The
Champions League is back! OK, we have already had the playoff rounds, but the real business starts tonight as the group stage gets underway. Stick with me tonight as I guide you through the action from
Sevilla vs.
Borussia Monchengladbach. In a fascinating Group D which also includes Manchester City and Juventus, this already looks like a big game.
If you're a keen follower of European football, I do not need to tell you just how good these two sides were to watch last season. Sevilla proved their quality once again by defending their Europa League tile to qualify after finishing fifth in La Liga. Bayern Munich may have eased to another Bundesliga title, but much of the excitement was behind the champions as Monchengladbach produced some superb football on the way to a third-place finish.
After winning the Europa League, much is expected of Sevilla in this competition but they have certainly been given a tough group. However,
Unai Emery is confident his side will produce their best when it matters this season.
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"We'll finish up in the group just wherever we deserve to, but we want to be a force in the Champions League," the Sevilla boss told reporters in his pre-match press conference.
SEVILLA: Sergio Rico; Coke, Andreolli, Kolodziejczack, Tremoulinas; Krychowiack, N'Zonzi; Reyes, Banega,
Vitolo; Gameiro
After playing out a 1-1 draw with Levante at the weekend, Sevilla boss Emery has decided to make three changes to his side tonight. Jose Antonio Reyes,
Ever Banega and Sergio Rico are the three players to come in as the latter replaces the injured Beto in goal. Gael Kakuta and Fernando Llorente both miss out on a starting spot for the hosts.
BORUSSIA MONCHENGLADBACH: Sommer, Korb, Brouwers, Jantschke, Wendt, Hahn, Stindl, Nordtveit, Traore, Hazard, Raffael
Lucien Favre watched his side continue their disappointing start to the Bundesliga season with a 3-0 loss to Hamburger SV on Friday night, and he has responded by making one change. Martin Stranzl drops out as Ibrahima Traore returns to the starting lineup to add more pace. Raffael is set to lead the attack with support from the likes of Thorgan Hazard and Lars Stindl.
It is certainly fair to say that neither of these teams will be happy with the way they have started their respective campaigns. Sevilla have drawn with Malaga and Levante either side of a loss to Atletico Madrid to collect just three points from their opening three La Liga games.
After impressing so many people last season, Monchengladbach were tipped to kick on once again in the Bundesliga but they would be happy just to have the two points Sevilla have collected. Four successive league losses have put the pressure on Lucien Favre, who must be hoping that the pressure of the Champions League will spark a reaction from Gladbach.
STAT: Sevilla have hosted German teams 10 times in competitive fixtures and the La Liga side are yet to lose in any of those matches having won six times and drawn four games.
In yesterday's pre-match press conference, Favre admits that his players will have to change their approach slightly for this competition as he looks to relieve the pressure on his shoulders.
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"The Champions League demands a double effort from us this season. The speed of the game is greater than in the Bundesliga so we need to be on our game. Maybe our confidence has taken a knock after our run of defeats but we are professionals and the players need to show their mettle," he told reporters.
You can check out the benches below. Plenty of attacking talent in reserve for Sevilla, while Gladbach have Josip Drmic available.
SEVILLA: Soria, Ferreira, Krohn-Dehli, Iborra, Konoplyanka, Immobile, Llorente
GLADBACH: Sippel, Christensen, M. Schulz, Dahoud, N. Schulz, Drmic, Hrgota
PREVIOUS MEETINGS: These two sides met in the last-32 stage of the Europa League last season, and Sevilla were, of course, the team to triumph. Vicente Iborra netted the winner in a 1-0 first-leg victory, before Vitlo scored twice in an entertaining 3-2 win in the second leg in Germany.
A quick reminder that you can follow live text coverage of every Champions League match this evening. If you're especially keen on keeping an eye on Group D, make sure
Man City vs. Juventus is up on another page. It promises to be an exciting night!
A playoff loss in the 2012/13 campaign was particularly hard to accept for Gladbach, who are making their first full participation in the Champions League. They reached the semi-finals of the European Cup in their last appearance in 1978 and were runners-up to Liverpool a year earlier.
PREDICTION: Neither side will be happy with their starts to the season, but this is a great opportunity to kickstart the campaign in a new competition. It does look to be a tough ask for Gladbach, who have been really poor in their opening four Bundesliga games. With Man City and Juventus to come, both managers will be desperate to pick points up this evening. I'm going for a 2-0 win for Sevilla.
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Gladbach are without a key player tonight as Granit Xhaka misses out due to suspension after picking up a red card in that Europa League meeting with Sevilla last season. They really will feel his absence in the centre of midfield.
Here we go then. The two teams are out on the pitch and there is just the famous Champions League anthem and a few handshakes to get out of the way!
KICKOFF! Sevilla get the game underway as their passionate fans make an impressive start on their return to the Champions League. The early signs suggest that Hazard will be playing as a strike alongside Raffael.
Gladbach are working hard without the ball in the early stages and it is clear that they will look to make it difficult for Sevilla's midfielders. The hosts are dominating possession at the moment.
CHANCE! Sevilla should be in front. It is unlikely there will be a worse miss in the Champions League this season! A clever passing move slices open the Sevilla defence, but Vitolo can only strike the post. The ball comes back to Reyes, who somehow manages to clear the crossbar from just a few yards out. Awful from the Spaniard.
CLOSE! Plenty of action in the early stages. Stindl delivers a brilliant cross from a free kick. Brouwers and Jantschke are both close to the ball, but neither can head home from inside the six-yard box.
Sevilla attack at the other end and Reyes exchanges passes with Banega. The Sevilla captain goes down, but the referee decides that there was no foul from Korb. A replay shows it was a poor tackle just outside the box.
Reyes continues to enjoy a mixed start to this match. Sevilla win a free kick in a good position, but the skipper's delivery is poor as
Yann Sommer collects the ball under no pressure.
Favre certainly will not be happy with the space on offer so far. It looks like Gladbach's midfield are pressing well, but the visiting defence seem reluctant to move further up the pitch. Sevilla continue to look the more composed side in possession.
Kychowiak does well to win the ball high up the pitch before picking out Reyes, whose cross is blocked by Korb as a promising Sevilla attack breaks down.
CHANCE! Excellent from Gladbach. Hazard reacts to a long ball forward with a clever flick to Raffael, who is too quick for Coke. The Brazilian cuts back after breaking into the box and finds Traore, but he is only able to fire a powerful effort past the near post.
Hazard, much like his older brother, is a tough man to stop when he runs at defenders but a poor touch from Traore brings a Gladbach attack to an abrupt halt.
Sevilla threaten once again as Gameiro leaves a couple of Gladbach defenders behind him with a superb piece of skill. A low cross is cleared as far as Coke, whose tame effort is almost flicked in by Vitolo.
There is certainly an opportunity for the visitors to threaten the Sevilla defence, but some sloppy play in midfield has prevented them from keeping possession for a sustained spell. Favre needs his players to look after the ball tonight.
Gladbach are struggling to relieve the pressure now as Sevilla waste a decent move when Coke fails to pick anyone out with a poor cross. The hosts are pushing the Bundesliga side back.
Krychowiack is looking to control this match, but he has been marked tightly by the visitors so far tonight. Gladbach are doing a better job of keeping men behind the ball as Sevilla knock the balla round comfortably.
CHANCE! Good football from Sevilla as they quickly move the ball out to the left wing. Reyes finds the space to deliver a cross, but Gameiro's is too firm with the header and he can only send the ball into the side-netting at the front post.
Dreadful defending from Traore as he chops down Reyes, who appeared to have very few options with two Gladbach players closing him down out wide.
Andreolli meets Banega's free kick at the back post but it is deflected behind. Sevilla keep the pressure on and Banega shows off some great footwork to win another free kick, this time on the other side of the pitch.
CHANCE! It really is a poor free kick from Reyes, but Wendt's headed clearance is worse as the ball reaches Gameiro, who volleys a difficult chance over.
Hazard is furious with Traore. Korb does well at the other end to clear a dangerous cross from Vitolo, and Gladbach break quickly in numbers. Hazard links well with Raffael to find Traore, who drives forward from midfield and ignores his teammates on the left to send a 25-yard effort wide.
Gladbach could pay for some of their poor decisions tonight. Nordtveit gives away a free kick out wide with a late kick on Reyes. The cross is cleared as far as Coke, who somehow manages to hold off a couple of challenges before curling over from the edge of the box.
Superb from Jantschke! Tremoulinas is gifted far too much space out wide and he almost punishes the visitors with an inch-perfect cross to Gameiro, who is prevented from tapping in when Jantschke slides in to make the block.
SAVE! Gladbach are living dangerously now. They struggle to relieve the pressure and the ball is headed through to Gameiro, whose half-volley is pushed away by Sommer.
After spending a couple of minutes on the back foot, Gladbach break in numbers and win a corner. Jantschke rises highest to meet the corner, but he can only head over.
If Gladbach can use the ball better on the break, they might fancy their chances of finding a goal but the visitors are struggling to keep out Sevilla when the hosts get the ball out wide.
HALF TIME: SEVILLA 0-0 BORUSSIA MONCHENGLADBACH
The first half has raced by in Seville. Reyes missed the best chance early on when he fired over from close range after Vitolo had struck the post and the hosts have certainly looked more dangerous. Gladbach have kept men behind the ball, but they look vulnerable defending out wide. Favre will be desperate to see his side make better decisions on the break, too.
In tonight's other Group D match, Manchester City are currently level at 0-0 with Juventus at the Etihad Stadium. No goals in the group so far, but I would be stunned if that did not change in the second half.
BENCH WATCH: Emery will be pretty happy with how Gameiro has performed in the first half, but he may consider introducing Fernando Llorente to add a different at some stage.
Yevhen Konoplyanka could be the key man though. His runs at defenders might be what Sevilla need to find a breakthrough.
As mentioned before the game, Drmic looks the most likely to be introduced from Gladbach. The visitors are lacking a natural striker at the moment and he could make a difference.
KICKOFF! Gladbach get the game back underway. No changes from either manager yet.
PENALTY! What a start for Sevilla. They win a penalty less than 20 seconds after the break. The ball is delivered to Reyes, who turns to deliver a cross. Vitolo gets to the ball first and goes down after a touch from Sommer. The Gladbach goalkeeper is furious, but it is probably the right decision.
GOAL! SEVILLA 1-0 BORUSSIA MONCHENGLADBACH
Gameiro is forced to wait for longer than he would have liked, but there is no sign of nerves as he scores with an emphatic penalty when Sommer goes the wrong way. Sommer is still unhappy. I'm not sure why. It looks like bad goalkeeping every time you look at it.
PENALTY! Oh my word. What an incredible start to the second half. Sevilla win a second penalty in the space of three minutes as the hosts win the ball back before coming forward with Vitolo, who is too quick as Brouwers chops him down with a lazy challenge. It's a yellow card for the centre-back.
He's missed it! Gameiro looks like the most confident man in Seville, but he smashes his second penalty against the crossbar and Gladbach escape when a free kick is given as players compete for the rebound. Will that make a difference? Gladbach need to recover quickly.
YELLOW CARD! Clever play from N'Zonzi in midfield and it frustrates Stindl, who then picks up a yellow card for pushing Krychowiak over. The pace of the game refuses to slow down.
CHANCE! Emery was urging his side to focus after the missed penalty, but a big mistake almost costs the hosts. N'Zonzi loses the ball and Hazard does well to run at the home defence before playing in Raffael, who slices his effort just wide.
Gladbach continue to give away needless fouls. Reyes comes in from the left but his pass is poor. However, Raffael trips up the captain with a silly tackle to hand Sevilla free kick around 25 yards from goal.
Banega targets the top corner from the free kick, but his strike lacks effort and Sommer shuffles across to catch the ball.
CHANCE! Brilliant football from Sevilla. N'Zonzi and Vitolo combine to release Coke, who manages to deliver the ball to the back post after sprinting clear. Banega should perhaps leave the ball for Tremoulinas as he volleys just wide on the stretch.
As long as this game is 1-0, Gladbach will be confident that they can snatch a positive result. Sevilla make life difficult by giving the ball away in dangerous position, but Raffael's 25-yard strike is blocked.
Reyes has switched wings and he looks threatening again when Wendt offers him far too much space, which allows the experienced Spaniard to fire just over from the edge of the box.
PENALTY! That's right. It is a third penalty for Sevilla! A cross looks to be cleared by Jantschke, but the ball comes back off Gameiro after the striker had slid in to look to convert at the front post. Jantschke then dives in in an attempt to win the ball back, but he can only bring the Frenchman down.
GOAL! SEVILLA 2-0 BORUSSIA MONCHENGLADBACH (BANEGA)
Banega takes the responsibility this time and he sends Sommer the wrong way to double Sevilla's lead. Three penalties may sound harsh on Gladbach, but the referee has got it right every time. Is there a way back for Gladbach? Favre reacts by bringing on Mahmoud Dahoud for the ineffective Stindl.
Sevilla are dominating possession now as they force Gladbach to chase the ball for an extended spell. The hosts have stepped up the tempo since the interval and they will be determined to keep out Gladbach in the closing stages.
SUB! Nordtveit is slightly lucky to get away with a warning when he kicks out at Coke after a foul from the Sevilla full-back. Emery then makes his first change as Ciro Immobile replaces Gameiro.
SUB! A quiet period certainly suits Sevilla. Favre makes another change as Hahn, who has been forced to most of his work going backwards, is replaced by Nico Schulz. Traore immediately switches to the right wing.
Gladbach enjoy an extended spell of possession as they move the ball from one wing to the other, but Sevilla remain disciplined on the edge of the box to eventually force the visitors back.
SUB! Banega's night comes to an end as Michael Krohn-Dehli replaces his teammate.
CHANCE! Brilliant from Vitolo once again. His first cross is cleared to the edge of the box and Reyes sees his effort charged down by Jantschke. The ball drifts back out wide to Vitolo, who delivers a fantastic cross to the back post. Reyes, for some reason, struggles to get there with his hand and he is booked for diverting the ball wide with his hand.
Very good football from Sevilla, who are more than happy to go back to their defenders to keep Gladbach from growing in confidence in the closing stages. It looks like it will be a comfortable win for the hosts.
SAVE! Fantastic from Sevilla, who are almost playing with Gladbach as they patiently wait to step up the tempo of their latest attack. Reyes eventually breaks into the box before scooping a cross for Immobile to test Sommer with a powerful header.
SUB! Great reception from the Sevilla hero as Reyes comes off to be replaced by Yevhen Konoplyanka.
GOAL! SEVILLA 3-0 BORUSSIA MONCHENGLADBACH (KONOPLYANKA)
Welcome to the Champions League, Yevhen Konoplyanka! Just a few seconds after coming on he goes over to collect a short corner. Is it a cross? Is it a shot? In truth, it is probably a cross but he catches out Sommer at the near post from the right wing. What an impact from the Ukrainian.
It has turned into a very poor night for Sommer, who will not want to see a replay of Sevilla's third goal. His position was poor and he couldn't keep the ball out after getting two hands to it. Gladbach's challenge has quickly faded as they desperately search for a way to break down the Sevilla defence. Favre brings Drmic on for Raffael. Should that change have been made earlier?
YELLOW CARD! Silly from N'Zonzi, who picks up a booking for kicking the ball away after bringing down Drmic.
Gladbach are enjoying possession late on, but Sevilla looks comfortable as Sergio Rico makes his first meaningful save by holding an effort from Traore. Just two minutes of added time to be played.
FULL TIME: SEVILLA 3-0 BORUSSIA MONCHENGLADACH
It's all over. Sevilla make a brilliant start in Group D by cruising to a 3-0 victory over Borussia Monchengladbach, whose poor form continues with a defeat on the opening night of the Champions League group stage. The hosts scored two of three penalties before Konoplyanka came off the bench to wrap up the win.
That is all from our live coverage this evening. Make sure that you keep an eye out for reaction from all of tonight's Champions League matches and come back tomorrow for the rest of this week's games. Goodnight everyone!