Shamoon Hafez
Football news reporter at Etihad Stadium

The smoke that billowed out to help with the lightshow is still lingering around the pitch and it's making it a little difficult to spot the players.

Someone let me know when they have kicked off.

Thanks.

Off we go then across Europe. Are we in for some fireworks?

Image source, Getty Images

Shamoon Hafez
Football news reporter at Etihad Stadium

There's a rather snazzy lightshow going on at Etihad Stadium before kick-off.

The names and portraits of each player are being beamed onto the pitch as they are called out by the stadium announcer.

Constantin Eckner
German football writer

Image source, Getty Images

Jobe Bellingham has found himself more often than not on the bench - though his decreasing playing time had nothing to do with his dad's confrontation Dortmund's Sporting Director with Sebastian Kehl.

He made his only other start in the Bundesliga in Dortmund's second game against Union Berlin. He was subbed off after 71 minutes for Felix Nmecha.

In his first outing against St Pauli, Bellingham essentially played as a number 10 behind two strikers. Ever since, Niko Kovac has preferred a formation with two centre midfielders and three forwards.

It is still hard to say which role Dortmund's manager might see as the best fit for Bellingham. During last season at Sunderland, he often played alongside a more defensive-minded midfielder.

Felix Nmecha has the physical presence for the number six role, while former Brighton midfielder Pascal Gross or the experienced Austrian international Marcel Sabitzer provide the necessary ball security for the number eight in Kovac's 3-4-3.

Newcastle United

Anthony Gordon has scored four goals in the Champions League this season, becoming the first Newcastle player to score in three consecutive outings in the competition in the process.

Image source, Getty Images

John Murray
BBC football correspondent on BBC Radio 5 Live at the Etihad

You can look at it from any direction you want, but they are massive numbers.

The fact Erling Haaland has got 26 goals in 16 appearances [this season] for club and country. That is hefty.

His first season at Man City where he reached that total of 52 goals and since then he has not been able to challenge that.

I think he has got that 52 goals in his sights.

Image source, Getty Images

Just playing devil's advocate...

I suppose it doesn't matter right now that Erling Haaland is scoring the majority of the goals for Manchester City. But if he gets injured, then it does matter. It probably matters quite a lot.

Shamoon Hafez
Football news reporter at Etihad Stadium

Image source, Getty Images

Erling Haaland has hogged Manchester City's goalscoring workload this season, so much so that their next top scorer in the Premier League is Burnley's Maxime Esteve, who scored two own goals at Etihad Stadium last month.

Manager Pep Guardiola has called for his wingers and midfielders to contribute more in front of goal, but ex-City defender Joleon Lescott feels while Haaland continues to find the net, there is little for his team-mates to be concerned about.

Lescott told BBC Sport: "Other teams have had goalscorers and team-mates may have needed to [score]. There is a question mark over others if they are needed, but if they aren't then why does it matter?

"As long as Manchester City are scoring and if them goals are Erling Haaland's then great. Everyone looks happy for him and he looks happy that the team are winning and playing well.

"There is a lot of emphasis on others not scoring but if you don't need it to happen then why should it be a focus?"

Leon Osman
Former Everton and England midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live

Rayan Cherki has obviously got quality - the assists he made for Erling Haaland at the weekend was a show of the quality he has got.

I think that relationship will get better [between Rayan Cherki and Erling Haaland]. It must be a dream to play with someone like Erling Haaland.

Erling Haaland has played down comparisons between himself and modern footballing greats Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, saying "no-one" will get close to their goalscoring records.

The 25-year-old has scored 26 times in all competitions for Manchester City and Norway by the beginning of November, taking his career tally to 327.

But Haaland trails a long way behind the feats of the duo.

Argentina legend Messi, 38, has scored a total of 892 goals, while 40-year-old Portugal icon Ronaldo is on 952 as he targets 1,000 in his illustrious career.

Asked if he saw himself on the level of the distinguished duo, Haaland replied: "No, not at all. I am far off. Nobody can get close to them two, so no."

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City

Man City boss Pep Guardiola, speaking to TNT Sports on whether Man City having a day off yesterday will benefit the team: "I will tell you in two hours. If we win, it is a benefit. If we lose, it it will not be a benefit - the team is ready."

On Erling Haaland: "He is one of the captains. Focusing on what we have to do, the gameplan, the mentality and the opportunity we have to make an incredible step forward."

On Rodri: "He doesn't feel perfect, so that's why we don't want to take a risk.

"He will come back."

Thoughts on Erling Haaland's new celebration?

The Manchester City striker puled out the robot to celebrate his double against Bournemouth on Sunday, supposedly making reference to fans likening him to a machine.

It was a flashback to the iconic moves of towering former Liverpool and England forward Crouch when he scored and then celebrated in similar fashion.

"Guess I couldn't hide it any longer…," said Haaland on social media afterwards, while Crouch joked: "I walked so they could run."

Against his former club this evening, will the Norwegian opt for the old muted celebration or is the full robot coming out again?

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

What do you even say about Erling Haaland anymore? We're running out of superlatives.

The striker got back on track with his 16th then 17th goals of the season against Bournemouth following a minor blip where he shot a blank in the loss to Aston Villa last week.

Haaland has scored four of Manchester City's six goals in the Champions League this season.

He has faced his former side Borussia Dortmund twice before in blue - in the Champions League in his first season after leaving Germany - scoring once across the two fixtures.

Will he be on target again this evening?

Image source, Getty Images

Ciaran Kelly
BBC Sport reporter at St James' Park

Image source, Getty Images

It has become a familiar story.

As poor as Newcastle United have been away from home this season, Eddie Howe’s side have tended to look a different team at St James’ Park.

Not least on Champions League nights.

You could almost detect the irritation in Dan Burn’s voice when the Newcastle defender said “everyone knows we will turn up” ahead of Wednesday’s game against Athletic Club.

You would certainly not bet against it.

In some ways, the real litmus test of this side will be how Newcastle fare on their travels again at Brentford on Sunday.

But this is a crucial game as Newcastle look to pick up nine points at the halfway mark of the league phase against an out of form and injury-hit Athletic team.

A response is certainly needed.

Newcastle United

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe, speaking to TNT Sports: "It looks like a complete shift of energy - back here at home. A big game of us in our Champions League campaign.

"We have built some momentum and we want to continue that in this competition. A European game under lights - we want the energy and passion from the players and the supporters."

On the changes: "Bruno [Guimaraes] missed training yesterday, but that was part of his recovery phase.

"Of course, all things were considered and taken into account. I want to give the players a chance to respond.

"Hopefully, we show our real selves again and the changes are justified. There is no easy fixtures in the Champions League."

Three games, two wins for Newcastle in the Champions League this season, with their only loss coming in the opening game against Barcelona.

They come into tonight's match as favourites to win but Athletic Club will put up a sterner challenge than Union Saint-Gilloise and Benfica.

Right, it's a tight turnaround to our 8pm matches. Let's get a bit of build up, specifically to Manchester City v Borussia Dortmund and Newcastle v Athletic Club...

It's a night for the Pafos FC history books.

They've claimed their first ever win in the Champions League proper and they've done it against two-time semi-finalists Villarreal.

An incredible moment for the players, staff and the home fans, who will surely party long into the night.

That takes their tally to five points from four games, while Villarreal remain winless at the halfway mark of the league phase.

Image source, Reuters

Leon Osman
Former Everton and England midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live

Qarabag have done brilliantly. They are celebrating this draw like it was a win.

It is disappointing that Cheslea didn't get the win today because of their silly mistakes.