Champions League

ARSENAL could play their final Champions League group stage match in front of just 9,000 fans due to UEFA protocol.The Gunners are set to conclude their group stage campaign with a trip to Girona in January.The capacity of Girona’s stadium has been slashedCredit: ReutersOnly 9,000 fans will be allowed to attend Champions League gamesCredit: ReutersThey will face the La Liga side at Estadi Montilivi, a 14,600-capacity stadium in Catalonia.However, just over 9,000 fans will be able to attend the match.The stadium has temporary stands on all four sides to maximise capacity.But UEFA rules state these cannot be used during Champions League matches.Read More in FootballGirona will be forced to play in a half-empty stadium as a result.And travelling clubs have allegedly been limited to just 450 tickets.The White and Reds hosted their first ever Champions League match on Wednesday.They suffered a 3-2 defeat to Dutch side Feyenoord after conceding two own goals.Most read in Champions LeagueFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSGirona also fell to a 1-0 loss against Paris Saint-Germain last month after goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga put the ball into his own net.The Spanish side have now equalled Fenerbahce’s record for the most own goals scored in a Champions League campaign.Bukayo Saka left looking ‘so helpless’ in bizarre moment Conor McGregor tries UFC moves on Arsenal star Following two defeats, they now sit 30th in the group stage table.Meanwhile, Arsenal are 13th with four points from two games.The Gunners cruised to a 2-0 win over PSG on Tuesday at the Emirates Stadium.Arsenal ratings vs PSG as Havertz makes striker spot his own… but Calafiori shows chinks in his armourKAI HAVERTZ and Bukayo Saka sent Arsenal to a deserved victory borne of first-half dominance.Paris Saint-Germain did hit the bar and the post as they improved after the break in this Champions League tie.But Emirates chief Mikel Arteta will mostly be delighted with his side’s latest solid display in Europe’s top club competition.Here’s how SunSport’s Jordan Davies rated the Gunners at the Emirates on Tuesday.DAVID RAYA – 7Was perhaps busier than he usually is at home.Helplessly watched a Nuno Mendes effort smack his far post and stood firm to deny Achraf Hakimi at his near post.RICCARDO CALAFIORI – 6A frantic display, one that had more shaky moments than good. Kept busy by Hakimi and was done for pace on a few occasions but recovered well.A mistake early in the second half almost gave PSG a way back into the game. Needs to iron out these errors from his game, particularly when he is so dangerous in attack.However, he was playing at right-back for the first time in his career after the break.WILLIAM SALIBA – 7Did not have much to do. A stray pass early on could have been costly but other than that another reliable and strong performance.GABRIEL – 7Sprayed some nice passes about from deep but this was a stress-free night’s work compared to the Premier League.JURRIEN TIMBER – 8Just how on earth does Ben White get back in this side at right back? Another immaculate display from a man who seemingly has it all in defence and attack.Well, White may well get his chance after Timber was subbed off at half-time.DECLAN RICE – 7Solid as a rock and building a real partnership with Partey in midfield. Had a chance to drive forward just before the half hour mark but his pass to Saka was cut out.THOMAS PARTEY – 8So consistent at the moment, something Arsenal fans have not seen from the Ghanaian midfielder in a long time owing mostly to injury.Made some crucial interceptions and showed real composure playing out from deep.LEANDRO TROSSARD – 8One of Arsenal’s most important players right now. Since his red card at Man City, he has notched a goal and an assist – the latter here for Havertz to open the scoring with a perfectly-timed cross.BUKAYO SAKA – 7After an early shot over the bar from a trademark cut inside, the England international had a slight drop off in influence before his scuffed free-kick flew in untouched from out wide.Still, he gave Mendes a torrid time at left-back. Even PSG manager Luis Enrique watched on at times in awe inside his technical area.GABRIEL MARTINELLI – 7A quiet night for the Brazilian following his first goal since March against Leicester, which may have been down to a big collision with Gianluigi Donnarumma in the first few minutes.Should have made it 3-0 with a volley inside the box after the break but it was straight at Donnarumma. Unlucky not to get on the scoresheet.KAI HAVERTZ – 9Brave and brilliant to head in from Trossard’s teasing cross, despite the onrushing lump that is Donnarumma trying to take his head off.Almost had an assist too with a cute lay-up for Martinelli in the box. The striker-midfield debate should be over – Havertz is a top-class centre forward.SUBS:JAKUB KIWIOR (TIMBER, 45) – 7Did what was expected of him at left-back. Produced a good recovery tackle on Kang-in Lee in the box.MIKEL MERINO (PARTEY, 64) – 7Finally, a debut for the Spaniard. Some neat touches under pressure, slotting in seamlessly next to Rice.GABRIEL JESUS (TROSSARD, 74) – 6Looked desperate to impress having struggled for starts so far and that looks to be working against him – things just aren’t clicking.MYLES LEWIS-SKELLY (SAKA, 92) – N/A More

JAMES McATEE’S mum and dad missed the magic moment he has waited more than a decade for — as they were 840 miles away at Northampton’s Sixfields Stadium instead!The England Under-21 international scored his first senior goal for Manchester City in the 4-0 Champions League win over Slovan Bratislava on Tuesday night.James McAtee netted Man City’s fourth goal against BratislavaCredit: ReutersBut the 21-year-old’s parents were not at the game to watchCredit: APLocal lad McAtee, 21, has been turning out for the club since the Under-11s and admits he has dreamt about this day since his  journey at the City Football Academy beganYet his parents did not travel to Slovakia – instead choosing to watch their other son John, 25, score for Bolton in a League One clash against the Cobblers.Attacking midfielder McAtee said: “It’s a long way to come for my family.”My brother played and scored on Tuesday night as well — and they went to go and watch him.READ MORE ON FOOTBALL”It’s something I’ve dreamt of for my whole life. I cant explain it but I’m over the moon. It’s one of the better days of my life.McAtee is known as the Salford Silva as his style of playing in the pocket is similar to that of Etihad legend David.Compliments do not come much bigger than that in this part of Manchester — and Pep Guardiola has thought highly of him for some time. When he spent two loan spells at Sheffield United from July 2022 to this summer, there must have been doubts he would ever make the grade for his boyhood club.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSBut the City boss has full faith in him — maybe more than the player himself.Guardiola said: “I always had the feeling that I believe he can play here more than he does. Hopefully minutes can help him and show he is part of that.Pep Guardiola breaks silence on Phil Foden situation after fans’ conspiracy theory over England star’s absence “Of course, he will not be a regular player this season but in a lot of games he will help us and when he plays like he did here, I can always count on him perfectly.”Everyone adores him, you have seen the reaction of the players, everyone loves him.”City turned down offers of more than £30million in the summer as Guardiola wanted him to be part of his first-team squad and he featured in their pre-season tour of the US.McAtee said he would be fine to have a season where he never played as he was convinced being around one of the greatest bosses ever would help him develop.So far he is getting chances, like in the season-opening Charity Shield and the League Cup tie against Watford last month.        And he said: “I definitely think I’m sharper. Last year I was playing a bit wider, now I’m more central. “I’m getting to grips with that. I feel better now than I did two months ago. When I’m going out there now it’s not as chaotic.”For example, against Watford I hadn’t played for a while and it was a bit chaotic at the start. But today I felt a lot calmer and more composed.”Basically the manager is telling me to go and have fun. A bit more tactical but go and be myself and feel good about myself.McAtee’s brother John was on target for Bolton at NorthamptonCredit: Rex”With the way they set up I think I needed a bit of freedom to come and get the ball. It was so tight in there, lots of teams have done it already this year.”He gives me freedom when coming on to try to affect the game as much as I can.”City have had to rethink their midfield plans for the season following the serious knee injury suffered by Rodri – and that could lead to more opportunities for McAtee.The Spaniard is out for the rest of the season following ACL surgery with Ilkay Gundogan, 33, another option Guardiola can turn to in the middle of the pitch.READ MORE SUN STORIESMcAtee added: “Rodri’s a different position to me. It was bad news when we heard and it got the lads down a little bit.”Gundo can maybe drop a bit deeper and I’m just being patient, waiting for my chance and grabbing it when I do get it.” More

UNAI EMERY didn’t hold back with his tactics during Aston Villa’s 1-0 Champions League win over Bayern Munich on Wednesday.The Villa boss substituted Leon Bailey off the pitch just 33 minutes after bringing the winger on.Unai Emery made a ruthless decision during Aston Villa’s 1-0 win over Bayern Munich on WednesdayCredit: GettyThe manager hooked Leon Bailey 33 minutes after bringing him on the pitchCredit: TNT SPORTSBailey had been substituted on in the first half after an injury to Jacob RamseyCredit: AlamyBailey wasn’t happy with the decision but still made a respectful exit from the pitchCredit: TNT SPORTSBailey had been introduced in the first half after Jacob Ramsey was forced off with injury in the 27th minute.But after failing to make an impact on the game, Emery had seen enough after just 15 minutes of the second half.In the 60th minute the former Arsenal boss decided he as going to change things up, hooking Bailey and replacing him with Ian Maatsen.Bailey had made just six accurate passes during his time on the pitch and had given the ball away twice.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLFans were shocked but ultimately understanding on social media.One wrote: “Unai Emery brought in Leon Bailey as a forced substitute in first half, and subbed him off in second half before 60 mins. A coach that requires standards”.While another added: “That’s how you know your manager is reading the game.”A third commented: “Unai Emery couldn’t stand his performance then got rid of him and rightly so”.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSAnd a fourth chimed in: “Leon Bailey was poor, not surprised he got subbed off. Even though he came on as a sub.”Bailey didn’t kick up a fuss when heading off, as players have been known to do in the past, despite being visibly miffed by the decision. Fans ask ‘do they hate him-‘ as Micah Richards gets savaged live on CBS Sports with segment dedicated to his mistakesInstead the Jamaican International accepted his fate and shook the hand of the manager as he made his way to the bench.Emery’s tactics appeared to be working with another tactical change just 10 minutes later making the difference between the two sides.The 52-year-old brought on Jhon Duran for Ollie Watkins in the 70th minute.Just nine minutes after the bold change and the 20-year-old Colombian pulled off a wonderful chip to beat Manuel Neuer and secure a mammoth win for Villa over European giants Bayern Munich.Unbelievably, Villa are now effectively joint-top of the Champions League group phase having won both of their opening two games in the competition.Emery made the bold decision to sub Ollie Watkins late in the gameCredit: ReutersIt paid off when substitute Jhon Duran lobbed Manuel Neuer just nine minutes laterCredit: RexDuran’s goal fired Villa to a 1-0 win over Bayern MunichCredit: Reuters More