Champions League

Barcelona is set to face Bayern Munich, while Manchester City will take on Sparta Prague in the Champions League. This marks the third round of matches in the tournament. In the early games, some fans have expressed disappointment over the design of a particular scarf, criticizing it for its lack of creativity, featuring the phrases "Come On You Blues" and a reference to star player Haaland. As we reach halftime, the scores from the ongoing matches are being closely monitored. Stay tuned for updates on these exciting fixtures.

In the latest episode of the Football Weekly podcast, host Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning, Nicky Bandini, and Lars Sivertsen to discuss Real Madrid's remarkable comeback against Borussia Dortmund, where they overcame a two-goal deficit. The panel also highlights Aston Villa's impressive performance, marking their third consecutive victory in the Champions League. The discussion delves into the new Champions League format while reflecting on Real Madrid's consistent ability to perform under pressure. The group debates whether Dortmund mishandled the game or if this is simply a characteristic of facing Carlo Ancelotti's resilient squad. Listeners are encouraged to rate, review, and share the podcast on various platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Audioboom, Mixcloud, Acast, and Stitcher. They can also engage with the podcast community on social media or via email.

Aston Villa maintained their perfect start to the season with a convincing victory over Bologna, thanks to goals from John McGinn and Jhon Durán. After McGinn opened the scoring with a free-kick that caught everyone off guard, the scoreboards in the stadium briefly malfunctioned, displaying a fictional 3-0 lead for Villa, a nod to the captain's impressive form. Under the management of Unai Emery, Villa has emerged as a formidable force in the restructured Champions League, boasting a flawless record with three wins from three matches. Following McGinn's opener, Durán, who was given a rare starting opportunity, doubled the lead with his seventh goal of the season. The atmosphere among Villa supporters was electric as their team continued to shine on the European stage.

Arsenal is set to face Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League, with kick-off scheduled for 8pm BST. The teams have taken to the pitch, with Arsenal donning their traditional red and white kits, while Shakhtar is in their alternate black uniforms accented with orange. As the UEFA marketing team prepares to showcase their usual presentation, anticipation builds for the match. Commentator Charles Antaki notes that while history may favor Arsenal, recent performances raise concerns. He humorously suggests that unless manager Mikel Arteta has managed to eliminate the players' tendency for mistakes, fans might witness a series of comical blunders, including poor back passes and reckless tackles. Earlier in the evening, two other matches concluded: AC Milan secured a 3-1 victory over Club Brugge, and Monaco delivered a resounding 5-1 win against Red Star Belgrade, the champions from 1991. As the 8pm kick-offs approach, the standings in the group are taking shape, although there is a minor technical issue affecting the display of results from previous seasons. Stay tuned for live updates as the match unfolds.

Aston Villa is set to face Bologna, while Real Madrid takes on Dortmund in the Champions League tonight. In other matches, AC Milan has taken a 3-1 lead against Club Brugge, with Reijnders scoring again. This comes as a redemption for the midfielder, who was sent off in a recent Serie A match against Udinese. Additionally, 16-year-old striker Francesco Camarda is making his Champions League debut, becoming Milan's youngest-ever player in the competition. Meanwhile, Monaco has surged ahead with a 4-1 lead over Red Star, thanks to a second goal from Minamino, assisted by Embolo. In the Football League, several Championship matches are also taking place, including Cardiff vs. Portsmouth, Leeds vs. Watford, Oxford vs. Derby, Preston vs. Norwich, QPR vs. Coventry, Sheffield Wednesday vs. Swansea, and Stoke vs. Bristol City. Stay tuned for updates on these exciting fixtures!

Matty Cash has expressed his belief that Aston Villa has limitless potential under the management of Unai Emery, as the team prepares for their upcoming Champions League match against Bologna. Cash's comments come just ahead of the two-year anniversary of Emery's appointment, during which he has significantly changed the club's trajectory. Emery, who will mark this milestone on Thursday, has been instrumental in transforming Villa's fortunes. When he took over, the team was precariously positioned just above the Premier League relegation zone. His first match in charge was a remarkable 3-1 victory against Manchester United in November 2022, which set the tone for a new era at the club. The manager has expressed his ambition to continue pushing the team to "break barriers" and establish themselves as regulars in the Champions League. With this mindset, both Emery and the players are focused on achieving greater heights in the future.

Chelsea maintained their impressive start to the season with a convincing 3-1 victory over FC Twente, showcasing the potential of their young talents, Aggie Beever-Jones and Maika Hamano. Under the guidance of new manager Sonia Bompastor, the Blues have hit the ground running, and this win places them at the top of Group B in the Champions League. With this result, Chelsea sits three points ahead of Twente and second-placed Real Madrid, while Celtic finds themselves at the bottom in their first European campaign. The future looks bright for Chelsea as they continue to build momentum in the tournament.

**Twente vs Chelsea: Women’s Champions League – Live Updates** Get ready for live updates from the Women’s Champions League match kicking off at 8pm BST. Chelsea has made a last-minute change to their lineup, with Kaneryd now on the pitch. I’ll look into who has been replaced. The players will be taking the field shortly before the match begins. Can Chelsea maintain their winning streak, or will Twente pull off a surprise victory? Stay tuned for all the action!

Arsenal kicked off their campaign without Jonas Eidevall in style, securing a convincing 4-1 victory over Vålerenga in the Women's Champions League. While the performance may not have been the most exhilarating or self-assured, the important thing was that Arsenal achieved the desired result, claiming their first three points in the group stage after a previous loss to Bayern Munich. The match was marked by a focus on securing the win rather than dominating possession, as the hosts were eager to bounce back and make a statement in the competition.

Arsenal is set to face Vålerenga in the Women’s Champions League, with the match kicking off at 8pm BST. Stay tuned for live updates throughout the game. In related news, details regarding Jonas Eidevall’s departure have been shared, providing insight into the situation. As for the team lineup, Arsenal has announced that Laia Codina will be starting, while Lotte Wubben-Moy is not included in the squad for this evening's match. Additionally, Lina Hurtig will be starting on the bench.