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      Barcelona vs PSG FREE: Live stream, TV channel, team news and kick-off time for massive Champions League clash

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      BARCELONA are back in action in Europe and they’re up against fellow giants in Paris Saint-German.
      The two sides have faced each other in the Champions League numerous times before and this one should be just as entertaining.

      PSG reached the final of last season’s Champions LeagueCredit: AP:Associated Press
      What time does Barcelona vs PSG kick-off?
      PSG’s visit to Barcelona will get underway from 8pm UK time on Tuesday, February 16.
      The game will take place in Barcelona at the Nou Camp.
      There will be no fans in attendance for the clash.
      What channel is it and can it be live streamed?
      Barcelona’s clash with PSG will be shown live on BT Sport 3 and BT Sport Ultimate.
      The game will be available for live streaming from the BT Sport app, which is available for download onto your mobile or tablet device.
      Can I watch for FREE?
      EE customers can get BT Sport INCLUDED to their plan at no extra cost if they are on a plan with Smart Benefits – simply log in to EE and choose BT Sport app.
      And then get it on the big screen by texting SPORT to 150 to get a FREE three-month trial of Large Screen so you can cast all the action on your TV.
      At the end of the three months you will automatically roll onto the £5 per month BT Sport Large Screen subscription unless cancelled.

      Team news

      Jordi Alba could return for Barcelona after sitting out for the clash with Alaves at the weekend.
      Barca could continue with their centre-back problems, however, as Frenkie de Jong is expected to continue in the position with Gerard Pique out.
      PSG’s big miss will be Neymar, who sustained a thigh injury earlier this week and will be out of action for a month.
      Angel Di Maria and Juan Bernat are also injured for the visitors.

      Odds
      Barcelona – 21/20
      Draw – 11/4
      PSG – 23/10
      *Odds courtesy of Ladbrokes and correct at time of publication. More

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      Watch Barcelona fans set off fireworks by PSG hotel to try and stop players sleeping before CL clash

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      BARCELONA fans are setting off fireworks outside PSG’s team hotel, in an attempt to prevent the French side’s stars from sleeping.
      The relationship between the two sides has been strained at best, since Barcelona’s stunning 6-1 Champions League victory over the Parisians, followed by the subsequent £200million Neymar deal.

      Fireworks are let off outside PSG’s hotel

      The French giants trained in Barcelona this evening ahead of tomorrow’s Champions League clashCredit: The Mega Agency

      But things have reached breaking point this season, given PSG’s very public pursuit of Lionel Messi.
      Speculation over the Argentine’s future has loomed large over Barcelona’s season.
      But with PSG in town, their fans wanted to cause some disruption of their own.
      In video footage captured by El Chiringuito, large cracks can be heard reverberating through the Catalonia sky, just by where PSG happen to be staying.

      This follows the less than hospitable welcome that PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi received upon his arrival earlier today.
      In more footage, fans can be heard shouting: “Son of a b***h! Thief! Let go of Messi, thief!”
      PSG have not been shy of expressing their interest in the six-time Ballon d’Or winner, with Mauricio Pochettino, Neymar and Angel Di Maria having all made admiring noises – while France Football mocked up a front page image of Messi in a PSG shirt.
      This led to Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman furiously criticising the ‘disrespectful’ French giants.

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      Ronald Koeman has been disgusted by PSG’s public Messi pursuitCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      PSG were upset by this France Football front pageCredit: France Football

      He said: “It’s wrong to say such things, especially because it heats up our Champions League match even more.
      “I think it’s not fair and it’s disrespectful to talk so much about one player who is still playing for Barcelona.
      “I think it is disrespectful to talk so much about Leo while he is playing for Barcelona, especially before a Champions League match against them.”
      To this, Pochettino hit back: “At no time have we shown disrespect.
      “Players can talk, say what they think about other players. We have total respect for clubs. Do not mistake France Football for PSG.”
      The teams can finally take their verbal jousting to the pitch tomorrow night at Camp Nou, before returning to Paris for the second leg in three weeks time.

      Koeman and Pochettino will face off in person on Tuesday nightCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

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      New Premier League and Champions League balls revealed with nostalgic Nike Total 90 look and adidas’ hidden message

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      NEW Champions League and Premier League balls have been released for the conclusion of the 2020-21 season.
      And the designs include a nostalgic Nike Total 90 look and a hidden message from adidas.

      adidas revealed the new ball which will be used for the remainder of the Champions League campaignCredit: Will Cornelius; Adidas

      Nike added a third ball to their Premier League collection for the 2020-21 season

      The German manufacturers unveiled the ball which will be used in the knockout stages of this season’s Champions League.
      The Finale Istanbul 21 – named after the host city of May’s final – celebrates the 20th anniversary of the iconic ‘starball’ design, synonymous with memorable big European nights over the years.
      The new adidas ball subtly features every design from the last 20 Champions League finals.
      And the year and city of each final is written in a thin red strip on the corresponding panel.

      The designers – who brought out their latest Predator Freak boots last month – said of the new ball: “The ball continues to offer control, aerobatic stability and a secure grip via thermally-bonded hexagon panels, overlapping stars and textured coating.
      “Incorporating sustainable glue, the ball provides a seamless surface and improved first touch for even more precision on the pitch.”
      The football will be available to buy on the adidas website from 9am on Tuesday and then used that night when RB Leipzig take on Liverpool and Barcelona host Neymar-less Paris Saint-Germain.
      NIKE TAKES FLIGHT
      As for fellow sporting giants Nike, they have teamed up with the Premier League to add a third ball for this season.

      So rather than the same white ball used either side of the winter yellow one, a new style will come in from this weekend – just like last year.
      The latest Nike Flight football features the old-school Total 90 ring famously used between 2004 and 2006.
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      It also incorporates Nike’s AerowSculpt technology, used in the two previous models this term with 634 goals scored so far – 17 of those from Mo Salah.
      According to the Premier League, it ‘carries a bespoke graphic designed to reflect the intensity of the final stages of the Premier League, when the focus of the teams and players narrows and the Premier League trophy is in sight’.
      Fans will get their first glimpse of the new Flight football on Friday night when Wolves host Leeds.
      The ball will be available to purchase from February 18 at nike.com.

      The latest edition celebrates the 20th anniversary of the famous ‘starball’ designCredit: Will Cornelius; Adidas

      The design, year and city of the last 20 finals are incorporated into the Finale Istanbul 21Credit: Will Cornelius; Adidas

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      How Liverpool could line up against RB Leipzig with NINE first-team players out and Klopp to keep faith with Alisson

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      LIVERPOOL are sweating on Fabinho’s fitness ahead of a tricky Champions League clash against Leipzig.
      The Reds travel to neutral territory in Budapest for their last 16 first leg tie on Tuesday night.

      And Jurgen Klopp’s men hope Brazilian Fabinho returns in defence after a defensive calamity.
      Fabinho missed the 3-1 defeat at Leicester with a muscle injury and will be assessed by the Reds.
      Liverpool collapsed to a late defeat after a horrendous mix-up between Ozan Kabak and goalkeeper Alisson.
      Klopp is expected to keep faith in his £75million goalkeeper after two poor performances.

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      Jordan Henderson could continue at centre-back if Fabinho is ruled out.
      In midfield, Thiago is expected to return and play alongside Georginio Wijnaldum and Curtis Jones.
      Sadio Mane, Mo Salah and Roberto Firmino should all play up front in Hungary.

      James Milner was added to the casualty list when he limped off against Leicester on Saturday.

      Fabinho could return after missing Leicester with a muscle issueCredit: Reuters

      Alisson has made howlers in back to back games, but Jurgen Klopp is expected to keep faith in himCredit: Reuters
      The Reds are still without long-term absentees Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Joel Matip and Diogo Jota.
      Liverpool are missing up to nine first-team players in total, including new signing defender Ben Davies.
      The Champions League is Liverpool’s last chance of silverware this season after Jurgen Klopp conceded the title.
      Man City are 13 points clear of last year’s champions with a game in hand.
      And after defeat at Leicester on Saturday, Klopp said: “I don’t think we can close the gap this year, to be honest. We have to win football games, and a large part of our game today was very good.
      “What we need to try to avoid are mistakes and misunderstandings.
      “In two situations today we didn’t do that and that’s how they were allowed to score two goals.

      “Results are massively related to the performance – we were good enough today to win the game apart from a couple of mistakes towards the end.
      “When you are new together this usually happens but it happens in pre-season. Unfortunately, we’ve not had that. We’re not worrying about the title, we’re not silly.
      “We have a tough game on Tuesday and then the derby next week. That’s what we’re thinking about.”

      RB Leipzig vs Liverpool – Watch LIVE for FREE, channel info and kick-off time More

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      Champions League revamp plans attack integrity of football… we cannot become American-style big club monopoly

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      TALK about out of the fire and into the frying pan…
      In a bid to prevent the European Super League, Uefa have come up with Champions League plans that amount to little more than a closed shop.

      Tom Brady won the Super Bowl last weekend with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who are under the same ownership as Man UtdCredit: USA TODAY Sports

      The Champions League cannot become an American-style big club money-spinning monopolyCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Their proposals would offer a free pass to clubs who fail to qualify through merit. It must never happen.
      Uefa’s idea is that of the additional clubs the competition would be open to, England would probably have two extra spots, making six qualifying clubs in all.
      But here’s the problem… two of them would qualify based on their previous history in Europe, rather than merit.
      Based on the proposals, if Everton and Leicester came fifth and sixth in the Premier League, say, but Arsenal and Spurs were seventh and eighth, the North London teams who would go into the Champions League.

      And that would be at the cost of Everton and Leicester based on Uefa’s ‘coefficient’ — which weights previous experience in the Champions League over merit in any season.
      There is no justifiable reason why clubs who do not finish highest  in the league should play in Europe above those that finish below them.
      The damage would be huge. Uefa’s latest plot is a spatchcock concoction based on the original Big Picture Project and their own twitchy reaction to plans by Fifa who fancy a chunk of Europe’s grandest prize.
      But it is more sinister than that. A major target is the Premier League itself.  There is worldwide envy at our broadcast power and Uefa’s plan to increase the current 125 matches to no fewer than 225 strikes at the very heart of it.

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      Each club would have ten games in a new league-style structure before the knockout stage. That’s four extra games into a season already bulging at the seams.
      Favouritism simply has no place in competitive football. Uefa are suggesting a straightforward bribe designed, I suspect, to encourage those that a coefficient suits to go along with their proposals.
      Meanwhile, let’s consider the wreckage of our domestic game.
      The League Cup would probably be a victim, losing the EFL as much as £86million in much-needed revenue from broadcast revenue. Let alone the loss of gate revenue enjoyed by  clubs who play in the tournament (when supporters are allowed in).
      The FA Cup, already a grey shadow of its former glory, would no doubt suffer further indignities, increasingly employed as a useful competition for squad players or fitness tests.
      Then there would be a pincer movement on the Premier League, caught between the needs of the golden six and squeezing games into odd corners of the week. As a result, I’m sure PL broadcast revenues would be hit.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

      Lionel Messi has the most-lucrative contract in all of sport – miles ahead of second-placed Patrick Mahomes
      Perhaps I am too cynical but I believe the current drive for change comes from America where the biggest sports are closed shops without promotion or relegation.
      This makes for more lucrative accounts with annual guarantees of weighty profits to owners. So, it makes sense to Americans that the Champions League becomes a big-club monopoly. The figures are mouth-watering.
      One example — the total number of Super Bowl viewers is roughly half of those for the Champions League final. This pot of gold is waiting to be fully exploited, hence why queues have formed.
      Collectively, the Premier League people were smart enough to create what is now a £6billion business. It would be a pity if the principles of togetherness that made it so strong are abandoned.
      The red light for danger is flashing. The Premier League needs to fight the Uefa proposals on two fronts. Without a merit-based competition, any proposals lack integrity and must be prevented.
      And we must stop Uefa chiefs taking away our Premier League calendar for their own competition…

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      Officials at centre of PSG vs Istanbul Basaksehir race row charged by Uefa after BOTH teams walked off pitch in protest

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      THE two Romanian officials at the centre of the Champions League racism row have been charged by Uefa.
      Sebastian Coltescu, the fourth official whose alleged comments to former Cameroon star Pierre Webo saw the players of both Istanbul Basaksehir and PSG walk off the pitch in December, and assistant ref Octavian Sovre face severe sanctions if the cases are deemed proved.

      Pierre Webo (L) explodes at the official after hearing the remarks back in DecemberCredit: EPA

      He was ushered away after hearing the alleged racist commentsCredit: EPA

      Uefa announced that the pair had both been charged with “potential violation” of its Article 11.
      But there were no more details of the precise allegations, which came after reports in Romania and Spain – where the lawyer to pair is based – that they had been cleared of any alleged racism.
      The charges follow a two-month investigation by the Uefa ethics and disciplinary inspector after the incident in the 14th minute of the December 8 match.
      Webo was infuriated by the language used towards him with his team walking off in protest.

      They were backed by the PSG players, led by France star Kylian Mbappe and Neymar.
      With Istanbul refusing to play on with the officials still involved – even with Uefa proposing Coltescu was replaced and switched to VAR duties – the match was initially abandoned.
      It was then restarted 24 hours later at the point at which play had stopped, with PSG winning 5-1 to take top spot in the group, which also included Manchester United.
      The match was due to be the final game of Coltescu’s career but his official retirement was announced the following day.

      Now, though, he faces being further shamed by Uefa’s probe, which has now been sent to the organisation’s control, ethics and disciplinary chamber.
      The fact that neither PSG nor Istanbul face any charges for walking off and causing the delay of the match is a clear signal that the two officials have been deemed to be entirely responsible for the events of the night.
      Article 11 covers all forms of misconduct under Uefa regulations but it seems that the charge will relate to two specific breaches.
      Part B of the code says a charge is valid for someone “whose conduct is insulting or otherwise violates the basic rules of decent conduct”.
      And Part I refers to a participant – player, official or club employee – “who culpably causes a match to be interrupted or abandoned, or is responsible for its interruption or abandonment”.
      There are no set punishments for such cases but Uefa President Aleksander Ceferin has promised to ensure tougher action for any proven offences of racism.

      Both sets of players walked off after the shocking alleged incident in the Champions League clashCredit: Getty
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

      Demba Ba accuses official of racism as Istanbul Basaksehir leave pitch against PSG in protest More

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      Liverpool could be forced to play Champions League second-leg vs RB Leipzig away from Anfield over quarantine concerns

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      LIVERPOOL may have to play their Champions League Round of 16 second-leg against RB Leipzig AWAY from Anfield.
      The Reds are already facing disruption after their away trip for the first clash was switched to Budapest.

      Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool are set to face travel chaos in the Champions LeagueCredit: PA:Press Association

      That is after they were refused entry to Germany by the federal authorities – and now Leipzig have been told they must quarantine upon return from Merseyside.
      Now the Times states Liverpool are facing the prospect of playing the decisive game against Julian Nagelsmann’s team on neutral soil.
      And Jurgen Klopp’s club have already begun looking for alternatives with Leipzig being unable to travel to England.
      The German boss was unable to return to his homeland for the funeral of his mother and those rules will not be re-evaluated until March 5.

      That is only five days before the second-leg is due to be staged in England.
      A Uefa statement said: “Uefa is in touch with the respective clubs, the English Football Association and the German Football Association.”
      A host of other sides also face disruption due to the strict rules in place, with Manchester City’s first leg with Gladbach moved to Budapest on February 24 with the return scheduled for March 16. 
      Chelsea also have to play their first leg with Atletico Madrid in Bucharest.

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      Spain is another country placed on the UK government’s ‘red list’, meaning the Blues squad would have to quarantine upon return.
      Meanwhile in the Europa League, Arsenal have to travel to Rome to play their first leg against Benfica with the location of the second game yet to be announced.
      And Manchester United are unable to play Real Sociedad in Spain for the same reasons and will head to Turin to take on the LaLiga side.

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      Neymar WILL miss Champions League clash at Barcelona and could sit out return leg as injured PSG ace ruled out for month

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      NEYMAR will MISS Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League clash at his old club Barcelona next Tuesday with a groin injury.
      The Brazilian could also be forced to sit out the second-leg in France on March 10 as he faces up to a month on the sidelines.

      Neymar will miss PSG’s Champions League game at Barcelona next TuesdayCredit: Icon Sport – Getty

      PSG’s star forward picked up the injury during Wednesday’s 1-0 Coupe de France victory at Caen.
      Boss Mauricio Pochettino was left exasperated after Neymar was replaced by Kylian Mbappe following a hefty collision on the hour-mark.
      The French giants were not hopeful after the game and hospital scans on Thursday confirmed their worst fears.
      Neymar, 29, has a grade two tear of his left adductor, according to reports from France.

      The former Barca star was seen looking glum as he left hospital in Neuilly-sur-Seine on Thursday and his entourage confirmed the superstar’s diagnosis.
      PSG also said: “Neymar Jr suffered a lesion to the left adductor on Wednesday evening.
      “After analysis of clinical exams and scans, it is expected that he’ll be out for around four weeks depending on the evolution of the injury.”
      Neymar has not commented but tweeted on Wednesday night: “Honour and glory to God at all times.”

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      Honra e glória a Deus em todos os momentos 🙏🏽❤️
      — Neymar Jr (@neymarjr) February 10, 2021

      Neymar hobbled off injured in PSG’s win over Caen

      PSG travel to the Nou Camp for the mouth-watering tie as they look to progress to the last-eight of the competition they were runnners-up in last season.
      After news emerged of his injury against Caen, fans online suggested he had been struck by the curse of his sister’s birthday AGAIN.
      Coincidentally, the Brazilian superstar almost always appears to pick up a knock just before sister Rafaella Santos celebrates her big day.
      The ‘curse’ started in 2015 while playing for Barcelona.
      He was suspended after picking up too many yellow cards and Barca allowed him to attend her birthday.
      It was the same the following year when suspension allowed him to celebrate at her Disney-themed party.
      Fast forward to 2017 and a muscular injury again ruled him out of a clash with Deportivo – the day after her birthday.
      And the trend continued into 2018 and 2019 when injuries ruled him out of matches although he was still fit enough to party.
      Neymar has been heavily linked with a return to the Catalans since leaving for PSG in a world record £198million transfer 2017.
      But latest reports suggest he is set to sign a bumper new four-year contract which would keep him at PSG until he is 33.

      Neymar has a history of missing matches around his sister’s birthday

      Neymar certainly does not like to miss Rafaella’s birthday bash

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