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Welcome to another night of thrilling European Cup soccer. Nine matches are planned for this evening, featuring 3 English teams in action. Chelsea meet Barça in the key fixture of the night, whilst The Magpies visit the French side and City host Leverkusen.

Current Standings

It's the midway stage of the group stage, so the rankings is beginning to form. All six British teams are currently in the upper twelve, however there are only two points between fifth and 16th position, so there's a hint of snakes and ladders about the whole thing. All remains open.

Match Schedule

Here are tonight’s matches, each starting at 8pm except where noted:

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

Squad Updates

Fofana, Moises Caicedo, Garnacho, Malo Gusto and Estevao are included in the Blues side. Out go Tosin Adarabioyo, Andrey Santos, Gittens, Pedro and Liam Delap.

Lamine Yamal starts for Barcelona; Marcus Rashford is among the substitutes.

The Blues (possible four-three-three) Sanchez; Reece James, Wesley Fofana, Trevoh Chalobah, Cucurella; Malo Gusto, Caicedo, Enzo; Estevao, Neto, Alejandro Garnacho.

Substitutes: Kjell Scherpen, Tosin Adarabioyo, Benoit Badiashile, Liam Delap, Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, Andrey Santos, Pedro, Jorrel Hato, George, Joshua Acheampong, Marc Guiu, Buonanotte.

Barcelona (possible 4-2-3-1): Joan Garcia; Kounde, Araujo, Cubarsi, Balde; Garcia, De Jong; Yamal, Lopez, Torres; Robert Lewandowski.

Subs: Wojciech Szczesny, Kochen, Raphinha, Rashford, Andreas Christensen, Casado, Gerard, Olmo, Noah Darvich, Dro Fernandez, Roony Bardghji.

Official Slavko Vincic (Slovenian).

Historical Context

The only previous meeting involving Marseille and Newcastle was the Europa League semifinal of 2004, won by an emerging superstar from Ivory Coast. Manchester City and Bayer Leverkusen have never met before. Chelsea and Barcelona have some past encounters.

Initial Game Reports

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

Newcastle’s Trip to Marseille

Even though Newcastle arrived in the south of France fresh from their restorative 2-1 home Premier League victory against Manchester City on the weekend, and having defeated Union Saint-Gilloise, Benfica and Bilbao in the European Cup, their sole away victory since early April came in Brussels at Union SG.

Not that Eddie Howe was overly keen to talk about the mental side of this travel sickness. “The European Cup is different to domestic games,” said the manager, whose side are 6th in the European table, with 9 points from a available 12 and direct qualification to the knockout phase nearly secured. “I don’t know if you can compare them.”

A dedicated live feed is available for Barcelona vs Chelsea. Murray, the MBM equivalent of Diego Maradona is on duty for that.