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    Viktoria Plzen vs Barcelona LIVE: Latest updates, score and team news for Champions League game

    BARCELONA have suffered a dismal Champions League campaign so far but they’ll be looking to round it off on a positive note against Viktoria Plzen. Barca sit third in the group and in with a chance of playing in the Europa League for the rest of the season.

    Start time: 8pm
    TV/Live stream: BT Sport 6
    Plzen XI: To follow
    Barcelona XI: To follow

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    Porto vs Atletico Madrid LIVE: Latest updates, score and team news for Champions League match-up

    ATLETICO MADRID are still fighting to finish in the Europa League spots in the Champions League with their run in the continent’s elite competition now over. They take on Porto, who finished second in Group B and are already through to the knockout stages, in their final match.

    Start time: 5.45pm
    TV/Live stream: BT Sport 1
    Porto XI: To follow
    Atletico XI: To follow

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    Bayer Leverkusen vs Club Brugge LIVE: Latest updates, score, team news for Champions League clash

    BAYER LEVERKUSEN face Group B leaders Club Brugge in their final Champions League game of the season. The German side are already out of the competition but will fight to finish third so they can qualify for the Europa League instead.

    Start time: 5.45pm
    TV/Live stream: BT Sport 5
    Leverkusen XI: To follow
    Club Brugge XI: To follow

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    Sporting vs Eintracht Frankfurt: TV channel, live stream, kick-off time and team news for HUGE Champions League clash

    IT’S all to play for in the finale of Group D as Tottenham, Sporting, Eintracht Frankfurt and Marseille can all progress to the knockout stages.Spurs sit top of the group on eight points after a controversial 1-1 draw against Sporting last week, with the Portuguese side in second ahead of Frankfurt and Marseille.
    Marcus Edwards celebrating against Tottenham in the Champions LeagueCredit: Rex
    Eintracht Frankfurt celebrate after their match against MarseilleCredit: Reuters
    With Antonio Conte’s side travelling to France, they need just a single point to progress, with Marseille needing a win to qualify.
    Sporting and Frankfurt’s qualification could depend on results elsewhere, with both sides going for the win on Tuesday night.
    When is Sporting vs Eintracht Frankfurt?

    The match will take place on Tuesday, November 1.
    It is scheduled to kick off at 8pm UK time.
    Sporting play host to the German side at the Jose Alvalade Stadium which can hold 50,095 spectators.
    In the reverse fixture, Sporting were impressive as they dismantled Frankfurt 3-0.

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    What TV channel is Sporting vs Eintracht on and can I live stream it?

    Sporting vs Eintracht Frankfurt will be broadcast LIVE on BT Sport 7 in the UK.
    Subscription members of BT Sport can stream the entire action live via the BT Sport website or BT Sport app.

    What is the team news?
    Pedro Gancalves and Ricardo Esgaio are available for the hosts after serving a suspension against Tottenham.
    Daniel Braganca and Luis Neto are set to miss the match through injury as Paulinho and Hidemasa Morita also picked up knocks and will likely miss out.
    Most read in Champions League
    For Frankfurt, Tuta will return after serving a suspension himself against Marseille last week.
    Christopher Lenz will remain out with a hip injury and Makoto Hasebe will not return after a knee problem.
    Ansgar Knauff could return after being bback in training this week and will be hopeful of starting.
    Latest odds

    Sporting to win 11/8
    Draw 12/5
    Eintracht Frankfurt to win 2/1

    *Odds courtesy of Betfair are correct at time of publication More

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    Liverpool vs Napoli: TV channel, live stream, kick-off time and team news for Champions League Group A match

    LIVERPOOL will be determined to put another disappointing weekend behind them with a Champions League win over high-flying Napoli on Tuesday.Summerville’s late strike saw Leeds snatch all three points at Anfield in the Reds’ last outing.
    Liverpool lost consecutive Premier League matches to Nottingham Forest and LeedsCredit: Getty
    And as a result, Jurgen Klopp’s men have now lost consecutive matches against two sides that started the day in the relegation zone.
    However, beating Italian giants Napoli would certainly lift the fans’ spirits despite both teams having already qualified for the last-16 stage.
    But it won’t be an easy task as Gli Azzurri come into this game off the back of a 4-0 and remain unbeaten all season.
    When is Liverpool vs Napoli?

    Liverpool are set to entertain Napoli on Tuesday, November 1.
    It is scheduled to kick off at 8pm UK time.
    Anfield in Liverpool will be allocated arena for this Champions League clash and it can host approximately 53,394 spectators.
    Napoli ran riot when the last time these two European giants met in September.

    Liverpool were thrashed by Napoli 4-1 in SeptemberCredit: AFP
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    What TV channel is Napoli vs Liverpool on and can I live stream it?

    Liverpool vs Napoli will be broadcasted LIVE on BT Sport 3 in the UK.
    The build up is expected to get underway from 7:15pm UK time – 45 minutes before kick-off.
    Subscription members of BT Sport can stream the entire action live via the BT Sport website or BT Sport app.

    What is the team news?
    Jurgen Klopp will once again be forced to continue without key forwards Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz who are out with long-term injuries.
    Most read in Sport
    Joel Matip and summer signing Arthur Melo also remain out, while Naby Keita is still a doubt due to his thigh problems.
    Elsewhere, Luciano Spalletti has avoided any fresh injury concerns ahead of Napoli’s trip to Anfield.
    However, Amir Rrahmani and Salvatore Sirigu are expected to miss another match as they too struggle with thigh issues.
    Latest odds

    Liverpool to win 3/4
    Draw 16/5
    Napoli to win 31/10

    *Odds courtesy of Betfair are correct at time of publication More

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    Barcelona ‘want Messi in shock January transfer return’ as Xavi desperately needs PSG superstar to save flagging season

    BARCELONA chiefs will make a desperate attempt to sign Lionel Messi from Paris Saint-Germain in January, according to reports.Messi, 35, has been linked with a sensational return to the Nou Camp for several months.
    Messi could return to BarcelonaCredit: Getty
    Reports initially suggested that he would re-sign for the La Liga giants on a free transfer next summer.
    But, following Barcelona’s disastrous 3-0 defeat to Bayern Munich on Wednesday – which subsequently saw the club crash out of the Champions League – Xavi is now eager to reunite with Messi in January.
    According to Spanish outlet Sport, Barcelona chiefs are hoping to re-sign Messi as soon as possible.
    However, it could prove to be a challenge to separate him from PSG.
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    The Ligue 1 champions are determined to keep the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner in Paris until his contract expires in June 2023.
    Furthermore, Barcelona’s financial issues could potentially prevent the club from securing a deal.
    Messi was forced out of the Nou Camp in 2021 because Barcelona could not afford to keep him.
    He signed a two-year deal with PSG as a result which is believed to be worth a staggering £700,000-a-week.
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    Messi scored 672 goals and assisted 303 during his sensational 17-year spell with Barcelona.
    He also helped the club to four Champions League titles, 10 La Liga titles and three Club World Cups. More

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    Former Newcastle star looks unrecognisable after swapping Champions League for PULLING PINTS up the road from St James’

    A NEWCASTLE icon has gone from marking wingers in the Champions League to pulling pints up the road in Blyth.Under Sir Bobby Robson, the defender was a key cog when Toon were last gracing the biggest stage and battling at the top of the Premier League.
    The ex-Newcastle ace now owns a pubCredit: NNP
    The defender was a key cog under Sir Bobby RobsonCredit: NNP
    He is happy to see the Magpies thriving under HoweCredit: NNP
    And the man himself has got that “special” feeling again about Eddie Howe’s resurgent Mags, who are chasing a first top-four spot since 2003.
    Not that he is in any doubt as to which side would come out on top.Sat in the Masons Arms below a huge painting of Robson, 15 miles north of St James’ Park, the pub landlord is sipping a ‘Monaco’ – one shot of Grenadine, half a pint of lemonade and half a pint of lager.
    The player in question? None other than Frenchman Olivier Bernard.
    And Bernard told SunSport: “We would definitely win because we had a lethal striker in Alan Shearer.
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    “You can’t compare Callum Wilson to Shearer – in the air, finishing, his instinct, he was special.
    “On our day we could have whooped anyone.
    “We were top of the league at Christmas in 2000-01 and if we had avoided injuries, I think we would have done it.
    “We were young and had bags of pace so were deadly going forward.
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    “And when we had everyone fit, we didn’t concede many.
    “Jonathan Woodgate was different class. It didn’t matter who was next to Woody, but unfortunately he was often injured.
    “We had something special and were feared – and it feels like that again now.
    “I’m starting to see comparisons, in the way they set up and drive forward.
    “This Newcastle side with a centre forward like Shearer would be top-four easily.
    “I think we’ll finish in Europe but fall short of the Champions League this season.”
    YOU BRU-TY
    While Howe’s crop might not have Shearer, Robson’s didn’t have Bruno Guimaraes in midfield.
    Bernard, 43, describes himself and other youngsters like Kieron Dyer, Craig Bellamy and Jermaine Jenas as the “wannabes” in awe of Newcastle’s iconic No9.
    And he reckons the Brazilian is the one to take on the Tyneside legend’s mantle in the Saudi era.
    In a unique Geordie-French twang, Bernard added: “We just wanted to be like Shearer and Bruno’s now the one everyone looks at.
    “He’s got a bit of Xavi about him. His touch and awareness is just immense.
    “I followed him at my old club Lyon. I’m surprised he signed but am obviously very happy. His touch and awareness is just different class.”
    Bernard loved life in the North East so much that he has not left since arriving on trial as a striker in 2000.
    He reopened the Masons in January 2020, where Blyth-born Dan Burn has been known to pop in.
    Not that the giant centre-back and the current crop are out painting the Toon red as hard and as frequently as Bernard and Co.
    PARTY HARD
    The Paris-born former defender laughed: “We were wild!
    “The old guard – Alan, Gary Speed, Shay Given, Steve Harper – would stay at home.
    “The rest of us would be out for two or three days after a game enjoying town – the only days we didn’t go out were Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
    “Bobby had an idea but he was happy to shut an eye because training was intense and we played to win every game.
    “It was the best time of my life. My missus is a Geordie and my kids were born here, so it just felt normal to stay.”
    Blyth might not have the same buzzing nightlife of the Bigg Market but Bernard’s punters are a much merrier bunch these days.
    He said: “There are a few Sunderland fans but it’s a Newcastle pub.
    “They are a lot happier now! People who rejected season tickets under Mike Ashley are now desperate to get back.
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    “People would just be half-watching it when they were playing on TV before the takeover.
    “Everyone was so disheartened, but everything’s changed now.”
    Bernard was a key player for NewcastleCredit: EPA
    The Frenchman loved his time in the North EastCredit: EPA More

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    Furious Spurs boss Antonio Conte says VAR blunders should be ‘impossible’ and reckons he could do better from his sofa

    ANTONIO CONTE claims it should be “impossible” for VAR to blunder — and reckons he could make better decisions from his sofa.The Tottenham boss is still furious Harry Kane’s last-gasp Champions League ‘winner’ against Sporting Lisbon was ruled out by video refs.
    Kane’s last-gasp goal was disallowed for offsideCredit: Rex
    Conte was left furious and the referee swiftly sent him offCredit: Alamy
    And Conte insists the red card he was shown for protesting — which will see him banned from Tuesday’s showdown in Marseille — was unfair.
    The Italian said: “It’s impossible to make mistakes with VAR, you have a screen, you have time. When I stay at home and I see the VAR image then, for me, it is easy to take the best decision.
    “Instead, then you see they take the opposite decision.”
    Kane’s stoppage-time strike — 14 seconds from the end of the game — was disallowed for offside.
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    But Conte, 53, added: “You score, qualified for the next round, you are celebrating. And then you stay for five minutes to look at the situation with VAR — they take the decision and you don’t know if it’s right or wrong.
    “This is not football because you cut emotion, the emotion of everybody, and especially the players because you don’t know.”
    Conte’s red card for entering the pitch against Sporting means he will not be in the dugout or allowed to communicate with players in Marseille.
    And defeat could see his Tottenham side exit the Champions League.
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    Conte, who did not appear to realise he had copped a ban, added: “It’s a pity, especially because I didn’t insult anyone.
    “It was only because I came on to the pitch, then to be banned from an important game.
    “If you book me, then it shows me not to come on to the pitch — but now it’s in the past.” More