Summary

  • Man City 'in trouble' with injuries - Guardiola

  • Newcastle will grow from Milan experience - Howe

  • Nine-man Celtic lose to Feyenoord in chaotic opener

  • Champions League group stage continues on Wednesday

  • Man Utd meet Bayern Munich in Germany in Group A at 20:00 BST

  • Arsenal host PSV Eindhoven in Group B at 20:00

  • Liverpool, West Ham, Brighton and Rangers Europa League news conferences

  1. Follow livepublished at 15:49 British Summer Time 20 September 2023

    Bayern Munich v Man Utd (20:00 BST)

    BBC Radio 5 Live

    Bayern v Man Utd 5 Live graphicImage source, BBC Sport

    BBC Radio 5 Live will bring you full commentary of Manchester United's match at Bayern Munich from 20:00 BST, with Steve Crossman starting the build-up from 19:00.

    There will also be updates from all the other Champions League ties, including Arsenal v PSV Eindhoven.

    You can listen to the commentary and follow live text updates from all of today's matches on this page from 17:00.

  2. Man Utd & Arsenal return to Champions League actionpublished at 15:45 British Summer Time 20 September 2023

    All kick-off times BST

    Right, that's almost it for this afternoon, but there is plenty more football to come this evening as Manchester United and Arsenal return to Champions League action.

    Here are all of tonight's Champions League fixtures:

    Group A

    Galatasaray v FC Copenhagen (17:45)

    Bayern Munich v Manchester United (20:00)

    Group B

    Arsenal v PSV Eindhoven (20:00)

    Sevilla v Lens (20:00)

    Group C

    Real Madrid v FC Union Berlin (17:45)

    Sporting Braga v Napoli (20:00)

    Group D

    Benfica v Red Bull Salzburg (20:00)

    Real Sociedad v Inter Milan (20:00)

  3. 'They will be treated the same as the men'published at 15:42 British Summer Time 20 September 2023

    Guillem Balague
    Spanish football journalist on The Sports Desk podcast

    Quite clearly the meeting was initiated by [Spain's secretary of state for sports] Victor Francos, the government representative, who wanted to hear from the players.

    He had spoken to some of them over the phone but had not seen them face-to-face and he started saying to them ‘I apologise if I have done something wrong, please accept my apologies, but come on, what’s up, just come out with everything’.

    The conversation has been described as honest, long, of course, because once that meeting finished with Victor Francos then there were more meetings, taking place between the players, the players and representatives of the Federation.

    Some heads will fall, but mostly that the structure of the Federation will change and that they will be treated the same as the men, that is at the end the battle, that was what it was all about.

    Listen to more on the latest edition of The Sports Desk podcast.

  4. Is Spain's football crisis really over?published at 15:37 British Summer Time 20 September 2023

    Sports Desk logoImage source, BBC Sport

    The latest edition of The Sports Desk podcast looks at whether the crisis in women's football in Spain is now over.

    Spanish journalist Guillem Balague joins the discussion. More from him in a moment.

    Listen to the latest edition here on BBC Sounds.

  5. 'They want to be treated like professional footballers'published at 15:33 British Summer Time 20 September 2023

    Finally, ESPN journalist Gemma Soler explained why two members of the Spain women's squad decided to continue their boycott.

    Mapi Leon and Patri Guijarro were two of 15 players who sent an email to the Spanish federation complaining about conditions and manager Jorge Vilda.

    Neither player returned to take part in the World Cup squad and Soler says that they would now prefer to wait and see if the changes promised by the federation take effect.

    Soler used an example of the conditions in the current camp to demonstrate the kind of improvements the Spain women's players want to see.

    "When these women arrived at the hotel, there was no security, so they were harassed by 20 journalists, cameras, supporters," she told BBC Radio 5 Live.

    "If this was the Spanish men's national team there would be fences and a hundred security people to make sure no-one touches them.

    "So this is one of the things they want changed. They want to be treated like professional football players, which is what they are."

    Victor Francos, the head of the Spanish government's national sports agency (CSD), answers questionsImage source, Getty Images
  6. Rubiales' 'most loyal colleagues' still in position - Solerpublished at 15:26 British Summer Time 20 September 2023

    More from Gemma Soler on the structural changes the Spain women's players have been demanding since winning the Women's World Cup.

    "They played and won the World Cup, then they asked for changes," she explained. "Putting [Luis] Rubiales and [Jorge] Vilda out is not enough. They want structural changes and that is why they decided to start this boycott.

    "They asked for a new organisation in the women's football department and they asked for changes in the president's department.

    "It is true that Rubiales is no longer there, but his most loyal colleagues are still there.

    "They also asked for changes in the communications department and also in the integrity section."

  7. 'It was not about one person - it was a structural problem'published at 15:19 British Summer Time 20 September 2023

    Jorge Vilda and Luis RubialesImage source, Getty Images

    Gemma Soler told BBC Radio 5 Live that the Spain women's team wanted structural change - not just the dismissal of the federation's president Luis Rubiales or former manager Jorge Vilda.

    "It has never always been about Luis Rubiales or the [former] coach Jorge Vilda," said the ESPN journalist.

    "Not even when 15 players started a rebellion and 13 of them didn't got to the World Cup.

    "It was never a question about one person - it was a structural problem.

    "These women feel they did not have the conditions to be professional football players.

    "Their organisation was not good enough and they were suffering a lot of mistreatment that later we have seen in the light of day, like what we saw with Luis Rubiales, which was seen publicly, broadcast worldwide.

    "They have been suffering this mistreatment for many years and not having enough good conditions.

    "They did not have the minimum basics to be elite players, like a physiotherapist or nutritionist.

    "That is why they first started the rebellion."

  8. 'When Spanish players are called up it is compulsory'published at 15:13 British Summer Time 20 September 2023

    We brought you news earlier about the end to the Spain women's boycott of the national team.

    ESPN sports journalist Gemma Soler, who is based in Barcelona, has been speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live about the late-night meeting that led to the end of the boycott and just what changes the players had been demanding.

    She said: "We still don't know all the details. This happened very late at night - actually the meeting ended at 5.30am [local time].

    "These women, in less than 48 hours, have to play a game against Sweden in the Nations League. This is something quite crazy.

    "In that meeting it was the high commission for sport, Victor Francos, it was also the new national coach, Montse Tome, all the players, representatives of the players' union and several responsible people from the Spanish federation.

    "This meeting happened after these women decided to start the boycott and, after [the Spanish federation] did not listen to them, they decided to call them up.

    "There is a strange law in Spanish football in that when you are called to go to the national team it is compulsory.

    "You have to go or you will be facing sanctions - both economically and sporting."

    More to follow.

  9. get involved

    Can Brighton go all the way?published at 15:03 British Summer Time 20 September 2023

    Get Involved: #bbcfootball, WhatsApp 03301231826, text 81111 (UK only, standard rates apply)

    Roberto de ZerbiImage source, Getty Images

    It will be interesting to see how the British sides get on in the Europa League.

    Brighton's Roberto de Zerbi was asked what he thought about his side being made second favourites - he said Italian coaches "do not love to speak about predictions".

    But we can, do you think Brighton could win the Europa League? Hit the thumbs.

  10. 'Players in a confident frame of mind'published at 14:55 British Summer Time 20 September 2023

    West Ham v Backa Topola (Thursday, 20:00 BST)

    West Ham United

    .Image source, PA

    Finally from David Moyes, the West Ham boss is asked about team morale:

    "I think we've tried to build a stronger group. The competition is good in the squad. We want to keep that strong and the players are in a confident frame of mind, which comes from victories and playing well.

    "We want to try and get more of the ball in games but, if we can't, we want to make sure we're really hard to beat in games."

  11. 'More games and less time to recover'published at 14:49 British Summer Time 20 September 2023

    Brighton v AEK Athens (Thu, 20:00 BST)

    Brighton & Hove Albion

    .Image source, Reuters

    A final word from Pascal Gross comes with a word of caution for his fellow Brighton players.

    The German midfielder said that this season's Europa League campaign will present a new and difficult challenge: "We have more games and less time to recover. We need to perform every three days. That is the biggest change."

  12. 'Great start to West Ham career'published at 14:47 British Summer Time 20 September 2023

    West Ham v Backa Topola (Thursday, 20:00 BST)

    West Ham United

    .Image source, Getty Images

    Some words from David Moyes on summer signing James Ward-Prowse before West Ham launch their Europa League campaign:

    "I think he added things to Southampton that were fantastic and I hoped we would be able to transfer that to West Ham. He can play several different roles for us in midfield and he's been a good, steady signing for us at the moment.

    "Over the years, we've not been bad at set-pieces, and adding a top deliverer could make us more potent. I have to say he's had a great start to his career at West Ham."

  13. 'It will be a special night'published at 14:42 British Summer Time 20 September 2023

    Brighton v AEK Athens (Thursday, 20:00 BST)

    Brighton & Hove Albion

    .Image source, Getty Images

    Brighton's German midfielder Pascal Gross has been a driving force for the club in it's rise to the upper echelons of the Premier League and into Europe.

    He scored in Saturday's 3-1 win at Manchester, doubling his tally for the season as Brighton made it four victories from five games this season.

    Gross, 32, now turns his attention to what he hopes will be the first of many exciting European nights at the Amex.

    "We have a good team, a good manager and we know how we want to play. We want to start by winning tomorrow [Thursday, at home to AEK Athens].

    "I have been watching these European games for the last 10 years or so - now it is my chance to play in my first European game.

    "I am really proud but I am also looking forward to it. I want us to perform well and to win the game. Hopefully it will be a special night."

  14. Veteran Fabianski, 38, to startpublished at 14:39 British Summer Time 20 September 2023

    West Ham v Backa Topola (Thursday, 20:00 BST)

    West Ham United

    .Image source, Getty Images

    David Moyes has revealed one of his starting XI for the first Europa League game of the season:

    "Lukasz Fabianski will play tomorrow night. He's a brilliant goalkeeper and he has been excellent for us at times.

    "Lukasz's form has been so, so good for us in the last few years and he'll be in goal tomorrow night."

  15. 'We can't lose our DNA'published at 14:34 British Summer Time 20 September 2023

    Brighton v AEK Athens (Thu, 20:00 BST)

    Brighton & Hove Albion

    .Image source, Reuters

    More from Brighton manager Roberto de Zerbi on remaining faithful to the club's principles as they prepare for their first match in Europe.

    "We cannot forget where we started and who we were," he said. "We can't lose our DNA. If we think that we are better then we are, then we make a big mistake."

    On the club's aspirations to one day play in the Champions League, he added: "If we want to become bigger than this competition, then we still have to compete at this level first."

    On Thursday's opponents AEK Athens: "There manager [Argentine Matías Almeyda] is a former Brescia player. I know him very well.

    "We have studied AEK a lot. They are a good team, very aggressive with and without the ball. It will be a very tough game."

    On their Europa League group, which also includes Ajax and Marseille: "Our group is one of the stronger groups, but for us it is better. If we want to win in this moment we have to compete against the best teams."

  16. 'I want to reach the final again'published at 14:31 British Summer Time 20 September 2023

    West Ham v Backa Topola (Thursday, 20:00 BST)

    West Ham United

    More from David Moyes:

    "If you remember last year, we had a qualifier for the group stage. That in itself, and then the games we were winning the Conference League helped us from getting too low.

    "We've had a great start to the Premier League and I think, in Europe, we have a great opportunity for those players to show what they can do.

    "To be in a final and a semi-final two years in a row is a big thing. I want to try and do that again if I can."

  17. 'We have to forget about Man Utd result'published at 14:29 British Summer Time 20 September 2023

    Brighton v AEK Athens (Thursday, 20:00 BST)

    Brighton & Hove Albion

    .Image source, Reuters

    Brighton manager Roberto de Zerbi has warned his players to forget Saturday's 3-1 victory at Manchester United in the Premier League as the club prepares for its first ever match in Europe.

    The Seagulls have won four of their opening five Premier League fixtures but De Zerbi wants a full reset before they host AEK Athens in the Europa League group stages on Thursday.

    "The challenge of this year is to forget the game we play the day before and to focus only on the next game," said the Brighton boss.

    "To keep the result and the good emotion but to forget other things. The game in Manchester is finished. We have to think only about the next game."

  18. Postpublished at 14:26 British Summer Time 20 September 2023

    Brighton are also in Europa League action on Thursday. They are hosting AEK Athens (20:00 BST) and Roberto De Zerbi is speaking to the media.

  19. 'European football has got tougher'published at 14:22 British Summer Time 20 September 2023

    West Ham v Backa Topola (Thursday, 20:00 BST)

    West Ham United

    .Image source, PA Media

    More from David Moyes on West Ham's return to the Europa League and their chances in the competition after last season's Europa Conference League triumph:

    "The European competitions have got tougher. So many teams who have been regular Champions League teams have found themselves in the Europa League.

    "The strength in European competitions is really, really strong. We're thrilled we're in it again but I do believe the competition has got tougher than it was when we were in it two years ago.

    "For example, the history Liverpool have had in European football and the form Brighton & Hove Albion are in. And that's not considering teams from other countries either. Until we see the teams who drop down from the Champions League too, it can be tough to figure out [who are favourites]."