Thursday, September 19, 2024
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Premier League reaction and Champions League build-up – BBC

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Build-up to two Champions League last-16 ties as Man City travel to FC Copenhagen and RB Leipzig host Real Madrid (both 20:00 GMT)
England women squad announcement for friendlies v Austria and Italy
Eriksson to manage Liverpool charity match
Reaction as Chelsea beat Crystal Palace 3-1 in Premier League
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Craig Nelson & Jonty Colman
Before we go, here is a reminder of today's top story.
Arsenal captain Leah Williamson is back in the Lionesses' squad for their upcoming friendlies in Spain against Australia and Italy.
Our Champions League coverage gets underway at 18:45 GMT, with live updates from both ties in Copenhagen and Leipzig.
You can also listen to live commentary on Manchester City's trip to Denmark on BBC Radio 5 Live. Build-up begins on 5 Live from 19:00 GMT this evening.
We will be back at 07:00 GMT tomorrow with reaction from this evening's Champions League clashes and a look ahead to Wednesday's ties, with Paris St-Germain and Bayern Munich both in action.
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City undeniably have strength on the bench but it's not all about depth. It's quality over quantity. Last season Man City used less players in the league than any other club. It's not just about buying players, it's buying the right players for the team and just as important, in my opinion, removing those players that are surplus to requirements.
Seeks, Manchester
All kick-off times 20:00 GMT
Here is a rundown of all eight ties in the Champions League's round of 16, with kick-off times for the first legs.
Each tie will be played over two legs:
Tuesday, 13 February
FC Copenhagen v Manchester City
RB Leipzig v Real Madrid
Wednesday, 14 February
Lazio v Bayern Munich
Paris St-Germain v Real Sociedad
Tuesday, 20 February
Inter Milan v Atletico Madrid
PSV Eindhoven v Borussia Dortmund
Wednesday, 21 February
FC Porto v Arsenal
Napoli v Barcelona
NB: Return legs will be played between 5-13 March
RB Leipzig v Real Madrid (20:00 GMT)
Jude Bellingham will miss Real Madrid's Champions League last-16 first-leg tie against RB Leipzig on Tuesday with a sprained ankle.
The England midfielder, 20, was forced off after scoring two goals in Saturday's 4-0 La Liga win over Girona.
The Spanish club have not put a timescale on his return and say his recovery will be "monitored".
"There's no Bellingham, but without him, we won four out of four," said Real boss Carlo Ancelotti.
Read the full story here.
If you like your stats then you should love this Champions League quiz
We want to know the 52 players who have made the most Champions League appearances – not including qualifying or play-off games.
Which five-time winner has played the most games? Which former team-mate is close behind?
Take on our Champions League quiz here.
Erling Haaland is one of four players to have scored five goals in this season's Champions League, but there are quite a few players alongside him vying for this season's award.
One goal behind the Norwegian are English duo Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, playing their club football abroad at Bayern Munich and Real Madrid respectively.
Read more here.
FC Copenhagen v Man City (20:00 GMT)
Erling Haaland finished as the Champions League's top scorer last season with 12 goals from 11 games.
This term, the Manchester City striker has netted five goals in five group games, putting him level with Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann and Alvaro Morata.
Manchester United's Rasmus Hojlund also has five goals, but cannot add to that tally as his side were knocked out in the group stages
There are, however, plenty of players from English clubs who could still challenge Haaland for the title of top scorer.
City's Julian Alvarez and Arsenal's Gabriel Jesus both have four goals, while England midfielders Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka have three each.
Last season, after scoring five goals in the group stages, Haaland hit five in one match against RB Leipzig in the last 16.
Read all about the start of the Champions League knockout rounds here.
FC Copenhagen v Man City (20:00 GMT)
Manchester City's opponents Copenhagen will be in competitive action for the first time in two months tonight when they host Pep Guardiola's side.
The Danish champions played their last Super Liga game on 3 December before beginning a winter break.
Their domestic league campaign will not resume until 18 February, meaning tonight's match will be their first competitive game since a 1-0 win at home to Galatasaray in the Champions League group stages on 12 December.
"I would say they are starving to compete and hungry and have full energy, fresh in legs and mind," he said.
"I don't know the rhythm but they have had lots of time to prepare for the game. Hopefully we can be in a good level to compete."
Copenhagen reached the round of 16 after finishing second in their group, above Galatasaray and Manchester United.
Read more from Guardiola ahead of the tie here.
We'll now turn our attentions back to this evening's start of the Champions League knockout stages.
Defending champions Manchester City are in Denmark to take on FC Copenhagen in the first leg of their last-16 tie.
And 2022 winners Real Madrid head to Germany to face RB Leipzig.
Both ties kick off at 20:00 GMT.
We promised you some Champions League build-up, and that is exactly what is coming up. But first, since it is Pancake Day, it seems only fair that we show you something that is "flipping brilliant"…
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Premier League Archive: Nani, Lua Lua and Keane in the best flips in the premier league
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West Ham a sleeping giant [10:43 GMT]? In what universe? They have only won a trophy since Moyes has been there and he keeps them in the top half of the table, year by year. I'm old enough to remember when they were relegation fodder every year playing the West Ham way.
Neill Bourne
Must be something in that bubble mixture at the London Stadium judging by Harry’s delusions [10:43 GMT].
Jamie
West Ham fans need to be realistic about what counts as success for them. Winning a European trophy last season and currently in 8th place, Moyes is over-performing. They want entertaining football and Champions League qualification? Which miracle worker is going to give them that?
Anon
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I would have to agree with Mr Shearer [10:22 GMT] on his assessment of the title race! In the last few years winning the Premiership is a squad game, especially with the added bonus of Champions League and other cup competitions! There are at least 6 teams in the Premiership whose first 11 can give any team in Europe a game on their day. But few have the continuity and class in their squad like City? Maybe Real Madrid could match them squad-wise? I'm a Gooner but I'm a realist, my team are still a million miles off competing with City's squad. City have that depth and mix of experience and youth that will probably see them win a 4th straight title! I can I only hope and dream that they make a few mistakes and Arsenal or Liverpool can seize the initiative. Teams like Villa, Spurs, Man Utd and Brighton will play a big part too. They are all capable of upsetting City, Arsenal or Liverpool on their day
Anon

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While we look ahead to the last-16 of this season's Champions League, we would love to know which Premier League teams you believe will qualify for next season's competition.
Is it four from the top six?
If not through the league, could West Ham or Brighton also make it by winning the Europa League.
Send us your views via X, WhatsApp or text using the contact details above.
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Monday Night Club: Can Man Utd secure Champions League football?
We will move on to Champions League build-up for the final hour of this page.
But first, what do you think of this debate on Monday Night Club?
Manchester United's chances of qualifying for next season's Champions League were boosted by Sunday's 2-1 win at Aston Villa.
Erik ten Hag's side are now in sixth, just six points behind fourth-placed Tottenham.
Villa, meanwhile, are fifth, a point behind Spurs after dropping eight points in their last four Premier League games.
Tuesday's gossip
There is also a line in today's BBC Sport Gossip page from the Telegraph, external about Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou. Apparently, Spurs are confident Postecoglou will stay at the club despite potential interest from Liverpool, as the Reds look to replace Jurgen Klopp this summer.
Meanwhile, according to the Mail, external, West Ham have delayed contract talks with manager David Moyes as the club focuses on ending a seven-game winless streak in all competitions.
Tuesday's gossip
There is also plenty of news to get your teeth stuck into in the latest edition of the BBC Sport Gossip page.
Top of today's hot gossip is a report from the Athletic, external that Paris St-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe, 25, and his camp are unconvinced by Real Madrid's latest offer.
The France international can move on a free transfer this summer, but the Athletic report that Real's latest offer is lower than a previous proposal in May 2022.
OK, so we promised a round-up of today's news.
Well, it was announced this morning that former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson will join a Liverpool Legends management team for a charity game at Anfield against Ajax Legends in March.
Eriksson, 75, revealed in January that he has "best case a year" to live after being diagnosed with cancer.
The Swede also said he was a Reds fan and had "always wished to be the manager of Liverpool".
Liverpool said Eriksson "will join a dugout of LFC greats, including Ian Rush, John Barnes and John Aldridge".
We will have a run through the day's top football news headlines shortly, but first we want to flag the new 'My Sport' section on the BBC Sport home page.
If you are signed in, this section will feature news on sports or clubs you have chosen to follow.
So, for example, if you follow Manchester United, you will see the latest entry in the club's dedicated page.
At present, that is a Fan's Voice feature from Stretford Paddock's Alex Turk, who floats the idea that it might be time to find a replacement for Luke Shaw as the club's first-choice left-back. More on that in a moment.
Scotland Women have also named their squad to play in upcoming matches in the Pinatar Cup in Murcia, Spain.
They will face the Philippines at the Pinatar Arena from 13:05 GMT on Saturday, 24 February and either Slovenia or Finland at the same venue on Tuesday, 27 February.
So here is that England Women's squad again in full:
Goalkeepers: Mary Earps, Hannah Hampton, Khiara Keating
Defenders: Lucy Bronze, Jess Carter, Niamh Charles, Alex Greenwood, Maya le Tissier, Esme Morgan, Leah Williamson, Lotte Wubben-Moy
Midfielders: Grace Clinton, Fran Kirby, Jess Park, Georgia Stanway, Ella Toone, Keira Walsh.
Forwards: Rachel Daly, Lauren Hemp, Lauren James, Chloe Kelly, Beth Mead, Alessia Russo
Click here to read more about the return of Euros 2022-winning captain Leah Williamson.
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