Match reports, reaction and more
That is all from me today but stay tuned for more reaction from tonight’s big games on theguardian.com/football. As always, thank you for tuning in and all your emails! Join us tomorrow for live coverage of Club Brugge v Aston Villa and Inter v Arsenal.
Brendan Rodgers on Celtic’s 3-1 victory:
We were able to press really well with the energy of the crowd. For us to score three against a team that has only conceded a few all season tells you about us. It is a mark of a team that is maturing. We got edgy but we regained our composure. What we did well tonight was show charisma on the ball and picked up the spaces to play between them.
Clearly, we are in a very good position [with seven points]. It tells you the ability of the players. But still another four games to go. We want to continue to build our mentality at this level.
Pep Guardiola on the defeat:
I cannot say much when you lose 4-1. Congratulations to sporting. We are struggling to create and we concede. Especially against bournemouth, they were much much better.
Here, we were good in first half but they can run and they punished us a little. Emotionally, we were not stable enough and in this competition you need to be more stable.
Jamie Jackson was at Estádio José Alvalade and got to see a preview of the Manchester derby in December: “Guardiola, in the technical area, was cast as impotent, while Amorim, on the other side, as the coach of cunning and control.”
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Ewan Murray’s verdict from Celtic Park where the hosts “find themselves in a hugely exciting Champions League position, having seen off the team sitting second top of the Bundesliga in a manner which belied years of struggles at this level.”
Updated
Bernardo Silva speaks after Man City’s 4-1 defeat in Lisbon:
Weird feeling. I actually thought we started well. We were controlling the game. We knew how strong they would be in the counter. in the beg of the sec half we jsut gave them too many opportunities.
Disappointing because we’re in a bit of a dark place. we concede too easily. We need to look inside and start being better very quickly or it will be difficult to come back from these losses.
I don’t remember in 7 1/2 seasons this team losing three games in a row.
We’re still in the main competitions but we need to be better. Our injured players need to come back because we need them.
Your final thoughts!
Kári on the surprise package of the CL:
Monaco are on 10 points already. Adi Hütter, who was no one’s idea of a star appointment, has gotten a really lovely tune out of a bunch of players that didn’t seem likely to tear up trees in the Champions League. I’ve found myself gripped by how bad Real Madrid have been. And yet somehow I expect them to win, like a stage magician being dunked chained up into a glass water tank.
Tom on my ‘statement for Milan’ comment:
Don’t worry, the Spanish club’s press office will have their own “It is obvious AC Milan do not respect Real Madrid” counter-statement ready for release by tomorrow morning, no doubt?
More wordplay from Gary:
The prospect of Man City losing three games in a row has Pep sporting a frown.
Andy on what it takes to beat Guardiola:
It seems to me that what Sporting have proven tonight is that what you need to beat Manchester City is a former Coventry City forward. I bet Ellis Simms is waiting for the call from Amorim as he rebuilds United.
Dylan gives his two cents on the name debate:
Regarding the Sporting “Lisbon” correction; their name is Sporting Club de Portugal. There’s no “Lisbon” to speak of. It’s similar to the “Inter Milan” mistake made regularly, or for a lesser known example, “Zenit St Petersburg” (who are in fact just called “Football club Zenit”).
And J.A laments a decision:
Gvardiol won the ball, flicking it away with his toe. never a pen, not Var-ed. In the first half, Bernardo tripped then wrestled to the ground in the box, nothing given.
How it stands after tonight’s matches.
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liverpool | 4 | 9 | 12 |
| 2 | Sporting | 4 | 7 | 10 |
| 3 | Monaco | 4 | 6 | 10 |
| 4 | Borussia Dortmund | 4 | 7 | 9 |
| 5 | Aston Villa | 3 | 6 | 9 |
| 6 | Man City | 4 | 6 | 7 |
| 7 | Brest | 3 | 5 | 7 |
| 8 | Inter Milan | 3 | 5 | 7 |
| 9 | Arsenal | 3 | 3 | 7 |
| 10 | Juventus | 4 | 2 | 7 |
| 11 | Bayer Leverkusen | 4 | 1 | 7 |
| 12 | Lille | 4 | 1 | 7 |
| 13 | Celtic | 4 | 0 | 7 |
| 14 | Dinamo Zagreb | 4 | -2 | 7 |
| 15 | Barcelona | 3 | 7 | 6 |
| 16 | Benfica | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| 17 | Real Madrid | 4 | 2 | 6 |
| 18 | AC Milan | 4 | 1 | 6 |
| 19 | Feyenoord | 3 | -1 | 6 |
| 20 | Atalanta | 3 | 3 | 5 |
| 21 | PSV | 4 | 2 | 5 |
| 22 | Stuttgart | 3 | -1 | 4 |
| 23 | PSG | 3 | -1 | 4 |
| 24 | Sparta Prague | 3 | -2 | 4 |
| 25 | Bayern Munich | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| 26 | Girona | 4 | -4 | 3 |
| 27 | Club Brugge | 3 | -4 | 3 |
| 28 | Atletico Madrid | 3 | -5 | 3 |
| 29 | Shakhtar Donetsk | 3 | -4 | 1 |
| 30 | Bologna | 4 | -5 | 1 |
| 31 | RB Leipzig | 4 | -5 | 0 |
| 32 | Sturm Graz | 4 | -5 | 0 |
| 33 | Red Star Belgrade | 3 | -9 | 0 |
| 34 | Red Bull Salzburg | 3 | -9 | 0 |
| 35 | Young Boys | 3 | -9 | 0 |
| 36 | Slovan Bratislava | 4 | -13 | 0 |
What a night of Champions League football! Rúben Amorim says farewell to the Estádio José Alvalade with an emphatic win and simultaneously won over half of Manchester; Celtic recorded one of their best European victories in an electric home comeback against Leipzig; Milan beat Real Madrid in their home for the first time in 15 years in a merited victory; Lille and Juventus play out a draw which the French side will be disappointed with after a dubious penalty and Dortmund and Monaco earn the three points by the skin of their teeth with late goals.
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Full-time across the grounds
Sporting 4-1 Manchester City
Celtic 3-1 RB Leipzig
Real Madrid 1-3 Milan
Lille 1-1 Juventus
Bologna 0-1 Monaco
Borussia Dortmund 1-0 Sturm Graz
Updated
GOAL! Bologna 0-1 Monaco (Kehrer 86)
We officially now have had a goal in every game tonight after the Monaco captain scores from his first touch after a corner comes in at the far post.
Updated
GOAL! Borussia Dortmund 1-0 Sturm (Malen 85)
Finally! Malen hammers straight into the corner after being played in by Guirassy. Dortmund really should have wrapped this up ages ago. VAR takes a look but the goal is given quickly.
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GOAL! Sporting 4-1 Manchester City (Gyökeres 80 pen)
Well this was unexpected. Nunes pulls back Catamo in the box (a gift for his former club, maybe?) and Gyökeres shows Haaland how it’s done from the spot (again).
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GOAL! Real Madrid 1-3 Milan (Reijnders 73)
Statement from Milan! Leão on the left evades a challenge and surges forward before finding Reijnders completely unmarked in the box. The pass is behind the goalscorer but he takes a funny little half-flick touch before finishing it off. Not sure how many times Real Madrid’s defence is going to pretend that they … do not have to defend.
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GOAL! Celtic 3-1 RB Leipzig (Hatate 72)
Oh no! It’s a mistake from Gulacsi and Hatate cannot believe his luck. The RB Leipzig keeper opts to first parry a ball in before deciding to catch it but he makes the decision too late and the midfielder’s quick thinking and quick feet forces an instint finish! Could this be the marquee victory Celtic have needed in this competition?
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PENALTY MISS! Sporting 3-1 Manchester City
Drama in Lisbon! Silva takes a shot that hits the arm of Diomande, who is diving down trying to block the shot. It goes to VAR who deem it a penalty due to Diomande’s arm being in an “unnatural position” (our favourite words here on the Guardian sports desk).
The boos and the whistles are deafening as Haaland stands over the ball and his effort hits the bar. Pandemonium for all the Sporting fans!
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Liverpool have just scored twice at Anfield against the German champions … Follow along with Rob Smyth’s MBM.
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GOAL! Lille 1-1 Juventus (Vlahovic 60 pen)
André concedes a penalty for a foul on Conceição. There is contact in the trip but the Juve player certainly milks it … Vlahovic steps up and his penalty goes straight to the bottom right.
More from all you!
Gary leads with a perfect pun:
Rúben Amorim beating Pep and Man City before he even moves to Old Trafford wouldn’t be very sporting.
Gory on what the Lisbon faithful favour:
I think Sporting fans prefer Sporting CP (Club Portugal) or simply Sporting to Sporting Lisbon but you know what thought did - followed a muck cart because he thought it was a wedding.
And Krishna with the correction:
Arajuo’s shot is indeed powerful if it can evade Everton!
Yikes from me! Has been fixed …
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GOAL! Sporting 3-1 Manchester City (Gyökeres 49 pen)
Well then. Twenty seconds after the kick-off from Sporting’s goal, Gvardiol fouls Trincão in the box after pushing him from behind and Gyökeres fires the penalty straight into the bottom right corner. Do City even have the best Scandinavian striker anymore?
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GOAL! Sporting 2-1 Manchester City (Araújo 46)
We’re back underway and 20 seconds later Sporting are in front! The hosts pass the ball around and Gonçalves feeds a neat ball to Araújo, whose powerful shot evades Ederson.
Updated
Some half-time emails!
I reckon Steve will get some calls from some producers soon for this idea:
So Noel Gallagher’s on co-comms for the game. No doubt Rod The Mod will be doing the Celtic game?
Peter has apparently just learned poker:
Pep Guardiola may boast a Norwegian ace, but Ruben Amorim has got a Gyökeres up his sleeve.
Krishna with the analysis:
It is foolish to write off Real Madrid, more so when you have Carlo at the helm. But have they started to appear less invincible this season. Mbappe’s curse?
They have looked weaker but a part of me wants to say they always do this. They will probably go on and win their 567th CL in May. That being said, they have now trailed in each of their last three European matches - Lille, Dortmund and now Milan.
Paul with the correction:
TNT continually refer to Sporting CP as Sporting Lisbon in their TV coverage. Ask any Sporting fan and they’ll be pretty upset by that – basic error!! You guys are not doing it though!!
Not sure what you mean?? Anyway, I will use half-time to catch up on the latest Edu news coming out of London Arsenal London.
And Robin is uninterested in all of this:
I’ve reached the point of not caring less about any of the results in the Champions League. When we reach the last two rounds, it might have jeopardy for a couple of teams, but it already feels like an awful lot of ties where the results have very little consequence.
Do I have a half-time read for you. Check it out below.
Half-time scores
The half-time whistle has blown across the grounds. Here is where we stand:
Sporting 1-1 Manchester City
Celtic 2-1 RB Leipzig
Real Madrid 1-2 Milan
Lille 1-0 Juventus
Bologna 0-0 Monaco
Borussia Dortmund 0-0 Sturm Graz
GOAL! Celtic 2-1 RB Leipzig (Kühn 45+1)
What a time to get a second goal! Fantastic counterpress from Celtic in the right hand corner is perfect, suffocating the visitors. It’s a perfect ball from Taylor which finds Kühn and he only has one goal in mind. Celtic Park’s roof might just fly off from the noise.
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GOAL! Real Madrid 1-2 Milan (Morata 39)
Again, no defence in sight for the hosts and the Italian side are happy to capitalise. The striker is quick to react after Leão’s chance and puts his side ahead with a goal into an empty net. He does love a goal against Real Madrid, that you cannot deny.
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GOAL! Sporting 1-1 Manchester City (Gyökeres 38)
He’s had a poor opening half but the striker does what he has time and time again – show up in the big moments. Quenda finds Gyökeres with a weighted and he outpaces Simpson-Pusey before equalising.
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GOAL! Celtic 1-1 RB Leipzig (Kühn 35)
Beautiful strike from Kühn, who gets the ball far on the right, dribbles inside and is given all the time to hit one as the ball hits the inside of the post before surging in.
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GOAL! Lille 1-0 Juventus (David 27)
A fantastic through ball from Zhegrova finds the striker who surges forward and finishes with his right foot at the far post. The assist takes three Juve players out of the game and makes it the goal of the night so far.
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GOAL! Celtic 0-1 RB Leipzig (Baumgartner 23)
The hosts have impressed but it all comes undone from a corner. Kampl’s inswinging corner is deflected off a Celtic head before it finds Baumgartner who nods it past Schmeichel before the keeper can even react.
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GOAL! Real Madrid 1-1 Milan (Vinícius Jr 23 pen)
The Brazilian is brought down in the box by Emerson in what is a clear foul and he dinks a cool penalty down the middle to level it in Madrid.
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Bologna 0-0 Monaco: The ball is in the back of the net but it is disallowed after a VAR check after Singo fouls Skorupski.
GOAL! Real Madrid 0-1 Milan (Thiaw 12)
Madrid’s defence is caught sleeping as Thiaw rises above everyone in the box and thumps a header straight past Courtois from a perfect Pulisic corner for his first goal for the club.
Pulisic is having some season so far in Italy – that is now seven goals and four assists in all competitions this season.
Updated
Sporting 0-1 Manchester City: Huge chance for the hosts that they fail to capitalise on. City lose the ball and Gyökeres runs onto the pass to counters. He is 1v1 against Ederson but his shot is straight into the keeper’s hands. Why did he not go round him there?!
GOAL! Sporting 0-1 Manchester City (Foden 4)
So sloppy from Morita. He’s easily disposed by Foden and the City midfielder is able to run onwards and strike the opener. Strange from Israel. The goalkeeper thinks his defender will block the shot and he completely mistimes his attempted save.
Welcome to Manchester, Amorim.
Updated
Kick-off across the grounds
After a moment of silence for the flood victims in Valencia we are underway across the grounds. Here we go!
Sporting 0-0 Manchester City
Celtic 0-0 RB Leipzig
Real Madrid 0-0 Milan
Lille 0-0 Juventus
Bologna 0-0 Monaco
Borussia Dortmund 0-0 Sturm Graz
Results from the two early kick-offs:
W for PSV 👊#UCL pic.twitter.com/YPFvuxhX82
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) November 5, 2024
Kulenović inspires GNK Dinamo 🔵#UCL pic.twitter.com/i5TTslGNDF
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) November 5, 2024
Let’s take a look at some fun stats – one for each of the late games:
Erling Haaland needs one goal to reach the landmark figure of 45 goals in the Champions League. He could achieve that tonight on what is only his 43rd appearance in the tournament. The fastest player to 45 goals remains Ruud van Nistelrooy, who reached the milestone on his 56th outing.
Kasper Schmeichel celebrates his 38th birthday today, becoming the joint oldest player to feature in a Champions League game on his birthday, joining former Arsenal goalkeeper, David Seaman, who started against Schalke in September 2001.
Kylian Mbappé needs just one more goal to join Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Robert Lewandowski, Karim Benzema, Raúl González, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Thomas Müller and Thierry Henry as players who have scored 50 times in the Champions League (excluding qualifying).
Borussia Dortmund have won their past 10 games in all competitions at their home ground, and are unbeaten in their past 11. But they have lost three of their previous 18 in the Champions League at home.
Monaco have won just three of their last 15 European meetings against Italian opposition.
This is the first ever meeting between Lille and Juventus in any competition.
Alistair Johnston tells TNT Sports his rallying cry for his Celtic teammates: still be in Europe at the turn of the year.
Celtic Park on a Champions League night. There is nothing like it. I am not even sure if the noise made is humane. It’s impossible to not get shivers up your spine.
Four points after three matches and we have a chance to put ourselves in the drivers seat. There is huge ambition within this group. We do want to be playing in Europe in January. It is a big aim for us this year. It’s not going to be easy but matches like this give you a great opportunity for it.
Our first email of the night comes from Krishna:
Hasn’t anyone told Amorim that the moniker for OT has changed to Theatre of Nightmares? Or doesn’t he follow football? Who in his right mind would walk into the quicksand that is further made unstable by the blue whirlpool circling it relentlessly?
The very best will of course want a challenge and he clearly thinks he can be the guy to turn it around. Many close to him can attest to the fact that he is a young, fresh, manager on the way up, with vision and drive and personality.
But the worry is that it is somehow bigger than Amorim and Erik ten Hag and all the others before him. Is there simply something about the United job that is just too big, too difficult, too chaotic? Let’s see.
Xabi Alonso’s Anfield homecoming is set to be special, as the former Reds midfielder returns with the German champions Bayer Leverkusen. In an alternate universe Alonso could have been the one on home team’s touchline as he was linked once Jürgen Klopp announced his departure. But he doesn’t have time for ifs and maybes.
Let’s talk about the game tomorrow, it’s more interesting than my future. It feels great to be back after a few years. It’s always special. You notice the development of the club, the new stands look pretty amazing. Is a big game against Liverpool in a great moment, it cannot get much better than that.
I am not thinking that much [about how he will be received]. I am thinking more about how to prepare for the game. I might think about my memories when I go for a walk or a run tomorrow. I know the city, I love it and I still have friends here, but I don’t have time for tourism.
Read Andy Hunter’s preview below.
And follow my colleague Rob Smyth’s MBM of the match in Liverpool here.
Brendan Rodgers has called Celtic fans who use fireworks selfish and has reiterated his call for supporters to stop using pyrotechnics, with the Bonfire Night Champions League visit of RB Leipzig raising fears of a Uefa ban.
Supporters’ use of fireworks during last month’s 7-1 defeat by Borussia Dortmund led to Celtic being fined by Uefa and told their fans will be banned from attending an away fixture if there is another such incident within two years. The warning was heeded when Celtic drew away to Atalanta two weeks ago, but kick-off was delayed at Saturday’s Scottish League Cup semi-final against Aberdeen after yet another Celtic pyro display. Uefa is keeping a close eye on the matter.
It’s just exactly what we said before, it’s not something that we really want to see. There’s that sanction hanging over the club and we really don’t want that.
Read more on Rodgers’ thoughts below.
The two 5.45pm GMT kick-offs are heading into the final 20 minutes and here is how things stand.
PSV lead Girona 2-0 with Ryan Flamingo’s header from a throw-in opening their account before Malik Tillman doubled their lead drilling a powerful, right-footed effort after some fine dribbling skills. A second yellow for Arnau Martínez means a comeback for the Spaniards is unlikely.
Slovan striked early after David Strelec got on the end of a counterattack but the hosts now trail Dinamo 1-3 after goals from Dario Spikic, Petar Sucic and Sandro Kulenovic.
Team news: Borussia Dortmund v Sturm Graz
So starten wir gegen Graz! 🚨#BVBSTU pic.twitter.com/sERIMpjlJF
— Borussia Dortmund (@BVB) November 5, 2024
Sportklub Sturm Graz in Europa – unsere Aufstellung gegen den @BVB ist da! ⚫⚪ #sturmgraz #UCL #BVBSTU
— SK Sturm Graz (@SKSturm) November 5, 2024
____________
BVB -:- STU |⏱️21:00 pic.twitter.com/CfK33lamIY
Team news: Bologna v Monaco
⭐️ 𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐌𝐀𝐙𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐄 ⭐️
— Bologna FC 1909 (@Bolognafc1909) November 5, 2024
Gli 1️⃣1️⃣ scelti da mister Vincenzo Italiano per #BolognaMonaco ⤵️#UCL #WeAreOne pic.twitter.com/iRmNuUTSOF
👥 Le 𝗫𝗜 𝗱𝗲 𝗱𝗲́𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 🆚 @Bolognafc1909@ChampionsLeague🌟
— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) November 5, 2024
‣ #BFCASM pic.twitter.com/7L4MEL8vPd
Team news: Lille v Juventus
Le 11 des Dogues est là, avec une nouvelle titularisation pour Ayyoub Bouaddi aux côtés du capitaine Benjamin André ⚔️#LOSCJuve pic.twitter.com/58DsuEmFIt
— LOSC (@losclive) November 5, 2024
✍🏻 Gli 1️⃣1️⃣ giocatori che scenderanno in campo al fischio di inizio di #LOSCJuve #UCL 📜 pic.twitter.com/lTGOZ0vPzW
— JuventusFC (@juventusfc) November 5, 2024
Team news: Real Madrid v Milan
📋✅ ¡Nuestro XI inicial!
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) November 5, 2024
🆚 @acmilan #UCL pic.twitter.com/0JFOd4hTQS
Your AC Milan starting 11 for a huge night at the Bernabéu 📋#RealMilan #UCL #SempreMilan pic.twitter.com/bWtiWW6kkF
— AC Milan (@acmilan) November 5, 2024
Team news: Sporting v Manchester City
Os Leões 👥 titulares no jogo de hoje! #SCPMCI #UCL pic.twitter.com/pqMe1ZoAYX
— Sporting CP (@SportingCP) November 5, 2024
Your City line-up in Lisbon! 🩵
— Manchester City (@ManCity) November 5, 2024
XI | Ederson, Lewis, Simpson-Pusey, Akanji, Gvardiol, Kovacic, Bernardo (C), Savinho, Foden, Nunes, Haaland
SUBS | Ortega Moreno, Carson, Walker, Ake, Doku, De Bruyne, Gundogan, Wright, O'Reilly, McAtee, Wilson-Esbrand#ManCity | #UCL pic.twitter.com/vuuzxNkMe3
Team news: Celtic v RB Leipzig
📋 Team News
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) November 5, 2024
Here's how we line up for Matchday 4! 🔢
#CelticLeipzig | #UCL | #CelticFC🍀 pic.twitter.com/HeSgK5wuPm
Start-XI vs. @CelticFC 📋
— RB Leipzig (@RBLeipzig) November 5, 2024
Come on 🔥#CELRBL #UCL pic.twitter.com/SpdAOnI06c
Here is a sneak peak of David Squires’s latest cartoon on Manchester United’s hive mind choosing Rúben Amorim.
Check out the full cartoon below.
The current Champions League table as it stands. Aston Villa top with nine points from three games, naturally.
A reminder as to how the new rules of the competition work. At the end of the league phase, the top eight teams will advance to the round of 16. Teams 9-16 will advance to knockout phase playoffs (seeded) and teams 17-24 will advance to knockout phase playoffs (unseeded). The bottom 12 will be eliminated from Europa and will none will drop to the Europa League (unlike previous seasons).
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aston Villa | 3 | 6 | 9 |
| 2 | Liverpool | 3 | 5 | 9 |
| 3 | Man City | 3 | 9 | 7 |
| 4 | Monaco | 3 | 5 | 7 |
| 5 | Brest | 3 | 5 | 7 |
| 6 | Bayer Leverkusen | 3 | 5 | 7 |
| 7 | Inter Milan | 3 | 5 | 7 |
| 8 | Sporting | 3 | 4 | 7 |
| 9 | Arsenal | 3 | 3 | 7 |
| 10 | Barcelona | 3 | 7 | 6 |
| 11 | Borussia Dortmund | 3 | 6 | 6 |
| 12 | Real Madrid | 3 | 4 | 6 |
| 13 | Benfica | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| 14 | Juventus | 3 | 2 | 6 |
| 15 | Lille | 3 | 1 | 6 |
| 16 | Feyenoord | 3 | -1 | 6 |
| 17 | Atalanta | 3 | 3 | 5 |
| 18 | Stuttgart | 3 | -1 | 4 |
| 19 | PSG | 3 | -1 | 4 |
| 20 | Celtic | 3 | -2 | 4 |
| 21 | Sparta Prague | 3 | -2 | 4 |
| 22 | Dinamo Zagreb | 3 | -5 | 4 |
| 23 | Bayern Munich | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| 24 | Girona | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 25 | AC Milan | 3 | -1 | 3 |
| 26 | Club Brugge | 3 | -4 | 3 |
| 27 | Atletico Madrid | 3 | -5 | 3 |
| 28 | PSV | 3 | -2 | 2 |
| 29 | Bologna | 3 | -4 | 1 |
| 30 | Shakhtar Donetsk | 3 | -4 | 1 |
| 31 | RB Leipzig | 3 | -3 | 0 |
| 32 | Sturm Graz | 3 | -4 | 0 |
| 33 | Red Star Belgrade | 3 | -9 | 0 |
| 34 | Red Bull Salzburg | 3 | -9 | 0 |
| 35 | Young Boys | 3 | -9 | 0 |
| 36 | Slovan Bratislava | 3 | -10 | 0 |
Preamble
Any hopes Rúben Amorim might have had for a peaceful send-off from Sporting have well and truly disappeared. The Manchester United-bound manager got his first taste of the British press when he was hounded for not answering a question in English (though he handling the scrutiny with a calmness).
Tonight, he faces Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in what could be seen as his unofficial audition for the United faithful. A win against their arch-rivals who have dominated in recent years would make Amorim an instant favorite at Old Trafford, though he’s careful not to let expectations get too high.
And if he loses? Some will surely overreact, but the reality is that a Sporting win over the English champions would be a genuine upset. For now, tonight’s clash in Lisbon offers many fans their first real look at Amorim’s style of play and a chance to imagine how it might translate to the Premier League.
Elsewhere, Real Madrid will hope to bounce back from a disastrous and humbling el classico and embarrassing and ill-advised Ballon d’Or boycott against an inconsistent Milan side; Brendan Rodgers aims to bolster Celtic’s European form against RB Leipzig, still winless in Europe this season; Bologna will need a win against Monaco if they want to make the next round; the Austrian champions Sturm have the tough task of silencing the Yellow Wall at Dortmund; and Lille are somehow favourites against Juventus after strong showings against Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid.
It is shaping up to be an exciting one so join me for our Champions League matchday four liveblog. Kick-offs across Europe at 8pm GMT.
And, as always, if you have any thoughts, questions, complaints or predictions that you’re keen to share then feel free to send me an email.
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