Lionel Messi has named the four teams he believes will push Barcelona the hardest in the Champions League, but failed to mention Jose Mourinho's Manchester United and last season's finalists Juventus....read
According to Spanish newspaper Marca, while Barcelona have been ruthless this season, the Argentinian favoured their rivals to be crowned European champions in May.
Antonio Conte has spoken about Chelsea's 'scary' arrival at Gatwick Airport after their flight from Baku had to abandon its first landing due to extreme wind.
The Spaniard was arguably at fault for Liverpool's disappointing draw in Sevilla on Tuesday, giving away a penalty that helped the home side on the comeback trail.
When Lionel Messi was named on the bench for Barcelona's Champions League clash with Juventus, there were probably a few sighs of relief in the home dressing room.
KRIS COMMONS: Brendan Rodgers has deserved all of the praise that has come his way since his arrival at Celtic Park due to his team's impressive domestic dominance.
PETE JENSON: There is a goals problem at Real Madrid this season. Across La Liga and the Champions League manager Zinedine Zidane’s team have scored just 36 goals.
Real Madrid's stars haven't exactly got it bad having a club sponsor such as Audi who give them a new car every year. It probably comes as no surprise that Cristiano Ronaldo got the most powerful motor.
The Bundesliga leaders kept their players fresh by flying a journey in 90 minutes that could have taken around eight hours by road. Bayern documented their trip via their Instagram account.
Bayern Munich's players looked like a team on a mission as they trained with steely faces at the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium on Tuesday night. Bayern sit second in Group B.
Philippe Coutinho admits Liverpool's Champions League draw with Sevilla felt like a defeat after they threw away a three-goal first-half lead away from home.
UEFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against Bayern Munich after its fans vented their frustration about ticket prices for the side's Champions League game at Anderlecht.
Manchester United legend Eric Cantona has urged Jose Mourinho to be truer to the 'philosophy of the club' and play a more expressive style of football.
Jose Mourinho's men were on course for the point that would seal progression as Group A winners until the 89th minute, which saw Michael Lang secure a historic victory.
The stalemate at home to Barcelona in the Champions League, though dull to the neutrals, had the pragmatic coach purring, especially as he had to field an improvised defence.
Nainggolan was left helpless as Roma left the Spanish capital empty handed and with their Champions League last 16 hopes under pressure, but the captain was not without his plaudits.
When Paris Saint-Germain arrived in Glasgow in September, they were third favourites for the Champions League. You cannot simply buy the European title, or so went popular wisdom.
Swiss full-back Michael Lang scored in the 89th minute at St Jakob Park to condemn United to a 1-0 defeat and deny Jose Mourinho's side qualification for the last 16 ahead of matchday six.
Neymar played a hand in three of PSG's seven goals at Parc des Princes, creating two and scoring one. It was exactly the kind of performance he was brought to the club to produce.
It's commonplace for footballers to hand over their shirts at full-time, either swapping with opponents or throwing them into the crowd to be caught by a lucky fan. Less so for shorts.
Ronaldo flew back to Spain from Cyprus on late Tuesday evening after starring for Madrid in their 6-0 Champions League victory over APOEL in the group stages.
Wednesday night's Champions League matches saw Manchester United downed by a late winner in Switzerland while Celtic were dismantled 7-1 by a rampant PSG side.
Manchester United arrived home at 2am on Thursday still reeling from an 89th-minute Champions League defeat in Basle.
STEPHEN McGOWAN AT THE PARC DE PRINCES: The saving grace for Celtic is that it's almost over now. This was another gruesome night for Scotland's champions in a torturous campaign.
Chelsea's travelling contingent for Wednesday evening's Champions League tie at Qarabag may see something unusual when they read their pre-match programmes.
Valverde was vindicated as Barcelona secured a 0-0 draw to ensure they will top the group. However, he was grateful to a late save from Marc-Andre ter Stegen which denied Paulo Dybala a winner.
Conte was fuming after the 3-0 loss at Roma which left Chelsea's Champions League status in the balance, but was pleased with the response. 'This group is showing great character,' Conte said.
Liverpool will continue to struggle in the biggest games so long as Jurgen Klopp continues to play Alberto Moreno at left back, according to Manchester United legend Roy Keane.
United slipped to a 1-0 defeat in Switzerland, but will still win Group A if they draw at home to CSKA Moscow in a fortnight's time. Keane however thinks United will move on quickly.
Jose Mourinho insists Manchester United were so dominant in the first half against Basle that it seemed 'impossible not to win' and insists they remain in a comfortable position despite the loss.
United needed only a draw to guarantee top spot in Group A, however Michael Lang's winner means they must get another point at home to CSKA Moscow in the final fixture.
CHRIS WHEELER: A bemused Jose Mourinho was left counting the cost of a first Champions League defeat of the season after Manchester United lost to a late goal in Basle on Wednesday.
SAMI MOKBEL IN BAKU: This is all very unlike Chelsea. What happened to the second season curse? A season of success followed by one of failure, eventually leading to the manager's sacking?
The Belgium international starred for Antonio Conte's side as they breezed past 10-men Qarabag in Azerbaijan to book their place in the knockout rounds of the Champions League.
CHRIS WHEELER AT ST JAKOB-PARK: When all the excitement had died down and everyone put their calculators away, the damage to United’s hopes of Champions League progress wasn’t that bad.
Phil Foden admitted it 'meant everything' to come on for boyhood club Man City on Tuesday night. But is he ready? We ask Sportsmail experts Martin Keown and Chris Sutton if he should be sent on loan.
Raheem Sterling's late winner eased Feyenoord aside and extended a club record of consecutive victories, but Yaya Toure revealed the manager was incensed by their lack of cutting edge.
A female Liverpool fan has spoken of a horrendous ordeal she suffered in Seville as the club launched an inquiry into claims supporters were abused by Spanish police.
Liverpool are investigating claims that fans were mistreated by Spanish police with some allegedly assaulted and denied entry to the stadium before the 3-3 Champions League draw in Seville.
Chelsea booked their place in the Champions League knockout stages with a comprehensive 4-0 victory over Azerbaijan champions Qarabag in Baku on Wednesday evening.
Antoine Griezmann's stunning goal kept Atletico Madrid's Champions League hopes alive as they grabbed a vital victory over Roma at the Wanda Metropolitano on Wednesday evening.
It wasn't one of those performance to strike fear into the rest of Europe but Barcelona – with Lionel Messi on the bench – are through to the last 16 as Group D winners after a 0-0 draw with Juventus.
Manchester United were hit by a Basle strike one minute before time as the Red Devils' hopes of progressing from the Champions League group stages go down to the final matchday.
Willian scored twice as Chelsea breezed past Group C minnows Qarabag to book their place in the last 16 of this season's Champions League.
With the events of the previous night clearly still weighing heavy on their minds, Liverpool's players arrived back in England on Wednesday afternoon... and there were glum faces all round after a 3-3 draw.
The Reds went 3-0 up after half an hour in Spain and looked on course to reach the Champions League knock-out stages. However they were pegged back in the second half.
A second-half implosion means they still need to beat Spartak Moscow in their final group game to be assured of top spot in Group E. Here Sportsmail answers some of the key questions.
Real Madrid defender Dani Carvajal has been charged by UEFA for getting booked on purpose during their 6-0 win at Apoel Nicosia in Champions League Group H on Tuesday.
PETE JENSON: On Wednesday night the Romans are in town but Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid gladiators are on their last legs in Europe and the Europa League is looming large
Ed Woodward was closer to the truth than he perhaps realised when he famously offered Jurgen Klopp the chance to replace David Moyes as Manchester United manager in 2014.
City extended their winning streak to 17 after Raheem Sterling secured a 1-0 victory over Feyenoord on Tuesday, which also solidified top spot in their Champions League group.
Perhaps the only thing more remarkable than Liverpool's total capitulation against Sevilla was Gary Neville's prediction of the result with the Reds three goals up.
It's always a double edged sword when a player is linked with a mega-move to Barcelona or Real Madrid. On one hand it means he is doing well, providing end product and entertainment.
Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson has frankly admitted that his side 'let themselves down' following their latest implosion in a big game away from home on Tuesday evening.
Phil Foden revealed supporters chanting his name 'meant everything' during his Manchester City debut. Pep Guardiola sent on the teenager as Raheem Sterling netted a late winner on Tuesday.
Manchester City ensured they would finish top of group F with a 1-0 win over Feyenoord at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night, courtesy of Raheem Sterling's 88th-minute strike.
IAN LADYMAN AT THE ETIHAD: He was the best player of the game long before he scored the goal that settled it. Raheem Sterling’s rebirth at Manchester City continues to gather pace.
Sevilla coach Eduardo Berizzo has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, the Spanish club confirmed on Wednesday morning.
Chris Smalling has expressed surprise at being dropped by England for their recent friendlies and has vowed to prove Gareth Southgate wrong before the World Cup next summer.
Diego Simeone has asked the Atletico Madrid fans to keep faith with Antoine Griezmann as the French forward tries to end his eight-match goal drought. Griezmann was jeered by fans at the weekend.
PETE JENSON: Real Madrid could not have asked for a more supple punching bag to forget their domestic woes than APOEL and the La Liga giants enjoyed letting out their frustrations.
MATT BARLOW IN DORTMUND: Dele Alli wriggled between two yellow-shirted defenders, drew in a third and found Son who curled a shot into the net to cleanse the pain of a North London defeat.
DOMINIC KING IN SEVILLE: Jurgen Klopp wanted to make a point. It was time to leave the cramped confines of Sevilla’s press room but not before he had made one last statement.
Massimiliano Allegri lead his Juventus team on a final training session ahead of Wednesday's crucial Champions League group tie against Barcelona, which is likely to decide .who tops it.
Spurs fell behind to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's first-half strike but Kane equalised with his sixth goal of the tournament before Son Heung-min sealed an impressive victory.
Mauricio Pochettino admits he feared the worst when Tottenham's Champions League draw came out but his side will go through top of the group after they beat Borussia Dortmund.
A worrying wobble saw them concede twice to Wissam Ben Yedder - one a twice-taken penalty - in the 15 minutes after the interval and Guido Pizarro drilled home an added-time corner.
Last season's Champions League semi-finalists Monaco will not be in the knockout stage of this year's edition after a humiliating defeat at home to German upstarts RB Leipzig.
Sterling fired home an 88th-minute winner to earn the Premier League leaders maximum points as Pep Guardiola's men completed a double over their Dutch Group F opponents this season.
JACK GAUGHAN AT THE ETIHAD: Mangala might well be leaned on for much more than this game while Stones recovers from the hamstring injury sustained at the weekend. That should be a concern.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE ROUND-UP: But minutes later Zielinski made amends, confidently slotting into the far bottom corner after a smart exchange with Dries Mertens.
Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City both clinched top spots in their Champions League groups following respective victories over Borussia Dortmund and Feyenoord.
Liverpool will be hoping to join Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City by qualifying for the last-16 of the Champions League when they take on Sevilla. Follow live with Sportsmail's BEN NAGLE.
Lionel Messi and his Barcelona team-mates trained on Tuesday night ahead clash with Juventus while Ivan Rakitic admits that the Argentine talisman isn't 100 per cent certain 'if he'll stay or not'.
Brendan Rodgers believes Celtic will play the 'best of the best' when they take on Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday night. The Parkhead side lost 5-0 to the French giants on matchday one.
Basle coach Raphael Wicky insists the pitch at St Jakob-Park will not be a problem when Manchester United meet the Swiss side in the Champions League on Wednesday night.
The Shambles Square area of Manchester was rammed full of boozing Feyenoord supporters six hours before Tuesday night's Champions League game at the Etihad Stadium.
No-one should write off Atletico Madrid under their charismatic coach Diego Simeone, AS Roma sporting director Ramon Rodriguez said ahead of their Group C clash on Wednesday.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be hoping to follow up his cameo appearance against Newcastle with his first start of the season as the Swede is among Manchester United's travelling party.
The Barcelona players entertained themselves with a game on the iPad during their flight to Turin. Andres Iniesta, Jordi Alba and Samuel Umtiti shared a screen to play.
Ink-redible! Holloway given first tattoo by son Will as QPR boss admits he is 'chuffed to beans' he made it through three-hour session
He's just got Instagram
Sam's their man! Allardyce is finally announced as Everton's new manager... as he signs £6m-a-year deal
He says he's 'enthused and energised' by task
No rest for Klopp's men as Liverpool train at Melwood less than 24 hours after Stoke win
It's all eyes on Brighton as they look to keep pace with the top four
Wood you believe it! Golf legend Tiger back on the course following surgery as he makes strong start in Bahamas
American finished -3 on return to the course
Snow patrol! First team come under attack from academy at Sunderland as winter conditions hit the North East
Players even built a snowman on Thursday
REVEALED: What Guardiola REALLY said to Redmond as Saints star insists rant was 'all complimentary'
MATT LAWTON - CHIEF SPORTS REPORTER
Can insists contract dispute 'is not about money' as he reveals he could sign a new deal at Liverpool... or agree a move abroad in January
Future is as yet unclear
England fans warned they could face up to 15 years in Russian jail if they take part in hooliganism or mass disorder at World Cup
Ahead of Friday's draw
England anxious off-spinner Ali won't be able to bowl against Australia during second Test
He missed practice on Thursday due to badly-cut spinning fingers
On next Ashes tour, England need to get serious instead of winging it like they have done this time around
MARTIN SAMUEL - CHIEF SPORTS WRITER
Guardiola is a genius but his bizarre manhandling of Redmond shows the Man City manager's patronising side
IAN LADYMAN
Tunnel cam: Ederson celebrates with fans through glass tunnel as scorer Sterling is the last off the pitch
Manchester City posted the footage to YouTube
Russian businesses choose not to back 2018 World Cup as plea for sponsors gets increasingly desperate
CHARLES SALE - SPORTS AGENDA
Chelsea manager Conte is charged with misconduct by the FA after being sent to the stands against Swansea at Stamford Bridge
He later said sorry
Belgium assistant Jones may well represent England's best hope of returning from 2018 World Cup with the golden trophy
Interview with Sportsmail
Arsenal vs Man United set to be the Premier League's first billion-pound game on Saturday night
Two clubs' revenue total in 2016-17 was £1.05bn
City's preparation for the derby with United will include four days in Ukraine despite Champions League tie being a deadrubber
Nightmare scheduling
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