63)
Harry Winks scores an extraordinary goal. He was 50 yards out on the left wing when he drove the ball over Iliev and into the net off the underside of the bar. I’m pretty sure it was an overhit cross - Winks was laughing afterwards - but he’ll not mind. It’s his first goal since January 2019.
Updated
Rangers 1-0 Benfica Every time I look at this game, Benfica are on the attack. They haven’t created many chances, but it still feels slightly ominous for Rangers.
GOAL! Dundalk 0-3 Rapid Vienna (Kara 58)
A second goal from Ercan Kera has sealed victory for Rapid Vienna in Dublin.
In Eindhoven, PSV have come from 2-0 down to lead PAOK 3-2, thus turning Group E on its head.
Rangers 1-0 Benfica Rangers can qualify for the knockout stages tonight, but only if they win and Standard Liege beat Lech Poznan in Belgium. That match is currently 0-0. And I wouldn’t be entirely confident about Rangers beating an increasingly dominant Benfica.
Tottenham 2-0 Ludogorets Spurs are cruising to victory. The only danger is complacency, given how easy it has been so far.
Peep peep! The second halves are underway.
Half-time reading (compulsory)
Peep peep! It’s half-time in all the 8pm kick-offs. If you don’t want to know the scores, log off now.
- Group A CFR Cluj 0-0 Roma
- Group B Dundalk 0-2 Rapid Vienna
- Group C Leverkusen 1-0 HB Sheva, Nice 0-1 Slavia Prague
- Group D Rangers 1-0 Benfica, S Liege 0-0 Lech Poznan
- Group E Granada 1-0 Omonia Nicosia, PSV 1-2 PAOK
- Group F AZ Alkmaar 0-0 Real Sociedad, Napoli 1-0 Rijeka
- Group J Tottenham 2-0 Ludogorets
- View the Europa League tables
Rangers 1-0 Benfica Leon Balogun makes an outstanding tackle to deny Rafa Silva, who looked set to equalise for Benfica. Rangers are under a fair bit of pressure and need half-time.
Updated
Incredible scenes in Naples this evening as the city honours Diego Maradona 💙 pic.twitter.com/6YOZ7RKFcD
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) November 26, 2020
GOAL! Dundalk 0-2 Rapid Vienna (Kara 37)
It’s looking like a fourth consecutive Europa League defeat for Dundalk.
Here’s the great Paul Doyle on Leicester’s dramatic 3-3 draw in Braga, a result that sealed qualification for the Round of 256 with two games to spare.
“Evening Rob,” says Tom Hopkins. “Oh, the Czechs in 2004, just a lovely team. Possibly second only to Romania 1994 in my affections. Thanks for the reminder.”
As good as Greece were, I still can’t really get my head round that result in the semi-finals. I should watch the game back some time; I don’t remember much about it.
Tottenham 2-0 Ludogorets So far this has been a perfect night for Jose Mourinho. Carlos Vinicius has scored his first goals for Spurs, Dele Alli looks more like his old self, and Harry Kane and Son should be able to spend the entire evening on the bench.
GOAL! Tottenham 2-0 Ludogorets (Vinicius 34)
Carlos Vinicius gets his second, but that goal was a little triumph for Dele Alli. Ndombele’s shot was pushed out by Iliev to Alli, six yards from goal. He dummied to shoot and then squared the ball to give Vinicius an open goal. Lovely play by Alli, both in its selflessness and execution. It was very similiar to Karel Poborsky’s nerveless assist in that classic match between the Netherlands and the Czech Republic at Euro 2004.
Updated
Tottenham 1-0 Ludogorets A second Spurs goal is in the post. They almost scored it a moment ago when Dele Alli floated a nice pass over the defence to find Ben Davies, who hammered the bouncing ball against the outside of the near post.
Rangers 1-0 Benfica Rangers are still ahead in what has been a pretty even game at Ibrox. Whatever the final score, the fact Rangers can compete pretty much as equals with Benfica shows how far they have come under Steven Gerrard.
Tottenham 1-0 Ludogorets Harry Winks hits a lovely left-footed shot from 25 yards that swerves this far wide.
Tottenham 1-0 Ludogorets Spurs are in complete control of this game. Bale almost makes it 2-0 with a nice curler from 20 yards that drops onto the roof of the net.
Here’s Ewan Murray’s report on a desperate night for Celtic, who have gone out of two European competitions before the end of November.
Updated
GOAL! Tottenham 1-0 Ludogorets (Vinicius 16)
Carlos Vinicius gets his first goal for Spurs! Dele Alli’s through ball towards Bale - who was in an offside position - was diverted by a defender towards the unmarked Vinicius. He opened his body as if to shoot into the bottom left corner and then dragged the ball to the other side as the keeper dived the wrong way. Excellent finish.
Updated
Rangers 1-0 Benfica It’s been a cracking first 15 minutes at Ibrox. Rangers took the lead but Benfica are having a lot of the ball and have already missed one excellent chance to equalise.
Spurs 0-0 Ludogorets Dele Alli splashes a shot high and wide from 25 yards. He could use a goal more than most.
GOAL! Dundalk 0-1 Rapid Vienna (Knasmullner 11)
Dundalk’s hopes of a first point in Group B have taken a hit. Christoph Knasmullner has put Rapid Vienna ahead in Dublin.
GOAL! Rangers 1-0 Benfica (Arfield 7)
A flying start for Rangers! Scott Arfield has volleyed them ahead from close range after James Tavernier’s header hit the bar.
Spurs 0-0 Ludogorets Nothing much to report after eight minutes at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Antwerp’s 2-0 win away to LASK makes it imperative that Spurs win tonight.
Every Napoli player wear the #10 shirt to honor Maradona pic.twitter.com/bPFs0nIu5Y
— Siavoush Fallahi (@SiavoushF) November 26, 2020
Here’s more on Arsenal’s comfortable win in Molde, which included a first ever goal for the teenager Folarin Balogun.
The 8pm games are under way. All were preceded by a minute’s silence for the greatest GOAT of all time.
A moment Folarin Balogun will never forget 🙌
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) November 26, 2020
His first goal for Arsenal on just his second senior appearance!
They really like the look of him at the Emirates 🔴#UEL pic.twitter.com/FpIwurBy3M
Thanks Barry, evening everyone. Let’s start with the full-time scores in the early games:
- Group A CSKA Sofia 0-1 Young Boys, CFR Cluj v Roma
- Group B Molde 0-3 Arsenal, Dundalk v Rapid Vienna
- Group C Leverkusen v HB Sheva, Nice v Slavia Prague
- Group D Rangers v Benfica, S Liege v Lech Poznan
- Group E Granada v Omonia Nicosia, PSV v PAOK
- Group F AZ Alkmaar v R Sociedad, Napoli v Rijeka
- Group G AEK Athens 0-3 Zorya, SC Braga 3-3 Leicester
- Group H Lille 1-1 AC Milan, Sparta Prague 4-1 Celtic
- Group I M Tel Aviv 1-1 Villarreal, Qarabag 2-3 Sivasspor
- Group J LASK 0-2 Royal Antwerp, Spurs v Ludogorets
- Group K CSKA 0-0 Feyenoord, Wolfsberg 0-3 D Zagreb
- Group L Gent 0-2 Red Star, S Liberic 0-2 Hoffenheim
- View the Europa League tables
Molde 0-3 Arsenal
Reiss Nelson and Folarin Balogum piled the hurt on Molde after Nicolas Pepe had fired them ahead on 50 minutes to give Mikel Arteta’s side a comfortable win. Rob Smyth will take over now and bring you news of the rest of tonight’s games.
Full-time scores ...
- Braga 3-3 Leicester (Leicester advance to R32)
- Molde 0-3 Arsenal (Arsenal advance to R32)
- Sparta Prague 4-1 Celtic (Celtic are out)
GOAL! Braga 3-3 Leicester (Vardy 90+5)
On as a sub, Jamie Vardy stabs home a Marc ALbrighton cross at the far post to fire his side into the Round of 32!!!
Updated
GOAL! Braga 3-2 Leicester City (Fransergio 90)
Leicester concede near the death, the victims of a counter-attack after Jamie Vardy fails to waste time by taking the ball into the corner. Fransergio scores for the hosts, firing over Schmeichel.
GOAL! Sparta Prague 4-1 Celtic (Plavsic 90)
Oh dear! Celtic get humiliated as Sparta Prague catch them on the break. A rush of blood to the head from Scott Bain doesn’t help - he charges out of his penalty area allowing Srdjan Plavsic to roll the ball into an empty net.
Some reading: Not content with winning the World Cup with Diego Maradona in 1986, Jorge Valdano is a brilliant writer. And now a colleague of mine. Here’s his bit on El Diego for tomorrow’s Big Paper ...
Lukáš Juliš, a player who none of us will ever hear of again for as long as we live, has scored five goals against Celtic over the two games. That's how bad it's got.
— Jonathan O'Brien (@obrien_jonathan) November 26, 2020
Sparta Prague 3-1 Celtic: In the Celtic goal, Scott Bain takes a completey unnecessary risk, leaving his area to try to play the ball out from the back, only to have his pocket picked by Karlsson. Bain scrambles to nick the ball back before he is further embarrassed.
GOAL! Braga 2-2 Leicester City (Thomas 79)
Luke Thomas scores his first goal for Leicester at the age of 19, stabbing home a James Maddison cross from the edge of the six-yard box. Maddison’s delivery was inch-perfect after he’d jinked this way and that, selling his man a dummy. As thinks stand, Leicester will advance to the last 32 with two games to spare.
GOAL! Sparta Prague 3-1 Celtic (Julis 79)
Celtic get caught on the break, with Sparta Prague attacking down the left flank. The ball’s crossed to a completely unmarked Julis, who spanks home his fifth goal against the Scottish champions in two games. Celtic are on their way out of Europe.
Good news for Leicester: Ukrainian side Zorya have doubled their lead against AEK Athens. A goal for Leicester, who have brought on Jamie Vardy, would see them through to the knockout stages with two games to spare, assuming Braga don’t bag themselves a third.
The Guardian’s fitba correspodent tweets: Over to you, Mr Ewan Murray ...
Celtic haven't at all played like a "poorly coached" (to coin a common phrase) team this half. A lack of individual mistakes, playing on front foot. Not that I'm sure any insistence they are better than Sparta as a default is accurate.
— Ewan Murray (@mrewanmurray) November 26, 2020
An email: “Clive Naylor’s stat about Arsenal not scoring from open play was ... wrong,” writes Edward Chukwurah, among others. “But more misleading than flat-out wrong. That stat is true for Premier League games only, but if you add in Europa League games, given the recency of the previous leg vs Molde (which featured goals from open play), that number falls drastically. Still, Arsenal are dreadfully uncreative lately.”
Braga 2-1 Leicester City: Kasper Schmeichel, who has been effing, jeffing and generally cursing like a sailor throughout this game, saves well, tipping the ball over the bar, to deny Paulinho heading home from a wonderful cross. Nothing comes from the ensuing corner. As things stand in Group G, with AEK Athens behind at home to Zorya, Leicester would qualify for the knockout stages with a draw.
Sparta Prague 2-1 Celtic: Odsonne Eduoard has just missded an absolute sitter after being teed up by a ball Olivier Ntcham squared from the left. He had the goal at his mercy with only the Sparta Prague goalkeeper to beat but seemed shocked to find the ball at his feet and “shot” straight at a very grateful Nita.
Tottenham v Ludogorets line-ups
Tottenham (4-3-3) Hart; Doherty, Sanchez, Tanganga, Davies; Ndombele, Winks, Alli; Bale, Vinicius, Moura.
Subs: Austin, Whiteman, Aurier, Dier, Reguilon, Hojbjerg, Sissoko, Kane, Son, Clarke, White, Scarlett.
Ludogorets (4-5-1) Iliev; Nedyalkov, Moti, Grigore, Anicet Abel; Yankov, Badji, Keseru, Verdon, Ikoko; Despodov.
Subs: Stoyanov, Damyanov, Terziev, Manu, Tchibota, Josue Sa, Tekpetey, Mitkov, Yordanov, Cauly Souza.
Dele Alli and Gareth Bale start in a much-changed Spurs side. Alli’s appearance is his first since being substituted at half-time in Antwerp a month ago.
Dundalk v Rapid Vienna line-ups
The Town (3-4-3) Rogers; Hoare, Boyle, Cleary; Gannon, Shields, Sloggett, Dummigan; Colovic, McMillan, Duffy.
Subs: McCarey, Corcoran, Gartland, Flores, Mountney, P McEleney, Leahy, Murray, Oduwa, Wynne, Kelly.
Rapid Vienna (4-2-3-1) Gartler; Stojkovic, M Hofmann, Barac, Ullmann; Knasmullner, Grahovac; Schick, Fountas; Melih Ibrahimoglu; Kara.
Subs: Strebinger, Unger, Sonnleitner, Alar, Greiml, Kitagawa, Arase, Sulzbacher, Schuster, Demir.
Rangers v Benfica line-ups
Rangers (4-3-3) McGregor; Tavernier, Goldson, Balogun, Barisic; Kamara, S Davis, Arfield; Roofe, Morelos, Kent.
Subs: McLaughlin, Ughelumba, Helander, Hagi, Itten, Barker, Stewart, Barjonas, Dickson, King.
Benfica (4-3-3) Leite; Gilberto, Jardel, Vertonghen, Grimaldo; Rafa Silva, Gabriel, Chiquinho; Everton, Seferovic, Waldschmidt.
Subs: Svilar, Vlachodimos, Cervi, Diogo Goncalves, Pizzi, Paulo Bernardo, Tiago Araujo, Joao Ferreira, Goncalo Ramos, Ferro.
Sparta Prague 2-1 Celtic: Neil Lennon’s side are dominating this second half but to no avail as far as the scoreboard stands. They’re pinning Sparta Prague’s full-backs back in their own half but haven’t fashioned much in the form of a decent scoring opportunity apart from Eduoard’s free-kick just after the break.
GOAL! Molde 0-1 Arsenal (Pepe 50)
Redemption of a sort for Nicolas Pepe after he dirtied his bib by getting sent off against Leeds last weekend. Moments after he’d hit the bar with a shot from distance he puts his side ahead, cushioning a cross from the left before finding the corner from 12 or 15 yards out.
Updated
Celtic all over the place in Prague, total Keystone Kops defending since they went in front. If this doesn't get Lennon sacked, I don't know what will. Hard to believe this is the same manager who shut down Barcelona in 2012.
— Jonathan O'Brien (@obrien_jonathan) November 26, 2020
The second halves are under way ...
Well, most of them are and those that aren’t will be very shortly. Celtic, in all sorts of bother, have a free kick in Prague. Odsonne Eduoard takes a wonderful free-kick, getting the ball up and down ovewr the wall only to be fouiled by a brilliant save by Florin Nita. A minute or so later, Ryan Christie goes close with a shot from distance.
Europa League Half-times
- Group A: CSKA Sofia 0-1 Young Boys, CFR Cluj v Roma
- Group B: Molde 0-0 Arsenal, Dundalk v Rapid Vienna
- Group C: Leverkusen v HB Sheva, Nice v Slavia Prague
- Group D: Rangers v Benfica, S Liege v Lech Poznan
- Group E: Granada v Omonia Nicosia, PSV v PAOK
- Group F: AZ Alkmaar v R Sociedad, Napoli v Rijeka
- Group G: AEK Athens 0-0 Zorya, SC Braga 2-1 Leicester
- Group H: Lille 0-0 AC Milan, Sparta Prague 2-1 Celtic
- Group I: M Tel Aviv 0-1 Villarreal, Qarabag 1-1 Sivasspor
- Group J: LASK 0-0 Royal Antwerp, Spurs v Ludogorets
- Group K: CSKA 0-0 Feyenoord, Wolfsberger 0-0 D Zagreb
- Group L: Gent 0-1 Red Star, S Liberic 0-0Hoffenheim
- View the Europa League tables
Updated
Braga 2-1 Leicester: Moments after Kasper Schmeichel is forced to prevent his team from going another goal behind, Christian Fuchs gets the wrong side of his man, Wenderson Galanu and almost gives away a penalty. Braga’s players are not best pleased with the referee.
Molde 0-0 Arsenal: Reiss Nelson sends a superb cross into the Molde penalty area, where Eddie Nketiah is denied by some superb defending. He looked a certainty to score with a close range header.
GOAL! Sparta Prague 2-1 Celtic (Julis 38)
Celtic are behind. Already on the scoresheet, Dockal turns provider, teeing up Julis to sidefoot home at the far post for his fourth goal in two matches against Celtic. Neil Lennon’s side will be exiting the tournament with two group games to spare if they can’t turn this around.
An email: “It’s 505 minutes since Arsneal scored in open play,” wrote Clive Naylor, 16 minutes or so ago.
He's done really well to miss from here 😂
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) November 26, 2020
Didn't miss the post though 🙃🥜#UEL pic.twitter.com/x4oNJGQmqF
Molde 0-0 Arsenal: Eddie Nketiah tests Molde goalkeeper with a curled effort from distance. It’s not the stiffest exam Linde will ever have to pass - the ball sails straight into his arms.
Braga 2-1 Leicester City: There was a hint of offside about the through ball that led to Braga’s second but there is no VAR being used in the group stages of this season’s Europa League.
Updated
Molde 0-0 Arsenal: Arsenal survive a penalty scare when a cross appears to hit the hand of David Luiz from close range. There wasn’t much he could do about that and his arms were not outstretched.
GOAL! Sparta Prague 1-1 Celtic (Hancko 26)
The hosts hgave equalised in the Czech Republic. Celtic failed to clear a corner and Pavelka shot on goal. His connection was anything but clean but the ball came Hancko’s way. He fired home from a couple of yards out.
GOAL! Braga 2-1 Leicester (Paulinho 24)
Paulinho gets his 12th European goal for Braga at the end of a lovely move. After some neat one-touch passing, Ricardo Horta was played in between two Leicester defenders, took the ball wide of Kasper Schmeichel and then pulled it back to Paulinho, who slotted home.
Updated
Molde 0-0 Arsenal: Nicolas Pepe does what Nicolas Pepe does best - cutting in from the right flank and unleashing a curled effort towards the top corner. His aim is slightly off and a decent effort goes wide.
Braga 1-1 Leicester: The Portuguese outfit attack down the left flank, but James Justin blocks a dangerous cross at the near post
GOAL! Sparta Prague 0-1 Celtic (Edouard 15)
Celtic take a much-needed lead in the Czech Republic. Edouard finished a counter-attack down the inside-left with a neat and precise finish.
Updated
Molde 0-0 Arsenal: David Luiz clears a corner at the near post but the ball is sent back down the left wing. It’s crossed to the far post, where Leke James somehow fails to convert. What he does succeed in doing is sliding into the upright with one leg either side. Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!
Updated
Sparta Prague 0-0 Celtic: There have been chances for both sides in the early stages. Moberg Karlsson curl had Bain beaten but saw his long range effort curl narrowly wide. Moments later, Sparta Prague goalkeeper Nita went perilously close to letting a backpass roll under his foot and over the line.
GOAL! Braga 1-1 Leicester (Barnes 9)
Leicester restore parity with their first attack of note in the game. Harvey Barnes shoots past Matheus at the near post from a quite a tight angle.
GOAL! Braga 1-0 Leicester City
A clearance at a corner from Leicester drops for Al Musrati a few yards outside the penalty area. He sends a low drive into the bottom left-hand corner to open his account for the Portuguese club.
Updated
Play is under way in our 5.55pm (GMT) kick-offs ...
There are silent tributes all around for Diego Maradona before play begins, but sweat is now being broken. Ashley Maitland-Niles gives Molde’s goalkeeper an early fright, his looping header threateneing to drop under the bar until Linde tips it over for a corner. Nothing comes of the ensuing inswinger.
Sparta Prague v Celtic line-ups
Sparta Prague: Nita, Plechaty, Pavelka, Hancko, Vindheim,Travnik, Dockal, Krejci II, Hanousek, Julis, Moberg Karlsson
Subs: Wiesner, Gabriel, Patrak, Vitik, Soucek, Krejci, Minchev, Lischka, Plavsic, Heca, Holec, Gelashvili
Celtic: Bain; Elhamed, Ajer, Jullien, Laxalt; Brown, McGregor, Christie, Ntcham, Elyounoussi, Edouard
Subs: Barkas, Hazard, Taylor, Duffy, Bitton, Ajeti, Klimala, Rogic, Frimpong, Henderson
Neil Lennon makes four changes to the team that drew with Hibs last weekend. Odsonne Eduoard is back in the side, along with Hatem Elhamed, Chris Julie and Olivier Ntcham.
Updated
Braga v Leicester City line-ups
Braga: Matheus, Ricardo Esgaio, Bruno Viana, Tormena, Sequeira, Horta, Casro, Al Musrati, Medeiros, Galeno, Paulinho.
Subs: Sa, Santos, Ze Carlos, Rolando, Novais, Ruiz, Andre Horta, Fransergio, Raul Silva, Infande, Couto, Guilherme.
Leicester City: Schmeichel, Evans, Fuchs, Albrighton, Choudhury, Praet, Thomas, Under, Barnes, Iheanacho
Subs: Ward, Jakupović, Fofana, Morgan, Mendy, Tielemans, Maddison, Pérez, Vardy
Updated
Molde v Arsenal line-ups
Molde: Linde, Wingo, Gregersen, Sinyan, Risa, Aursnes, Ellingsen, Hussain, Hestad, Wolff Eikrem, James.
Arsenal: Runarsson; Cedric, David Luiz, Mustafi, Maitland-Niles; Willock, Xhaka; Nelson, Pepe, Nketiah, Lacazette
Subs: Macey, Hein, Bellerin, Tierney, Holding, Cebellos, Smith Rowe, Cottrell, Azeez, Balogun
Nicolas Pepe gets an early chance to make amends for his tomfoolery at the weekend, keeping his place in an Arsenal side that has eight changes. Joe Willock and Granit Xhaka also keep their places. Tonight’s game, for anyone who is interested, will be played on an artificial pitch.
Updated
Games of note at 5.55 (GMT)
Group B: Molde v Arsenal
David Luiz is back for Arsenal, who will advance to the knockout rounds with a win, after missing their most recent game at Leeds due to the birth of his daughter - congratulations to all the Luiz family, especially the newest member, who I’d say is a very lucky young lady. Sent off against Leeds, Nicolas Pepe is available for selection but may be in Mikel Arteta’s bad books. Bukayo Saka and Willian have not not made the trip to Norway as they are nursing injuries. Thomas Partey is also injured, while Mohamed Elneny and Sead Kolasinac are unavailable following positive Covid-19 tests.
Group G: SC Braga v Leicester City
A win at Braga will ensure Leicetser’s progress into the knockout rounds but Brendan Rodgers is still without Timothy Castagne, Caglar Soyuncu, Wilfred Ndidi and long-term absentee Ricardo.
Group H: Sparta Prague v Celtic
Seripously under pressure as Celtic trail Rangers in the SPL, Neil Lennon is in dire need of a win tonight with his Celtic side having secured just one point from their opening three games in this season’s Europa League. Defeat tonight will leave their hopes of qualifications in tatters. Leigh Griffiths is out with a knee injury, but defenders Christopher Jullien and Hatem Elhamed are available for selection. In better news for Lennon, Sparta Prague could be without up to five key players.
Updated
The Guardian Football Weekly podcast
Diego Maradona lifted the Europa League trophy once in his career and the club he captained to victory in what was then known as the Uefa Cup play tonight on what is bound to be a poignant but unattended game at the San Apolo Stadium (soon to be renamed the Stadio Diego Maradona.
Today’s Guardian Football Weekly podcast was entirely devoted to the life and times of Maradona, with Jonathan Wilson,Philippe Auclair and special guests Marcela Maura y Araurjo, who translated his autobiography into English, and Asif Capadia, who directed the box office hit Diego Maradona, joining myself and Max Rushden.
You can listen by clicking on the list below or subscribe and download in all the usual podcast places. Please feel free to share it with your friends and if you like it, we’d love you to leave a glowing review to help spread the word.
Tonight's matches
- Group A: CSKA Sofia v Young Boys, CFR Cluj v Roma
- Group B: Molde v Arsenal, Dundalk v Rapid Vienna
- Group C: Bayer Leverkusen v Hapoel Beer Sheva, Nice v Slavia Prague
- Group D: Rangers v Benfica, Standard Liege v Lech Poznan
- Group E: Granada v Omonia Nicosia, PSV Eindhoven v PAOK
- Group F: AZ Alkmaar v Real Sociedad, Napoli v Rijeka
- Group G: AEK Athens v Zorya, SC Braga v Leicester City
- Group H: Lille v AC Milan, Sparta Prague v Celtic
- Group I: Maccabi Tel Aviv v Villarreal, Qarabag v Sivasspor
- Group J: LASK v Royal Antwerp, Tottenham Hotspur v Ludogorets
- Group K: CSKA Moscow v Feyenoord, Wolfsberger v Dinamo Zagreb
- Group L: Gent v Red Star, Slovan Liberic v Hoffenheim
- View the Europa League tables
Updated
Europa League group stages
Greetings and welcome to our coverage of today’s Europa League group games. There’s no shortage of them to keep tabs on but we’ll be keeping a particularly beady eye on games involving teams from the UK and Ireland with Arsenal, Dundalk, Rangers, Leicester City, Celtic, and Tottenham Hotspur all on duty tonight.
Games kick-off at 5.55pm (GMT) and 8pm (GMT) and we’ll be here with build-up, talking points, updates, news of the goals as they go in and post-match reaction until the last of the floodlights have been switched off and the grounds they illuminate plunged into darkness.
