The Champions League — where dreams come true, fantasies become reality and legends are born. Or something like that.
Unless you’re Dinamo Zagreb, Red Bull Salzburg, Celtic, Red Star Belgrade, Slovan Bratislava or Young Boys, in which case the Champions League is where fears prevail, nightmares become reality and careers get ruined.
OK, maybe not that bad, but fans of the above clubs can be forgiven for feeling apprehensive when UEFA’s anthem plays during Matchday Three tonight (Tuesday) and tomorrow.
These are teams who are used to dominating their domestic leagues, winning 60 per cent or 70 per cent of their league matches year after year (even as high as 84 per cent last season for Red Star) to claim title after title.
Taking the past seven domestic seasons, Dinamo, Salzburg, Celtic, Red Star, Slovan and Young Boys have won 38 league titles between them, out of a possible 42. Dinamo have taken every one of those Croatian championships with Red Star doing the same in Serbia, and the rest have won six of the available seven.
They are superior in their homelands almost to the point of boredom. And yet, from their combined opening two rounds of Champions League matches this season, the six teams have scored 12 goals between them and conceded a whopping 49. That’s a combined goal difference of -37 from 12 matches.
Transferring domestic bliss to European success is not easy, especially when your budget is a fraction of the spending power available at Manchester City, Real Madrid or Bayern Munich.
According to transfer website Transfermarkt, Slovan have spent a total of £2.6million ($3.4m) on new signings in the past three seasons and their squad has a total estimated value of £24m. The same source lists City as having spent £365m in the past three years (which, to be honest, feels quite frugal for them) and their squad value is estimated at being a smidgen over £1billion. So, City have spent roughly 139 times as much as Slovan since 2022, and their squad is worth 43 times as much.
When the teams faced each other three weeks ago on Matchday Two, Slovan’s odds for winning on home turf were 40/1. They may have a monopoly on the Slovakian title, but with a budget akin to a club in League One, Engish football’s third tier, they were predictably no match for City.
“We dreamt of, one day, the best team in the world, or one of the best, coming (here),” Slovan manager Vladimir Weiss told reporters before the match. The reality, however, was less romantic: City had 28 shots, scored four goals, hit the woodwork three times and registered an expected goals (xG) figure of 3.8. Slovan had 24 per cent possession and didn’t register a shot on target.
“Honestly, this was just as we expected,” Tomas, a Slovan fan who attended the game, tells The Athletic. “Slovan has not played in the Champions League for 32 years (having failed to get past its qualifying rounds on 11 occasions), so it is a big success to even be there.
“When we beat (Denmark’s champions) Midtjylland to qualify (having got through three previous ties in a campaign that began four days before last season had ended with the Euro 2024 final on July 14), it was one of the best results in the last few years and was like a European final for us.
“Then we were drawn against Manchester City, Bayern Munich, AC Milan and Atletico Madrid (among their eight league-phase games). These are matches we have not had for many, many years, so even though we will probably lose, it is still a big prize. The Celtic defeat (Slovan lost 5-1 in Glasgow on Matchday One) was not good, but even a club like Celtic has much more money than us.
“We have Dinamo (Zagreb) at home (on November 5), a match we can look to draw or win, but mostly I want the eight games to be a lesson for the players and the owners, and for us to make money from TV and full stadiums to spend on improving the team.”
There is a distinct “happy to be there” vibe from Slovan, but that does not apply to every Champions League ‘minnow’.
Salzburg, who will compete in the revamped Club World Cup in the United States next summer courtesy of their consistent Champions League group-phase qualification in recent years, are adjusting to life under a new manager in Jurgen Klopp’s long-time Liverpool assistant Pep Lijnders, and were probably thought of as a bit of a dark horse going into the league phase.
Instead, they were comfortably beaten 3-0 at Sparta Prague and then surprisingly trounced 4-0 at home to French newcomers Brest. They lie fourth in the early-season Austrian Bundesliga, six points off leaders Sturm Graz, but have two games in hand.
Pep Lijnders acknowledges Salzburg fans after defeat in Prague (Michal Cizek/AFP via Getty Images)
“I don’t want to make excuses, I take full responsibility,” Lijnders said in a press conference after the Brest defeat. “This group has enough quality that it should not happen like this. That worries me a little bit.
“We expected a completely different start in the Champions League, especially with the qualification (beating FC Twente, 5-4 on aggregate, and Dynamo Kyiv, 3-1). I’m sick of people calling us a young team. There are no excuses, we have enough quality to win football matches in the Champions League.”
Young Boys, whose Swiss Super League is of a similar standard to Austria’s Bundesliga, will also have expected better than to be propping up the 32-team Champions League table after two defeats (3-0 at home to Aston Villa, 5-0 at Barcelona).
Like Salzburg, the Bern club are enduring domestic woes, and sacked manager Patrick Rahmen, who had only been appointed in the summer, a week after the Barcelona thrashing. They are 10th in a 12-team domestic league. A visit from Inter Milan, Serie A champions and three-time European Cup/Champions League winners, awaits on Wednesday.
Dinamo also dispensed with their manager after suffering one of the heaviest defeats in Champions League history, losing 9-2 at Bayern last month. Sergej Jakirovic had led Dinamo to a Croatian league and cup double in 2023-24 but the Bayern thrashing was deemed unacceptable and he left two days later by mutual consent.
The harsh reality of Dinamo Zagreb’s European struggle is laid bare on Bayern Munich’s scoreboard(Sebastian Widmann/Getty Images)
A 2-2 home draw against Monaco on Matchday Two, under new boss Nenad Bjelica, suggested the right decision had been made. Next up? A visit to Lijnders and Salzburg on Wednesday.
And then you have Celtic. Unlike many of those sides mentioned above, the Scottish club are Champions League regulars and have taken some incredible scalps over the years, beating Barcelona, Juventus, Manchester United and AC Milan (and back in 1967 they won the competition). But every one of those victories has come at Celtic Park where, backed by one of the most vociferous atmospheres in European football, they can be a match for anyone.
Away from home, it’s a different story. This season’s competition has been Celtic in Europe in a microcosm, thrashing Slovan 5-1 at home and then being humiliated 7-1 by Borussia Dortmund in Germany, where they conceded five before half-time — the first time a British club had done so in a major European competition since 1997-98. It was their 31st defeat from 37 Champions League group/league-stage away games — and in those 37, they have conceded an almighty 100 goals.
Yet manager Brendan Rodgers was unrepentant in not changing the team’s approach for that Dortmund game, despite facing criticism familiar from his first spell at Celtic, when his side lost 7-0 to Barcelona at Camp Nou and 7-1 at Paris Saint-Germain, or 6-0 away to Atletico Madrid in his second spell last season.
“We play in a way that allows us to dominate domestically,” Rodgers said. “We know it’s going to be difficult at times for us to do that, but we still have to show our ability with the ball. Are we going to sit in and camp, and wait? No, we won’t do that.”
Celtic supporters who have paid thousands of pounds to travel across the continent to see their team win just two of 37 Champions League away matches (beating Spartak Moscow in 2012-13 and Belgium’s Anderlecht in 2017-18) may see things differently. While nobody could accuse Celtic fans of not making the most of their trips abroad, if anyone has attended all 37 games, they will have travelled more than 70,000 miles, which is almost three times around the world, to see two victories.
“I’ve not done that many, but I’ve never seen us win abroad,” Celtic season-ticket holder Alasdair tells The Athletic. “There is always a great atmosphere on the road and no one takes it for granted that we’re privileged to visit some great cities and stadiums, but it’s pretty demoralising.
Celtic fans enjoy their European trips – until the football starts (Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
“There’s maybe an unrealistic expectation at the club that we should be doing better, but given our resources compared to the Premier League and the big Spanish, German and Italian clubs, we’re on a different planet. We’ll find the new format only skews the imbalance further.”
We are working with an incredibly small sample size after two rounds but the early results in the expanded 36-team ‘league phase’ do suggest the scales are tipping further. We have seen scorelines of 9-2, 7-1, 5-0 and 5-1, plus four 4-0s. After 36 matches, this is proving to be one of the most goal-heavy editions of the Champions League, with 3.19 per game being close to the highest on record (3.24 in 2019-20).
So far, it has been the most one-sided Champions League season yet, with an average margin of victory of 2.57 goals, comfortably above the next highest of 2.37 from the 1993-94 season.
By expanding the competition, the quality will be diluted, while this bigger first stage could lend itself to teams playing more expansively, given the probable need for only 10 or so points from your eight matches to reach at least the play-off knockout round, where places in the last-16 will be up for grabs.
As the rich get richer and the financial imbalance across Europe increases, expect more of the same. And expect fans of relative Champions League minnows to dread rather than relish their continental adventures.
Mohamed Salah scored Liverpool’s second against Bologna (Action Images via Reuters)
Liverpool secured a comfortable 2-0 win over Bologna at Anfield, to continue their flawless start to the 2024/25 Champions League season.
Alexis Mac Allister struck after just 11 minutes, with Mohamed Salah adding another in the second half to put the game beyond Bologna.
The Reds began their European campaign in an impressive manner, easily beating AC Milan 3-1 at the San Siro in what will be one of their most difficult fixtures of the competition’s new league phase.
However, with teams including Real Madrid and German champions Bayer Leverkusen to come, Arne Slot has already secured a crucial three points in his first European night at Anfield.
Bologna have lost both a manager and some key players since qualifying for the competition last season, and they currently languishing in 13th place in Serie A with just seven points, having drawn their opening Champions League match 0-0 with Shakhtar Donetsk.
Follow all the latest build-up, team news and updates below, as well as the reaction to the evening’s other Champions League matches:
Liverpool vs Bologna LIVE
Liverpool face Bologna in their second match of the Champions League league phase, with kick-off at 8pm BST | Live on TNT
The Reds host the Italian side having won the first game of their campaign 3-1 against AC Milan at the San Siro
Bologna drew their first game in the competition 0-0 with Shakhtar Donetsk
Liverpool XI: Alisson, Van Dijk, Konate, Diaz, Szoboszlai, Nunez, Mac Allister, Salah, Robertson, Gravenberch, Alexander-Arnold
GOAL! Alexis Mac Allister scores – LIV 1-0 BOL [11’]
Half time: Liverpool 1-0 Bologna
GOAL! Mohamed Salah scores second – LIV 2-0 BOL [75’]
Full time: Liverpool 2-0 Bologna
Liverpool FC 2 – 0 Bologna FC 1909
Mac Allister speaks after the match
22:22 , Sonia Twigg
Mac Allister said to TNT Sports: “I’m really happy personally but for the team. He [Alisson] made some good saves. Sometimes I think we need to defend better, at least Ali showed how good he is. I’m happy for him and for the team.”
On his goal: “Yeah to be fair it is quite hard [to miss] you could. A goal is a goal, in this team when we make a run Mo [Salah] can see everything. Really happy for him, I think it was a good night for everyone.
On still transitioning to life under Arne Slot: “It is clear we are in transition, we are happy with the ideas, we are trying to get there. There is room for improvement, that’s why we work very hard every day.”
Full time: Liverpool 2-0 Bologna
21:51 , Sonia Twigg
Full time: Illing-Junior has a good chance with a volley at the edge of the box but cannot direct it goalwards, and that will be the final moment of action.
Ultimately Liverpool were the better side and deserved the three points, although Bologna had a goal disallowed for offside and their intensity did cause problems.
Job done for Liverpool, and their flawless start to the Champions League continues.
Liverpool 2-0 Bologna
21:48 , Sonia Twigg
90 minutes: There are three minutes of added time and Bologna have a free-kick just outside the Liverpool box.
Orsolini takes it and it deflects from the wall behind for a corner.
Liverpool 2-0 Bologna
21:45 , Sonia Twigg
87 minutes: The Bologna manager is just letting frustrations get the better of him as he punches the dugout chair while his side fail to beat the first man from a free kick.
Liverpool 2-0 Bologna
21:40 , Sonia Twigg
82 minutes: The intensity has just gone slightly after Liverpool’s second goal, but Bologna are keeping their high press and they have shown in this match that they can be dangerous.
Liverpool 2-0 Bologna
21:36 , Sonia Twigg
79 minutes: Bologna make two changes after their defence was stretched again, giving Liverpool another chance before the flag went up.
GOAL! Liverpool 2-0 Bologna
21:32 , Sonia Twigg
75 minutes: GOAL! What an incredible strike from Mohamed Salah!
He curls the ball into the corner to double Liverpool’s advantage.
Liverpool 1-0 Bologna
21:30 , Sonia Twigg
73 minutes: Szoboszlai attempts an unorthodox scorpion kick to try and play Salah in and it almost works, but the ball was just slightly too far ahead of the Egyptian winger.
Liverpool 1-0 Bologna
21:26 , Sonia Twigg
69 minutes: Gakpo and Tsimikas seemingly getting ready to come on as Arne Slot prepares to make another round of substitutions.
Liverpool 1-0 Bologna
21:23 , Sonia Twigg
66 minutes: Another ball from Szoboszlai across the box is just out of reach of Diaz.
Liverpool still have their slender lead.
Liverpool 1-0 Bologna
21:21 , Sonia Twigg
64 minutes: Salah curls a chance narrowly wide of the target, and Liverpool have come close, but still not added a second in the game so far.
Liverpool 1-0 Bologna
21:20 , Sonia Twigg
62 minutes: Diogo Jota comes on for Darwin Nunez, that seems pre-planned at bang on the hour mark, but can the new Liverpool forward find the second that has alluded them so far.
Liverpool 1-0 Bologna
21:17 , Sonia Twigg
60 minutes: Liverpool have a corner and a chance to add to their lead but it fails to beat the first man, and Salah’s second delivery is also intercepted.
Liverpool 1-0 Bologna
21:14 , Sonia Twigg
57 minutes: Bologna have a chance to counter-attack and they manage to carve out a shot with Urbanski firing well wide of the shot, which was always rising, but it was a good chance.
Liverpool 1-0 Bologna
21:10 , Sonia Twigg
53 minutes: Liverpool have had most of the ball since the restart, and there’s another chance to build, but Diaz’s ball is intercepted before it finds Robertson and the attack is thwarted.
Liverpool 1-0 Bologna
21:08 , Sonia Twigg
50 minutes: Liverpool commit forward and pass it around but Bologna have a lot of players back and the reds are struggling to find a way through.
Mac Allister tries to find Alexander-Arnold but he takes a heavy touch and the goalkeeper smothers the ball.
Liverpool 1-0 Bologna
21:04 , Sonia Twigg
47 minutes: Nunez has a chance! The cross from Salah was floated and just too far behind the striker and he cannot get enough power on it.
Liverpool 1-0 Bologna
21:02 , Sonia Twigg
46 minutes: Liverpool get the second half underway
Half time: Liverpool 1-0 Bologna
20:52 , Sonia Twigg
Here are some photos from the first half:
(REUTERS)
(Peter Byrne/PA Wire)
Half time: Liverpool 1-0 Bologna
20:47 , Sonia Twigg
Half time: Liverpool go into the break with the lead, but there were enough chances for Bologna that the reds and Arne Slot will want to address as they go into the second half.
Liverpool 1-0 Bologna
20:43 , Sonia Twigg
42 minutes: Salah goes down in the box but the referee is not drawn into giving anything.
Both sets of players may well be looking forward to half time with how energetic this match has been.
Liverpool 1-0 Bologna
20:39 , Sonia Twigg
39 minutes: Konate and Beukema have both been shown yellow cards for a bit of pushing and shoving for a Liverpool corner which is punched away by the goalkeeper.
Liverpool 1-0 Bologna
20:37 , Sonia Twigg
37 minutes: Since the Bologna onslaught, the game has calmed down a bit slightly as Liverpool have the chance to build again, but Diaz’s touch lets him down and the visitors are able to clear.
Liverpool 1-0 Bologna
20:33 , Sonia Twigg
33 minutes: Save! Alisson has to be alert to push the shot from Urbanski wide!
Liverpool are weathering the storm a bit after their early possession.
Liverpool 1-0 Bologna
20:32 , Sonia Twigg
32 minutes: Post! Bologna have just grown into this game, and Liverpool don’t look entirely comfortable playing out from the back.
The shot rebounds off the post and Liverpool have been handed a let off.
Liverpool 1-0 Bologna
20:31 , Sonia Twigg
The latest from Karl Matchett:
Three times in attempting to play short from goal kicks, Liverpool have lost possession – Alisson is complaining that he’s not being given the right options, though Slot has already spoken that at times he must be ready to go more direct if that’s the case. A fortunate escape from the second occasion, as Konate deflected the effort onto the bar, but the home side’s defensive concerns so far have been largely of their own making.
Liverpool 1-0 Bologna
20:29 , Sonia Twigg
29 minutes: Chance! Nunez tries his luck at the other end of the pitch, driving forwards and then shooting rather than passing, but the shot was always rising and sails over the bar.
Liverpool 1-0 Bologna
20:29 , Sonia Twigg
28 minutes: Woodwork! A loose ball from Liverpool has been capitalised on by Bologna who take the shot, it deflects onto the crossbar and goes out of play.
That was a bit of a let off for Liverpool.
Liverpool 1-0 Bologna
20:26 , Sonia Twigg
26 minutes: Virgil Van Dijk has been shown a yellow card for an arm in the neck of a Bologna player.
It might be a bit harsh.
Liverpool 1-0 Bologna
20:23 , Sonia Twigg
23 minutes: Nunez has a shot, it drops perfectly for him, but the angle was too tight and he didn’t get the contact with the ball he would have wanted and fires straight at the goalkeeper.
Liverpool 1-0 Bologna
20:19 , Sonia Twigg
19 minutes: Chance! Liverpool probably should have scored, it was almost perfect for Szoboszlai at the far post but that was a big chance missed for Liverpool.
Bologna are struggling to contain the threat of Salah down the right.
Liverpool 1-0 Bologna
20:17 , Sonia Twigg
16 minutes: Offside goal! Darwin Nunez has the ball in the back of the net but it has been flagged for offside, he just didn’t hold back enough when starting his run, that would have been the ideal opportunity to go 2-0 up.
Liverpool 1-0 Bologna
20:15 , Sonia Twigg
Here’s the take so far from our reporter Karl Matchett at Anfield:
It hasn’t quite been one-way traffic, but Liverpool have looked comfortable and confident from the get-go and their midfield is well on top – it’s no surprise that two key components from that area of the pitch combined for the opening goal. Some of the switches of play from defence to wing have been excellent, preventing Bologna from squeezing play or staying compact, and Mac Allister’s run from deep has made the most of that space.
GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 Bologna
20:11 , Sonia Twigg
11 minutes: GOAL! Liverpool have taken the lead!
The cross from Mohamed Salah was inch-perfect and Mac Allister was only a couple of yards out when the ball just glides off his foot and into the net.
Goal disallowed! Liverpool 0-0 Bologna
20:10 , Sonia Twigg
10 minutes: Goal disallowed! Dallinga has the ball in the back of the net, and thought he had put the visitors ahead at Anfield, but the flag goes up for offside and the goal will not stand.
That’s an early warning for Liverpool though.
Liverpool 0-0 Bologna
20:09 , Sonia Twigg
8 minutes: Liverpool are definitely playing a high press, and Nunez is working hard to chase down the goalkeeper and defenders when they get the ball.
Whether this an early tactic, or if they planning on playing the whole match at this tempo remains to be seen
Liverpool 0-0 Bologna
20:06 , Sonia Twigg
6 minutes: Liverpool have kept up the tempo from their early start, and it is a big night for Darwin Nunez, who has a chance to impress his new manager Arne Slot.
Liverpool 0-0 Bologna
20:02 , Sonia Twigg
2 minutes: It’s a stunning ball across the box and Diaz is just unable to reach it, Bologna nearly turned the ball into their own net, but it has been a high tempo start from Liverpool.
Liverpool 0-0 Bologna
20:00 , Sonia Twigg
1 minute: Bologna kick the game underway
Liverpool fans boo Champions League anthem
19:58 , Sonia Twigg
The teams are out, the Champions League anthem has been played, and the match is about to get underway.
Some sections of the Liverpool crowd booed the Champions League anthem.
Liverpool vs Bologna
19:54 , Sonia Twigg
You’ll Never Walk Alone is being played and sung around the ground and the players are about to emerge from the tunnel.
Liverpool vs Bologna
19:52 , Sonia Twigg
The match will get underway in just 10 minutes’ time so here are some photos from around the ground as the atmosphere heats up:
(REUTERS)
(EPA)
(Peter Byrne/PA Wire)
What Slot has said
19:45 , Chris Wilson
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Arne Slot said that he sees “things we have to improve if we want to stay where we are”.
“Every fixture is difficult in the Premier League and we have to do things better. But one of the reasons we can stay up there is we have a lot of quality.
He went on to add that Liverpool “cannot accept mediocrity” and need to show “the highest standards every day”.
On Bologna, he said: “We know how difficult it is to play against a team that man mark.
“We don’t underestimate them at all because that is not what they deserve after their finish last season.”
He finished by adding that he is hoping for “a special night for everyone involved”.
Liverpool match stats
19:30 , Chris Wilson
Bologna will be Liverpool’s 10th different Italian opponent in European competition, after Inter Milan, Juventus, Roma, Genoa, Milan, Fiorentina, Napoli, Udinese, and Atalanta.
The Reds have lost three of their last five at home to Italian sides (W2).
Liverpool have won each of their last 10 group or league stage games at Anfield in major European competitions.
They have scored two or more goals in their last nine in a row. Their last defeat was to an Italian side – they lost 0-2 to Atalanta in November 2020.
The Reds also lost 3-0 to Atalanta in the quarter-finals of the Europa League last season.
Mohamed Salah could become the first Liverpool player to score in five consecutive home games in the European Cup/UEFA Champions League. He has scored in all four of his appearances at Anfield in his previous season in this competition (four goals in 2022/23).
Arne Slot’s perfectionism will be defining factor of Liverpool’s Champions League campaign
19:20 , Chris Wilson
As Arne Slot looked forward to his first European night at Anfield, Alexis Mac Allister harked back to his Champions League bow. Which was all of two weeks ago. As the Liverpool midfielder noted, it is remarkable he had won the World Cup before even playing in the premier club competition. “For some people it was a surprise I won a World Cup but I made my debut against [AC] Milan in the Champions League so it is quite crazy,” the Argentina international said.
But, swift as Mac Allister’s rise was, it was nonetheless a sign of Liverpool’s enduring appeal that they could recruit him when in the Europa League. Slot was in the Champions League last season but, while Jurgen Klopp is a Champions League winner and four-time finalist, his predecessor was not.
The Dutchman nevertheless has particular reasons to relish Bologna’s visit to Anfield. “I am privileged enough to work at Feyenoord where Champions League nights last season were also really special. People tell me it will be even more special here tomorrow,” he said.
Slot’s perfectionism will be defining factor of Liverpool’s Champions League campaign
Liverpool v Bologna head-to-head
19:10 , Chris Wilson
These two sides have never previously met in a competitive fixture.
The Reds currently sit 12th in the Champions League’s new league phase table, though they have played a game less than many teams. In the Premier League, Slot’s side sit top of the league with 15 points, one above both Arsenal and Manchester City.
Bologna are seven-time winners of Serie A and finished fourth last season, though they are struggling in 13th this season, with just seven points. They have lost several key personnel since last season, including manager Thiago Motta (who moved to Juventus) and Manchester United signing Joshua Zirkzee.
The unintended effect of the new Champions League – and why Liverpool can benefit
19:00 , Chris Wilson
Heading into the first few weeks of the new Premier League season, one of the most frequent questions aimed Arne Slot’s way was that of rotation. At Feyenoord, he candidly explained, there was little reason to switch up his first team too much; fewer league games, one fewer domestic cup to navigate and more difficulty in reaching the latter stages of Europe. His final campaign at the Eredivisie side saw Slot’s team play only 48 matches – and that included the Johan Cruyff Shield, the Dutch season-opener, and going the distance to win the KNVB Cup.
A few weeks later and the new Liverpool boss has shown a deft hand at altering his lineup without, so far, dramatically reducing the quality on show; while the performance against West Ham was somewhat stutteringafter nine changes, so too was the win over Wolves with a regular first XI in place.
League Cup aside, Slot has shown an early preference for making a couple of switches, keeping the bulk of his starters in situ and letting others find form and push for places two or three at a time. Cody Gakpowas perhaps the first to stake his claim; more recently, Curtis Jones has done likewise.
The unintended effect of the new Champions League – and why Liverpool can benefit
Liverpool team news
18:48 , Sonia Twigg
Liverpool made one change, with Darwin Nunez starting against Bologna and Diogo Jota on the bench.
Liverpool XI: Alisson, Van Dijk, Konate, Diaz, Szoboszlai, Nunez, Mac Allister, Salah, Robertson, Gravenberch, Alexander-Arnold
The line-ups will be announced in just under 10 minutes, but here’s a reminder of the early team news.
The Reds have Alisson back and have three potential absentees as a result. Harvey Elliott is definitely out, while Federico Chiesa has suffered a muscular injury that could rule him out until the international break. Darwin Nunez, who missed the weekend game through illness, is the other doubt.
Lewis Ferguson, Oussama El Azzouzi and Tommaso Pobega are the three likely absentees for Bologna.
Liverpool suffer Federico Chiesa injury blow – but another forward set to return
18:30 , Chris Wilson
Liverpool forward Federico Chiesa has suffered an injury blow that denies him a first Champions League night at Anfield and could rule him out until the international break.
The Italy international has a muscular problem that means he will sit out Wednesday’s game against Bologna and makes him a doubt for Saturday’s trip to Crystal Palace.
Manager Arne Slot believes it will be a particular blow for Chiesa, a £10m summer signing from Juventus, to miss a match against against a team from his home country.
Liverpool suffer Chiesa injury blow – but another forward set to return
Arsenal’s impressive win over PSG shows the Champions League has surrendered its competitive edge
18:20 , Chris Wilson
A “big Champions League night” that ended up being quite a nice run-out for Arsenal. Qatari-owned Paris Saint-Germain looked less a sportswashing project and more a youth project. The level of superiority in this 2-0 win is again to Arsenal’s credit, but should also be a worry for Uefa.
This was one of the big-name fixtures that the new Champions League was sold on – more games between the best, more fixtures, more, more, more – and yet it didn’t really feel like either side treated it as a match of much consequence. It was a world away, say, from 2000-01 when Lyon came to North London and Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal absolutely knew they had to do something.
If it is by now becoming tedious to read about these issues, it is worth remembering that such themes only arise because very little of consequence happens on the pitch. Here, in just the second of eight games, Arsenal got the win that already puts them more than halfway to the top 24.
How the Champions League surrendered its competitive edge
Prediction & odds
18:10 , Chris Wilson
Odds
Liverpool 1/6
Draw 6/1
Bologna 14/1
Prediction
The Reds to record another home victory against a side struggling to match their own exploits of last term.
Liverpool 2-0 Bologna.
Predicted line-ups
18:05 , Chris Wilson
LIV – Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Gomez, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Salah, Jones, Gakpo, Jota
The Reds have Alisson back and have only two potential absentees as a result – Harvey Elliott, who is definitely out, and Darwin Nunez, who missed the weekend game through illness.
Lewis Ferguson, Oussama El Azzouzi and Tommaso Pobega are the three likely absentees for Bologna.
Is Liverpool vs Bologna on TV tonight? Kick-off time, channel and how to watch Champions League fixture
17:50 , Chris Wilson
When is the match?
The match kicks off at 8pm BST on Wednesday 2 October at Anfield.
Where can I watch it?
All Champions League games are shown on TNT Sports in the UK. This game is on TNT Sports 2 and can be streamed for subscribers on the discovery+ app.
You can purchase a TNT Sports subscription via discovery+ here, for only £30.99 per month.
Liverpool vs Bologna LIVE
17:40 , Chris Wilson
Liverpool will attempt to make it two wins from two in the new-look Champions League, with their first home encounter of the European campaign coming against Serie A side Bologna.
The Reds won in relative comfort at the weekend despite a poor overall performance against Wolves, but have generally been impressive this term and sit top of the Premier League table. They also saw off another Italian outfit in AC Milan in the first gameweek in Europe.
Bologna haven’t faced Milan yet in their domestic league, but they sit four points behind them and nine places lower in the table after managing just two wins from six to-date, 12th following a home draw with Atalanta at the weekend.
Arne Slot may opt to change one or two from his starting lineup following a low-key weekend outing, particularly given the lack of real concern over progression from this stage of the Champions League.
Liverpool vs Bologna LIVE
17:31 , Chris Wilson
Good evening and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of tonight’s Champions League match between Liverpool and Bologna.
Arne Slot’s side face another Italian side in their second match in the competition this season, having put in an impressive performance in their opener as they beat AC Milan 3-1 at the San Siro.
Bologna have had a mixed start to the season and drew their opener 0-0 to Shakhtar Donetsk, though a trip to Anfield is certain to give them another gear in tonight’s match.
Manchester City eased to a 4-0 victory against Slovan Bratislava in the second match of their 2024/25 Champions League campaign.
With over 20 shots in the game, Ilkay Gundogan opened the scoring in the eighth minute, with Phil Foden adding a second in the 15th minute. Erling Haaland and James McAtee doubled the visitors’ lead in the second half to ensure the comfortable victory.
Pep Guardiola’s side sit second in the Premier League after a somewhat disappointing draw against Newcastle last weekend, and they’re looking for their first three points of the new European campaign this week after drawing 0-0 at home to Inter Milan last time out.
The Cityzens have lost Rodri for the remainder of the season and will be without Kevin De Bruyne in the Slovak capital, though they come up against a Slovan Bratislava side that lost 5-1 to Celtic in their European opener on 18 September.
Follow all the latest Champions League updates with our live blog below:
Slovan Bratislava vs Manchester City LIVE
REPORT: Man City defeat Slovan Bratislava in their second Champions League match
FT Slovan Bratislava 0-4 Man City
74’ GOAL! James McAtee scores fourth (SLB 0-4 MCI)
58’ GOAL! Haaland adds a third (SLB 0-3 MCI)
15’ GOAL! Foden doubles the lead! (SLB 0-2 MCI)
8’ GOAL! Gundogan scores! (SLB 0-1 MCI)
ŠK Slovan Bratislava 0 – 4 Manchester City FC
Manchester City brush Slovan Bratislava aside, but performance hints at key weakness
22:19 , Sonia Twigg
Manchester City eased to their first victory of this season’s Champions League as they brushed Slovan Bratislava aside 4-0 in Slovakia on Tuesday.
Early goals from Ilkay Gundogan and Phil Foden put them in command before Erling Haaland’s 42nd goal in 41 appearances in the competition and another from substitute James McAtee added the gloss.
City also hit the woodwork three times in a dominant performance that added impetus to their campaign after their draw with Inter Milan earlier this month.
Phil Foden said after the match: “Yeah amazing. Great result, great atmosphere as well. It’s nice to play in the Champions League again.
“Very happy with the performance, I know there’s still things I can work on and get better, I’m still a little bit rusty. Like I said I’m happy with my performance and the team performance.
“I love it, the atmosphere is very good, it was a great experience.”
Full time: Slovan Bratislava 0-4 Man City
21:49 , Sonia Twigg
FT: City may leave Bratislava disappointed they didn’t add more goals to their tally.
After having the opening shot of the game, the home side did not find a foothold in the game, and City eased to victory.
Slovan Bratislava 0-4 Man City
21:46 , Sonia Twigg
90 minutes: There will be two minutes of added time.
Slovan Bratislava 0-4 Man City
21:45 , Sonia Twigg
88 minutes: Doku wins a corner. Gundogan takes it and Stones heads it towards the goal, but it’s a good save from the Slovan goalkeeper.
Slovan Bratislava 0-4 Man City
21:40 , Sonia Twigg
84 minutes: Doku has caused problems down the wing all match and shows no signs of stopping as he puts another ball in the box looking for a player in burgundy, but it’s cleared and City will mount another attack.
Slovan Bratislava 0-4 Man City
21:38 , Sonia Twigg
80 minutes: City are on the hunt for a fifth, the ball is pulled back towards Grealish, but he wasn’t quite ready and nothing comes of it.
GOAL! James McAtee! Slovan Bratislava 0-4 Man City
21:31 , Sonia Twigg
74 minutes: GOAL! James McAtee scores his first Champions League goal after being chipped in by Phil Foden and he takes a touch before firing into the back of th net.
Slovan Bratislava 0-3 Man City
21:27 , Sonia Twigg
70 minutes: City have had 20 shots tonight, but still just the three goals to show for it. Bayern Munich scored nine in their opening Champions League match and after the first round of fixtures were top of the table.
Slovan Bratislava 0-3 Man City
21:26 , Sonia Twigg
69 minutes: With all the substitutions, the intensity of the match has just dropped slightly, although City continue to dominate possession.
Slovan Bratislava 0-3 Man City
21:20 , Sonia Twigg
63 minutes: Changes for Slovan, the captain has just been taken off by his dad, the coach. He also spent time in Man City’s youth team along side Kieran Trippier many years ago.
Slovan Bratislava 0-3 Man City
21:17 , Sonia Twigg
60 minutes: That will be Haaland’s last involvement and he comes off to be replaced by James McAtee, Ruben Dias on for Akanji.
There was a brief VAR check for a penalty, but City have not been given a chance to add to their tally.
GOAL! Haaland strikes – Slovan Bratislava 0-3 Man City
21:15 , Sonia Twigg
58 minutes: GOAL! The moment Slovan get forward they are broken immediately and Haaland is played straight through the middle of the two centre backs, he takes the ball round the goalkeeper and just slots it into the back of the net.
Slovan Bratislava 0-2 Man City
21:14 , Sonia Twigg
57 minutes: City are struggling to turn their possession into goals, it might be entirely last-ditch defending with the occasional punt up front for Slovan, but they have still not conceded since the 15th minute.
Slovan Bratislava 0-2 Man City
21:10 , Sonia Twigg
53 minutes: Chance! Haaland has moved cleverly at the far post to beat his marker, he jumps high but his header is way off target.
Another chance for City goes begging.
Slovan Bratislava 0-2 Man City
21:07 , Sonia Twigg
50 minutes: It’s just wave after wave of City attacks, Doku has a cross blocked, then the ball doesn’t quite fall for Haaland and it’s scrambled clear.
Slovan Bratislava 0-2 Man City
21:04 , Sonia Twigg
47 minutes: Foden has been nutmegged! He might have scored already but he has been completely done there, that was a nice bit of skill from the Slovan player.
Slovan Bratislava 0-2 Man City
21:02 , Sonia Twigg
46 minutes: The second half is underway
Half time: Slovan Bratislava 0-2 Man City
20:53 , Sonia Twigg
Here are some photos of the first half:
(REUTERS)
(REUTERS)
Half time: Slovan Bratislava 0-2 Man City
20:46 , Sonia Twigg
Half time: Phil Foden could have had a hat-trick himself, and City have hit the woodwork three times in addition to their opening two goals.
Slovan Bratislava 0-2 Man City
20:45 , Sonia Twigg
43 minutes: City will be pleased with how they’ve gone at half time, although it remains to be seen how big a part goal difference will play in the final table and they could be on the hunt for a few more in the second half.
Slovan Bratislava 0-2 Man City
20:40 , Sonia Twigg
40 minutes: Foden fires another volley wide after the goalkeeper stuck his leg out to deny a Savinho ball across the box.
Gundogan hits the woodwork for a third time! The goalkeeper was just watching the ball but it hit the woodwork between the post and crossbar.
Slovan Bratislava 0-2 Man City
20:38 , Sonia Twigg
38 minutes: Foden has had another shot but drags it wide, Slovan then had a chance to try and build possession and ended up with a free kick in the City half which will relieve some pressure, even though it doesn’t beat the first man.
Slovan Bratislava 0-2 Man City
20:35 , Sonia Twigg
35 minutes: After 34 minutes of play, Slovan have completed less than 50 passes, while City are nearing 250.
That sums up the discrepancy between the sides in this Champions League clash.
Slovan Bratislava 0-2 Man City
20:33 , Sonia Twigg
32 minutes: But after committing, Slovan are almost hit on the break, Doku sprints forward and puts the ball across the box, but it’s just behind Erling Haaland and he cannot capitalise.
Slovan Bratislava 0-2 Man City
20:32 , Sonia Twigg
30 minutes: It is starting to feel like a case of when rather than if City will add another. The crowd have kept going inspired by the person on the mike.
Slovan get forward, but the ball doesn’t fall in the box for them to create anything.
Slovan Bratislava 0-2 Man City
20:27 , Sonia Twigg
26 minutes: POST! Foden tried his luck from distance, the goalkeeper can only parry it onto the post and hope it bounced favourably which it did.
City have a strong lead and they could easily have more!
Slovan Bratislava 0-2 Man City
20:24 , Sonia Twigg
23 minutes: Post! Doku has hit the woodwork! Another chance for City, and they’re already comfortably ahead.
Slovan Bratislava 0-2 Man City
20:21 , Sonia Twigg
20 minutes: Slovan are just camped outside their box and cannot get clear, it’s going to be a long night for them if this continues.
The crowd have not stopped though.
Slovan Bratislava 0-2 Man City
20:17 , Sonia Twigg
17 minutes: Haaland should have made it three! He had a great chance to put the ball into the back of the net, but it was too close to the goalkeeper who was able to make the save.
GOAL! Phil Foden scores! Slovan Bratislava 0-2 Man City
20:16 , Sonia Twigg
15 minutes: GOAL! Phil Foden doubles City’s lead! It was a perfect strike in his first start this season, expertly curled into the corner.
Slovan Bratislava 0-1 Man City
20:14 , Sonia Twigg
12 minutes: As expected, City have dominated the possession and given the heavy beating at the hands of Celtic, Slovan might just have to weather the storm for as long as they can.
GOAL! Gundogan scores for City! Slovan Bratislava 0-1 Man City
20:09 , Sonia Twigg
8 minutes: GOAL! City have broken the deadlock, Gundogan scores his first goal since coming back to City, it’s deflected into the back of the net giving the goalkeeper no chance
Slovan Bratislava 0-0 Man City
20:04 , Sonia Twigg
4 minutes: Haaland drives on the edge of the box and pulls the ball back in the direction of Phil Foden, but the ball is behind hi and the home side are able to clear.
Slovan Bratislava 0-0 Man City
20:03 , Sonia Twigg
2 minutes: Chance! Slovan Bratislava have had an early chance! They break on the counter attack and the shot is just wide of the goal!
Slovan Bratislava 0-0 Man City
20:01 , Sonia Twigg
1 minute: Man City kick the game underway
Slovan Bratislava v Man City
19:58 , Sonia Twigg
The teams are out, the Champions League anthem is being played, and the match is about to get underway.
Slovan Bratislava v Man City
19:55 , Sonia Twigg
Instead of drums, Slovan Bratislava have a female violinist and another woman playing the electric guitar, they are getting the fans well and truly up for this one.
Slovan Bratislava coach on facing Man City
19:50 , Mike Jones
Vladimír Weiss Sr said: “We will welcome one of the best teams in the world. They won the Champions League a year ago.
“Our opponents are the favourites not only for this match, but for the whole competition. We have to enjoy it. I believe that with the fans behind us we can reach our limits.”
City head to Slovakia
19:44 , Mike Jones
Manchester City will take on Champions League debutants Slovan Bratislava on a run of only one win in four games and trying to adjust to the loss of lynchpin Rodri.
Pep Guardiola changed shape away to Newcastle at the weekend with Mateo Kovacic and Rico Lewis sitting in front of the defence, but they were far from their fluid best in a 1-1 draw and further refinements are clearly needed.
City are clear favourites in Bratislava, where avoiding defeat will see them match Manchester United’s record of 25 games unbeaten in this competition.
Man City’s Champions League successes
19:37 , Mike Jones
This is Man City’s 14th successive season in the Champions League. They have featured in every campaign since 2011/12 and have reached the knockout stages in each of the last 11.
Having claimed the club’s first Champions League title in 2022/23, Pep Guardiola’s side won all six group games for the first time last season to finish six points clear of RB Leipzig in the standings.
That was the seventh successive season in which City had come first in their group.
City then beat Copenhagen in the round of 16 but lost an epic quarter-final against eventual champions Real Madrid – the third season in a row in which they had faced the Spanish side.
Slovan Bratislava vs Man City
19:30 , Mike Jones
Slovan have won all four home European matches this season – scoring 14 goals – as many victories as in their previous 13 games (six draws, three defeats).
Weiss Jr on his time at Man City
19:22 , Mike Jones
“I have the best memories of my time at City,” said Slovan Bratislava’s captain when reminiscing about the start to his professional career.
“It was an amazing achievement to break through to the first team at a young age with the players that were already in the squad. With time, there were better and better players and with Mancini coming in, my chances were getting smaller.
“I am always going to watch City, not just because they’re my first club but because they play the best football in the world for me. To watch City for me is a pleasure. I’m following the club and it’s a club that’s always going to stay in my heart.”
A City homecoming for Weiss
19:15 , Mike Jones
Vladimir Weiss Jr moved to Manchester as a teenager and came through the City Academy. He scored in the 2008 FA Youth Cup final as City’s youth side defeated Chelsea to lift the trophy.
Weiss then played five times for the senior team before joining Bolton Wanderers, Rangers and Espanyol on loan before eventually moving to Pescara on a permanent deal in 2012.
Now, he captains Slovan Bratislava in the Champions League and the former City winger will look to get one over on his old club.
Arsenal and Man City’s heated rivalry has just reached a new level of tension
19:07 , Chris Wilson
Mikel Arteta eventually felt he had to speak, specifically in order to quieten things down. You couldn’t have a clearer indication of how the Manchester City–Arsenal tensions had reached a peak, after all, than Pep Guardiola himself willingly bringing up the “115 charges”. Some City officials had previously bristled at the media or anyone else mentioning the prospect of the club being punished, and yet here was their most important football figure putting it front and centre of the week’s biggest story.
That showed how affected Guardiola had been by Arteta’s admittedly open-ended comments from Tuesday. The Arsenal manager had spoken about how he has “all the information” on City, having worked at the club for almost four years. Arteta was actually talking about gamesmanship, given all the criticism of his own team over “dark arts”, but the way it was said could have easily been portrayed as talking about the hearing. Guardiola evidently felt that way.
The Slovan Bratislava manager spoke with praise about his opposit number tonight: “I like many coaches – Ancelotti, Klopp, Bielsa – but Guardiola is unique.
“He had changed football. Every player in the team plays in his position and all of them know what their job is on the pitch. This approach makes him a special and outstanding coach.”
Pep Guardiola makes six changes for his side’s match against Slovan Bratislava, with Ortega, Stones, Nunes, Savinho, Foden and Doku all coming into the side.
Man City XI: Ortega, Lewis, Stones, Akanji, Gvardiol, Gundogan, Nunes, Savinho, Foden, Doku, Haaland.
The problem facing Man City stretches beyond Rodri’s injury absence
18:38 , Chris Wilson
Manchester City began without one of the outstanding individuals of last season. No, not that one. Or not just that one, anyway. Rodri was the most conspicuous absentee at St James’ Park on Saturday as, barring an injury to Erling Haaland, he will be for the rest of the campaign. But Phil Fodenstarted on the bench. His bit-part role has been camouflaged by the sudden realisation that Rodri will have no part to play in the next nine months, but it is less than six weeks since Foden was anointed PFA Player of the Year.
It is an understatement to say his candidature for a second successive award has had a slow start. City have played six league games this season. Foden has begun none. Euro 2024 was why he was an opening-day replacement against Chelsea. He missed two matches through illness, spent the next as an unused substitute and came on in the last two. Perhaps it is a fact that points to potential improvement for City: Foden, scorer of 27 goals last time around, could provide an injection of excellence for a Rodri-less side.
The problem facing Man City stretches beyond Rodri’s injury absence
Man City prepare to face Slovan Bratislava
18:30 , Mike Jones
The training sessions are done and dusted ahead of kick off at 8pm tonight.
(AFP via Getty Images)
(AFP via Getty Images)
(AFP via Getty Images)
Stones on Rodri’s recovery
18:22 , Mike Jones
“[Rodrigo’s injury] was difficult news for us all to take. I spoke to Rodri yesterday and he’s doing well, recovering,” Stones said, “It’s sad for the standard he has set over the last season has been incredible.
“We know what a key player he is for us, but we want him to be back quickly. We know it will be a long time, but we have a lot of quality players capable of filling in in that position.
“He was in good spirits. Now he knows what’s happened and knows his process to get back, he’s come to terms with it. He is over in Spain with his family. He needs to take time now to relax and recover as best he can.”
Stones ready to ‘fullfil’ Rodri role
18:15 , Mike Jones
Manchester City and Spain midfielder Rodri will miss the rest of the campaign after having to undergo surgery in the wake of an ACL injury sustained in last week’s Premier League clash with Arsenal.
City teammate John Stones says he is ‘100 per cent’ ready to fill the midfield void left by Rodri’s absence if called on by Pep Guardiola.
He said: “If called upon 100%. It happened a lot over the past two years, me going into midfield. It was difficult in the 2023 Champions League final as I was higher up, which was new for me [but] I enjoyed it.
“Whatever position I am asked to play, or whoever plays midfield, has played there before and knows what’s asked of them by the manager.
“And hopefully we can recreate even better moments than the Champions League final.”
(Action Images via Reuters)
Kovacic, Lewis, Stones? How Manchester City replace injured Rodri
18:08 , Chris Wilson
Manchester City appear to have suffered a major blow with Rodri set for a spell on the sidelines after suffering a knee injury against Arsenal.
The midfielder was substituted in the first half of the clash of Premier League rivals at the Etihad Stadium, with the club confirming that he has suffered ligament damage.
It is an injury that may render the 28-year-old unavailable for the rest of the campaign, leaving Pep Guardiola without his key midfield fulcrum.
While the Manchester City manager often rotates elsewhere, Rodri is firmly established as a vital figure at the base of midfield and rarely misses the club’s biggest games.
But an expensively-assembled squad does provide Guardiola with a number of alternative options as he looks to replace the Spaniard:
Slovan Bratislava won two of their first three games against English clubs with both home first legs – 2-0 against Tottenham in the 1962/63 European Cup Winners’ Cup quarter-final and 1-0 against Derby in the 1975/76 European Cup first round.
They went on to lose those ties 2-6 and 1-3 on aggregate and have since lost seven of their subsequent nine matches against English opposition, drawing twice.
The last outing against an English team came in the 2019/20 Europa League where Slovan lost 1-2 at home and 0-1 away against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the group stage, making it five successive defeats by English teams.
Slovan play with ‘courage’ says Guardiola
17:52 , Mike Jones
Pep Guardiola is anticipating a tough test for his players this evening when they take on Slovan Bratislava and explained how watching their match against Celtic showed him that City’s opponents play with courage.
“This is a team that I would say plays with courage,” he said, “I saw the game against Glasgow Celtic and they were not scared to play.
“Not scared to link with their striker and they want to try it. The Champions League it doesn’t matter, I always have incredible respect for all the teams, especially when you play away.
“Hopefully we can be an aggressive team again and take a result.”
Guardiola provides De Bruyne update
17:45 , Mike Jones
Pep Guardiola says that he is hoping Kevin De Bruyne will be back in contention for selection after the October international break.
The midfielder was forced off during City’s Champions League clash with Inter Milan earlier this month and missed their next three matches with a thigh issue.
“Hopefully after the international break he [Kevin] will be back,” Guardiola said, “Everybody is ready – we will put out the best team possible to compete and beat them.”
Rodri ruled out for rest of season after Man City star undergoes surgery
17:37 , Chris Wilson
Rodri has been ruled out for the remainder of the season by Pep Guardiola after the Manchester City confirmed the Spanish midfielder has successfully undergone surgery.
Rodri suffered ACL and meniscus damage to his knee in the 2-2 draw with Arsenal.
“He had surgery this morning,” Guardiola said. “ACL and some meniscus. So, next season he will be here. This season is over [for him].”
Rodri ruled out for rest of season after Man City star undergoes surgery
Slovan Bratislava vs Man City prediction
17:30 , Chris Wilson
Man City should easily be able to make it a first win in Europe this term, even with rotations in the squad and probably the starting 11. They should also triumph in style and comfort.
Slovan 0-4 Man City.
Slovan Bratislava vs Man City predicted line-ups and latest odds
17:22 , Chris Wilson
Here’s how we think the two teams will line up against each other this evening though there is always the possibility that Pep Guardiola springs a surprise with the players at his disposal:
Man City XI: Ederson, Lewis, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol, Nunes, Kovacic, Savinho, Foden, Grealish, Haaland
As for the latest odds from the bookmakers, it should come as no surprise that City are the overwhelming favourites to win this one despite playing away from home:
Slovan 50/1
Draw 17/1
City 1/25
What is the early team news?
17:15 , Chris Wilson
Rodri is Man City’s main injury concern with the midfielder out for the long term. Oscar Bobb and Nathan Ake are also sidelined, but City will hope Kevin de Bruyne is back to full fitness to play some part at least.
Lukas Pauschek is out for Slovan, while Kenan Bajric is a doubt. Their attacking line should include former Man City starlet Vladimir Weiss, now aged 34, and one of Slovakia’s starting forwards from their Euro 2024 last-16 clash with England, in David Strelec.
When is Slovan Bratislava vs Man City?
17:07 , Chris Wilson
The match kicks off at 8pm BST on Tuesday 1 October.
Most Champions League games are shown on TNT Sports in the UK. This game is on TNT Sports 1 and can be streamed for subscribers on the discovery+ app.
You can purchase a TNT Sports subscription via discovery+ here, for only £30.99 per month.
Slovan Bratislava vs Manchester City
17:00 , Chris Wilson
Manchester City will be looking for their first win in the new Champions League format when they head to Slovakia on Tuesday, to take on Slovan Bratislava.
Pep Guardiola’s side are on an unusual run of just one win in four games across all competitions, though the others were all draws and they have faced Arsenal and Inter Milan in that run. Even so, failing to beat Newcastle last time out will have irked the reigning Premier League champions, as they lost top spot to Liverpool in the process and have now kept just one clean sheet in their last seven games.
Slovan Bratislava have won seven out of eight domestically and sit top of the Super Liga as a result, but were absolutely hammered by Celtic in their Champions League opener, losing 5-1 in Glasgow.
That result raised questions of competitiveness in this expanded league format, and even on home soil they must be fearing the type of scoreline an in-form Erling Haaland might be able to raise.
Good evening!
14:15 , Mike Jones
Welcome to The Independent’s coverage of tonight’s Champions League action as Manchester City travel to Slovakia to face Slovan Bratislava in their second league phase fixture.
City’s opening Champions League match ended in a 0-0 draw with Inter Milan and Pep Guardiola’s team head into this match in need of a win. They also drew 1-1 with Newcastle in their latest Premier League outing having also failed to beat a 10-man Arsenal team just before.
Slova Bratislava are perhaps the perfect team for City to face. They lost their first Champions League match 5-1 to Celtic and with City’s added firepower it could be another difficult night for the Slovakian side.
We’ll have all the team news, line-ups and updates throughout the evening so stick with us as we build up to kick off at 8pm.
Welcome to Matchday 2 of the 2024-25 Champions League season! Europe’s premier club competition returns in its new format with nine matches across the continent on Tuesday, providing exciting matchups, top talent and drama.
Enjoy the play-by-play from all the games as Arsenal take on Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona face Young Boys, Bayer Leverkusen host AC Milan and much more.
Watch the Champions League in Australia from AU$25 a month
Stan Sport
Tournament favorites Manchester City will be hoping for a routine victory as they travel to Slovakia to take on outsiders Slovan Bratislava on Tuesday in the UEFA Champions League.
Despite wide expectations that Pep Guardiola’s men will repeat their 2023 triumph in this season’s tournament, City come into this fixture some way off their expected form, with just one win in their last four games. Their 1-1 draw in the English Premier League against Newcastle at the weekend suggesting that the season-long loss of midfielder Rodri to a knee injury is already being felt.
City today come up against arguably the weakest of the 36 teams competing in the new-look single league phase of this competition, with the Slovakian champions soundly beaten 5-1 away to Celtic in Gameweek 1.
Slovan Bratislava take on Manchester City on Tuesday, Oct. 1, at the Tehelné pole stadium, with kickoff set for 9 p.m. CEST local time in Slovakia, making it an 8p.m. BST start in the UK, 3 p.m. ET or 12 p.m. PTkickoff in the US and Canada, and a 5 a.m. AEST start in Australia on Wednesday morning.
Below, we’ll outline the best live TV streaming services to use to watch the match as it happens, wherever you are in the world.
Croatian defender Joško Gvardiol was on target for Man City in their 1-1 draw with Newcastle at the weekend.
James Gill/Danehouse/Getty Images
Livestream Slovan Bratislava vs. Man City in the US
American soccer fans can stream every fixture of this season’s tournament via Paramount Plus, which has exclusive live English-language broadcast rights in the US for the UEFA Champions League.
Sarah Tew/CNET
Paramount Plus has two main subscription plans in the US: Essential for $8 per month and Premium for $13 per month. Both offer coverage of the Champions League.
The cheaper Essential option has ads for on-demand streaming and lacks live CBS feeds as well as the ability to download shows to watch offline later. Newcomers to the service can take advantage of a 30-day free trial, while students may qualify for a 25% discount.
Read our Paramount Plus review.
How to watch every UEFA Champions League 2024/25 game online from anywhere using a VPN
If If you find yourself unable to view UCL matches locally, you may need a different way to watch the games — that’s where using a VPN can come in handy. A VPN is also the best way to stop your ISP from throttling your speeds on game day by encrypting your traffic, and it’s also a great idea if you’re traveling and find yourself connected to a Wi-Fi network, and you want to add an extra layer of privacy for your devices and logins.
With a VPN, you’re able to virtually change your location on your phone, tablet or laptop to get access to the game. Most VPNs, like our Editors’ Choice, ExpressVPN, make it really easy to do this.
Using a VPN to watch or stream sports is legal in any country where VPNs are legal, including the US, UK and Canada, as long as you have a legitimate subscription to the service you’re streaming. You should be sure your VPN is set up correctly to prevent leaks: Even where VPNs are legal, the streaming service may terminate the account of anyone it deems to be circumventing correctly applied blackout restrictions.
James Martin/CNET
Latest Tests DNS leaks detected, 25% speed loss in 2024 testsNetwork 3,000 plus servers in 105 countriesJurisdiction British Virgin Islands
ExpressVPN is our current best VPN pick for people who want a reliable and safe VPN, and it works on a variety of devices. It’s normally $13 a month, but if you sign up for an annual subscription for $100 you’ll get three months free and save 49%. That’s the equivalent of $6.67 a month with code SPECIALDEAL, which should be automatically applied.
Note that ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Livestream Slovan Bratislava vs. Man City in the UK
Along with the shake up of the Champions League format, the new season brings with it some changes with how to watch UCL games in the UK.
TNT Sports will continue to broadcast the majority of Champions League games, however Amazon Prime Video now have first pick for games on a Tuesday, with one per match week being shown exclusively live on the platform.
This match is set to be shown live on TNT Sports 1.
TNT Sports
TNT Sports is offering the lions share of Champions League matches exclusively live this season to viewers in the UK. You can access TNT Sports in a number of ways, including via Sky Q as a TV package, or direct streaming from its range of mobile and smart TV apps. It costs £31 either way and comes in a package that includes Discovery Plus’ library of documentary content.
Livestream UEFA Champions League 2024/25 games in Canada
If you want to stream UCL games live in Canada, you’ll need to subscribe to DAZN Canada. The service has exclusive broadcast rights to the Champions League this season.
DAZN
A DAZN subscription currently costs CA$30 a month or CA$200 a year and will also give you access to Europa League and EFL Championship soccer, Six Nations rugby and WTA tennis.
As well as dedicated apps for iOS and Android, there’s a wide range of support for set-top boxes and smart TVs.
Livestream the UEFA Champions League 2023/24 game in Australia
Football fans Down Under can watch UCL matches on streaming service Stan Sport, which has exclusive rights to show the Champions League live in Australia this season.
Stan Sport
Stan Sport will set you back AU$10 per month (on top of a AU$10 Stan subscription), but the streaming service is currently offering a seven-day free trial.
A subscription will also give you access to Europa League and Europa Conference League action, as well as international rugby and Formula E.
Quick tips for streaming UEFA Champions League matches using a VPN
With four variables at play — your ISP, browser, video streaming provider and VPN — your experience and success when streaming Champions League games may vary.
If you don’t see your desired location as a default option for ExpressVPN, try using the “search for city or country” option.
If you’re having trouble getting the game after you’ve turned on your VPN and set it to the correct viewing area, there are two things you can try for a quick fix. First, log into your streaming service subscription account and make sure the address registered for the account is an address in the correct viewing area. If not, you may need to change the physical address on file with your account. Second, some smart TVs — like Roku — don’t have VPN apps you can install directly on the device itself. Instead, you’ll have to install the VPN on your router or the mobile hotspot you’re using (like your phone) so that any device on its Wi-Fi network now appears in the correct viewing location.
All of the VPN providers we recommend have helpful instructions on their main site for quickly installing the VPN on your router. In some cases with smart TV services, after you install a cable network’s sports app, you’ll be asked to verify a numeric code or click a link sent to your email address on file for your smart TV. This is where having a VPN on your router will also help, since both devices will appear to be in the correct location.
And remember, browsers can often give away a location despite using a VPN, so be sure you’re using a privacy-first browser to log into your services. We normally recommend Brave.
Watch the Champions League in Australia from AU$25 a month
Stan Sport
New Barcelona boss Hansi Flick will be hoping to see his side get back to winning ways today as they take on Young Boys in this Champions League Gameweek 2 fixture.
Having crashed to a 2-1 away defeat to Monaco in their opening fixture of this tournament, Barca’s build up for today’s game has been less than ideal, with the Catalan giants falling to their first defeat of the season in La Liga with a 4-2 defeat away at Osasuna on Saturday.
They now take on a Young Boys side that has so far struggled to match the form that saw them win last season’s Swiss Super League, losing seven of their eight matches of the new domestic campaign, while also losing 0-3 at home to Aston Villa in their opening UCL fixture.
Barcelona take on Young Boys on Tuesday, Oct. 1, at the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium, with kickoff set for 9 p.m. CEST local time in Spain, making it an 8p.m. BST start in the UK, 3 p.m. ET or 12 p.m. PTkick-off in the US and Canada, and a 5 a.m. AEST start in Australia on Wednesday morning.
Below, we’ll outline the best live TV streaming services to use to watch the match as it happens, wherever you are in the world.
Barcelona boss Hansi Flick will be looking for a response from his players following their surprise defeat to Osasuna in La Liga at the weekend.
Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images
Livestream Barcelona vs. Young Boys in the US
American soccer fans can stream every fixture of this season’s tournament via Paramount Plus, which has exclusive live English-language broadcast rights in the US for the UEFA Champions League.
Sarah Tew/CNET
Paramount Plus has two main subscription plans in the US: Essential for $8 per month and Premium for $13 per month. Both offer coverage of the Champions League.
The cheaper Essential option has ads for on-demand streaming and lacks live CBS feeds as well as the ability to download shows to watch offline later. Newcomers to the service can take advantage of a 30-day free trial, while students may qualify for a 25% discount.
Read our Paramount Plus review.
How to watch every UEFA Champions League 2024/25 game online from anywhere using a VPN
If you find yourself unable to view UCL matches locally, you may need a different way to watch the games — that’s where using a VPN can come in handy. A VPN is also the best way to stop your ISP from throttling your speeds on game day by encrypting your traffic, and it’s also a great idea if you’re traveling and find yourself connected to a Wi-Fi network, and you want to add an extra layer of privacy for your devices and logins.
With a VPN, you’re able to virtually change your location on your phone, tablet or laptop to get access to the game. Most VPNs, like our Editors’ Choice, ExpressVPN, make it really easy to do this.
Using a VPN to watch or stream sports is legal in any country where VPNs are legal, including the US, UK and Canada, as long as you have a legitimate subscription to the service you’re streaming. You should be sure your VPN is set up correctly to prevent leaks: Even where VPNs are legal, the streaming service may terminate the account of anyone it deems to be circumventing correctly applied blackout restrictions.
James Martin/CNET
Latest Tests DNS leaks detected, 25% speed loss in 2024 testsNetwork 3,000 plus servers in 105 countriesJurisdiction British Virgin Islands
ExpressVPN is our current best VPN pick for people who want a reliable and safe VPN, and it works on a variety of devices. It’s normally $13 a month, but if you sign up for an annual subscription for $100 you’ll get three months free and save 49%. That’s the equivalent of $6.67 a month with code SPECIALDEAL, which should be automatically applied.
Note that ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Livestream Barcelona vs. Young Boys in the UK
Along with the shake-up of the Champions League format, the new season brings with it some changes to how to watch UCL games in the UK.
TNT Sports will continue to broadcast the majority of Champions League games, but Amazon Prime Video now has first pick for games on a Tuesday, with one per match week being shown exclusively live on the platform.
This match is set to be shown live on TNT Sports 6.
TNT Sports
TNT Sports is offering the lions share of Champions League matches exclusively live this season to viewers in the UK. You can access TNT Sports in a number of ways, including via Sky Q as a TV package, or direct streaming from its range of mobile and smart TV apps. It costs £31 either way and comes in a package that includes Discovery Plus’ library of documentary content.
Livestream Barcelona vs. Young Boys in Canada
If you want to stream UCL games live in Canada, you’ll need to subscribe to DAZN Canada. The service has exclusive broadcast rights to the Champions League this season.
DAZN
A DAZN subscription currently costs CA$30 a month or CA$200 a year and will also give you access to Europa League and EFL Championship soccer, Six Nations rugby and WTA tennis.
As well as dedicated apps for iOS and Android, there’s a wide range of support for set-top boxes and smart TVs.
Livestream Barcelona vs. Young Boys in Australia
Football fans Down Under can watch UCL matches on streaming service Stan Sport, which has exclusive rights to show the Champions League live in Australia this season.
Stan Sport
Stan Sport will set you back AU$10 per month (on top of a AU$10 Stan subscription), but the streaming service is currently offering a seven-day free trial.
A subscription will also give you access to Europa League and Europa Conference League action, as well as international rugby and Formula E.
Quick tips for streaming UEFA Champions League matches using a VPN
With four variables at play — your ISP, browser, video streaming provider and VPN — your experience and success when streaming Champions League games may vary.
If you don’t see your desired location as a default option for ExpressVPN, try using the “search for city or country” option.
If you’re having trouble getting the game after you’ve turned on your VPN and set it to the correct viewing area, there are two things you can try to fix quickly. First, log into your streaming service subscription account and make sure the address registered for the account is an address in the correct viewing area. If not, you may need to change the physical address on file with your account. Second, some smart TVs — like Roku — don’t have VPN apps you can install directly on the device itself. Instead, you’ll have to install the VPN on your router or the mobile hotspot you’re using (like your phone) so that any device on its Wi-Fi network now appears in the correct viewing location.
All of the VPN providers we recommend have helpful instructions on their main site for quickly installing the VPN on your router. In some cases with smart TV services, after you install a cable network’s sports app, you’ll be asked to verify a numeric code or click a link sent to your email address on file for your smart TV. This is where having a VPN on your router will also help since both devices will appear to be in the correct location.
Remember, browsers can often give away a location despite using a VPN, so be sure you’re using a privacy-first browser to log into your services. We normally recommend Brave.
A special night for Sergi Domínguez and Gerard Martín with both young players making their debuts in the Champions League for the FC Barcelona first team.
The Stade Louis II in Monaco was the venue for the two defenders who were both last season playing in the Primera Federación, the third tier of Spanish Football. Both entered the fray in the 80th minuet against Monaco but were helpless to prevent a 2-1 defeat for Hansi Flick’s team.
The first appearance in the Champions League comes after Gerard Martín made his league debut on 17 August against Valencia and Sergi Domínguez two weeks later in the win over Valladolid.
Martín has made five appearances now for the first team, one in the Champions League and four in La Liga. Centre back Domínguez has a Champions League appearance to go with his league debut last month.
Sometimes you watch matches like these, with the home side strong favourites but failing to score, and instinctively think, “Hmm, maybe they just need a proper No 9 to provide a penalty box presence?”.
But, of course, having scored eight goals in his previous three games, Erling Haaland is precisely that man for Manchester City. Haaland had a decent attempt roll just wide in the first half, but Inter deserve credit for largely shackling him.
Still, City might feel they could have caused them more problems, particularly in the wide spaces where Inter were undermanned in their 3-5-2 shape.
There was some good combination play, particularly involving Rico Lewis in the right channel, and various players offer a long-range shooting threat, with Josko Gvardiol and Rodri trying their luck.
City’s xG ended up above 1.5 — and yet you still felt that Inter’s defending had merited a clean sheet.
