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The line-ups of Bayern vs Union Saint-Gilloise have been announced.

Bayern XI: Neuer – Guerreiro, Kim, Tah, Bischof – Kimmich, Pavlovic – Olise, Karl, Diaz – Kane

Subs: Ulreich, Urbig, Gnabry, Goretzka, Musiala, Davies, Ito, Kiala, Santos

Union Saint-Gilloise XI: Scherpen – Sykes, Burgess, Mac Allister – Khalaili, Van de Perre, Zorgane, Smith – Ait El Hadj – Florucz, David.

The line-ups of Slavia Praha vs Barcelona have been announced.

Slavia Praha XI: Tomas Chory, Tomas Holes, Jindrich Stanek, Lukas Provod, Michal Sadílek, Oscar, Vasil Kusej, David Zima, Stepan Chaloupek, David Moses, Youssoupha Sanyang

Subs: Jan Boril, Ivan Schranz, Erik Prekop, Daiki Hashioka, David Doudera, Igoh Ogbu, Tomas Vlcek, Mojmír Chytil, Jakub Markovic, Muhammed Cham, Adam Rezek, Youssoupha Mbodji

Barcelona XI: Lewandowski, De Jong, Raphinha, Kounde, Eric Garcia, Pedri, Joan García, Balde, Fermín López, Roony Bardghji, Gerard Martín

Subs: Szczesny, Olmo, Rashford, Araujo, Casado, Cubarsi, Diego Kochen, Bernal, Jofre Torrents, Juan Hernández, Tommy Marqués.

The line-ups of Chelsea vs Pafos FC have been announced.

Chelsea XI: Reece James, Pedro Neto, Badiashile, Wesley Fofana, Jørgensen, Enzo, Caicedo, Gusto, Garnacho, Liam Delap, Jorrel Hato

Subs: Cucurella, Trevoh Chalobah, Robert Sánchez, João Pedro, Gittens, Andrey Santos, Josh Acheampong, Tyrique George, Estêvão, Guiu, Landon Emenalo, Reggie Walsh

Pafos FC XI: Mislav Orsic, Ivan Sunjic, Ken Sema, Rodrigues, Derrick Luckassen, Vlad Dragomir, Souza, Anderson Silva, Kostas Pileas, Jay Gorter, Jajá

Subs: Luiz, David Goldar, Dimata, Neofytos Michail, Mons Bassouamina, Quina, Bruno Langa, Georgios Michail, Petros Petrou, Joao caldieraro.

The line-ups of Marseille vs Liverpool have been announced.

Marseille XI:

coming soon..

Liverpool XI: Alisson, Gomez, Van Dijk, Kerkez, Wirtz, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Salah, Ekitike, Frimpong, Gravenberch.

Subs: Mamardashvili, Woodman, Endo, Chiesa, Jones, Gakpo, Robertson, Nyoni, Ngumoha.

The line-ups of Inter vs Arsenal have been announced.

Inter XI:

coming soon...

Arsenal XI: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Mosquera, Lewis-Skelly, Merino, Zubimendi, Eze, Saka, Trossard, Jesus

Subs: Arrizabalaga, Setford, White, Gabriel, Norgaard, Rice, Nwaneri, Odegaard, Martinelli, Madueke, Gyokeres, Havertz.

Hansi Flick has confirmed Barcelona have agreed to loan Marc-Andre ter Stegen to neighbours Girona, with the goalkeeper keen for regular minutes in a World Cup year.

Ter Stegen lost his place as the Blaugrana's first-choice goalkeeper following the arrival of Joan Garcia from Espanyol last June, 11 years after joining from Borussia Monchengladbach.

The 33-year-old missed the majority of 2024-25 after rupturing his patellar tendon in September 2024, with Wojciech Szczesny coming out of retirement to fill in for him.

Barca were open to letting Ter Stegen leave at the start of this season and temporarily stripped him of the club captaincy after he refused to share his medical data with LaLiga following a back procedure.

Ter Stegen's only appearance this season was in a 2-0 Copa del Rey victory over Guadalajara in December, with Garcia keeping nine clean sheets in 20 outings and Szczesny also starting nine times between the sticks.

Ter Stegen started for Germany in the Nations League semi-finals and third-place play-off last June, but Hoffenheim's Oliver Baumann was an ever-present during their World Cup qualifying campaign.

And a determination to re-establish his place in Julian Nagelsmann's plans ahead of the World Cup has led Ter Stegen to seek a move to Girona, who currently sit 11th in LaLiga.

"This morning, Marc told us that he was going to Girona," Flick told reporters. "He's a fantastic goalkeeper, but we've decided on a different future.

"I think it's the right decision, I wish him the best. He is a brilliant person. He has a good chance of reaching the World Cup."

Barca visit Slavia Prague in the Champions League on Wednesday, and with the Catalan giants sitting 15th in the 36-team standings, only a victory will give them a realistic chance of automatic qualification for the top eight.

"This is the Champions League and there is always pressure to win," Flick said.

"Slavia are a team that defend very well, that press very high. We have had time to prepare for this match and we want to win the two games we have left. We want the six points.

"We have a lot of potential, and we have to work hard. In every game we try to work on things. We have very young players and they all have the potential to reach a higher level."

The Blaugrana will be without Lamine Yamal in Czechia due to suspension, but left-back Alejandro Balde is confident they can cope without him, saying: "Lamine is a player of great quality, he is one of the best players in the world.

"It's always good to have him, but we can't depend on any one player. Whoever plays in his position will do so perfectly.

Diego Simeone insists Atletico Madrid must win their next two Champions League games if they want to stand a chance of clinching a spot in the top eight.

Atletico currently sit eighth in the league-phase standings on 12 points, but they are only ahead of the chasing pack on goals scored, while a mere four points separate third from 20th in the congested table.

Their final two games at this stage see them face Galatasaray away, before hosting Bodo/Glimt in their last fixture on January 28.

Last season, Simeone's side finished fifth in the table, avoiding the play-offs, only to be knocked out in the round of 16 in controversial circumstances by rivals Real Madrid.

But the Argentine is still keen to avoid adding two extra games to the calendar, and he knows anything less than six points would put them in danger of dropping down the table.

"We have to win both games; a draw and a win are not enough," Simeone told reporters ahead of Wednesday's clash with Galatasaray.

"There are very strong teams, there are many important teams in this group, who want to avoid having to play another round of qualifiers.

"It's difficult for everyone because it's very tight. Others will win, and the demands will be extremely high to be among the top eight."

This will be the seventh time that Galatasaray and Atletico have faced each other in Europe, with the Spanish side going unbeaten across the previous six matches (W4 D2).

Atletico have won 10 of their last 13 Champions League games overall (L3), although all three defeats in this run came on their last four away trips (W1).

Against Turkish sides, though, Atleti have won each of their last four away games in European competitions, with the most recent one being a 2-0 win at Galatasaray in the Champions League in September 2015.

Simeone remains wary of the threat his side will face at RAMS Park, especially with Victor Osimhen back in the hosts' squad after returning from the Africa Cup of Nations.

"The opponent has very good players in attack. Osimhen is back, they have two wingers in great form, [Ilkay] Gundogan in midfield, whose quality we know," Simeone said.

"I see a very competitive team, and we will try to take the game to where we think we can hurt them.

"Their work has been incredible, sustaining their position for so long. Thinking about that team [from the 2015 game] and today's, there are differences because the players are different.

"The atmosphere, this stadium... I love it, the energy of the city, of the people... They transmit the most beautiful thing about football, which is passion.

PGMOL chief Howard Webb is unconvinced that Diogo Dalot’s challenge on Jeremy Doku in Man Utd’s 2-0 win over Man City was worthy of a red card - but is convinced that VAR was right not to intervene.

Dalot escaped a red card for a 10th-minute tackle on Doku, which ex-Premier League referee Mike Dean believed was "100 per cent" a sending off.

The Man Utd defender was only shown a yellow card by referee Anthony Taylor, with VAR Craig Pawson backing the on-field decision.

Analysing the decision on Mic'd Up, Webb said: "Is there excessive force? Some will say, yes. I'm not quite there, but I can see that there could be.

"It's a subjective judgment…but I'm absolutely aligned that once that decision is taken on the field, we leave it as referee's call and we don't intervene with the VAR."

He added: "I think it's one where the referee's call should stand on the field. That's what we've said we'll do where there's a mix of considerations.

"I think there is a mix, and therefore in this situation, it was right to leave it as the referee's call.

"If a red had been given, I would have expected the red card to stand as well, in the same way."

'Freeze frames and slo-mo make situations look like red cards'
Man City boss Pep Guardiola felt Dalot should have been sent off after an early foul on Jeremy Doku.

But VAR Pawson stood by Taylor's on-field decision, believing the contact was "glancing and not with force".

Webb said: "At full speed, when you play it in real time, you can see there's not a great deal of speed in the action, not a lot of intensity.

"We were heavily criticised a few years ago for using slow motion and freeze frames because people said, this is not reality. It's not how the game is played. When you slow it down, it can look a lot worse - and it does. When you freeze frame it, you can make a lot of situations look like red card offences.

"So it's difficult for me to hear people make a judgment on this just by analysing freeze frame and slow motion, coming to the consideration that it's red on that basis.

"Yes, it could be red, but you have to think about the need to look at it at full speed. We've done that for some time now. We thought it was a fair criticism some time ago when people said, 'Stop using slow-mos as the main way of analysing these situations'. And we've listened, and we agree. And we play it at full speed. Then we slow it down a little bit to see the exact point of contact to factor that in as well.

"But without speed and force and intensity, it's unlikely to be a red card."

Keane and Richards feel Dalot should've been sent off
Sky Sports pundits Roy Keane and Micah Richards both felt Dalot should have been sent off.

Speaking at half-time at Old Trafford, Keane said: "Doku definitely helps him [by not staying down]. I'm no expert on red cards, but I think it's a red."

Richards said: "He [Dalot] is on top of his knee. That is as clear a red card as you are going to see. What more do you want?!"

Dermot: It's a red card
Ex-Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher speaking on Ref Watch:

"I thought it was a red card.

"He's gone in high and with a straight leg. He's hit him with his studs on the knee. The ball is not there, it's gone, so for me, it's a red card but for others, it is not."

Former Cardiff and England striker Jay Bothroyd agreed with Gallafger on Ref Watch:

"I can't believe Dalot has tried to appeal the yellow card. It's a terrible challenge.

"The priority for the referees is player safety. When you see challenges like that, Doku could have ended up really hurt.

"To me, it wasn't a glancing blow. His studs are up and it is above the ankle. I don't understand how it is not a red card.

"It's a terrible decision. That's going to be one of the worst decisions of the season."

How VAR decided not to intervene on Dalot tackle
On Mic'd Up, the full transcript between referee Taylor, VAR Pawson and assistant VAR, Adrian Holmes, was released and showed how the officials concluded staying with Taylor's on-field yellow card decision...

Ref: "I'm going yellow card, it's a glance."

VAR: "Yeah, he does, he's glancing contact on the knee. There's no force, but there is glancing contact. He's tried to play the ball, and he catches it with glancing contact. Glancing contact, there's no force. He's tried to play the ball, he flicks, he misses the ball, he catches him with a follow-through. I'm happy to confirm the on-field decision."

AVAR: "How fast does he come in?"

VAR: "He doesn't, he kind of slows into it."

AVAR: "He checks his step, doesn't he?"

VAR: "Yeah. Tayls [Anthony Taylor] confirming the yellow card for Manchester United 2 [Diogo Dalot]. He tries to play the ball, he misses it, and then he makes glancing contact onto the knee. There's no force or intensity, but he does catch him with a follow-through."

Real Madrid take on Monaco on Matchday 7 of the league phase of the 2025-26 Champions League, hoping to edge ever closer to direct qualification for the round of 16.

Arbeloa’s first Champions League test
Álvaro Arbeloa takes charge of Los Blancos for the first time in the Champions League and will be desperate to see his team bounce back from a home defeat to Manchester City on Matchday 6.

The 2-1 loss to Pep Guardiola’s side left Madrid seventh in the standings with 12 points. The top eight teams qualify directly for the round of 16 and, with no fewer than 13 clubs sitting within three points of that cutoff, there is little margin for error in the final two games.

Why a win against Monaco is not enough for Madrid
Even if they defeat Monaco at the Bernabéu on Tuesday, Real Madrid cannot secure direct qualification on Matchday 7. A victory would move them to 15 points, level with Bayern Munich, who currently sit second in the table.

But even in the unlikely event that every other result went their way, it still would not be enough to guarantee a top-eight finish. In addition to leaders Arsenal on 18 points, seven other teams - Bayern, PSG, Manchester City, Atalanta, Inter Milan, Atlético Madrid, and Liverpool - could all finish the league phase with at least 15 points, even if they all lost on Matchday 7. That scenario, of course, borders on fantasy.

As a result, the LaLiga giants will almost certainly need at least a point in their final league-phase game away to Benfica on Wednesday, January 28, to qualify directly for the round of 16.

Champions League: Tiebreakers in the league phase
If two or more teams finish level on points, the next tiebreaker is overall goal difference, an area where Real Madrid are well positioned. They currently sit three goals ahead of Atlético Madrid and Liverpool, both tied with them on points, four better than Atalanta, and level with Manchester City, who are one point ahead.

In a congested table where nerves are starting to fray, that cushion could yet prove decisive.

Club Brugge kept their hopes of qualifying for the knockout rounds of the Champions League alive with a 4-1 win over Kairat Almaty.

Aleksandar Stankovic opened the scoring shortly after the half-hour mark, while Hans Vanaken scored and then assisted Brandon Mechele either side of Romeo Vermant's goal to seal victory in Kazakhstan, ensuring Brugge can still finish in the top 24 of the league stage.

Brugge went close to taking the lead in the 18th minute when Mamadou Diakhon stuck the inside of the left post with a curling effort, but Stankovic eventually broke the deadlock when he lashed in, following Temirlan Anarbekov's poor punch from a cross.

And their lead was doubled before the break as Vanaken managed to turn the ball into the net with his shin after Joaquin Seys found the Brugge captain with his header back across goal.

Carlos Forbs went close on two occasions early in the second half, first seeing a close-range effort smothered by Anarbekov before his strike from Diakhon's cutback flew over the crossbar.

Brugge did eventually get a third, with Diakhon's low centre across the face of goal taking a slight deflection before reaching Vermant, who tapped into an unguarded net, while Mechele guided Vanaken's lofted pass beyond the reach of the goalkeeper in the 84th minute to wrap up the victory at Astana Arena.

Kairat did get a consolation goal in the second minute of stoppage time as Adilet Sadybekov brilliantly teed himself up before finding the bottom-left corner with a volley from distance.