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      Man City player ratings: Even Pep Guardiola can’t believe how good Erling Haaland is as new Samba man fails to shine

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      MANCHESTER CITY put in a five star performance as they romped to victory over Sparta Prague.The Citizens ran out 5-0 winners at the Etihad with Pep Guardiola’s side bagging four goals in the second half.Phil Foden and John Stones both scored against Sparta PragueCredit: GettyErling Haaland scored a brilliant improvised goalCredit: GettyPhil Foden gave the hosts the perfect start as he fired in the opener inside just three minutes.Erling Haaland also got himself on the scoresheet in the second half.The Norweigian striker had plenty of attempts to score, but it was his improvised finish in the 58th minute that found its way past Peter Vindahl Jensen.John Stones made it three with a brilliant looping header to add to his solid performance at the back.READ MORE IN SPORTHaaland got his second in the 67th minute to make it 44 in the Champions League.Matheus Nunes was also impressed as he netted from the spot in the closing stages, which added to his two assists.SunSport’s Ken Lawrence has given his ratings of Pep Guardiola’s side…Stefan Ortega – 5 Almost a spectator, but at least it wasn’t cold or pouring down.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSNathan Ake – 5Back after injury and unlucky to have City’s second chalked off.Manuel Akanji – 5Training games against his own team-mates are far harder than this was.Furious former Champions League finalists’ fans protest against club owner John Stones – 7Followed his winner against Wolves with another towering header.Rico Lewis – 6The young multi-tasker produced a typical all-action displayMatheus Nunes – 7Matheus Nunes set up two of City’s goals and netted from the spotCredit: GettyHe claimed two assists and bagged his first-ever Champions League goal from the spot late on.Savinho – 5Supposed to be the new Samba man but didn’t dance that great.Ilkay Gundogan – 7The midfielder cruised through the 100th Champions League game of his career.Bernardo Silva – 6Quiet, effective and a non-stop cog spinning the City wheel.Phil Foden – 7It was a slick early finish in only his fourth start of the season, but the spark faded.Erling Haaland – 9Even Pep Guardiola couldn’t quite believe his amazing airborne strike before he added his second.The striker reached 44 in the Champions LeagueCredit: ReutersSubsMateo Kovacic (for Bernardo Silva 69) – 5Couldn’t have had an easier task by the time he emerged.James McAtee (for Gundogan 69) – 5A few minutes of Champions League experience with no strain.Josko Gvardiol (for Ake 74) – 5Just a pleasant walk in the park….READ MORE SUN STORIESRuben Dias (for Stones 74) – 5He won’t have minded stretching his legs for a bit.Nico O’Reilly (for Haaland 81) – 5The young attacker replaced a living legend. More

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      Man City 5 Sparta Prague 0: Erling Haaland defies physics to score wonder goal as Pep’s side run riot again

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      ERLING HAALAND continues to defy belief.Manchester City aren’t far off doing the same on night’s like this.Erling Haaland leads the Man City celebrationsCredit: EPAAn absolutely dominant display topped off by a goal from Haaland the likes of which The Etihad has never seen.More of that later.They were set on their way last night through the brilliance of his home grown favourite Phil Foden to give them a half time lead.Haaland seemed to defy physics, gravity and everything else to turn the ball homeon 58 minutes.READ MORE IN football John Stones with a looping header on 64, Haaland with his second four minutes later and Matheus Nunes from the spot two minutes from time completed the rout.First Foden who put his own name in the history books last season winning both the Football Writers and PFA players of the year trophies after bagging 28 goals for his club and country.The start to this season has not been without it’s problems, however, with many wondering why this was only his fourth start to the campaign.Particularly with Kevin de Bruyne out injured.Most read in FootballManager Pep Guardiola has tried to clear it up claiming injury niggles and ilness have been to blame for his stuttering start.CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSHe showed with a cracking goal and an assist in the 4-0 win over Slovan Bratislava on mathday two of this season Champions League that he has lost non his skill for all that.He kept his place against Fulham and it was his ball in for John Stones last gasp goal after coming on as a sub in the second-half.Did officials cheat Arsenal with dramatic Man City winner and Saliba red card?As Guardiola says: “You realise immediately when he is happy and fit and mentally in the right moment, you realise immediately he’s getting better and better.”He showed that after just three minutes against Sparta.Receiving a ball from Manuel Akanji he ducked inside two men, moved the ball onto his left foot and arrowed a shot back arcoss Peter Vindahl into the far bottom corner.City off and running and immediately looking for a second.With his very first touch on 10 minutes Erling Haaland’s header was only denied by a spectacular save from Vindahl.Ilkay Gundogan was making is 100th Champions League appearance, only the 48th player in history to do so and second in City colours after Fernandinho.His corner on 27 minutes found Haaland again with a header but this time his effort was hacked away from in front of the goal.In an instant Sparta broke through Veljko Birmancevic and nearly had an equaliser but City number two goalkeeper Stefan Ortega dived full length to deny him with his finger tips.Phil Foden opened the scoring as he looks to recapture his best formCredit: PAFoden wheels off in celebrationCredit: AFPHe was one of five changes to the starting City side.You can change the names but the football always seems to stay the same.They were camped in the Sparta half for most of game and that dominance showed in the scoreline after the break.Just three three minutes into that second period from Foden’s corner Angelo Preciado headed the ball off his own post.In the ensuing scramble Nathan Ake turned it in but the VAR also spotted a handball by the City player.No worries, City kept at it and when Savinho crossed another Haaland header was denied by another fine save.Then the two combined again and this time the net bulged and the crowd gasped.Savinho raced to the byline and chipped the ball back across goal and then this happened.Haaland soon doubled City’s lead in the most acrobatic of stylesCredit: PAHaaland was in fine form and will look to continue this into the weekendCredit: GettyJohn Stones got in on the goalsCredit: ReutersStones celebrates his strike – becoming a regular occurrence nowCredit: ReutersHaaland took to the air like a karate champion with his back to goal and in mid air flicked out his  left boot out to connect with the ball on the volley and send it past a stunned Vindahl.Nobody in the stadium was quite sure at first how he had scored it.Even Pep Guardiola who has seen it all was checking with his bench what had happened.As the feat was replayed on the stadiums big screens the roars were replaced by expressions and sounds of disbelief.Wow just wow.Sunday’s hero Stones popped up with the third, a towering header from Matheus Nunes cross.The fourth was another thing of beauty for different reasons as City glided their way upfield sharing the ball between the players.Rico Lewis, having a fine game turned and began it all finding Foden who strode down the centre of the park like he owned.He offloaded the ball to Nunes, and as the Sparta players looked this way and that the ball came back inside for Haaland to curl a low shot in.Nunes got the goal his performance deserved after two assists as he was allowed to take the late penalty.READ MORE SUN STORIESCity exceptional.Haaland, unbelievable.The powerful striker was just unplayable at the EtihadCredit: AFPIt was most certainly Haaland’s night under the lightsCredit: GettyMatheus Nunes capped off the routCredit: RexNunes converted from the spotCredit: Getty More

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      RB Leipzig 0 Liverpool 1: Darwin Nunez winner makes it 11 wins from 12 for Arne Slot ahead of crunch Arsenal clash

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      WATCHING from his holiday home in Majorca, maybe even with a half-and-half scarf, Jurgen Klopp will once again have been hugely impressed by the club he has left behind.Klopp will be Red Bull’s ‘head of global soccer’, whatever that truly means, starting from January 1.Darwin Nunez fired Liverpool to a 1-0 winCredit: APThe striker scored the decisive goal with a tap-inCredit: AFPAnd when Klopp begins his £10million role which looks like a glorified PR-job, it will be absolutely fascinating to see where Liverpool will be under his Arne Slot.Right now, it is looking pretty damn good.Darwin’s Nunez’s first half winner made it 11 wins in 12 for the Dutchman with that only blip coming against Nottingham Forest.While Liverpool were forced to withstand some fierce pressure in the second half, keeper Caoimhin Kelleher delivered a couple of big saves.Read More in FootballWhile Liverpool’s opening schedule was extremely kind, the level of opposition has gone up a notch in the last few days. Firstly against in-form Chelsea and here, against a team who are unbeaten in the Bundesliga and share the lead with Bayern Munich.Yet Slot has seen his team overcome both these difficult matches and now, an even bigger test awaits, against Arsenal on Sunday.There will clearly be a wobble for Slot at some stage, But while he is new to English football, the team he inherited is certainly not and at times here, they played some excellent football despite living dangerously at the back. Most read in Champions LeagueFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSNunez was denied a penalty before half-timeCredit: GettyCaoimhin Kelleher delivered some big savesCredit: EPANunez’s close-range effort came at a time when Liverpool were lucky not to be trailing by a couple of goals let alone still be level.A header from Mo Salah looked to be going in before Nunez helped it over the line but it will still have been good for the Uruguayan’s confidence as he had only struck once this season.Chelsea Player Ratings vs LiverpoolHe was only playing due to an injury to Diogo Jota and while Liverpool do have a few fitness issues ahead of the weekend, title rivals Arsenal seem to be having even more issues.At the Emirates, Slot’s team cannot afford to be as open in central midfield as they were here.Man-of-the-match at Anfield on Sunday was Curtis Jones and while he started on the bench, his replacement, Alexis Mac Allister, initially failed to give Ryan Gravenberch enough support defensively.Mac Allister was also booked for a theatrical dive while home defender Castello Lukeba was lucky to avoid only a caution when sinking his studs into the foot of former Leipzig favourite Dominik Szoboszlai.Leipzig, having lost their opening games against Atletico Madrid and Juventus, started with real purpose although they were made to pay for failing to take those early chances which fell to Benjamin Sesko and Amadou Haidara.It was competitive match between the two teamsLois Openda thought he had scored but his goal was disallowed due to an offsideCredit: AFPKelleher will remain in goal for a few more weeks as Alisson is injured. But Slot will not want to see any repeats of the moment he rushed out of his area and failed to head the ball into touch. Although from distance, Sesko had an open goal and should have scored but floated a shot wide.Leipzig’s Belgian striker Lois Openda thought he had scored a cracker from outside the area but despite wagging his finger at the officials, he was miles offside.And within 60 seconds, Nunez finished a smart move from the visitors Until then, Liverpool’s only effort had been a shot wide by Salah but on this occasion, the Egyptian star headed Kostas Tsimikas’ cross into the bottom corner with Nunez making sure to nudge the ball over the line.Leipzig keeper Peter Gulacsi, who spent five years at Liverpool without making an appearance, kept his team in the game by keeping out headers from Nunez and Virgil van Dijk.Nunez was then furious with the officials as the striker thought he should have been given a penalty and there was definitely contact from Willi Orban.Cody Gakpo wasted a good chance by firing straight at Gulacsi while Mac Allister curled a shot against the bar.Yet Kelleher made those crucial saves to deny both Sesko and Xavi Simons and while Openda once again had the ball in the net, he was offside for a second time.For Slot, it is now three wins out of three in the Champions League – only pipped into top spot by Premier League rivals Aston Villa on goal difference. Even though former midfielder Xabi Alonso brings Bayer Leverkusen to Anfield next month, while Jude Bellingham’s Real Madrid will also visit, Liverpool looks as though they could finish in the top eight and avoid a play-off. READ MORE SUN STORIESAlready, there will be a few Liverpool fans booking their hotels for Munich on May 31.And to think many thought they would fall apart when Klopp packed his bags. More

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      Harry Kane scores wondergoal but ex-Premier League star silences Bayern Munich with stunning hat-trick for Barcelona

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      HARRY KANE was dubbed the “best striker in the world” for his genius finish against Barcelona.But it was another ex-Premier League star who grabbed the match-ball and the headlines.Harry Kane produced a scintillating finish for Bayern MunichCredit: AFPHe acrobatically volleyed in an emphatic equaliserCredit: ReutersKane somehow rediverted the ball back across goal into the netCredit: GettyThe England captain, 31, saw his Bayern Munich side fall behind with just 57 seconds on the clock.But he responded in some style at the Barcelona Olympic Stadium – used while the Nou Camp is renovated.With 18 minutes gone, Michael Olise switched the play to Serge Gnabry in the left channel.And the former Arsenal man got into the box before crossing for the ex-Tottenham striker. READ MORE ON CHAMPIONS LEAGUEIt flashed across the face of goal at pace and at a difficult height.But Kane showed expert ability to acrobatically redivert the volley with his instep.The ball flew back past Barca goalkeeper Inaki Pena Sotorres and into the net as the No9 landed on the turf after his flying finish.And fans could not get enough of the “beautiful” goal from the special striker, whose 34 Champions League goals have all come from inside the area.Most read in Champions LeagueFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSOne said: “Harry Kane is the best striker in the world.”Another wrote: “Harry Kane is a very very very very very good football player.”Harry Kane and Bayern Munich team mates take the Audi Q6 e-tron for a drive A third added: “Harry Kane is an insane player.”And a final user replied: “That Kane finish… WOW.”Ironically, it was the second time on the night Kane had found that corner of the net.However, his initial celebrations were cut short when his tenth-minute header was ruled out by VAR for a marginal offside. Even so, his exquisite equaliser took Kane’s tally in this season’s Champions League to five – top of the Golden Boot race.He hit four, including four penalties, as Bayern thumped Dinamo Zagreb 9-2 but he fired a blank in the shock 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa.That also sees Kane way out in front as the top scorer in the Champions League since the start of last season – with his 13 four clear of Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior on nine.But aside from his personal triumph and numbers, it turned into a nightmare evening for Kane in Spain. Barcelona made the best start possible as captain Raphinha pounced on a super high line and a defensive error.Joshua Kimmich messed up his clearance and the ex-Leeds man raced through before rounding Manuel Neuer to break the deadlock in the first minute. But following Kane’s equaliser, Barca retook the lead when Robert Lewandowski knocked into an ungarded net against his former employers.The goal was allowed to stand when a push on Kim Min-jae as he jumped to head clear was judged by VAR not to be enough for a foul in the build-up.And it was 3-1 on the stroke of half-time.Raphinha put Barcelona in front after just 57 secondsCredit: GettyKane thought he had levelled with this header but VAR ruled him offsideCredit: AFPA gorgeous inch-perfect cross-field 60-yard pass from Marc Casado picked out Raphinha and he jinxed into the area before curling into the far corner beyond the diving Neuer.Lamine Yamal arguably delivered an even better ball ten minutes after the break, though, as Raphinha took it down superbly on his chest, raced clear and took his shot early to find the bottom corner and complete a stunning hat-trick. That prompted a quadruple sub from fuming Bayern boss Vincent Kompany.READ MORE SUN STORIESRaphinha was given a standing ovation when withdrawn on 76 minutes – although he had already handed the armband over to the returning Frenkie de Jong earlier on in the second half.Lewandowski should have made it 5-1 late on but somehow didn’t turn home Yamal’s brilliant dinked cross. Robert Lewandowski found the net against his former sideCredit: ReutersRaphinha got Barca’s third just before the breakCredit: ReutersThe ex-Leeds man made it 4-1 after the break and completed his hat-trickCredit: Reuters More

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      ‘Wish this was a permanent option’ say fans at TNT Sports suffer outage that goes down a treat during Liverpool clash

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      TNT SPORTS apologised after commentary stopped just five minutes into Liverpool’s Champions League clash with RB Leipzig.In the opening stages the match, commentary from Darren Fletcher and Lucy Ward unexpectedly cut out.TNT Sports apologised after commentary cut out in the early stages of RB Leipzig vs LiverpoolCredit: TNT SportsLucy Ward wasn’t able to commentate for a period of timeCredit: GettyThe technical error – caused by an issue with microphones – lasted almost three minutes.When everything resumed as normal, Fletcher explained: “Apologies for the early technical problems here.”We can’t quite get the microphones to work inside the stadium. German technology and all that. Expected it to be better.”Apologies sent though from Leipzig.”Read More in FootballSome fans actually seemed to enjoy the unintentional break from commentary.One person took to social media to write: “That 2 minutes where TNT lost the commentary feed in the Liverpool game was absolutely bliss.”Another said: “There’s no commentary on TNT at all?”A third wrote: “TNT apologising for the loss of commentary. Don’t apologise, it’s great!”Most read in Champions LeagueFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSWhile a fourth commented: “Wish TNT would just cut the commentary for the Liverpool game.”It’s not working and it’s much more enjoyable without anyway.”Reds striker Darwin Nunez broke the deadlock at the half-hour mark with a tap-in.How Liverpool outsmarted Chelsea with Slot’s genius ‘traffic jam’ trick and Curtis Jones masterclass More

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      ‘I cannot believe it, I don’t know how VAR said no’, says stunned Ferdinand after Liverpool denied stonewall penalty

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      RIO FERDINAND was left stunned after Liverpool were robbed of a clear penalty against RB Leipzig in the Champions League.The Reds were taking on the German outfit in the League Phase of the tournament at the Red Bull Arena.Liverpool were denied a penalty against RB LeipzigCredit: TNT SPORTSDarwin Nunez was tripped by defender Willi OrbanCredit: GettyRio Ferdinand was convinced it should have been a penalty to LiverpoolCredit: GettyDarwin Nunez fired the travelling side into the lead in the 27th minute as he tapped home from close range.The striker was then in the thick of it again in the 38th minute after he went down in the box.The Uruguayan was running to the ball and was tripped by defender Willi Orban in the box.Replays showed that Nunez got to the ball first and was brought down by the Hungarian.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLAt halftime, Rio Ferdinand was stunned that VAR turned down the decision to give a penalty.Speaking on TNT Sports, he said: “I do not know how VAR have looked at this and said no.”VAR would have seen that angle and said no, I cannot believe it.”Co-pundit Steve McManaman agreed as he argued that there should have been a spot-kick.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSHe added: “Of course it is a penalty.”There’s the contact, Nunez works hard, and made it himself, for what should have been a penalty.”Curtis Jones gives heartwarming interview about becoming new dad after stealing show for Liverpool vs ChelseaNunez had scored the opener in the Champions League clashCredit: PAThe decision was checked by VAR, but despite a second look, Nunez’s claim was turned down.Fans were left fuming on social media that the referee had not pointed to the spot.One posted: “How is that not a penalty?”A second wrote: “People who say no need a new pair of glasses.”A third commented: “Stone waller.”A fourth said: “So refs and VAR are incompetent all across Europe huh?”Another added: “How this isn’t a pen is beyond me.”New Champions League format is a snorefestBy Dan KingUEFA sold the idea of expanding the Champions League from 32 to 36 teams, with each playing eight games instead of six in the opening phase, as a way of creating more competitiveness and excitement.The biggest clubs would have two matches against their peers, rather than having to wait until the knockout stage to meet.The smaller clubs would meet teams of a similar level twice and have a chance of tasting victory that was so hard to achieve if you were the bottom seed in a group of four.Ignoring for a moment the fact that the real motivation was the simple equation of more games = more money, the theory itself already looks flawed.None of the matches between European giants has delivered a compelling contest yet.And why would they? At the start of the long season with more matches in it, why would any team with ambitions to win things in the spring, go out all guns blazing in the autumn?Especially when they know they have six games NOT against big sides to make sure they accrue enough points to qualify at least for the play-off round (and even more games).There is even less jeopardy than before.Read the full column on the Champions League format fail and why everyone – including YOU – needs a rethink. More

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      Race to host Champions League final down to TWO stadiums after San Siro stripped of event as fans say ‘please not again’

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      THE stadiums in contention to host the 2027 Champions League final have been announced.A social media post from Uefa today confirmed that two member associations have declared an interest in hosting the showpiece event.The cities in contention to host the 2027 Champions League final have been announcedCredit: ReutersAtletico Madrid’s Metropolitano Stadium is in contentionCredit: GettyThe Olympic Stadium in Baku is also in the frameCredit: ReutersBaku and Madrid are the remaining cities in contention for the men’s Champions League final.The San Siro in Milan was initially penned in to host the match but rights were revoked due to the ongoing uncertainty around the stadium’s renovation.Instead, the Stadio Olimpico in Rome was put forward for the bidding process.However, it recently withdrew from the race.Read More in FootballBaku, the capital city of Azerbaijan, played host to the 2019 Europa League final between Chelsea and Arsenal.But many fans are hoping the 2027 finale will not be held at the 69,870-seater Olympic Stadium.One person took to social media to write: “Please, no Baku again.”Another said: “Madrid or riot.”Most read in Champions LeagueFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSWhile a third joked: “Baku? May start travelling now then.”Meanwhile, the Estadio Metropolitano – Atletico Madrid’s home – last held the Champions League final that same year.Arsenal set to play Champions League decider in half-empty stadium with tiny away allocation thanks to little-known rule Next year’s final will take place at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany.And the event in 2026 is to be held at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, Hungary.The contenders to host the 2027 Women’s Champions League final have also been announced.Warsaw, Barcelona, Basel and Cardiff are in the frame.New Champions League format is a snorefestBy Dan KingUEFA sold the idea of expanding the Champions League from 32 to 36 teams, with each playing eight games instead of six in the opening phase, as a way of creating more competitiveness and excitement.The biggest clubs would have two matches against their peers, rather than having to wait until the knockout stage to meet.The smaller clubs would meet teams of a similar level twice and have a chance of tasting victory that was so hard to achieve if you were the bottom seed in a group of four.Ignoring for a moment the fact that the real motivation was the simple equation of more games = more money, the theory itself already looks flawed.None of the matches between European giants has delivered a compelling contest yet.And why would they? At the start of the long season with more matches in it, why would any team with ambitions to win things in the spring, go out all guns blazing in the autumn?Especially when they know they have six games NOT against big sides to make sure they accrue enough points to qualify at least for the play-off round (and even more games).There is even less jeopardy than before.Read the full column on the Champions League format fail and why everyone – including YOU – needs a rethink. More

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      Champions League LIVE SCORES: Latest updates with Liverpool and Man City in action, Harry Kane’s Bayern face Barcelona

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      CHAMPIONS LEAGUE football is back for another big night – and this time Liverpool and Manchester City are in action. Arne Slot’s side are up against RB Leipzig in Germany while Pep Guardiola’s men host Sparta Prague. Elsewhere, Harry Kane’s Bayern Munich take on Barcelona in a titanic clash at the Nou Camp. TV/Stream: TNT Sport/Discovery+/Amazon PrimeKick-off times: 5.45pm/8pm BSTEvery goal as it happensThe full fixture list then from a packed Wednesday night across Europe.Nine matches in all, with the majority getting going at 8pm.Atalanta vs Celtic (5.45pm)Brest vs Leverkusen (5.45pm)Atletico Madrid vs LilleBarcelona vs Bayern MunichBenfica vs FeyenoordMan City vs Sparta PragueRB Leipzig vs LiverpoolSalzburg vs Dinamo ZagrebYoung Boys vs Inter MilanCredit: Kenny RamsayCopy linkCopiedLeague of their ownThis new-look Champions League format isn’t for everyone, but you can’t argue that goals haven’t been flying in right, left, and centre.Hope you’ve all brought an abacus tonight because there’s more on the way. There were 27 for us to enjoy during Tuesday’s games, including Real Madrid storming back against Dortmund and dark horses Monaco putting in another five-star performance.Tonight it’s the turn of Liverpool, Celtic, and Man City, with Barcelona vs Bayern also on the menu. Tasty.Arne Slot’s Reds are in Germany, going up against an RB Leipzig team who score plenty but are leaky at the back.City meanwhile welcome Sparta Prague, with Pep Guardiola hinting pre-match he’s expecting a strong performance. But first up Celtic are in action in Bergamo, as they take on Serie A’s Atalanta.Brendan Rodgers’ men return to European action for the first time since shipping 7 against Dortmund last time out.We’ll have team news and build-up from around the grounds, before every goal as it happens. Strap in.Credit: GettyCopy linkCopied More