PSG vs Man City and Porto vs Liverpool, Premier League injury latest
The second Champions League matchweek brings with it more mouthwatering ties as Paris Saint-Germain host Manchester City, Liverpool travel to Porto and AC Milan face Atletico Madrid in today's fixtures.
City will be looking to build on their impressive victory over Chelsea on Saturday, while PSG know they must improve after a disappointing draw against Club Bruges in their first match.
Elsewhere, UEFA has requested the removal of the Spanish judge presiding over the Super League case as the fallout continues from last season's debacle...
Join The Athletic throughout Tuesday for the latest Champions League and Premier League updates ahead of today's matches.
(Photo: Catherine Steenkeste/Getty Images)
•7m ago
Kick-off in the early Champions League matches
This evening's early Champions League games are now underway. In Group D, Inter Milan are in action away to Shakhtar Donetsk.
Ajax are at home to Turkish side Besiktas in Group C.
•26m ago
Klopp wary of Porto
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is wary of Porto's threat as he says "This is a top team", ahead of their meeting tonight.
The Reds remain unbeaten against the Portuguese side and they even managed to a 5-0 win at the Stadio do Dragao in 2018. But Klopp has warned his team, Porto could be out for revenge.
Speaking in his press conference on Monday, he said: “Porto always changed a bit but it’s still the same manager and it’s not an advantage at all that we won the last two games there. Absolutely not. You only have to put yourself in the position of the opponent and the first thing you would want to do is make sure a similar thing doesn’t happen again.
"That doesn’t make our job easier for sure. For them it is another reason to be motivated on the highest level but it doesn’t change the situation.
“We don’t think about the last two games we played there. We think about this one. They qualify year in, year out for the Champions League and they are always first or second in the Portuguese League. That is a top team and that is what we are preparing for. Not the team we beat in the past.”
•51m ago
Dortmund change Champions League shirt after fan backlash to ‘badgeless’ design
The German side came under fire for wearing a kit with a barely visible club badge in their opening fixture against Besiktas.
Dortmund wore a special Champions League strip designed by Puma during their 2-1 win in Turkey, with the crest only outlined on the classic yellow shirt.
•1h ago
Some evening entertainment
If you're on your way back home from work after a long day, you can quicken up your journey by listening to The Athletic Football Podcast.
Mark Chapman is joined by Adam Crafton, David Ornstein and Jack Pitt-Brooke as they dissect Sunday's north London derby and more.
•1h ago
Wayne Rooney's Manchester United debut
On this day 17 years ago, Wayne Rooney made his debut for Manchester United and he went on to score THAT hat-trick against Fenerbahce in the Champions League.
Just how good was he that night?
The Athletic's Michael Cox revisited that night in the article below.
GO FURTHER
Reconsidered: Just how good was Wayne Rooney on his Manchester United debut?
•2h ago
Willian: It was my decision to leave Arsenal
Former Arsenal and Chelsea winger Willian insists it was his decision to leave the Gunners.
The Brazilian brought his eight-year stay in England to an end earlier this summer, after just one year with north London club.
He told Arena SBT: “My year at Arsenal was a bit complicated. I really couldn’t adapt to the club. I wasn’t happy there.
“To make it very clear too, it wasn’t the club that wanted me to leave. I wanted to leave the club. I expressed my feeling, said I wasn’t happy. I said I wanted to look elsewhere, another place to play. And so there was this decision to leave.
"There are things in life that money can’t buy, money doesn’t pay for. You have joy, happiness, peace, a solid family. I think this is the most important thing for me.”
•2h ago
European Championship and Copa America winners to face off in friendly series
Euro 2020 winners Italy and Copa America champions Argentina will face each other in a friendly in June next summer – although a venue for the game is yet to be confirmed.
There will also be further games held between the winners of each competition after the next two editions of each tournament.
•3h ago
Mahrez full of compliments for PSG
Riyad Mahrez was full of compliments for PSG ahead of Manchester City's meeting with the French side tonight.
The two sides met in the semifinal of the Champions League last season and Pep Guardiola's side won 4-1 on aggregate to advance to the final - which they eventually lost to Chelsea.
Mahrez said: “Obviously, PSG are a very very good team.
“They are stronger this season, they have a bigger squad, but I think it will be more or less the same game as last season - very tight and the best on the day will win.
“They have strength everywhere, up front and behind. I forgot Ramos and the keeper as well, they have strengthened the whole team.
“They always had a good defence anyway but with Ramos and his experience and the new keeper as well is very good".
•3h ago
Tuchel on players' COVID-19 vaccination
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel was asked about how many of his players are vaccinated following N'golo Kante's positive COVID-19 test.
The 48-year-old said: "I don't know, I simply don't know. We are a reflection of society, the players are adults and they have a free choice. We should accept it. This is more or less all I can say. I know the situation is far from over. It makes you very aware it is not over."
On whether players should be leading by example, Tuchel said: "Do I have the right to say it? I'm not so sure. It is a serious question, vaccinations seems to be a proper protection, I am vaccinated but I don't see myself in the position to speak out on recommendations."
•3h ago
Chelsea team news
N'golo Kante will also miss out after testing positive for COVID-19.
•4h ago
Gareth Bale left out of Wales squad after ‘significant hamstring tear’
Wales manager Robert Page confirmed Bale’s injury status with the forward having missed Real Madrid’s last six fixtures.
Despite the severity of Bale’s injury, Page did allay fears that his captain may even miss the next set of international fixtures in November.
•4h ago
Unai Emery: I'm not afraid of Manchester United
Villarreal manager Unai Emery insists he is not afraid of Manchester United but is wary of the threat the Red Devils pose ahead of tomorrow's clash at Old Trafford.
The Yellow Submarine beat United in the final of the Europa League on penalties last season but will head into tomorrow as the underdogs.
Emery said: "I’m not afraid of Manchester United we respect them ok, respect is important. If you lose respect you may lose.
"Man Utd is the clear favourite. It was also the favourite in the final. We played a competitive match but they also had the options.
"They lost against Young Boys, it was the favourite very less favourite but there was a surprise. If you lose respect the other team may take advantage of that
"Tomorrow, Manchester will be the best Manchester, they have to prove their power. What Solskjaer has done for as a player and a coach, we have to respect them., they are the favourites."
•4h ago
Manchester United team news
Harry Maguire will miss United's game against Villarreal tomorrow after picking up a calf injury in the 1-0 loss to Aston Villa on Saturday.
Luke shaw was also forced off over the weekend but could feature against the Spanish side.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said: "Luke (Shaw) has been in today so I’ll give him a chance to be involved, he didn’t train with the team. Harry (Maguire) is more or less definitely out, it doesn’t look good. It's his calf, that might take a few weeks."
•5h ago
Pep Guardiola: I hope Messi will play
Pep Guardiola is hoping Lionel Messi will be involved in tonight's clash against PSG. The Argentine is set to feature after recovering from a minor injury.
The pair spent time together during Guardiola's four years as manager of Barcelona.
The Manchester City manager said: "This type of player (Messi) speaks for himself on the pitch. I don’t have to add anything. We're fortunate to see him for 15 years. I don’t have to talk about him or describe him. I hope he plays tomorrow for the benefit of the game."
GO FURTHER
Messi and Guardiola: The complex relationship between two people who won everything together
•5h ago
Lionel Messi fit enough for PSG vs Man City but may not start — Pochettino
Messi, 34, was involved in a training session with the rest of his PSG team-mates on Tuesday morning. He missed both Saturday's win over Montpellier and last Wednesday's game against Metz due to a minor injury.
And his manager Mauricio Pochettino has now said he will be fit enough to be in the squad for the Champions League game at the Parc des Princes.
•5h ago
Tonight's Champions League matches
There's plenty of Champions League games tonight with some of the big hitters set to go head-to-head. The fixtures are as follows:
Shakhtar Donetsk vs Inter Milan
Ajax vs Besiktas
Real Madrid vs Sheriff
AC Milan vs Atletico Madrid
Borussia Dortmund vs Sporting Lisbon
PSG vs Man City
Porto vs Liverpool
RB Leipzig vs Club Brugge
•5h ago
UEFA abandons ESL disciplinary action against Barcelona, Real, and Juventus
This follows an order from a Madrid court which banned UEFA from taking disciplinary action against Super League clubs, who announced their plans for a breakaway league in April.
They gave UEFA five days to confirm that they would follow the terms of the injunction, and not pass measures against Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Juventus — the only three teams of the original 12 who still actively support the project.
•5h ago
United to hold behind closed doors friendly to aid Rashford's return to fitness
The forward has been out since the start of the season following shoulder surgery. Rashford played at Euro 2020 but had the operation to deal with the ongoing problem, having managed the issue since November 2020.
Rashford announced on Twitter that he would have an appointment with the doctor to get the green light to return to full contact training.
•5h ago
UEFA appeals for Spanish judge to be removed from Super League case
The clubs were among the 12 “founding members” of the breakaway league, which later collapsed.
UEFA will also appeal the court’s decision to ban the organisation from taking disciplinary action against the three clubs.
•5h ago
Roger Hunt: Ex-Liverpool and England striker dies aged 83
“Liverpool FC is mourning the passing of legendary former player Roger Hunt,” the club said in a statement on Tuesday.
“The thoughts of everybody at Liverpool FC are with Roger’s family and friends at this sad and difficult time.”
•5h ago
Good afternoon!
Hello and welcome to our live news coverage. Stay with us throughout the day as we bring you coverage of today's football news, the build-up to tonight's Champions League games and much more!
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