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      Fans all say same thing as Chelsea’s new £70m transfer Wesley Fofana left for dust as Dinamo Zagreb take shock lead

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      WESLEY FOFANA came under-fire just 13 minutes into his Champions League debut for Chelsea against Dinamo Zagreb tonight.The Blues forked out a whopping £70million to Leicester City for the French defender last week.
      Chelsea’s Wesley Fofana (L) was brutally outpaced by Dinamo Zagreb’s Mislav OrsicCredit: AFP

      Fofana, 21, made his first start for his new club in Saturday’s 2-1 Premier League victory over West Ham.
      And that should have led to him lining-up full of confidence for tonight’s European showdown in Croatia.
      However, despite Chelsea being the heavy favourites, they found themselves trailing early doors to Dinamo at the Maksimir Stadium.
      And it appears that many of those watching felt that Fofana could have done a whole lot more to stop it.
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      The hosts caught the visitors on the counter attack as Bruno Petkovic won a header against Kalidou Koulibaly that sent Mislav Orsic on his way.
      The Croatia international controlled it on his chest and then left Fofana for dust as he used his frightening pace to race clear on goal.

      With Fofana failing to catch him, he then kept his cool to dink the ball past Kepa Arrizabalaga to break the deadlock.
      And afterwards many were pointing the finger of blame at Fofana.
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      Fofana sees to have the edge in the raceCredit: BT Sport
      But Fofana is outpaced by Orsic who scores past KepaCredit: BT Sport
      One tweeted: “How much was Fofana again? Man can’t even run.”
      Another wrote: “£70 million spent on Fofana and he’s just been made to look like a League 2 defender with the pace of your grandparents.”
      As a fellow viewer commented: “They should arrest the whole Leicester board for fraud.”
      While a cheeky Leicester fan, still disgruntled over the manner of the centre-half’s exit, also joined in.
      They tweeted: “Fofana dreamed of playing in the Champions League just so he could get skinned by some donny from Dinamo Zagreb.” More

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      Fans all say the same thing as Tottenham ‘troll themselves’ in now-deleted picture of a Champions League bottle

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      FOOTBALL fans have mocked Tottenham after they appeared to troll themselves with a now-deleted social media post.Antonio Conte’s men kick off their Champions League campaign at home to Marseille on Wednesday after two years away from Europe’s premier tournament.
      Conte’s Spurs will start their Champions League campaign on WednesdayCredit: PA
      This is the post which has since been deleted by TottenhamCredit: Reddit
      But as they prepare to begin life back in the competition, Spurs shared an unfortunate picture online.
      The official Tottenham Twitter account posted an image of a club water bottle with the words “Champions League” on it.

      In the text of the tweet, they added a pin and the caption: “Hotspur Way.”
      It was deleted shortly after, but not before many had already seen it.
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      And football supporters ridiculed it online, with many jokingly suggesting they were labelling themselves as a side that tend to “bottle” it on the big stage.
      One said: “If Tottenham somehow lose to Marseille tomorrow then you know what’s coming lol.”
      Another fan loving the irony of the tweet added: “Come on, this is unfairly funny.”
      While a third simply said: “BOTTLEham Hotspur.”
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      A couple of Spurs fans also saw the funny side as they took the mick out of their own side – who are one of England’s traditional “big six” despite having not won a trophy for 14 years.
      One said: “As someone who has been following Spurs for 30 years you’d better learn to find some humour at the situations we find ourselves in or you’ll just be miserable all the time.”
      And another agreed, adding: “Why would our Twitter admin do this 😭. It’s pretty funny, but come on, you really just opened the door there.”
      Tottenham have made a strong start to their Premier League campaign, winning four and drawing two of their opening six matches.
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      They sit third in the table, one point below leaders Arsenal.
      Along with Marseille, Conte’s men have been drawn in their Champions League group alongside Eintracht Frankfurt and Sporting Lisbon. More

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      Borussia Dortmund vs Copenhagen LIVE: Updates from Champions League clash – Stream, TV channel, team news

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      BORUSSIA DORTMUND take on Copenhagen tonight in their first Champions League clash of the season. The German side haven’t been to a final since 2013 – so they’ll be looking to do so this campaign for the first time in 10 years.

      Start time: 5.45pm
      Live stream/TV: BT Sport 1

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      Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang STARTS for Chelsea as he makes debut in Champions League and will wear mask to protect jaw

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      PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG will make his Chelsea debut TONIGHT against Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League.The former Barcelona and Arsenal forward, 33, signed for the Blues on deadline day but was unavailable for the weekend’s win over West Ham.
      Tuchel has named Aubameyang in his starting line-up for Tuesday night’s clashCredit: Getty
      He has been recovering from a broken jaw which he suffered during a robbery at his house.
      But now he is fit to play and has been named in Thomas Tuchel’s line-up for their opening European fixture of the campaign in Croatia.
      The Gabon international will wear a mask to protect his jaw during the game.
      Aubameyang is beginning a second spell under Tuchel, who previously managed him at Borussia Dortmund.
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      And he will be looking to hit the ground running in the Champions League – a competition where he boasts a record of 15 goals in 32 matches.
      But one player who will not be starting alongside Aubameyang is Chelsea’s No1 Edouard Mendy.
      The keeper, 30, has been dropped by Tuchel for their clash with Zagreb, with Kepa Arrizabalaga replacing him in between the sticks.
      It comes after Mendy’s blunder at Stamford Bridge at the weekend – an error which he ultimately got away with.

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      The Senegalese shot-stopper spilled the ball inside his own area against West Ham, with Maxwel Cornet pouncing to lash home a late equaliser to make the game 2-2.
      However, after a VAR review, referee Andrew Madley disallowed the goal for an innocuous foul by Jarrod Bowen on Mendy.
      The PGMOL have subsequently admitted it was the wrong call.
      But Mendy has not gotten away completely unpunished as he is benched for tonight’s match.
      Chelsea XI to play Dinamo Zagreb: Kepa; Azpilicueta, Fofana, Koulibaly; James, Mount, Kovacic, Chilwell; Havertz, Aubameyang, Sterling.
      Subs: Bettinelli, Mendy, Cucurella, Chalobah, Chukwuemeka, Gallagher, Jorginho, Loftus-Cheek, Zakaria, Pulisic, Ziyech, Broja. More

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      Dinamo Zagreb vs Chelsea LIVE: Stream, TV channel, team news for as Aubameyang to make Blues DEBUT in Champions League

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      CHELSEA take on Dinamo Zagreb in their first Champions League clash of the season TODAY.The Blues have had an inconsistent start to their Premier League campaign and will want to get things off to a good start in Europe, but Croatian side Zagreb represent a tricky match-up.

      Start time: 5.45pm BST
      TV/Live stream: BT Sport 4
      Zagreb XI: Livakovic, Moharrami, Sutalo, Peric, Ristovski, Ademi, Misic, Ivanusec, Ljubicic, Petkovic, Orsic
      Chelsea XI: Arizabalaga, Azpilicueta, Fofana, Koulibaly, James, Chilwell, Kovacic, Mount, Sterling, Aubameyang

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      Dinamo Zagreb vs Chelsea latest odds
      Chelsea are the favourites to win this evening’s Champions League opener as they look to get their European campaign underway with three points.
      Here are the latest odds courtesy of Betfair:

      Dinamo Zagreb to win 7/1
      Draw 15/4
      Chelsea win 2/5

      Manchester City are the bookies’ favourites for the whole tournament. Whilst Chelsea sit behind Tottenham as the eighth most likely team to lift the trophy.
      Aubameyang hoping to end no.9 curse
      Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang makes his first appearance for Chelsea this evening, following his deadline day move from Barcelona.
      The ex-Arsenal man has taken on the number 9 jersey at the club which Tuchel previously joked was ‘cursed’, stating:
      “It’s cursed, it’s cursed, people tell me it’s cursed! There was not a big demand for number nine, nobody wants to touch it.”
      Below are a list of the last 11 players to wear the iconic number at the Bridge:

      Romelu Lukaku
      Tammy Abraham
      Gonzalo Higuain
      Alvaro Morata
      Radamel Falcao
      Fernado Torres
      Franco Di Santo
      Steve Sidwell
      Khalid Boulahrouz
      Hernan Crespo
      Mateja Kezman

      Can Chelsea’s new signing change the curse, starting this evening?
      .Credit: Getty
      Chelsea bench
      Bettinelli, Broja, Chalobah, Chukwuemeka, Cucurella, Gallagher, Jorginho, Loftus-Cheek, Mendy, Pulisic, Zakaria, Ziyech
      Dinamo Zagreb XI
      Livakovic, Moharrami, Sutalo, Peric, Ristovski, Ademi, Misic, Ivanusec, Ljubicic, Petkovic, Orsic
      Substitutes: Baturina, Bockaj, Bulat, Drmic, Emreli, Lauritsen, Marin, Nevistic, Spikic, Stefuli, Theophile-Catherine, Zagorac
      Aubameyang starts for Blues
      Thomas Tuchel rings the changes for today’s game, most notably, handing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang his first Chelsea start.
      Ben Chilwell’s excellent substitute performance against West Ham which saw him grab a goal and assist earns him a place in the starting 11.
      Kepa Arizabalaga, Mason Mount, Cesar Azpilicueta and Kai Havertz are also recalled to the line-up.
      Arizabalaga, Azpilicueta, Fofana, Koulibaly, James, Chilwell, Kovacic, Mount, Sterling, Aubameyang
      .Credit: Getty
      Good evening from Zagreb
      Champions League football is back!
      And to kick us off, Croatian Champions Dinamo Zagreb host Chelsea in what looks to be a tall order for Zagreb boss Ante Cacic, who’s side have never progressed past the group stage of this competition.
      Chelsea come to Zagreb with a far better record, lifting the trophy twice in their history, most recently in 2021.
      That being said, their form has been inconsistent in the Premier League, taking just nine points from a possible 18 available. A controversial win over West Ham on the weekend leaves the Blues in fifth position, either side of Manchester united and Liverpool.
      The action is scheduled for 5:45 at the Stadion Maksimir and we will bring you confirmation of both team’s line-ups shortly as we build up to kick-off.
      .Credit: Getty
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      Hector Bellerin and Marcos Alonso both left out of Barcelona squad for Champions League opener despite late transfers

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      BARCELONA have left new signings Hector Bellerin and Marcos Alonso out of their Champions League squad. It comes after the full-backs sealed late transfers to the club from Arsenal and Chelsea respectively.
      Hector Bellerin during his unveiling as a new Barcelona playerCredit: Getty
      Marcos Alonso was unveiled alongside BellerinCredit: Getty
      Barcelona boss Xavi explained his reasoning behind the omissions.
      “They are two signings, they have to get used to what we are doing,” he told reporters.
      “They haven’t had minutes this season and they need a little more physical work. Saturday they will be in the squad.”
      However, Xavi did also detail the need to have plenty of players in the squad.
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      He added: “There will be rotations. The calendar is very demanding, we need people to have minutes, there is tiredness, fatigue and niggles after the Sevilla match.
      “We have a big squad and we have to rotate. That’s the idea.”
      Bellerin had his contract with Arsenal terminated in order to complete a transfer back to his boyhood club, whom he originally left in 2011 to join The Gunners.
      The 27-year-old signed a one-year deal with the Blaugrana, but the deal has no option to be extended further.
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      Meanwhile, Marcos Alonso went to Barca as part of a swap deal that saw Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang go the other way.
      Chelsea paid £10million on top of the Spaniard to complete the deal.
      Barcelona will kick off their Champions League campaign against Viktoria Plzen on Wednesday. More

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      Champions League winner looks totally unrecognisable 24 years on from lifting cup after ripped body transformation

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      THIS former Bayern Munich and Real Madrid ace looks amazing for 48-years-old.Back in 1998, the ex-Brazilian international was a Champions League winner with the Spanish giants.
      Can you guess who this former Brazil international is?Credit: Instagram zr11
      He’s bulked up since his playing daysCredit: Instagram zr11
      But can you guess who it is?
      It is, of course, ex-midfielder Ze Roberto who enjoyed a stellar career as a player.
      However, he never looked this buff and has clearly been working out religiously since retiring from the game in 2017.
      Last year, he stunned fans on social media when he showed off his hench body transformation akin to a bodybuilder.
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      The Samba star uploaded an Instagram video of himself during a training session in the park during the coronavirus lockdown.
      Now a personal trainer, he gave an insight into how he was able to outlast so many of his former team-mates.
      He told local media in the past: “I have no vices. I don’t drink alcoholic beverages, I don’t smoke, I eat very well, I sleep well.
      “I have my family, which is my greatest security. I think those are important factors to reach the age I reached and still continue playing at a high level.”
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      During his illustrious playing days, Ze Roberto won two Copa Americas and finished runner up at the 1998 World Cup.
      The versatile left-back turned midfielder made 85 Brazil appearances and scored six times for his country.
      Ze Roberto also lifted one LaLiga and the Champions League with Real Madrid and claimed four Bundesliga titles in six years at Bayern Munich spread over two stints in Germany.
      And back in 2020 he even claimed he has a better physique than the ripped Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo.
      He told TyC Sports: “Today I would say that I have a better physique, because I played until I was 43-years-old.
      “If he does [play until then], I will say it is him.”
      Although with Ronaldo revealing he plans to keep playing into his 40s Ze Roberto may well be forced into making the admission.
      Ze Roberto pictured in action for Brazil at the 2006 World Cup
      In 1997 Ze Roberto was playing for Real Madrid More

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      Lionel Messi snubbed as Champions League release epic new intro montage featuring Salah, Mbappe and Haller

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      THE Champions League released an epic new intro montage ahead of its return later today – but Lionel Messi has been snubbed and does not feature. The European competition is back with football fans set to enjoy weeks of intense battles among the Euro big dogs.
      Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez is one of the stars featured in the videoCredit: @ChampionsLeague
      Mo Salah’s footwork can be seen in UEFA’s new Champions League introCredit: @ChampionsLeague
      The schedule is set to be even more taxing for elite clubs as the 2022 World Cup forces the competition to wrap up its group stage far earlier than normal.
      With Dinamo Zagreb and a Chelsea side potentially including Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang set to kick off proceedings tonight, the Champions League has released a new montage to get supporters fired up.
      With its iconic anthem blaring in the background, the video sees high-profile players featured in a 40 second clip which will be used as the intro before Champions League match coverage begins this season.
      But notably missing is PSG ace Lionel Messi, still one of the biggest stars on the planet aged 35.
      READ MORE ON FOOTBALL
      The Argentine has lit up the Champions League on several occasions over the past decade and a half and is a surprise exclusion as UEFA flaunt their greatest stars.
      Among the players who do feature, Messi’s PSG teammate Kylian Mbappe can be seen in the video sweeping an effort at goal.
      Liverpool’s Mo Salah can also be seen skilfully taking down a pass on the Anfield touchline.
      Other big names seen include Robert Lewandowski, Kai Havertz and Antoine Griezmann.
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      The video ends with Marcelo hoisting the giant Champions League trophy above his head.
      The snub of Messi comes after the forward’s great start to the season at Paris Saint-Germain.
      He has netted three goals already and been heavily involved in some of their high-scoring wins.
      Despite his strong start, he still trails his teammates Neymar and Mbappe in the Ligue 1 goal charts, with the squabbling pair scoring seven each already.
      But Messi did score a goal of the season contender with an outrageous overhead kick in a 5-0 win at Clermont.
      Off the pitch and the star has reportedly purchased a dazzling mansion in Ibiza.
      Kylian Mbappe made the cut for the Champions League intro video, but his more experienced teammate Lionel Messi did notCredit: @ChampionsLeague
      Chelsea’s Kai Havertz can be seen in the video as he looks to follow-up on his goal-scoring antics against West Ham from the weekendCredit: @ChampionsLeague More