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      Awestruck Fofana lifts lid on Chelsea team-mates from duo he played with on FIFA to waiting an hour to meet Aubameyang

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      WESLEY FOFANA has admitted it’s “crazy” sharing a dressing room with Thiago Silva and Kalidou Koulibaly – two stars he used to play with on FIFA.And as an awestruck boy the summer signing once waited an hour to get his picture with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
      Wesley Fofana has been left awestruck by his Chelsea team-matesCredit: AFP
      Fofana said it’s “crazy” to be playing alongside Thiago SilvaCredit: AP
      Fofana waited for an hour as a nine-year-old to get a picture with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
      Fofana became the most expensive defender in Chelsea’s history when he signed from Leicester in a deal worth £70million.
      But the 21-year-old is the one who is starstruck when he walks into the Blues’ dressing room.
      The centre-back still has to pinch himself when he trains alongside fellow defenders Silva, 38, and Koulibaly, 31, two veterans of the game.
      Fofana said in the programme ahead of the Champions League clash with AC Milan: “It’s crazy for me. Every day I say ‘Thank you for my life!’ because it’s crazy that I play with Koulibaly and Thiago Silva.
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      “I used to play FIFA with Koulibaly and Thiago Silva and now I’m training with these guys, I’m in the changing rooms with Thiago Silva just to my right, and I learn every day from them.
      “It’s crazy, but life is incredible.”
      Fofana is still yet to make 100 professional appearances, meaning many of his current team-mates were already well established pros when the defender was still a child.
      Blues striker Aubamyeang being another one of his idols.
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      Fofana admitted he once waited an hour as a nine-year-old to get a picture with the ex-Arsenal skipper.
      After a trial with the Saint-Etienne academy, where Fofana progressed through the ranks, he headed off to watch first-team training.
      There he caught a glimpse of Auba, 33, who spent two years with the French club before joining Borussia Dortmund.
      Speaking on their encounter, Fofana said: “I waited for Auba because I liked his style. I liked the number nine when I was young.
      “So I waited maybe one hour and then I took my picture with him – it was a very good moment.
      “And now it’s crazy. I played against Aubameyang two years ago and now I play on the same team as him – life is incredible.” More

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      Benfica vs PSG LIVE: Latest Champions League updates – stream, TV channel info

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      BENFICA host PSG in a top of the table clash in Group H of the Champions League.Both sides have made impressive unbeaten starts to the season, sitting on six points each in the Champions League group.
      Last time out, PSG beat Maccabi Haifa 3-1 in Israel, while Benfica came out 2-1 victors against Juventus in Turin.
      Kick-off: 8pmTV/live stream: BT Sport 6
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      Real Madrid vs Shakhtar Donetsk LIVE: Latest Champions League updates – stream, TV channel info

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      REAL MADRID have been stand-out performers in Champions League Group F and now host second placed Shakhtar Donetsk in what could prove to be their toughest clash yet.Los Blancos have cruised in the group so far, beating Celtic 3-0 in Scotland before a comfortable 2-0 victory against RB Leipzig last time out as the current holders look to keep up their winning record.
      Shakhtar Donetsk embarrassed RB Leipzig on the opening day of the group, thrashing the German’s 4-1 away from home before drawing 1-1 with Celtic.

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      Juventus vs Maccabi Haifa LIVE: Latest Champions League updates – stream, TV channel info

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      JUVENTUS host Maccabi Haifa in Champions League action with both sides desperately searching for their first points in the group.Suffering an embarrassing 2-1 defeat at home to Benfica last time out, Juventus were also beaten by PSG in their opening match of the group.
      Maccabi Haifa share similar woes, sitting bottom of the group, having conceded one one more goal and scored one less than Juventus.
      Kick-off: 8pmTV/live stream: BT Sport 6
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      Red Bull Salzburg vs Dinamo Zagreb LIVE: Latest Champions League updates – stream, TV channel info

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      DINAMO ZAGREB travel to Austria to face FC Red Bull Salzburg in Group E of the Champions League, as the Croatians look to go top of the group.With just a point between the two sides, Dinamo Zagreb could go top of the group with a victory, depending on results elsewhere.
      The Croatians came out 1-0 victors over Chelsea in the opening game of the group before suffering defeat to AC Milan, with RB Salzburg drawing their first two matches.
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      Is the Champions League group stage decided on goal difference or head-to-head?

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      THE Champions League group stage continues tonight with all eyes on Europe’s elite competition.Chelsea take on AC Milan this evening while Man City travel to Copenhagen for their European duties.
      Groups are expected to finish in typically tight fashion, but only 16 teams can reach the knockout stages of the competition.
      So what happens if teams finish on the same number of points in the group? We’ve got all the answers for you. Credit: Reuters
      Manchester United could need a better head-to-head to progress
      How are teams that finish level on points sorted in the Champions League?
      Teams that finish level on points in the Champions League group stage are sorted by the following criteria.
      Unlike the Premier League – which uses goal difference when teams are tied on points – the Champions League separates the teams on head-to-head points among the two fixtures between the sides.

      Points in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
      Goal difference in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
      Goals scored in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
      Away goals scored in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
      Goal difference in all group matches;
      Goals scored in all group matches;
      Away goals scored in all group matches;
      Wins in all group matches;
      Away wins in all group matches;
      Disciplinary points (red card = 3 points, yellow card = 1 point, expulsion for two yellow cards in one match = 3 points);
      UEFA club coefficient.

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      RB Leipzig vs Celtic LIVE: Stream FREE, TV channel, team news for big Champions League clash – latest updates

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      CELTIC will be looking to get their first win in the Champions League tonight as they face RB Leipzig in Germany.The Bundesliga side, however, are also unbeaten and have yet to register a single point in the group stages.

      Start time: 5.45pm BST
      TV/Live stream: BT Sport 4
      Leipzig XI: Gulacsi, Smakan, Orban, Szoboszlai, Raum, Silva, Schalger, Gbardiol, Kampl, Werner, Nkunku
      Celtic XI: Hart, Juranovic, Jenz, Welsh, Taylor, McGregor, O’Riley, Hatate, Jota, Maeda, Kyogo

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      Celtic starting XI:
      Ange Postecoglou plays the same side who beat Motherwell on the weekend.
      1. Hart, 88. Juranovic, 57. Welsh, 6. Jenz, 3. Taylor, 33. O’Riley, 42. McGregor, 41. Hatate, 38. Maeda, 8. Kyogo, 17. Jota
      Credit: @CelticFC
      RB Leipzig subs:
      8. Haidara, 9. Poulsen, 10. Forsberg, 21. Blaswich, 23. Halstenberg, 37. Diallo, 38. Novoa, 39. Henrichs
      RB Leipzig starting XI:
      With the injuries to Konrad Laimer, Lukas Klostermann and Dani Olmo Leipzig do not make many changes to the side that featured on the weekend.
      1. Gulacsi, 2. Simakan, 4. Orban, 32. Gvardiol, 22. Raum, 24. Schlager, 44. Kampl, 17. Szoboszlai, 18. Nkunku, 11. Werner, 19. Andre Silva
      Credit: @RBLeipzig_EN
      Head to head
      RB Leipzig have played Celtic twice previously.
      They did so in the 2018/19 UEFA Europa League group stage.
      Leipzig won the tie at the Red Bull Arena 2-0, while Celtic won 2-1 in Glasgow.
      Credit: SNS
      RB Leipzig vs Celtic match odds
      RB Leipzig 1/2
      Draw 18/5
      Celtic 9/2
      Brought to you by Betfair.
      Hoops looking to turn tide
      Celtic have never won an away match in Germany in 13 previous attempts (D3, L10).
      They have failed to score in nine of those games and have only registered six goals in the other games.
      The Hoops have only won one of their previous 13 games in the UEFA Champions League (D3, L9).
      Scotland looking for some European cheer
      After Rangers’ defeat at Anfield last night, neither of the Scottish teams in the Champions League have managed to register a win thus far.
      Celtic will be looking to break an away record that has not seen them win on the road in the competition since 2017.
      Their last away win was a 3-0 victory over Anderlecht in Belgium.
      Celtic boss wary of German challenge
      The Hoops head coach outlined what he is expecting from tonight’s opponents:
      If you look at their recent form, they’re definitely a goal threat and they’ve got both individual players, but the manner in which they play, they’re an aggressive side as well, and we kind of know what to expect.Ange PostecoglouCeltic
      Leipzig back to winning ways
      The German side avoided a third straight defeat in all competitions at the weekend with a 4-0 win over Bochum VfL in the Bundesliga.
      Chelsea-linked Christopher Nkunku and former Blues forward Timo Werner were in fine form.
      Both players scored a brace to claim their third league win in eight matches this season.
      Welcome to RB Leipzig vs Celtic
      RB Leipzig welcome Celtic to the Red Bull Arena with both teams searching for their first win in this season’s Champions League campaign.
      If either side has any ambitions of making the last-16, victory tonight is a must, the German side will be looking to force their dominance on Celtic from the off.
      Leipzig duo Konrad Laimer and Lukas Klostermann are both ruled out with ankle injuries, while Dani Olmo is sidelined with a ligament problem.
      Rose is unlikely to make too many changes, if any, with centre-back Mohamed Simakan set to continue at right-back in the absence of Klostermann and Xaver Schlager deputising for Laimer in centre-midfield alongside Kevin Kampl.
      Werner, who was an unused substitute the last time Leipzig faced Celtic five years ago, is expected to start in attack with Nkunku, who was directly involved in nine Champions League goals in just six group games last season.
      As for Celtic, Carl Starfelt (knee) and Georgios Giakoumakis (leg) are both set to miss out through injury, while Cameron Carter-Vickers (knock) and James McCarthy (illness) are both doubtful and will be assessed ahead of kickoff.
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      Klopp hailed for ‘outstanding man-management’ after getting Liverpool to give Alexander-Arnold standing ovation

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      JURGEN KLOPP was hailed for his “outstanding man-management” for getting Liverpool fans to give Trent Alexander-Arnold a confidence-boosting standing ovation.The right-back, 23, has been at the centre of debate in recent weeks.
      Jurgen Klopp substituted Trent Alexander-Arnold off in injury time against RangersCredit: Getty
      The Liverpool star applauded the Kop as he headed off the pitchCredit: BT Sport
      Jurgen Klopp encouraged the Anfield crowd to show their supportCredit: BT Sport
      The Reds supporters gave Alexander-Arnold a standing ovationCredit: BT Sport
      Questions marks remain over his defensive abilities and whether he will be in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for next month’s World Cup.
      But the Reds defender went some way to silencing his critics with a superb free-kick seven minutes into the Champions League win over Rangers.
      And Klopp withdrew the academy graduate in the 93rd minute to ensure the Anfield faithful showed their appreciation and support.
      As Alexander-Arnold headed towards the sideline to be replaced by Joe Gomez for the closing seconds, Klopp gestured to the home fans, urging them to ramp up their applause.
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      Alexander-Arnold appeared to feel touched by the reaction and gave his manager a hug as he went off – while fans lauded Klopp on social media.
      One said: “Outstanding man-management. The best in the business.”
      Another wrote: “Unreal psychology by Jurgen Klopp to instigate that.”
      And a final supporter wrote: “Exactly what he needed.”
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      Klopp singled out his full-back for particular praise following the victory.
      The German said: “He played a good game, defensively especially.
      “We set it up differently.
      “We cannot talk about that every week but Trent has no defensive problem.
      “We had a defensive problem – hopefully ‘had’.”
      The right-back set Liverpool on their way to victory with his expert free-kickCredit: AFP More