Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport Chelsea reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos says his display against Burnley was his best Premier League performance for the club ahead of a crucial week.

The 21-year-old completed his first full 90 minutes in the competition during Saturday's 2-0 win at Turf Moor.

Previously, Santos had been substituted at half-time and after 54 minutes in his other two league starts.

Asked about his performance — in which he was named man of the match while playing a deep midfield role as Moises Caicedo was rested — Santos said: "Yes, of course, I think today is my best performance.

"I think the adaptation is a little bit hard because the Premier League is the toughest championship in the world.

"But now my teammates have helped me a lot. I'm so happy to be here in the Premier League."

Chelsea moved up to second in the Premier League ahead of a week that sees them face Barcelona in the Champions League on Tuesday, followed by Arsenal in the league next Sunday.

Santos added: "Yes, of course. When you talk about the Champions League, it's always amazing. I always dream of these big games. Now we have Barcelona, and we hope we are ready to fight and try to win the game.

"Barcelona first and then Arsenal. It's a great week. We are Chelsea — we work hard and want to win every game."

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport Chelsea reporter

Chelsea normally hold their major news conferences for big Champions League matches at Stamford Bridge rather than at the training ground.

There is no doubt that Chelsea’s home supporters were most excited about drawing Barcelona – a team with whom they have built a rivalry – on their return to the Champions League this season.

Barcelona are also the club who inspired Maresca to go into management, after he was blown away by facing a Pep Guardiola-led side while playing for Sevilla in Spain’s top flight.

The tiki-taka style that Guardiola pioneered is one whose legacy Maresca is continuing today.

It will be interesting to hear Maresca retell those stories, discuss Cole Palmer’s fitness situation, and perhaps assess where Estevao Willian is in comparison with visiting teenage superstar Lamine Yamal.

Karan Vinod
BBC Sport Journalist

After the double-header against Barcelona and Arsenal, Chelsea’s schedule shifts to three consecutive away games – at Leeds, Bournemouth and Atalanta.

All three clubs have had dips in form of late so, on paper at least, this is a stretch where Chelsea could try to build some momentum.

But with European travel and squad rotation to juggle, it becomes a quiet test of the squad’s depth and mentality.

Chelsea's travels in early December:

• 03 Dec: Leeds (A)
• 06 Dec: Bournemouth (A)
• 09 Dec: Atalanta (A)

Here's a reminder that you can watch Chelsea (12:00) and Manchester City's (12:30) Champions League news conferences this lunchtime.

We know that Marc Cucurella is joining Enzo Maresca for Chelsea's news conference, while City are putting up Josko Gvardiol, along with Pep Guardiola.

Just click on the 'watch & listen' tab at the top of this page to follow.

We will also bring you the top lines in our live text coverage.

Image source, Getty Images

Karan Vinod
BBC Sport Journalist

Chelsea’s rise to second comes just in time for one of the toughest and possibly defining stretches of their season.

They host Barcelona at Stamford Bridge in the Champions League on Tuesday, a fixture that will test how far Enzo Maresca’s side have come in terms of control, intensity and game management.

Three days after Barcelona, Chelsea welcome Premier League leaders Arsenal in what already feels like a statement game.

Maresca’s side sits six points behind Mikel Arteta’s team, and victory would pull them firmly into the title conversation.

With Chelsea’s defensive record sharpening and Arsenal in ruthless form, it has the makings of one of the weekend’s standout fixtures.

Chelsea's next two fixtures:

• 25 Nov: Barcelona (H)
• 30 Nov: Arsenal (H)

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal and Bayern Munich are two of only three teams to boast a 100% record after four games of this season's Champions League.

If the Gunners or Bayern maintain that run at Emirates Stadium on Wednesday, when they go head-to-head, there is a good chance they could finish the day as outright leaders.

Inter Milan - the other side to have won all four of their games so far - face a tricky tie at Atletico Madrid.

All six English sides are well placed in the top half of the table at the halfway stage of the league phase, with Manchester City in fourth, Newcastle sixth, Liverpool eighth, Tottenham 10th and Chelsea 12th.

Remember, the top eight sides after eight games will go straight through to the last 16, while sides that finish from ninth to 24th will face a knockout play-off.

Teams from 25th to 36th will be out of European competition all together, with no sides dropping down into the Europa League in the new format.

Champions League

The huge games just keep coming this week.

Arsenal will be looking to take another prized scalp when Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich visit Emirates Stadium on Wednesday, while Tottenham will jump out of the Emirates frying pan straight into the simmering cauldron of the Parc des Princes:

• FC Copenhagen v Kairat
• Pafos v Monaco
• Arsenal v Bayern Munich
• Atletico Madrid v Inter Milan
• Eintracht Frankfurt v Atalanta
• Liverpool v PSV Eindhoven
• Olympiakos v Real Madrid
• Paris St-Germain v Tottenham
• Sporting Lisbon v Club Brugge

Champions League

But while you mention it Ted, we will be taking a two-pronged approach this lunchtime - Premier League reaction and Champions League preview.

As mentioned, we will bring you the key lines from today's Champions League news conferences - with a focus on Chelsea (12:00 GMT) and Manchester City (12:30 GMT).

There are some massive games coming up this week, so let's first bring you the fixtures, Newcastle included:

• Ajax v Benfica (17:45)
• Galatasaray v R Union SG (17:45)
• Bodo/Glimt v Juventus
• Borussia Dortmund v Villarreal
• Chelsea v Barcelona
• Manchester City v Bayer Leverkusen
• Marseille v Newcastle
• Napoli v Qarabag
• Slavia Prague v Athletic Club

We are coming to that Ted, but your news conference is later in the day, so the focus is starting with Chelsea and Manchester City...

Craig Nelson
BBC Sport reporter

You found us James, that's the main thing.

We are here for you Arsenal fans, but this chat is more than just your place to gloat.

We want to hear from Chelsea supporters ahead of your huge week - more on that in a moment.

And what about Manchester City - every time we think you are about to go on one of Pep Guardiola's trademark runs, you seem to hit a bump on the road - Aston Villa, Newcastle.

Please tell us your thoughts before the lunchtime news conferences...

Some wild results there in a dramatic return to Premier League action following the international break.

We want to know your thoughts on where the title race is at:

• What more have we learned about Arsenal's chances following their statement win over north London rivals Tottenham?
• Should Chelsea be considered serious challengers following their move up to second?
• Manchester City have been showing signs they could mount a challenge again - was their defeat at Newcastle a blip or something more telling than that?
• Where else could a challenge come from - Aston Vila, Manchester United, Crystal Palace?
• And what next for defending champions Liverpool and Arne Slot - are they in crisis or is it too soon to say that?

Premier League

Premier League leaders Arsenal opened clear daylight between themselves and their title challengers, thanks to Eberechi Eze's stunning hat-trick in Sunday's 4-1 mauling of north London rivals Tottenham.

They now have a six-point lead over Chelsea, who moved up to second place in the table following their victory in Saturday's early kick-off at Burnley.

Manchester City are third, now seven points behind the Gunners, following their 2-1 defeat at Newcastle.

Aston Villa, meanwhile, are up into fourth following their win at Leeds, while Manchester United could join them on 21 points with a victory in tonight's final match of Gameweek 12 at home to Everton.

Oh, and not to forget defending champions Liverpool, who find themselves down in 11th place, 11 points behind Arsenal, following their SIXTH defeat in seven games...

Premier League

Let's start with a reminder of the weekend's action:

Saturday, 22 November

• Burnley 0-2 Chelsea
• Bournemouth 2-2 West Ham
• Brighton 2-1 Brentford
• Fulham 1-0 Sunderland
• Liverpool 0-3 Nott'm Forest
• Wolves 0-2 Crystal Palace
• Newcastle 2-1 Manchester City

Sunday, 23 November

• Leeds 1-2 Aston Villa
• Arsenal 4-1 Tottenham

Monday, 24 November

• Manchester United v Everton (20:00 GMT)

Right, there is a lot to get through in a short space of time, so let's get down to it.

This live page will cover this lunchtime's Champions League news conferences:

• Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca is due to face the media from midday, when he will discuss Tuesday's huge home tie against Barcelona
• Then, from around 12:30 GMT, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola will be talking about his side's match at home to Bayer Leverkusen

Both Chelsea and City are, of course, also eager to mount a Premier League title challenge, so we will spend the next hour discussing the potential impact of the weekend's top-flight results.

Image source, Getty Images