That’s all for tonight’s coverage. Thanks as always for your company and emails; goodnight.
Newcastle cannot complain they were not warned. Eddie Howe had cautioned his players that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was “as good as ever’ and would need to be “controlled” but ultimately they proved powerless to prevent the 36-year-old transforming both the match and Marseille’s Champions League ambitions.
While Aubameyang fulfilled the soaring expectations of a raucously loud audience at this stupendously designed, wonderfully atmospheric arena, Howe’s team started well but ended up mugged in the manner of naive tourists who had wandered into the wrong arrondissement of this beguiling yet sometimes brutal city.
You had to go back to September 2018 for the last time Manchester City lost a Champions League group match at home, when Pep Guardiola was in the stands due to a ban, and Nabil Fekir’s winner gave Lyon a 2-1 victory.
Guardiola stood down all but one of the team that lost at Newcastle United and witnessed Bayer Leverkusen end a 23-match run in the type of off-colour display reminiscent of last season.
Why the manager rested so many, including Erling Haaland and Phil Foden, is intriguing considering the Newcastle reverse was on Saturday and there are four days until Leeds visit.
The jeers when Lamine Yamal trudged off with 10 minutes left said it all. It was billed as an epic showdown between two of the best young players in the world but in the end it was barely a contest. Lamine Yamal was shoved to the margins by Marc Cucurella, who could not have done a better job in neutralising the Barcelona winger, and was powerless to stop himself being left in the shade by Chelsea’s boy from Brazil.
This will go down as the night when Estêvão Willian proved that he is the real deal. There have been flashes from the 18-year-old Brazilian since he joined Chelsea from Palmeiras for £52m last summer but nothing quite on this level. Estêvão, who is only three months older than Lamine Yamal, delighted in tearing Barça to shreds. He left Pau Cubarsí and Alejandro Balde with twisted blood on his way to scoring an outrageous solo goal, confirming that Chelsea have added something very special to their array of young talents.
Tonight's Champions League results
Ajax 0-2 Benfica
Galatasaray 0-1 Union SG
Bodo/Glimt 2-3 Juventus
Chelsea 3-0 Barcelona
Dortmund 4-0 Villarreal
Man City 0-2 Leverkusen
Marseille 2-1 Newcastle
Napoli 2-0 Qarabag
Slavia Prague 0-0 Athletic Bilbao
GOAL! Dortmund 4-0 Villarreal (Svensson 90+5) The last goal of the night is headed in decisively by Dortmund’s Daniel Svensson.
Full time: Marseille 2-1 Newcastle
Two goals from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at the start of the second half were enough for Marseille to beat Newcastle, who have now lost their last four away games.
Full time: Chelsea 3-0 Barcelona
Mes que un hammering.
GOAL! Bodo/Glimt 2-3 Juventus (David 90+1) Another twist in the most dramatic game of the night. Jonathan David has put Juventus ahead after great work from his fellow substitute Kenan Yildiz.
Full time: Man City 0-2 Leverkusen
City’s first Champions League defeat of the season. Pep Guardiola made 10 changes but it didn’t pay off, with Alex Grimaldo and Patrik Schick scoring for Leverkusen.
Updated
82 min: Dortmund 3-0 Villarreal With Serhou Guirassy off the pitch, Fabio Silva slaps a penalty against the crossbar.
GOAL! Bodo/Glimt 2-2 Juventus (Fet 87 pen) Sondre Fet scores from the spot to bring Bodo/Glimt level.
78 min: Marseille 2-1 Newcastle The substitute Anthony Elanga has a shot turned round the near post. This would be a bad result for Newcastle, particularly given their recent away form.
GOAL! Chelsea 3-0 Barcelona (Delap 75)
Chelsea have put Barcelona across their knee at Stamford Bridge. Liam Delap has just made it 3-0; you can read all about it via the link below.
The latest scores
Bodo/Glimt 1-2 Juventus
Chelsea 2-0 Barcelona
Dortmund 3-0 Villarreal
Man City 0-2 Leverkusen
Marseille 2-1 Newcastle
Napoli 2-0 Qarabag
Slavia Prague 0-0 Athletic Bilbao
Ajax 0-2 Benfica (FT)
Galatasaray 0-1 Union SG (FT)
GOAL! Napoli 2-0 Qarabag (Jankovic og 72) An acrobatic volley from Scott McTominay is going wide but deflects in off Marko Jankovic to double Napoli’s lead.
Updated
GOAL! Dortmund 3-0 Villarreal (Adeyemi 58) An attempted clearance hits Karim Adeyemi and flies into the net. Dortmund are cruising.
Updated
The latest scores
Bodo/Glimt 1-2 Juventus
Chelsea 2-0 Barcelona
Dortmund 2-0 Villarreal
Man City 0-2 Leverkusen
Marseille 2-1 Newcastle
Napoli 1-0 Qarabag
Slavia Prague 0-0 Athletic Bilbao
Ajax 0-2 Benfica (FT)
Galatasaray 0-1 Union SG (FT)
GOAL! Napoli 1-0 Qarabag (McTominay 65) The man’s an animal. Scott McTominay has scored another vital goal, heading in from four yards following a left-wing corner.
65 min: Man City 0-2 Leverkusen Erling Haaland has come on for Manchester City, who trail 2-0 at home to Leverkusen.
“A week is a long time in politics cricket football, Rob,” writes Simon McMahon. “Last Tuesday Grant Hanley played for Scotland at Hampden in that World Cup qualifier after John Souttar was injured in the warm up. Tonight he’s conceded a penalty and then been sent off as Hibs trail 2-0 at Motherwell. Such is life, right?”
WHAT. IS. CRICKET.
“I know 36 is the new 31 in football,” writes Kári Tulinius, “but Pierre-Emerick looks absolutely ageless. Both goals tonight could be from a 2015 YouTube reel of Aubameyang goals. It’s not usually the speed merchants who last the distance.”
GOAL! Borussia Dortmund 2-0 Villarreal (Guirassy 54 pen) Villarreal captain Juan Foyth is sent off after handling on the line, and Serhou Guirassy does the necessary from the spot. Well, sort of: the penalty was saved but Guirassy tapped the rebound into the net for his second goal.
Updated
GOAL! Bodo/Glimt 1-2 Juventus (McKennie 59) Juve have come from behind to lead in Norway. Weston McKennie got up early and stayed in the air for an age to head past the keeper.
56 min: Napoli 0-0 Qarabag Rasmus Hojlund has missed a penalty for Napoli – or, rather, it’s been pawed away by the Qarabag keeper Mateusz Kochalski.
Updated
GOAL! Chelsea 2-0 Barcelona (Estevao 55)
In the battle of the teenage stars, Estevao has put Chelsea 2-0 up against Lamine Yamal’s Barcelona.
GOAL! Man City 0-2 Leverkusen (Schick 54)
This is turning into a very bad night for Pep Guardiola. A precise header from Patrik Schick has put Leverkusen 2-0 ahead at the Etihad.
Updated
GOAL! Marseille 2-1 Newcastle (Aubameyang 50)
Aubameyang strikes again! He’s scored twice in five minutes and Newcastle’s trip to France has taken a very unpleasant twist. The second was a classic striker’s finish at the near post from Timothy Weah’s cross.
GOAL! Marseille 1-1 Newcastle (Aubameyang 46)
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has equalised after 18 seconds of the second half. It was a fantastic finish from wide on the right after Nick Pope made the inexplicable decision to charge out of his area. Aubameyang went round him and finished expertly.
Updated
GOAL! Bodo/Glimt 1-1 Juventus (Openda 48) The Old Lady rises from her slumber in Norway. Lois Openda has equalised for Juventus with a smart finish from eight yards.
46 min: Man City 0-1 Bayer Leverkusen Jeremy Doku, Phil Foden and Nico O’Reilly are on at half-time for City, but not Erling Haaland. Sorry about the farm.
“Apparently Marseille has a local cricket club: Provence Cricket Club,” writes Chris Paraskevas. “Their Mission Statement reads: ‘Cultivating a cricket community: we strive to create a vibrant community where cricket fans can come together to share their passion for the game and regularly participate in matches that last longer than two days.’
“PS. That’s a huge chance Gordon passed up on half-time - he was way too casual. We need a second goal to make this safe!”
Excuse my ignorance, what is cricket? And yes, I’ve just seen that Gordon chance – he looked caught in about eight minds.
Updated
The half-time scores
Bodo/Glimt 1-0 Juventus
Chelsea 1-0 Barcelona
Dortmund 1-0 Villarreal
Man City 0-1 Leverkusen
Marseille 0-1 Newcastle
Napoli 0-0 Qarabag
Slavia Prague 0-0 Athletic Bilbao
Ajax 0-2 Benfica (FT)
Galatasaray 0-1 Union SG (FT)
GOAL! Dortmund 1-0 Villarreal (Guirassy 45+2) A close-range header from Serhou Guirassy puts Dortmund ahead in front of the Yellow Wall. There was a sniff of handball in the build-up but the goal stands.
Half time: Marseille 0-1 Newcastle
Newcastle have been impressive and lead through Harvey Barnes’ early goal.
Red card! Chelsea 1-0 Barcelona (Araujo)
Barcelona are having a dog of a night at Stamford Bridge. Jules Kounde put Chelsea ahead; now their captain Ronald Araujo has been sent off.
45 min: Marseille 0-1 Newcastle The Marseille keeper Rulli has a bandaged noggin after Dan Burn accidentally stood on his head. There was a bit of a jostle at a corner and, as nasty as it looked, Burn was completely innocent.
Half time: Man City 0-1 Leverkusen
A crisp finish from Alex Grimaldo has put Leverkusen in front at the Etihad.
43 min: Marseille 0-1 Newcastle A chance at both ends. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang shoots just wide from 12 yards, then Anthony Gordon’s low shot across goal is palmed away by the diving Rulli.
The latest scores
Bodo/Glimt 1-0 Juventus
Chelsea 1-0 Barcelona
Dortmund 0-0 Villarreal
Man City 0-1 Leverkusen
Marseille 0-1 Newcastle
Napoli 0-0 Qarabag
Slavia Prague 0-0 Athletic Bilbao
Ajax 0-2 Benfica (FT)
Galatasaray 0-1 Union SG (FT)
On this day in 1995… Newcastle come from behind to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League.
Thirty years ago.
37 min: Man City 0-1 Leverkusen It sounds like Manchester City’s much changed side aren’t really at the races. If you have a farm, put it on Erling Haaland being introduced at half-time.
36 min: Marseille 0-1 Newcastle The lively 17-year-dold Darryl Bakola, slips Fabian Schar in the area, then for some reason decides to dive and is booked.
The latest scores
Bodo/Glimt 1-0 Juventus
Chelsea 1-0 Barcelona
Dortmund 0-0 Villarreal
Man City 0-1 Leverkusen
Marseille 0-1 Newcastle
Napoli 0-0 Qarabag
Slavia Prague 0-0 Athletic Bilbao
Ajax 0-2 Benfica (FT)
Galatasaray 0-1 Union SG (FT)
GOAL! Chelsea 1-0 Barcelona (Kounde og 28)
Jules Kounde has put Chelsea ahead at Stamford Bridge. Confused? You won’t be after an audience with Scott Murray.
GOAL! Bodo/Glimt 1-0 Juventus (27) Bodo/Glimt take the lead against Juventus. A corner from the right is flicked across goal and sidefooted into the net by Ole Didrik Blomberg. As things stand Juve are 29th in the Champions League table.
Updated
24 min: Chelsea 0-0 Barcelona Enzo Fernandez has had another goal disallowed at Stamford Bridge. Scott Murray is following that game.
GOAL! Man City 0-1 Leverkusen (Grimaldo 23)
Well well. Alex Grimaldo has put Leverkusen ahead at the Etihad. After a smooth Leverkusen counter, a cross from the right was touched off by Kofane to the onrushing Grimaldo, who rattled a first-time shot past James Trafford.
That’s Grimaldo’s eighth goal of the season, quite an effort for a wing-back.
Updated
20 min: Marseille 0-1 Newcastle Joe Willock lands an elbow on Darryl Bakola and is booked. I’m pretty sure he was only trying to block Bakola with his elbow but he caught him in the face with a stiff one.
19 min: Marseille 0-1 Newcastle A slash on the half turn from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is well saved by the diving Nick Pope. Marseille are coming into the gme.
15 min: Marseille 0-1 Newcastle So far so good for Newcastle, who have scored 11 goals without reply in the Champions League since they went 2-0 down to Barcelona in the first game.
Newcastle are playing a back three, incidentally, with Livramento and Murphy as the wing-backs.
The latest scores
Bodo/Glimt 0-0 Juventus
Chelsea 0-0 Barcelona
Dortmund 0-0 Villarreal
Man City 0-0 Leverkusen
Marseille 0-1 Newcastle
Napoli 0-0 Qarabag
Slavia Prague 0-0 Athletic Bilbao
Ajax 0-2 Benfica (FT)
Galatasaray 0-1 Union SG (FT)
8 min Slavia Prague 0-0 Athletic “Currently sat in Prague where I am struggling with the time,” writes Graham Randall. “Usually on GMT-5 but now on GMT+1. Couldn’t get a ticket to Slavia v Bilbao but did go on Saturday. Unfortunately couldn’t make the Dukla Praha game. Which was annoying.”
7 min: Chelsea 0-0 Barcelona Chelsea have had an early goal ruled out at Stamford Bridge. Scott Murray has all the deets.
7 min: Marseille 0-1 Newcastle Yep, Tonali was onside and Newcastle are ahead in France.
GOAL! Marseille 0-1 Newcastle (Barnes 6)
Harvey Barnes continues his brilliant form, finishing emphatically from 10 yards. Sandro Tonali’s cutback was diverted across the area by Anthony Gordon and Barnes snapped a left-foot shot past Geronimo Rulli.
There’s a check for offside against Tonali; it’s tight but I think he’s okay.
Updated
4 min: Marseille 0-0 Newcastle Malick Thiaw’s looping header is cleared off the line – but no matter because…
Kick off
Peep peep! The 8pm games are under way, and these are the latest scores.
Bodo/Glimt 0-0 Juventus
Chelsea 0-0 Barcelona
Dortmund 0-0 Villarreal
Man City 0-0 Leverkusen
Marseille 0-0 Newcastle
Napoli 0-0 Qarabag
Slavia Prague 0-0 Athletic Bilbao
Ajax 0-2 Benfica (FT)
Galatasaray 0-1 Union SG (FT)
“I so desperately want to be in Marseille for this one,” writes Chris Paraskevas, who instead is in Australia, where no major sport has taken place in the past week. Nope. Nada. Sweet bugger all.
“Being a huge fan of the French Connection, I would be geeking out on all the different ‘shooting’ locations, if you catch my drift. And in case you were wondering: yes, I definitely would have dressed up in my full-body Magpie outfit, despite the warnings of local police. Honestly, what could possibly go wrong on a trip like that? Usually when I get picked up by the cops I get away a warning/overnighter...”
I’ve never understood adults dressing up in outfits. Don’t get it at all. Nope.
“So,” says Eddy Nason, “is the new quiz being brought to you by Ant & Dec? It is a World Cup year coming after all... Also, enough of this European fancy-dannery, there’s a top of the table six-pointer in the Championship to worry about tonight!”
I think I’d rather be covering Middlesbrough v Coventry. Alas, The Man gets what The Man wants. But we will have goal updates from all tonight’s other games on our live scores page. The Man told me to link to that as well.
Why is it The Man anyway?
This is an important night for Newcastle, who will be sniffing automatic qualification for the last 16 if they win in Marseille. Their last three matches are Leverkusen (A), PSV (H) and PSG (H).
Manchester City will take nothing for granted after last year’s misery, especially as their away form is so unreliable. After tonight they play Real Madrid (A), Bodo/Glimt (A) and Galatasaray (H).
“Hi Rob,” writes Krishnamoorthy V. “Could one call the match that your colleague Scott Murray is helming as ‘match of the teens’?”
One could. One could do a lot of things. One could refer to oneself as one for the rest of one’s natural-born days. One could use this as an excuse to post the brilliant opening song from Paul Thomas Anderson’s feelgood romp Magnolia.
On the ball – guess the footballer
The Guardian has kicked off a new chapter in puzzles with the launch of its first daily football game, On the ball. It is now live in the app for both iOS and Android … so what are you waiting for?
Leonardo Balerdi starts for Marseille against Newcastle. And an engaging fellow he is.
There was one game before the 2022 World Cup when all my friends messaged me: ‘Do NOT injure Messi.’ I said: ‘Don’t say that!’ Playing against him was special but he played for PSG and I wanted to beat him.
Full time: Galatasaray 0-1 Union SG
Promise David’s goal has given Union SG a cracking victory in Turkey. They move to six points from five games; Gala stay on nine.
Full time: Ajax 0-2 Benfica
Jose Mourinho has won his first Champions League game Before Covid, 26 November 2019 to be precise. Ajax stay bottom with five defeats from five.
Updated
Leandro Barreiro’s superb late goal has put Benfica 2-0 up at Ajax. Union SG are 1-0 ahead away to Galatasaray.
Marseille v Newcastle team news
Eddie Howe makes three changes to the team that beat Manchester City. Dan Burn, Anthony Gordon and Joe Willock replace Lewis Hall, Joelinton and Nick Woltemade. Burn and Gordon are returning after suspension and injury respectively.
Mason Greenwood, the leading scorer in Ligue 1 with 10, starts for Marseille. Andre Gomes is on the bench.
Marseille (possible 4-2-3-1) Rulli; Weah, Pavard, Balerdi, Emerson Palmieri;
Vermeeren, Hojbjerg; Greenwood, Bakola, Igor Paixao; Aubameyang.
Subs: de Lange, Van Neck, Egan-Riley, Garcia, Gomes, O’Riley, Kondogbia, Nadir, Vaz, Mmadi.
Newcastle (4-3-3) Pope; Livramento, Thiaw, Schar, Burn; Bruno Guimaraes,
Tonali, Willock; J Murphy, Gordon, Barnes.
Subs: Thompson, Ramsdale, Hall, Botman, Joelinton, Elanga, Woltemade,
Alex Murphy, Ramsey, Miley, Alabi.
Referee Maurizio Mariani (Italy)
Man City v Leverkusen team news
Crikey, stop the press: Pep Guardiola has made ten changes from the defeat at Newcastle. Nico Gonzalez stays in the starting XI; the rest are on the bench.
The Leverkusen team includes former Liverpool defender Jarell Quansah.
Man City (possible 4-3-3) Trafford; Khusanov, Stones, Ake, Ait Nouri; Lewis, Gonzalez, Reijnders; Bobb, Marmoush, Savinho.
Subs: Bettinelli, Donnarumma, Dias, Haaland, Cherki, Doku, Silva, Matheus Nunes, Foden, O’Reilly, Gvardiol.
Bayer Leverkusen (possible 3-4-2-1) Flekken; Quansah, Bade, Belocian; Poku, Garcia, Maza, Grimaldo; Tillman, Kofane; Schick.
Subs: Lomb, Echeverri, Ben Seghir, Tella, Jeremiah Mensah, Culbreath, Hawighorst, Pohl, Schlich, Naba Mensah.
Referee Joao Pedro Pinheiro (Portugal)
Updated
Chelsea v Barcelona team news
Wesley Fofana, Moises Caicedo, Alejandro Garnacho, Malo Gusto and Estevao all come into the Chelsea side. Out go Tosin Adarabioyo, Andrey Santos, Jamie Gittens, Joao Pedro and Liam Delap.
Lamine Yamal starts for Barcelona; Marcus Rashford is on the bench.
Chelsea (possible 4-3-3) Sanchez; James, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella; Gusto, Caicedo, Enzo; Estevao, Pedro Neto, Garnacho.
Subs: Jorgensen, Adarabioyo, Badiashile, Delap, Bynoe-Gittens, Santos, Joao Pedro, Hato, George, Acheampong, Guiu, Buonanotte.
Barcelona (possible 4-2-3-1): Joan Garcia; Kounde, Araujo, Cubarsi, Balde; Eric Garcia, De Jong; Yamal, Lopez, Torres; Lewandowski.
Subs: Szczesny, Kochen, Raphinha, Rashford, Christensen, Casado, Gerard, Olmo, Bernal, Dro Fernandez, Bardghji.
Referee Slavko Vincic (Slovenia).
Updated
We have a separate live blog for Chelsea v Barcelona. Scott Murray, the MBM version of Diego Maradona is on duty for that.
The only previous meeting between Marseille and Newcastle was the Uefa Cup semi-final of 2003-04, won by an emerging superstar from Ivory Coast. Manchester City and Bayer Leverkusen have never met before. Chelsea and Barcelona have a peedie bit of history.
Updated
Just one goal in the first half of the two early games. Samuel Dahl sixth-minute sizzler has given Jose Mourinho’s Benfica™ a 1-0 lead away to Ajax.
Marseille v Newcastle preview
Although Newcastle arrived in the south of France on Monday fresh from their restorative 2-1 home Premier League win against Manchester City on Saturday, and having beaten Union Saint-Gilloise, Benfica and Athletic Bilbao in the Champions League, their sole away victory since early April came in Brussels at Union SG.
Not that Howe was overly keen to discuss the psychological aspect of this travel sickness. “The Champions League is different to Premier League games,” said a manager whose team are sixth in the European table, with nine points from a possible 12 and automatic progression to the knockout phase almost within touching distance. “I don’t know if you can compare them.”
Preamble
Hello and welcome to another orgy of Champions League football. There are nine games tonight, with three English teams involved. Chelsea meet Barcelona* in the match of the night, Newcastle go to Marseille and Manchester City – vulnerable away but magnificent at home – host Bayer Leverkusen.
We’re at the halfway point of the league stage, so the table is starting to take shape. All six English teams are in the top 12 – but there are only two points between fifth and sixteenth, so there’s a whiff of snakes and ladders about the whole thing. It’s all up for grabs.
These are tonight’s games, all 8pm kick-offs unless stated.
Ajax 0-1 Benfica (5.45pm)
Galatasaray 0-0 Union SG (5.45pm)
Bodo/Glimt v Juventus
Chelsea v Barcelona
Dortmund v Villarreal
Man City v Leverkusen
Marseille v Newcastle
Napoli v Qarabag
Slavia Prague v Athletic Bilbao
* You’re thinking about Ronaldinho, aren’t you?
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bayern Munich | 4 | 11 | 12 |
| 2 | Arsenal | 4 | 11 | 12 |
| 3 | Inter Milan | 4 | 10 | 12 |
| 4 | Man City | 4 | 7 | 10 |
| 5 | PSG | 4 | 9 | 9 |
| 6 | Newcastle | 4 | 8 | 9 |
| 7 | Real Madrid | 4 | 6 | 9 |
| 8 | Liverpool | 4 | 5 | 9 |
| 9 | Galatasaray | 4 | 2 | 9 |
| 10 | Tottenham Hotspur | 4 | 5 | 8 |
| 11 | Barcelona | 4 | 5 | 7 |
| 12 | Chelsea | 4 | 3 | 7 |
| 13 | Sporting | 4 | 3 | 7 |
| 14 | Borussia Dortmund | 4 | 2 | 7 |
| 15 | Qarabag FK | 4 | 1 | 7 |
| 16 | Atalanta | 4 | -2 | 7 |
| 17 | Atletico Madrid | 4 | 1 | 6 |
| 18 | PSV | 4 | 2 | 5 |
| 19 | Monaco | 4 | -2 | 5 |
| 20 | AE Pafos | 4 | -3 | 5 |
| 21 | Bayer Leverkusen | 4 | -4 | 5 |
| 22 | Club Brugge | 4 | -2 | 4 |
| 23 | Eintracht Frankfurt | 4 | -4 | 4 |
| 24 | Napoli | 4 | -5 | 4 |
| 25 | Marseille | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| 26 | Juventus | 4 | -1 | 3 |
| 27 | Athletic Bilbao | 4 | -5 | 3 |
| 28 | Union Saint Gilloise | 4 | -8 | 3 |
| 29 | Bodo/Glimt | 4 | -3 | 2 |
| 30 | Slavia Prague | 4 | -6 | 2 |
| 31 | Olympiacos | 4 | -7 | 2 |
| 32 | Villarreal | 4 | -4 | 1 |
| 33 | Copenhagen | 4 | -8 | 1 |
| 34 | FC Kairat | 4 | -9 | 1 |
| 35 | Benfica | 4 | -6 | 0 |
| 36 | Ajax | 4 | -13 | 0 |
