On that note it is time to hand over to my colleagues on the football desk.

They will continue the build-up to tonight's two Champions League ties, then talk you through every pass, shot and tackle until the final whistles peep in England and Germany. So head over here now.

And remember Sportsday is the place to be for all the reaction and fall out tomorrow, along with the build up to the Europa League action involving Everton, Tottenham, Liverpool and Celtic. See you later!

Image source, AP

Spanish champions Atletico Madrid haven't conceded a goal for 467 minutes in the Champions League.

Image source, Getty Images

As well as the showdown between Arsenal and Monaco, there is also the small matter of Spanish champions Atletico Madrid's trip to Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League last 16.

Diego Simeone's Atletico travel to an out-of-form Bayer Leverkusen confident of extending impressive away record in the competition.

The Spanish side, runners-up to Real Madrid last year, have lost just one of their nine away games in the competition since September 2013.

Former Liverpool and Republic of Ireland defender Phil Babb has left his job as manager of Conference South club Hayes & Yeading by mutual consent.

The 44-year-old departs after almost two years in charge, with the team just one place above the relegation zone following Tuesday's defeat by Gosport Borough.

"Sometimes things don't work out and changes need to be made," chairman Tony O'Driscoll told the club website., external

Tottenham leave striker Emmanuel Adebayor, defender Younes Kaboul and midfielder Etienne Capoue in London for the Europa League last-32 tie at Fiorentina.

The trio were absent from the 21-strong squad which travels to Florence after a 1-1 draw in the first leg.

Spurs squad: Lloris, Vorm, McGee, Walker, Rose, Davies, Chiriches, Fazio, Dier, Vertonghen, Bentaleb, Mason, Paulinho, Stambouli, Dembele, Lamela, Townsend, Eriksen, Chadli, Soldado, Kane.

Monaco have not won any of their seven away games in the Champions League knockout stage, drawing two and losing five.

Arsenal and Monaco have enjoyed a light-hearted exchange on their official Twitter accounts ahead of tonight's match, starting with Gunners asking who the French Ligue 1's dangerman will be in the absence of Radamel Falcao...

Image source, @Arsenal/Twitter

The principality club responded with the name of a certain former Tottenham striker...

Image source, @AS_Monaco/Twitter

But Arsenal, like Nicklas Bendtner in the Gunners' 2-1 win in 2007, had the final word...

Image source, @ARSENAL/TWitter

MK Dons sign Chelsea midfielder Lewis Baker on loan until the end of the season, including the play-offs.

England Under-21 international Baker, 19, helped Chelsea win the Under-21 Premier League last season and scored 26 goals for club and country.

Image source, Getty Images

Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has expressed his sympathy for cash-strapped former club Parma, who will face a bankruptcy hearing next month after failing to pay players' salaries all season.

Two-time Uefa Cup champions Parma had to cancel Sunday's home Serie A match against Udinese because they were unable to pay stadium stewards.

Italy international Buffon, who spent several years with Parma during their 1990s heyday when they also finished second in Serie A, said: "I'm reading more and more surreal news every day about Parma. For what it counts, I'd like to express my full solidarity with everyone who works at the club."

Read more about Parma's plight in our feature.

Following Brentford's 42-shot, 74% possession and 4-0 battering of Blackpool last night, we have been asking you all day for your memories of one-sided sporting contests.

Image source, Getty Images

David Hughes: Tiger Woods at the 2000 US Open, external - 12 under nobody else below par - didn't just beat one, obliterated the field!

Image source, OptaSports

Our number-crunching friends at Opta have produced this little number to outline Arsene Wenger's time at both Arsenal and tonight's opponents Monaco.

Image source, Getty Images

Most people look back doe-eyed, and with a fluttering heart, on the place where they made their big career break.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger may feel the same about Champions League opponents Monaco, where he made his name in the late 1980s.

But he insists there is no room for sentiment when he meets the French Ligue 1 club later.

"I am happy that Monaco is back at the top level after being in the second division," says the Frenchman.

"It was my first chance at a big club but I have been manager of Arsenal for 18 years now and I am focused only on qualifying for the quarter-finals against a good side."

Little under three hours until tonight's Champions League action kicks off. So over the next hour, we will largely focus on the two big matches...

Arsenal v Monaco (19:45 GMT)

Bayer Leverkusen v Atletico Madrid (19:45 GMT)

About to head home from work? Catch up on the headlines at 17:00 GMT (or whatever time it is wherever in the world you are)....

Top story: Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso has left hospital following Sunday's crash in testing.

Top video: BBC sports editor Dan Roan explains all you need to know about the first winter World Cup.

Top tweet: Is Hollywood actor Russell Crowe mulling over a bid to buy Leeds United?

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Fly-half Finn Russell will miss Scotland's Six Nations clash against Italy after his appeal against a two-week ban was thrown out by tournament bosses.

A Six Nations appeal committee rejected Scotland's appeal against Russell's ban for tackling Dan Biggar in the air in the 26-23 defeat by Wales on 15 February.

The appeal committee upheld the original decision to suspend Russell for two weeks, despite considering submissions from the 22-year-old at a London hearing.

NeeOrg:, external Newcastle 5-0 Man Utd, a day when Man Utd were torn apart by pure genius, Philippe Albert chip at the end was glorious!

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A statement from Barnsley on new head coach Lee Johnson says: "He met the selection criteria established and also produced a specific plan for the club for his first 100 days in charge. This included a playing strategy, specific tactics, identified current weaknesses and credible recruitment targets to strengthen our team.

"The board believe everyone will like Lee's personality. He is honest, passionate and a good communicator. He believes strongly in fan engagement, is ambitious and has a clear vision for the development of our club going forward. Let's give him our full support."

Image source, @BFC_official/Twitter

Oldham Athletic confirm that first-team manager Lee Johnson has left the club to become Barnsley's head coach after compensation was agreed between the two clubs.

Johnson ends a two-year tenure with Latics after taking over the club in March 2013.

After guiding the club to safety in the 2012-13 season, Johnson's first full campaign ended with a 15th-placed finish in League One. He has signed a contract that keeps him at Barnsley until 2018.

Swansea full-back Jazz Richards extends his loan spell at Championship side Fulham until the end of the season.

Cornelius Lysaght
BBC horse racing correspondent

Image source, PA

Paul Nicholls is cutting his 2015 Cheltenham Festival squad by a third and will run "around 25" hopefuls at next month's big meeting.

But supporters of jump racing's eight-time champion trainer - the winner of 34 races at Festivals over the years - need not worry that his challenge is being diluted.

"Thirty-six [runners] last year was too many," he said. "I don't want to be taking horses there just for a day out, so it's a more select team.

"And it's probably as good as we've had for a while, since we had those good horses of the past, like Kauto [Star], Denman and Master Minded