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      Graham Potter admits he has never even been to a Champions League clash ahead of first Chelsea game against RB Salzburg

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      CHELSEA boss Graham Potter has revealed he has NEVER attended a Champions League match as he prepares to face Red Bull Salzburg on Wednesday.In what will be his first match in charge of the Blues since agreeing a five-year deal from Brighton, the 47-year-old will finally experience the atmosphere of Europe’s premier competition.
      Graham Potter’s first game in charge of Chelsea will come in the Champions League against RB SalzburgCredit: Reuters
      Potter in no stranger to European games having taking Swedish side Ostersund to the Europa League Round of 32 in 2018 where they were knocked out by Arsenal.
      But the ex-Swansea gaffer has insisted he is relishing the challenge of stepping into the unknown with Chelsea desperate to claim three points after losing 1-0 away at Dinamo Zagreb last week.
      Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Potter said: “‘Off the top of my head, I don’t think I have (been to a Champions League game).
      “‘I think it’s a good time to go in the dugout, why not!?
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      “Wherever we start it’s a heck of an introduction.
      “Wherever we start is going to be brilliant, and why not start here?”
      Potter, who is now the joint fourth highest earning boss in the Premier League with a £10million-a-year salary, has also opened on his “whirlwind” experience of joining Chelsea.
      He was named as the club’s new head coach just a day last Thursday after replacing sacked predecessor Thomas Tuchel.
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      He remarked: “Things happened incredibly quickly.
      “I had some really intense conversations with the owners and quickly I realised that they were good people, intelligent people that had made a huge success of their life outside of football and wanted to achieve something here.
      “(They had) a really exciting project, really exciting ideas about how to take the club forward, and it felt really, really positive.
      “I’m not going to lie, it’s been a whirlwind in terms of getting to know people, leaving Brighton, learning about the players.
      “My first impressions have been really good, and I’m really looking forward to starting.” More

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      Bayern Munich star Thomas Muller has his say on Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi GOAT debate

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      BAYERN MUNICH ace Thomas Muller has had his say on who he thinks is best between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. The German shared his opinion on the GOAT debate and he has come to an unique way of deciding between the two.
      Thomas Muller has a strange deciding factor as to who he prefers between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel MessiCredit: Getty
      Opinion over who is better, Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi, splits the football worldCredit: Getty
      Muller cites his own record against both to come to his conclusion.
      He told ESPN: “I go for Ronaldo.
      “Against Messi I have a good statistic, against Ronaldo, not that good.”
      The Bayern attacking midfielder was part of the team when the Bundesliga champions demolished Messi’s Barcelona 8-2 in the 2019/20 Champions League.
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      He was also in action against Messi in the World Cup final in 2014 as Germany beat Argentina in extra-time to lift the trophy.
      Overall the 33-year-old particularly enjoys playing against the PSG star beating him five times in eight matches scoring six in those games.
      Against Ronaldo his record isn’t so impressive winning half of matches versus the Portuguese legend.
      He has faced him ten times scoring just three against teams with Ronaldo in.
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      Muller was also asked who should win the Ballon d’Or between Karim Benzema and ex-teammate Robert Lewandowski.
      He said: “I have to go for Lewandowski.
      “Benzema had a very good season and is a very good player.”
      Muller is ready to come up against the Polish striker for the first time since he controversially left Bayern as they take on Barcelona in the Champions League. More

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      Sporting Lisbon vs Tottenham LIVE: Stream, TV channel, team news as Richarlison STARTS Champions League clash – updates

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      TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR continue their Champions League campaign with a tough trip to Portugal on tonight where Sporting Lisbon await. Spurs will be full of confidence having comfortably dispatched Marseille in their opening Group D game, but Sporting also won their opener 3-0 against Frankfurt.

      Start time: 5.45pm BST
      TV/Live stream: BT Sport 4
      Sporting Lisbon XI: Adan, Inacio, Coates, Reis, Porro, Morita, Ugarte, Santos, Trincao, Edwards, Goncalves
      Tottenham XI: Lloris, Royal, Romero, Dier, Davies, Perisic, Bentancur, Hojbjerg, Richarlison, Son, Kane

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      What time does Sporting vs Tottenham kick off?

      Sporting Lisbon are set to entertain Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday, September 13.
      It is scheduled to kick off early at 5:45pm UK time – same time locally.
      Estadio Jose Alvalde in Lisbon, Portugal is the allocated arena for this exciting encounter and it can host around 50,095 fans.
      Spurs were held to a 2-2 draw when the sides last met in a friendly during the summer of 2010.

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

      Sporting Lisbon vs Tottenham Hotspur will be broadcasted LIVE on BT Sport 4 in the UK.
      Subscription holders of BT Sport can stream the entire action live via the BT Sport website or BT Sport app.

      Tottenham starting XI:
      The big news for Spurs fans is that Ben Davies take his place again and more importantly Conte has gone with a front three of Richarlison, Kane and Son.
      1. Lloris, 17. Romero, 15. Dier, 33. Davies, 12. Royal, 5. Højbjerg, 30. Bentancur, 14. Perisic, 9. Richarlison, 7. Son, 10. Kane
      Credit: @SpursOfficial
      Sporting subs:
      12. Israel, 22. Paulo, 6. Sotiris, 16. Rochina, 18. Fatawu, 20. Paulinho, 47. de Sousa Esgaio, 63. Marsa, 71. Nazinho, 33. Gomes Lourenço
      Sporting starting XI:
      Ruben Amorim will be glad he has his three centre backs available to him this evening with the attacking threat Tottenham pose.
      1. Adan, 25. Inacio, 4. Coates, 2. de Lima, 24. Porro, 5. Morita, 15. Ugarte, 11. dos Santos, 17. Trincao, 10. Edwards, 28. Goncalves.
      Credit: @Sporting_CP
      Spurs make perfect start
      Tottenham find themselves second in the group by goal difference.
      After beating 10-man Marseille 2-0 in their opening match, Conte will be looking to continue their form in Portugal.
      The North London side did look indifferent at times and with the enforced rest recently should be firing on all cylinders tonight.
      The Lions can still roar
      While Antonio Conte’s side will be huge favourites this evening, Sporting hammered Frankfurt 3-0 in their opening game.
      They sit top of the group on goal difference.
      Former Tottenham youngster, Marcus Edwards, stole the spotlight with a goal and an assist in the game and may have a point to prove tonight against a side he failed to make the grade at.
      Spurs favourites to dominate group
      Sporting’s coach has spoken about how he sees this season’s Champions League excpectations:
      Tottenham are clear favourites in the group, they are a team that have one of the best attacks in the world with a winning coach in Italy and England and world-class players.Ruben AmorimSporting manager
      Conte has added backbone
      Tottenham fans rarely are able to enjoy an unbeaten start to the season, Antonio Conte appears to have address their often-crumbling spine of the team and made them difficult to beat.
      Coming back from 2-0 down against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge to draw 2-2 late on shows how the Italian’s side have a fire inside them to win any game.
      It is resulting in the North London outfit proving very difficult to beat, something Man City may have been happy to avoid until later in the season right now.
      Italian coach bemoans demands
      The Tottenham coach gave his thoughts on what is being asked of his players in a season with a World Cup in Qatar thrown into the middle of it:
      When you play every three days, you run the risk of having more injuries and less energy. The postponement of the game against [Man] City has allowed me to change the idea of the team I had in mind for the game.Antonio ConteTottenham coach
      Brazilian to make history in Lisbon
      If Richarlison scores a double this evening, he would become only the second player in Champions League history to do so in the opening two games of the tournament.
      The last person to do so was Diego Simeone of Atletico Madrid.
      He scored in a 4-0 win over Steua Bucharest before repeating the feat in a 4-1 victory over Widzew Lodzin.
      Welcome to Sporting vs Tottenham
      Antonio Conte takes his Tottenham side to Lisbon this evening having had a rare weekend break from Premier League action after the death of Queen Elizabeth II, with a country in morning for the long-serving monarch.
      The Italian said “I want to give condolences from me, from the club, from the players to the Royal Family. Then football has to go ahead and we will do it, but I think the Premier League made an important decision to stop football and show respect for the death of the Queen.”
      Lucas Moura will miss the game for Tottenham and has not travelled, while Bryan Gil will fill in for the Brazilian who has struggled to shake off recent injury.
      Jeremiah St Juste had to be taken off with a muscular problem against Frankfurt and is a big doubt for this evening’s encounter.
      Goncalo Inacio and Luis Neto added to Sporting’s defensive woes when they were forced off early in their league game on the weekend, although the latter was more precautionary.
      Clement Lenglet and Richarlison will be hoping to condemn Dejan Kulusevski and Ben Davies to the bench in Portugal.
      Jovan Cabral is out for The Lions but Paulinho is back in contention to feature.
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      Rangers vs Napoli: Live stream, TV channel, team news and kick-off time for Champions League match

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      RANGERS continue their Champions League campaign against Napoli this week, with the fixture rescheduled due to the Queen’s passing.The Scottish side lost 4-0 to Ajax last Wednesday, while Napoli stunned Liverpool 4-1 in their opening Euro matches.
      The game has been postponed for 24 hours
      But amid the mourning period following The Queen’s passing aged 96, the Napoli fixture has been moved back 24 hours to Wednesday.
      The game will now have no away supporters, with Rangers fans also not allowed to attend the return fixture in Naples.
      A club statement read: “Rangers can today confirm the upcoming Uefa Champions League match with SSC Napoli at Ibrox has been rescheduled for Wednesday, 14 September at 8pm.
      “This is due to the severe limitations on policing resources and organisational challenges related to the ongoing events surrounding the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
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      When is Rangers vs Napoli?
      Rangers vs Napoli takes place on Wednesday, September 14.
      The match kicks off at 8pm UK time.
      Ibrox plays host, with no away fans in the stadium due to the quick postponement of the original match.
      What live stream and TV channel is Rangers vs Napoli on?
      Rangers vs Napoli will be broadcast live on BT Sport 4.
      BT begin their coverage at 7.45pm.
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      Victor Osimhen misses out for Napoli
      What is the team news?
      Rangers boss Giovanni van Bronkhorst has an injury headache – with Tom Lawrence, Filip Helander, John Souttar, Kemar Roofe and Ianis Hagi all out of action.
      While for the visitors, striker Victor Osimhen suffered a thigh injury in the win over Liverpool and will miss out.
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      Man City vs Borussia Dortmund: Live stream, TV channel, team news and kick-off time for Champions League tie

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      MANCHESTER CITY take on Borussia Dortmund TOMORROW in an exciting Champions League clash – and all eyes will be on Erling Haaland.The Norwegian talisman has already secured double figures for the season in less than eight games played.
      Erling Haaland has leapt to double figures this seasonCredit: AFP
      Borussia Dortmund were humiliated by RB Leipzig on the weekendCredit: Getty
      And he’ll be hoping to hit his former side Dortmund where it hurts by adding to what is an incredible goal tally.
      But if anybody knows how to stop Haaland, it will be the team where he spent the last two years of his playing career.
      However, Dortmund’s 3-0 defeat against RB Leipzig on the weekend could have a negative impact on their confidence.
      What time does Man City vs Borussia Dortmund kick off?

      Manchester City are set to entertain Borussia Dortmund TOMORROW – Wednesday, September 14.
      It is scheduled to kick off at 8pm UK time.
      The Etihad in Manchester is the designated venue for this mouth-watering fixture and it can host around 55,097 fans.
      Pep Guardiola’s side sent Dortmund crashing out of the tournament when the teams last met in the 2020/21 campaign.

      Read More on Champions League
      What TV channel is Man City vs Borussia Dortmund on and can I live stream it?

      Manchester City vs Borussia Dortmund will be broadcasted LIVE on BT Sport 2 in the UK.
      Coverage is set to commence from 7pm UK time – one hour before kick-off.
      Subscription members of BT Sport have the option to stream the entire action live via the BT Sport website or the BT Sport app.

      Team news
      Pep Guardiola has been unable to confirm whether English duo Kyle Walker and John Stones will be available for the huge match against Borussia Dortmund.
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      But Aymeric Laporte has been completely ruled out yet again which means a start for Manuel Akanji against his former club.
      While Erling Haaland is expected to once again the lead the line for his new side against his old side.
      Elsewhere, Eden Hazard’s younger brother Thorgan will need to be assessed after being forced off Dortmund’s comprehensive 3-0 win over Copenhagen last week.
      And if the Beglian is unavailable for this fixture, he will join Gregor Kobel, Sebastian Haller, Mahmoud Dahoud, Mateu Morey and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens in the treatment room.
      Latest odds

      Man City to win 2/11
      Draw 13/2
      Borussia Dortmund to win 14/1

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

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      How Chelsea could line up in Graham Potter’s first game in Champions League against RB Salzburg with Edouard Mendy OUT

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      CHELSEA will welcome in a new era when Graham Potter takes to the Stamford Bridge dugout for the first time.Potter, 47, was announced as the new Blues boss on Thursday – a matter of hours after Thomas Tuchel was sacked.
      Chelsea’s possible starting line-up vs RB Salzburg
      Potter will take charge of Chelsea for the first timeCredit: Reuters
      He was due to take on Marco Silva’s Fulham on Sunday – which would’ve marked his first game in charge of the club – but, all Premier League fixtures were postponed as a mark of respect following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
      Now he arguably has a tougher task on his hands in the form of a huge Champions League clash with RB Salzburg.
      Chelsea kicked off their campaign with a shock 1-0 defeat to Dinamo Zagreb last week – a result that has left the club BOTTOM of Group E.
      So new boss Potter will expect nothing less than three points this evening, and with so much at stake he will likely put out the strongest team possible.
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      Kepa is set to retain his spot in the squad with Edouard Mendy unavailable due to injury.
      Mendy was named among the substitutes last week as he was nursing a patella tendon injury.
      The goalkeeper missed out on yesterday’s first team training session at Cobham, so he will likely be left out of the squad altogether.
      Thiago Silva is expected to return to the squad – he was rested for last week’s trip to Croatia.
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      The Brazil international could line-up alongside new boys Wesley Fofana and Kalidou Koulibaly in a back three.
      With N’Golo Kante out of action due to a hamstring injury, Matteo Kovacic and Mason Mount will likely retain their spots in the centre of midfield.
      Marc Cucurella – who reunited with former Brighton boss Potter last week – is expected to start as a left wing-back with Reece James on the right.
      Kai Havertz and Raheem Sterling have regularly been used as strikers so far this season, but following the arrival of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang they are set to be pushed out onto the wings.
      Aubameyang is expected to lead the line as a solo striker despite his jaw injury.
      Alternatively, Potter could decide to shift Mount out onto the wing to make room for Jorginho in midfield if he were to take a more defensive approach.
      Chelsea’s alternative line-up vs RB Salzburg More

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      Chelsea vs Salzburg: Live stream, TV channel, team news and kick-off time for Champions League clash

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      CHELSEA will officially begin life without Thomas Tuchel TOMORROW when they welcome Austrian champions Red Bull Salzburg to the Bridge.The Blues’ shock defeat to Dinamo Zagreb on the opening night of the 2022/23 Champions League campaign was the beginning of the end of Tuchel’s career in West London.
      Chelsea were embarrassed by Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions LeagueCredit: Rex
      Graham Potter is the new head coach at ChelseaCredit: Getty
      This led to the appointment of former Brighton boss Graham Potter who has had extra time on the training ground with his new side courtesy of last weekend’s postponements.
      And Potter will be determined to resurrect Chelsea’s confidence by putting three points on the board.
      But it won’t be easy as Salzburg have lost only once in nine games this season – including holding Serie A winners AC Milan to a draw last week.
      What time does Chelsea vs Salzburg kick off?

      Chelsea entertain Red Bull Salzburg TOMORROW – Wednesday, September 14.
      It is scheduled to get underway at 8pm UK time.
      Stamford Bridge in West London is the allocated arena for this eye-catching match and it can host around 41,837 supporters.
      This will be the first time these two European outfits are meeting competitively but the Blues ran out 5-3 winners in a 2019 friendly fixture.

      Read More on Chelsea
      What TV channel is Chelsea vs Salzburg on and can I live stream it?

      Chelsea vs Red Bull Salzburg will be broadcasted LIVE on BT Sport 3 in the UK.
      Pre-match build up is expected to commence from 7:15pm UK time – 45 minutes before kick-off.
      Subscription members of BT Sport have the option to stream the entire action live via the BT Sport website or BT Sport app.

      Team news
      All eyes will be on Graham Potter as he prepares to choose his first ever Chelsea starting eleven.
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      But the former Brighton boss is unlikely to have N’Golo Kante as an option with the World Cup winner’s thigh injury still giving him problems.
      Meanwhile, Matthias Jaissle has a whole host of injuries for this huge trip to London.
      Sekou Koita, Maximilian Wober, Oumar Solet, Kamil Piatkowski, Bryan Okoh, Ousmane Diakite, Samson Tjani, Justin Omoregie, Luka Sucic and Mamady Diambou are all expected to be unavailable to the Salzburg boss on Thursday.
      Latest odds

      Chelsea to win 1/3
      Draw 9/2
      Salzburg to win 15/2

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

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      Champions League anthem will NOT be played during matches by British teams at home ahead of Queen’s funeral

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      THE iconic Champions League anthem will NOT be played at matches hosted in Britain this week ahead of the Queen’s funeral. Liverpool, Rangers, Chelsea and Manchester City all have home Champions League games on either Tuesday or Wednesday.
      The Champions League anthem will not be played as players enter the pitch in games being held in Britain this weekCredit: Getty
      A minute silence will be held prior to kick-off at a number of gamesCredit: PA
      And the players will not walk out to the famous song as a mark of respect for the Queen, who died aged 96 last Thursday.
      Football has adopted the anthem written by Tony Britten just before the European Cup was renamed the Champions League.
      It’s actually based on George Frideric Handel’s symphony ‘Zadok the Priest’.
      The song which has become synonymous with the football competition has been played at every coronation of a British monarch.
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      Despite this UEFA have still made the decision to not play it and clubs will pay further respect with Liverpool set to observe a period of silence at Anfield ahead of their game versus Ajax.
      Players will also wear black armbands and flags at the stadium have been lowered to half-mast.
      The country is currently in a ten day national mourning period.
      Football was postponed over the weekend following Her Majesty’s passing.
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      But football returns in the UK in midweek with European and EFL matches going ahead.
      The Premier League is also back this approaching weekend.
      However three matches are off due to limitations on policing due to extra numbers needed to prepare for the Queen’s funeral. More