Thank you for joining me. Here is the best of the rest.
Sid Lowe was at the Bernabeu as Real Madrid pummelled Monaco.
Here’s the updated big Champions League table …
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arsenal | 7 | 18 | 21 |
| 2 | Real Madrid | 7 | 11 | 15 |
| 3 | Bayern Munich | 6 | 11 | 15 |
| 4 | Tottenham Hotspur | 7 | 8 | 14 |
| 5 | PSG | 7 | 10 | 13 |
| 6 | Sporting | 7 | 5 | 13 |
| 7 | Man City | 7 | 4 | 13 |
| 8 | Atalanta | 6 | 2 | 13 |
| 9 | Inter Milan | 7 | 6 | 12 |
| 10 | Atletico Madrid | 6 | 3 | 12 |
| 11 | Liverpool | 6 | 3 | 12 |
| 12 | Borussia Dortmund | 7 | 4 | 11 |
| 13 | Newcastle | 6 | 7 | 10 |
| 14 | Chelsea | 6 | 5 | 10 |
| 15 | Barcelona | 6 | 3 | 10 |
| 16 | Marseille | 6 | 3 | 9 |
| 17 | Juventus | 6 | 2 | 9 |
| 18 | Galatasaray | 6 | 0 | 9 |
| 19 | Bayer Leverkusen | 7 | -4 | 9 |
| 20 | Monaco | 7 | -6 | 9 |
| 21 | PSV | 6 | 4 | 8 |
| 22 | Olympiacos | 7 | -5 | 8 |
| 23 | Napoli | 7 | -5 | 8 |
| 24 | Copenhagen | 7 | -6 | 8 |
| 25 | Qarabag FK | 6 | -3 | 7 |
| 26 | Club Brugge | 7 | -5 | 7 |
| 27 | Bodo/Glimt | 7 | -2 | 6 |
| 28 | Benfica | 6 | -2 | 6 |
| 29 | AE Pafos | 6 | -5 | 6 |
| 30 | Union Saint Gilloise | 6 | -8 | 6 |
| 31 | Ajax | 7 | -12 | 6 |
| 32 | Athletic Bilbao | 6 | -5 | 5 |
| 33 | Eintracht Frankfurt | 6 | -8 | 4 |
| 34 | Slavia Prague | 6 | -9 | 3 |
| 35 | Villarreal | 7 | -10 | 1 |
| 36 | FC Kairat | 7 | -14 | 1 |
And looking ahead to tomorrow … Salah is back for Liverpool.
And your friend and mine Ed Aarons was in Milan for Arsenal’s latest Champions League win.
David Hytner was at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for Thomas Frank’s big night out.
Full time! Copenhagen 1-1 Napoli
The 10 men of Copenhagen battle to a point.
Full time! Sporting 2-1 PSG
A monumental night in Lisbon.
Updated
Full time: Villarreal 1-2 Ajax
A cracking comeback from the Dutch side.
Full time! Olympiakos 2-0 Bayer Leverkusen
A difficult night for Leverkusen in Athens.
Full time: Real Madrid 6-1 Monaco
A stroll in the park.
Sporting 2-1 PSG: Suarez pulls Kvaratskhelia and it booked. The Georgian is fuming and gives him a shove.
Full time! Tottenham 2-0 Borussia Dortmund
A huge win for Spurs and Frank.
Full time! Inter 1-3 Arsenal
Seven wins in a row in the Champions League.
GOAL! Sporting 2-1 PSG (Suarez, 90)
Trincao’s rocketing shot is pushed out to Suarez who heads home. Cue scenes AND limbs in Lisbon.
GOAL! Villarreal 1-2 Ajax (Edvardsen, 89)
A quick move down the right sees Edvardsen picked out in the box and he produces a smart first-time finish.
GOAL! Inter 1-3 Arsenal (Gyokeres, 84)
A lovely finish from the edge of the box for the striker.
Updated
Full-time! Salford City 3-2 Swindon
Salford will play Man City in the fourth round of the FA Cup.
GOAL! Real Madrid 6-1 Monaco (Bellingham, 80)
More inept passing costs Monaco. A quick transition concludes with Bellingham rounding the goalkeeper for a sixth.
Updated
Kári Tulinius emails: “The only logical explanation for how poorly Antoine Conte’s teams do in continental competitions is that he angered the gods. At the very least he must sacrifice to the goddess Europa to appease her.”
GOAL! Sporting 1-1 PSG (Kvaratskhelia, 79)
Kvaratskhelia cuts in from the left and smashes the ball into the top corner. What a hit!
Updated
GOAL! Real Madrid 5-1 Monaco (Teze, 72)
Some arrogant play at the back from Madrid, and Monaco win the ball in the opposition box, giving Teze the chance for a consolation.
GOAL! Sporting 1-0 PSG (Suarez, 74)
A volley from distance ricochets into Suarez’s path and he keeps calm to slot home.
Updated
GOAL! Copenhagen 1-1 Napoli (Larsson, 72)
The penalty is saved but Henrik’s son does the business from the rebound.
Copenhagen 0-1 Napoli: PENALTY TO COPENHAGEN!
Tottenham 2-0 Borussia Dortmund: Simons picks up the ball in the box, working himself some space and smashing towards goal but the goalkeeper is equal to it.
Inter 1-2 Arsenal: Dimarco sends a corner into the box; the ball gets stuck under Esposito’s feet but he digs out a shot, sending it over.
GOAL! Real Madrid 5-0 Monaco (Vinicius Jr, 63)
Monaco are making matters work for themselves, losing the ball in their own half. Real Madrid pounce and Vinicius smashes home from the edge of the box.
Updated
Inter 1-2 Arsenal: Arteta sends on Rice and White for Eze and Timber.
Tottenham 2-0 Borussia Dortmund: Byfield is sent on for the injured Bergvall.
GOAL! Salford 3-2 Swindon (Garbutt): The skipper scores a cracking free-kick but the goalkeeper should be upset with himself.
GOAL! Villarreal 1-1 Ajax (Gloukh, 61)
Gloukh swings a free-kick across the box and it looks like the keep has punched it into his own net.
NO GOAL! Sporting 0-0 PSG: Doue picks out Dembele in the box, allowing him to head home but he is offside and the flag goes up.
GOAL! Real Madrid 4-0 Monaco (Kehrer OG, 55)
The former West Ham defender turns the ball into his own net.
Updated
Inter 1-2 Arsenal: The Gunners enjoy a patient buildup, ending with Saka picking out Trossard at the back post but he volleys wide.
GOAL! Real Madrid 3-0 Monaco (Mastantuono, 51)
Vinicius does well to keep the ball inside the box before feeding Mastantuono, who sidefoots across the goalkeeper. GAME OVER!
Updated
GOAL! Salford 2-2 Swindon (Ball): All level at the Peninsula.
Villarreal 1-0 Ajax: There is a delay in this match due to an issue with one of the stewards.
GOAL! Villarreal 1-0 Ajax (Oluwaseyi, 49)
Oluwaseyi makes a the most of a mistake at the back by thrashing the ball into the top corner from 20 yards. What a hit!
Updated
GOALS! Salford 2-1 Swindon: Graydon doubles the lead for the hosts and then Palmer immediately nets down the other end. Who will get to play Manchester City?
Second half
We go again!
Half-time reading …
And it is half-time in Copenhagen – 1-0 to Napoli and the hosts are down to 10 men.
Half-time scores
Copenhagen 0-1 Napoli L
Inter 1-2 Arsenal
Olympiakos 2-0 Bayer Leverkusen
Real Madrid 2-0 Monaco
Sporting 0-0 PSG
Tottenham 2-0 Borussia Dortmund
Villarreal 0-0 Ajax
GOAL! Olympiakos 2-0 Bayer Leverkusen (Taremi, 45+1)
Leverkusen pay the price as Taremi thrashes in a second after a fine run between defenders.
Updated
Olympiakos 1-0 Bayer Leverkusen: The Germans should be level but Lucas Vasquez messes up the finish when unmarked at the back post.
Inter 1-2 Arsenal: Sucic slips a pass out to Dimarco, whose first-time shot is well saved by Raya. The wing-back fires the rebound across goal and Raya is there again, turning the ball behind.
GOAL! Copenhagen 0-1 Napoli (McTominay, 39)
A corner is swung into the box and McTominay is alert, heading home from six yards. It is a fine header, needing to move backwards before making contact and finding the top corner.
Updated
Inter 1-2 Arsenal: Henrique gets in down the right but he can’t compose himself before slicing wide.
Tottenham 2-0 Borussia Dortmund: Needless to say, Thomas Frank looks delighted.
GOAL! Tottenham 2-0 Borussia Dortmund (Solanke, 37)
Spurs find space down the right and the cross finds Solanke in the middle. The striker does his best to not convert but he just about manages to bundle the ball home.
RED CARD! Copenhagen 0-0 Napoli (Delaney)
The Danish midfielder catches an opponent on the knee, and after review he sees red.
Real Madrid 2-0 Monaco: The Ligue 1 side threaten once more as Teze smashes the crossbar from distance.
GOAL! Inter 1-2 Arsenal (Jesus, 31)
Trossard heads a corner back across goal to Jesus who nods home from close range.
VAR: NO GOAL! Sporting 0-0 PSG
Referee Anthony Taylor is sent to the monitor to review a potential foul in the buildup to the goal and it is ruled out.
GOAL! Sporting 0-1 PSG (Zaire-Emery, 30)
Sporting lose the ball in their own half, PSG quickly attack, with Zaire-Emery providing the final touch thanks to a clinical header.
GOAL! Real Madrid 2-0 Monaco (Mbappe, 26)
It’s a cracking team move from the Spanish side, concluding with Vinicius sliding across to five Mbappe a tap-in.
Updated
Inter 1-1 Arsenal: The hosts should really be ahead but they dally on the edge of the box and then Thuram snatches at his shot.
Tottenham 1-0 Borussia Dortmund: RED CARD! Svensson
The referee runs to the monitor to check on a challenge from Svensson on Odobert. The defender misses the ball and catches the Spurs man but it’s completely accidental. A bit harsh.
Real Madrid 1-0 Monaco: Former Barcelona man Fati should equalise but he is reaching for a cross and sends the shot over from eight yards.
Tottenham 1-0 Borussia Dortmund: Spurs are looking lively in the final third but Vicario is nervous at the back, almost gifting Dortmund a goal with some dreadful footwork.
GOAL! Inter 1-1 Arsenal (Sucic, 18)
There is some pinball in the Arsenal box and Sucic senses a chance, arriving at the right time to send into the top corner from 18 yards.
Real Madrid 1-0 Monaco: TNT describe the atmosphere as “flat”. It might get a touch worse if Mbappe does not get up off the turf. He looks in a touch of pain.
Inter 0-1 Arsenal: The hosts break at speed and it looks like Luis Henrique is about to find a teammate in the box but Saliba is there to intercept.
GOAL! Tottenham 1-0 Borussia Dortmund (Romero, 14)
Odobert smashes in a cross at the second time of asking, and his captain is there to turn home.
Villarreal 0-0 Ajax: Mourino thinks he has found the net but Jaros produces a fine save to push it wide. The goalkeeper then outdoes himself from the resulting corner to keep the score goalless.
GOAL! Inter 0-1 Arsenal (Jesus, 10)
Neat work on the edge of the box creates a chance for Jesus, who stretches out a leg to divert the ball home. Inter seem to think it is offside but the officials do not.
Updated
Real Madrid 1-0 Monaco: The former Arsenal striker Balogun tries to hold off three Madrid defenders and eventually fires off a shot but it goes well wide.
Jamie Jackson was in the Artic Circle to watch Manchester City capitulate.
Inter 0-0 Arsenal: Dimarco is down complaining he’s been caught in the face but there is nothing in it.
GOAL! Real Madrid 1-0 Monaco (Mbappe, 5)
The former Monaco sweeps into the corner liven up the Bernabeu.
Updated
Sporting 0-0 PSG: The rain is rumbling down in Lisbon. Sporting are pressing high as they look to irritate the reigning champions.
GOAL! Olympiakos 1-0 Bayer Leverkusen (Costinha, 2)
A fine header from a cracking corner opens the scoring for the Greeks.
Updated
GOAL! Salford 1-0 Swindon (Graydon, 11): A looping header from Salford’s new man gets them up and running in the FA Cup third round tie.
Tottenham 0-0 Borussia Dortmund: Frank will be looking for a fast start. Solanke is starting to provide some muscle up top. The stadium sounds nerves.
Kick-off
Peep! Peep! Peep! The whistles are blowing around Europe.
We are closing in on plenty of kick-offs …
Arsenal will finish in the top eight after City’s ineptitude. Get the deck chairs out!
A big story here from Nick Ames.
Full-time: Bodo/Glimt 3-1 Man City
A truly dreadful night of defending from the Premier League side puts their top-eight finish in jeopardy. But what a night for the Norwegians!
In case you were wondering, Club Brugge won 4-1 away at Kairat earlier today.
Updated
Mikel Arteta does not look concerned.
Brahim Diaz is not back on the Real Madrid bench …
Bodo/Glimt are 3-1 up against City, who are down to 10 men after Rodri was sent off.
Join Rob Smyth – and Thomas Frank – in the Last Chance Saloon for Spurs v Dortmund.
Starting lineups: Inter v Arsenal
Inter (3-5-2): Sommer; Akanji, Acerbi, Bastoni; Luis Henrique, Barella, Zielinski, Sucic, Dimarco; L Martinez, Thuram
Subs: J Martinez, De Vrij, Bonny, Frattesi, Diouf, Mkhitaryan, Carlos Augusto, Bisseck, Damian, Cocchi, Esposito
Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Raya; Timber, Saliba, Mosquera, Lewis-Skelly; Zubimendi, Merino; Saka, Eze, Trossard; Jesus
Subs: Arrizabalaga, Setford, White, Gabriel, Odegaard, Martinelli, Gyokeres, Norgaard, Madueke, Nwaneri, Havertz, Rice
Starting lineups: Real Madrid v Monaco
Real Madrid (4-3-3): Courtois; Valverde, Asencio, Huijsen, Camavinga; Tchouaméni, Arda Guler, Bellingham; Mastantuono, Vinicius, Mbappé.
Subs: Lunin, Fran, Carvajal, Alaba, Gonzalo, Ceballos, Fran Garcia, Pol Fortuny, Mesonero
Monaco (4-2-3-1): Kohn; Vanderson, Dier, Kehrer, Caio Henrique; Zakaria, Teze; Akliouche, Fati, Golovin; Balogun
Subs: Stawiecki, Lienard, Idumbo, Ilenikhena, Ouattara, Michał, Bamba, Coulibaly, Toure, Nibombe
Barry Glendenning has all the latest from Manchester City’s defensive shambles in Norway.
Our man on the Cote d’Azur Luke Entwistle takes a look at what’s going wrong with Monaco.
Preamble
Arsenal are top of the table and a point tonight would guarantee progression to the knockout stages, without requiring the irritation of the playoff round, which should be motivation enough. This is the business end of the season for a side that leads at home and in Europe. They have won all six of their Champions League games thus far to put them three points clear and they will be eager to maintain this form until the end of the first round.
On the continent, it is a big night for Alvaro Arbeloa, who takes charge of Real Madrid in the Champions League for the first time. The prospect of a visiting Monaco side does not provide the fear of years gone by because they are in a slump, having lost seven of their past eight Ligue 1 games. Then again, Arbeloa has already suffered one shock in his short reign.
Here are the 8pm (GMT) kick-offs in the Champions League tonight
Copenhagen v Napoli
Inter v Arsenal
Olympiakos v Bayer Leverkusen
Real Madrid v Monaco
Sporting v PSG
Tottenham v Borussia Dortmund
Villarreal v Ajax