Mario Gotze has been ruled out of Borussia Dortmund’s Champions League trip to holders Real Madrid with a knee injury.
Gotze to miss Madrid test
Champions League
Conte: European absence a help
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte says the club’s absence from European competition has helped them to the top of the Premier League. The side have a one-point lead over Liverpool and Manchester City and can keep their place at the top with victory over Tottenham at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
City focus on league matters
Pep Guardiola has urged his Manchester City players to focus on the Premier League in the next few months, having made sure of progress in the Champions League. A 1-1 draw away to Borussia Monchengladbach was enough to ensure that the Citizens will finish in second place in Group C, although Barcelona’s 2-0 win at Celtic means that top spot is now beyond the reach of City.
Schubert plans to be cautious
Borussia Monchengladbach boss Andre Schubert admits that he will set his side up to contain Manchester City in the Champions League on Wednesday. City are on a high after beating Barcelona 3-1 in their last European encounter and head into the match at Borussia-Park in second spot in Group C, three points better off than their Bundesliga opponents.
Poch desperate for Monaco win
Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino has urged his side to be “clever” when they take on Monaco in a must-win clash on Tuesday. Tottenham could be eliminated from the Champions League at the Stade Louis II if they fail to take all three points and Bayer Leverkusen beat CSKA Moscow.
Gundogan: Further progress needed
Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan says his side still have a way to go before they become genuine contenders to win the Champions League. The Citizens go into the game away to Borussia Monchengladbach knowing that a win or a draw would put them well on the way to the knockout stages of the competition, with Gundogan urging his colleagues to utilise the confidence gained from a superb 3-1 win over Barcelona last time out.
Wenger eyes top spot
Arsene Wenger has urged his Arsenal side to see off Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday to ensure they finish at the top of their Champions League group. The Gunners and the French champions are both on 10 points at the top of Group A and the winner of Wednesday’s meeting at the Emirates Stadium will almost certainly end up at the top of the pile, and earn a favourable draw for the first knockout round as a result.
Rodgers calls for brave Bhoys
Head coach Brendan Rodgers has told his Celtic players to try and play on the front foot when they take on Barcelona in the Champions League on Wednesday. The Bhoys suffered a 7-0 rout at the hands of Barca in the Camp Nou in their opening Group C game just over two months ago.
Rodgers downplays Gerrard talk
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has cooled talk suggesting he is set to be reunited with the former Liverpool and England midfielder Steven Gerrard. The two men worked together at Anfield and reports suggested Rodgers was set to launch a bid to sign the veteran who left LA Galaxy earlier this week.
Barca expect Messi stay
Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu is confident Lionel Messi will spend the rest of his career with the Catalan giants. The Argentine star is due to fall out of contract in 2018 and the fact he is yet to agree to an extension has led to speculation he could depart.