Scott Murray's Blog, page 123

Burnley 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur: Premier League – as it happened

Harry Kane returned, but couldn’t stop Spurs from sliding to a defeat that puts a dent in their title challenge.

3.06pm GMT

And that’s your lot. Paul Wilson was our man at Turf Moor. Here’s his take. Thanks for reading!

Related: Burnley’s Ashley Barnes hits Spurs’ title hopes with winner after Kane goal

3.04pm GMT

And we haven’t forgotten about Sean Dyche! “The relentless nature, the will and determination, has come back to us. We’re asking more questions of the opposition. The number of times we put their back four under pressure! They’re a top side, we’re not making any bold claims. But the best thing of all was our calmness when it went 1-1. The first goal, if it’s a corner or not, is a tough one to call, a ricochet. My gripe about theirs is, not only does it go out this side of the halfway line, it then gets thrown in eight yards the other side, and also the fourth official grabbed the ball and gave it back to them, so he plays it quickly. And that leads to a goal. That’s the gripe. That’s really frustrating. A massive moment, and that went against us. Other than that, I though the officials had a good game.”

2.59pm GMT

A contrite Pochettinho in the press conference: “You know how important the game was. Of course when you feel so disappointed and upset you make mistakes ... I made a mistake and needed to go to the dressing room and get some water and relax ... what happened happened.”

2.46pm GMT

Mauricio Pochettino, calm and frank, gives his verdict. “What happened on the pitch happened. We made a few mistakes. Burnley fight a lot and we don’t deserve the defeat, but that is football. It was an important game, we needed the three points to fight for the Premier League. It is not normally how I behave. It is difficult for us to be a contender now. There are a lot of games to play but in my mind we needed the three points to put pressure on. We cannot blame anyone other than ourselves, because we were unable to win. Everyone on the touchline complained, they complained, we complained, we try to back our players. We need to improve for the next time. I am going to accept everything from the FA, but I hope nothing will go further.”

2.39pm GMT

But here’s something worth pointing out: Spurs didn’t fold this afternoon, they were just beaten by a fine side at the top of their game. Burnley were very determined, very tough ... and very, very good. They played an excellent match, and look a proper side again, after a rocky start to the campaign. Their goalscoring heroes Ashley Barnes and Chris Wood - both relentless - are interviewed by Sky, and they’re extremely pleased with a precious three points. Barnes admits to targeting Foyth “a little bit”, while Wood report that confidence at Turf Moor is high at the moment. “We have to make it difficult for these big teams,” says Barnes, “and we did that. We’ve shown how good we are.”

2.34pm GMT

By all accounts, the row between Pochettino and Dean spilled down the tunnel. Shades of the Battle of Stamford Bridge in 2016! Something may or may not have been said after Pochettino complained to Dean at the final whistle, hence his willingness to return and engage in further debate. A repeated enquiry of “what did you say?” answered every time by “go away”. No doubt we’ll hear more of this, grapple fans. No doubt at all!

2.27pm GMT

Mauricio Pochettino loses his rag completely! He gets right up in Mike Dean’s grille, demanding explanation for something or other. The corner that led to the opening goal? If it’s just that, this reaction is well out of proportion, given Spurs got the benefit of a generous decision for their equaliser, too. So it’ll be interesting to hear what that was all about. Pochettino came back for seconds, too, invading the referee’s personal space in the chest-out, no-nonsense style. Many pints of steam are pouring out of his lugs! I wish I could read lips. Dean said “go away” quite a lot, that I do know. Chances are we haven’t heard the last of this. A magnificent pantomime rumble, highly entertaining, although depending on your stance on these things, the usual think-of-the-children caveat applies.

2.22pm GMT

Burnley claim three precious points! They were marvellous today, and surely won’t be going down. Tottenham’s title bid meanwhile takes a serious hit.

2.20pm GMT

90 min +3: It really hasn’t been Tottenham’s day. A cross from the left. Lamela rises, six yards out. He surely has to score and salvage a point for the title hopefuls. But he sends a lame header straight at Heaton.

2.20pm GMT

90 min +2: Wood takes the ball to the corner flag on the left. Tick, tock. By the dugouts, Pochettinho crosses his arms tightly and tucks his hands into his armpits. More frustration.

2.17pm GMT

90 min: Kane crosses from the left. It’s half cleared and drops to Eriksen, who sends a tame shot over the crossbar. There will be four added minutes.

2.16pm GMT

89 min: Now the hosts win a corner. Steam pours from Sissoko’s ears as he tussles with Brady, who is just pushing his buttons because he can. All the while, time continues to run out for Tottenham.

2.15pm GMT

88 min: Brady wins a throw out on the left, deep in Spurs territory. Before it can be taken, Lucas Moura comes on for Son, who has been uncharacteristically quiet today. Burnley then take the throw, and hold the ball up in the corner awhile, before winning another. Rinse and repeat. Spurs are getting visibly frustrated.

2.13pm GMT

86 min: Llorente commits a common-or-garden foul on the edge of the Burnley box. free kick. Lamela doesn’t agree with the decision, and engages the referee in vigorous philosophical debate. He goes in the book.

2.12pm GMT

85 min: Unless Spurs can magic up a dramatic turnaround, they’ll be five points behind leaders Manchester City and second-placed Liverpool, the latter still with tomorrow’s match at Manchester United in hand. This explains why Pochettino is slumped back in his seat, with a face on. He’s fuming.

2.11pm GMT

Brady overcooks a cross from the left. Goal kick. But then Aurier faffs about while dribbling upfield, allowing Gudmundsson to drive into the box from the left. He shoots ... he scuffs ... but the ball dribbles diagonally towards Barnes, at the far post. He’s six yards out, and can’t miss!

2.09pm GMT

82 min: A free kick for Burnley out on the right, Gudmundsson purchasing a cheap one off Rose. It’s launched long, and Aurier is forced to head out for a corner on the left. When it’s taken, Rose shanks a clearance backwards and out of play for a second corner. From which ...

2.07pm GMT

80 min: Burnley make a double change, replacing Hendrick and McNeil on the flanks with Gudmundsson and Brady.

2.06pm GMT

79 min: Rose dribbles down the left, and hooks into the mixer. Llorente fancies it, but Heaton wants it more. A fine claim under pressure.

2.05pm GMT

77 min: Spurs pile forward, then are caught short at the back, Wood romping into acres on the right. His low cross is met by McNeil, coming in from the other flank. He shoots low and hard; Lloris parries well. Spurs hack out for a corner, which comes to nothing. This is set up perfectly now. The last few minutes of this match promise much in the way of weird and wonderful entertainment!

2.03pm GMT

76 min: This is manic, end-to-end fare now. Aurier dribbles around near the byline to the right of the Burnley goal, and takes two attempts at a cross. Neither is any good. Spurs then make their second change, replacing Foyth with Lamela. They’re going for this now!

2.02pm GMT

75 min: A cute turn down the inside-right channel by Hendrick, and Burnley are away. Barnes is teed up to the right of the D. His low shot is blocked out for a corner. From the set piece, hit long from the right, Tarkowski rises highest at the far post, and attempts to guide a header into the top right. There’s not enough juice on it, and Lloris claims the looping effort easily.

2.00pm GMT

74 min: Aurier crosses from deep; it’s blocked by Taylor, and that’s a corner for Spurs. Eriksen works it to Aurier, who drives it into a crowded box from the right. Burnley somehow get it clear.

1.59pm GMT

72 min: Re-read the entry for 69 min, replacing Foyth for Bardsley and Wood for Rose. It’s uncanny. Bardsley is now another player fortunate to escape with just a yellow, and Dean remains stuck on 99.

1.58pm GMT

70 min: Hendrick blasts a witless free kick into the Spurs wall. But the hosts are soon coming back at Spurs, Wood flicking a pass right for Hendrick, who whips a shot across the face of goal and inches wide of the bottom left.

1.57pm GMT

69 min: Foyth is booked for a late slide on Wood. That could have been Mike Dean’s 100th red, because the young Spurs defender was flying through the air, studs showing. But it’s just yellow, and Dean’s still on 99. The fact there wasn’t much contact, and Foyth looked to be pulling out of the challenge at the last, might have influenced that decision.

1.54pm GMT

67 min: Now it’s Sean Dyche’s turn to lose the plot on the touchline, sure that Rose had nicked a few yards at the throw. Both teams might have got away with one.

1.53pm GMT

Spurs are back in it! And a little controversy about this one, too, as Rose steals a couple of yards at a quick throw-in on the left, in order to set Kane scampering free! He’s got the beating of Mee, holding his man off as he enters the box. Kane draws Heaton and slips a cute finish across the keeper and into the bottom right! He’s back, baby. Oh he’s back.

1.51pm GMT

64 min: A corner for Spurs on the left. Rose is teed up, to the left of the D; his shot is blocked and deflects out for another corner. The second set piece is slammed upfield by Bardsley. Llorente’s first act of the afternoon is to slam into Mee, while contesting a high ball, and he’s immediately in the book.

1.49pm GMT

62 min: Spurs have to throw the kitchen sink at this. Pochettino withdraws Winks and sends on Llorente.

1.49pm GMT

61 min: So the replay of the award of that corner will be shown more than once, I’ll be bound. Especially if Spurs can’t turn this around. Kind of a shame that it’ll eclipse another replay, shown just before the goal: a nice moment between Kane and Heaton, the striker congratulating the keeper on his save on 50 minutes, the keeper warmly slapping the striker on the back in awe of his fine shot. All in the heat of battle.

1.46pm GMT

59 min: That’s Wood’s seventh goal in his last ten games. Will it scupper Tottenham’s title challenge? The visitors had been much the better side in the opening exchanges of the second half, but now look! On the touchline, Pochettino is beyond livid, claiming that the corner should never have been awarded. Hendrick had gone sliding in with Vertonghen, and he’s insistent the ball came off the Burnley man last. The officials didn’t agree.

1.44pm GMT

Westwood whips the corner in from the right. Wood rises highest, six yards out, and plants a header flush in the top-left corner! The ball comes down off the bar and over the line, Lloris with no chance!

1.43pm GMT

56 min: Mee romps down the left and crosses into the Spurs area. McNeil tries to bring it down to shoot, but there’s not enough time for that. The ball breaks to Hendrick on the right, and he earns a corner. From which ...

1.41pm GMT

54 min: Kane scampers after a long blootered clearance. Heaton bravely comes out of his area to head clear before the striker can start causing trouble.

1.40pm GMT

53 min: Spurs keep probing. Foyth bursts down the right channel and is knocked over by Mee. A free kick, just to the right of centre, 25 yards out. Eriksen floats it diagonally towards Foyth, who heads harmlessly over from the middle of a thicket.

1.38pm GMT

51 min: Spurs take the corner and ping it around awhile. Aurier tries to cross from the right, but the ball clanks into Taylor. He wants a penalty for handball, but he’s not getting it.

1.37pm GMT

50 min: Space for Kane to wander into, down the inside-right channel. Nobody closes him down, though he’s got no options. No matter! From 30 yards, he sends a rising swerver towards the top left, a wondrous heatseeker! Heaton, at full stretch, tips spectacularly round the post. What a shot, and a save to match!

1.34pm GMT

48 min: Son crosses from the left and the ball is slammed into the stand behind the Burnley goal by Tarkowski. No nonsense. The set piece is played short, Son eventually pulling one back to tee up Rose, who is steaming in. He shoots, but Cork is right up in his grille to block.

1.33pm GMT

46 min: A positive start to the half from Spurs, as Rose turns Hendrick inside out, like an old sock. His twinkletoes make it to the byline, but his cutback isn’t so good and Burnley clear. A clear sign that Spurs want these three points! In the context of the title race, they really need them.

1.32pm GMT

We’re off again! Spurs get the second half underway. No changes. “Never mind who Mike Dean shows his 100th red card to; what for is the question,” argues Ian Sargeant. “Is he waiting for something cast iron - a headbutt, a two-footed lunge or a clear professional foul perhaps? Or something utterly pedantic, like a second yellow for re-entering the field of play without permission?” Yes, you make a good point here. Ideally, the red card will be thoroughly pedantic, presented with a ludicrous theatrical flourish, and later proved to be preposterously incorrect. That would be nice, wouldn’t it. Good old Mike Dean.

1.20pm GMT

Half-time entertainment. Some magical memories of matches between these two famous names of English football, courtesy of Burnley regular Iain Noble. Enjoy!

“There were some cracking matches between these two teams in the late 50s and early 60s, many of which I was lucky enough to see. The Clarets were desperately unlucky in the 61-62 season. I saw just about every home game they played (I was 12) and they were just irresistible for the first half of the season, wonderful football from probably their greatest-ever side.

1.17pm GMT

Title-chasing Spurs go in at the break slightly frustrated. They’ve been the better side, just, but haven’t seriously worked Heaton. Can they up it in the second half, and move to within two points of Manchester City and Liverpool? Stay with us to find out!

1.14pm GMT

43 min: Barnes comes off second best in a challenge with Eriksen and wins a free kick for his trouble, out on the right. Westwood sends it into the Spurs box, and there’s a brief game of head tennis, but nothing that seriously troubles the visitors. Lloris hasn’t had a great deal to do.

1.12pm GMT

41 min: Spurs are beginning to hog the ball. Nothing’s quite coming off for them, though. Rose bustles his way down the left, and nearly breaks clear, but Hendrick is a study in determination and eventually forces the Spurs man to run the ball out of play.

1.11pm GMT

39 min: Spurs are beginning to ask questions, though. Now Rose skedaddles down the left and crosses deep for Aurier, who sends a weak header straight at Heaton. One the keeper can throw his cap on.

1.10pm GMT

38 min: Spurs pass and probe, probe and pass. Aurier then lifts a cross in from the right, finding Kane on the penalty spot. It’d take some header from there, and he does his best, but the effort floats harmlessly into the arms of Heaton.

1.09pm GMT

37 min: McNeil strips Aurier out on the left. For a second, it looks as though he’s going to tear clear, but doesn’t trust himself in a footrace with Foyth, and overhits a cross towards Wood on the other wing. The danger’s over.

1.08pm GMT

36 min: Eriksen, quarterbacking from deep, loops a long pass down the inside-left channel. Kane is this close to getting on the end of it, but Heaton comes out to smother. Kane is beginning to warm up now, getting back up to speed nicely.

1.06pm GMT

34 min: Son embarks on a rococo dribble down the right, and tiptoes along the tightrope of the byline. It’s a glorious dribble, lovely ball control while surrounded by claret shirts, and he eventually slides a pass across the face of goal, Heaton having been drawn towards him. But there’s nobody in white to take advantage. Bardsley half-clears, then Eriksen sends a poor shot wide left.

1.05pm GMT

33 min: Chances at both ends! Eriksen sends a low shot towards the bottom left; there’s little power in it, and Heaton claims easily. Then Hendrick makes good down the right and crosses low for Barnes, who flashes a first-time shot across Lloris, looking for the top left, and over the bar.

1.04pm GMT

31 min: Rose is now cast in the role of pantomime villain after that sit-down protest. So the crowd enjoy it very much when he runs the ball out of play for a goal kick when in a promising position on the left. “What do reckon the chances are of us witnessing the historic occasion of Mike Dean dishing out his 100th red card?” wonders J.R. in Illinois. “I always like Ashley Barnes’ chances of walking. He has, in the parlance of legendary former Chicago White Sox announcer Hawk Harrelson’s parlance, a carmine derriere. My second choice would be Aurier. I don’t care for him.” For pure comedic value, it would surely have to be England’s Harry Kane. I accept Spurs fans might not concur.

1.02pm GMT

30 min: Burnley enjoy a little period of possession. They don’t really go anywhere, but after that brouhaha in the box, it’s a chance to clear heads and rediscover their equilibrium.

1.00pm GMT

28 min: While Rose sits and complains, Spurs win a corner down the right. The set piece leads to a bit of pinball in the Burnley area, instigated by Son, but eventually the hosts manage to hack clear. Rose gets up.

12.59pm GMT

27 min: Rose is clattered by Hendrick and stays down for quite some time. But play goes on, much to the Spurs defender’s irritation.

12.57pm GMT

25 min: Kane barges into Tarkowski as the England internationals contest a high ball. It’s a clear foul, but that doesn’t stop Kane feigning affront. The referee’s not having a bar of it. A little frustration betrayed there; Spurs still aren’t quite clicking, back after their break.

12.55pm GMT

23 min: Space for Barnes out on the left as he rolls Foyth with ease. He reaches the byline and fizzes a fine ball through the six-yard box, but Wood has dropped off in expectation of the cutback, instead of gambling on the front foot. Spurs get away with one there.

12.53pm GMT

21 min: Aurier crosses for Son again from the right. Son attempts a spectacular bicycle kick, but the chain comes flying off, the gears slip, and he goes over the handlebars. A fresh-air swipe. Rose tries to retrieve the situation but bowls Hendrick to the ground, and the first serious period of Spurs pressure comes to an end.

12.52pm GMT

20 min: Eriksen spreads a pass wide right for Aurier, who crosses towards Son. The striker can’t quite connect, and Burnley hack clear, but for a second it looked like a gilt-edged chance from ten yards.

12.50pm GMT

18 min: Spurs have settled a little now. Foyth bursts between a couple of claret shirts and romps upfield. He leaves the ball to Eriksen, who has a little think, probing here and there. Nothing opens up for him, and the move eventually breaks down, but the visitors were struggling to hold onto the ball for a while, so this is a move in the right direction.

12.47pm GMT

16 min: But finally they get something going, and nearly score! Son and Sissoko combine down the right. Sissoko slides a pass inside for Kane, who drops a shoulder and turn on the boosters. He makes for the box, heading diagonally to the left of the D, then pearls a low shot inches wide of the bottom left. He’s back.

12.46pm GMT

15 min: Spurs are a little staccato at the moment. Moves of over two passes at a premium. Burnley are hounding them relentlessly.

12.44pm GMT

13 min: Lloris is all over the place at the moment. A couple of panics under his crossbar already, and now he slices a simple clearance straight out of play. Another chance for Burnley to build something from a throw deep in Spurs territory; another chance that comes to nothing.

12.42pm GMT

11 min: McNeil takes the ball off Aurier out on the Burnley left, pressing near the corner flag. He loops a cross to the far post, where Hendrick awaits. Lloris, dazzled by the sun, struggles to tip the ball away from under his own bar. But he just about manages it, and the whistle goes for a foul anyway.

12.41pm GMT

10 min: Foyth battles Barnes down the left. He gets his shirt ripped, but the free kick goes to Burnley. Westwood hoicks the set piece into the box; Aurier clears for a corner ... ah no, it’s a throw, even though Burnley get set for the kick. Nothing comes of the throw, Spurs shepherding the hosts away from their danger zone.

12.39pm GMT

8 min: Cork bowls Kane over in the midfield. A garden variety foul, but hearts would have been in mouths on the Spurs bench as Kane took a few seconds to get up. He’s fine, though.

12.38pm GMT

7 min: A lovely low whipped cross into the Burnley box from the left by Rose. Kane is still getting used to football again, not quite up to speed, and is on his heels as Heaton gathers.

12.37pm GMT

6 min: It’s a little scrappy. The ball bobbles around in front of the Spurs box. Westwood has a speculative whack, but his shot is blocked the second it leaves his boot and dribbles through to Lloris.

12.35pm GMT

4 min: A couple of heavy challenges, Hendrick on Rose and Aurier on Taylor. All hard but fair enough, fouls but no need for cards. A sign that this match will be keenly contested, like we needed confirmation.

12.33pm GMT

2 min: But Burnley are made of strong stuff, and they shake off the rust quicksmart. Wood works his way down the left and earns the first corner of the match. Westwood nearly scores direct from it! His inswinger forces Lloris to tip over the bar. But there’s been some pushing and shoving and it’s a free kick instead of another corner. A lively start.

12.31pm GMT

And we’re off! The hosts get proceedings underway. Westwood knocks the kick-off back to Tarkowski, who takes a heavy touch and is nearly stripped of possession by Son! He gets away with it, just. But that’s a nervous start by Burnley, and an early statement of intent by Spurs.

12.27pm GMT

The teams are out! Burnley wear their famous claret shirts, while Spurs are also dressed in their storied first-choice garb. A good old-school atmosphere at a fine old-school ground. We’ll be off in two ticks!

12.21pm GMT

Mauricio Pochettino also has a quick chat. “After two training sessions I had no doubt, Kane is fully fit to play. He is one of the best strikers in the world, and he has a massive impact. But we do not put all the pressure on his shoulders.”

12.19pm GMT

Sean Dyche talks to Sky. “Harry Kane is a top striker, I’ve spoken openly about that for a few years now. But I think behind that, there’s a very good side. So it’s not a one-man team. They are very good with or without him. But we’ve come across many good sides in the Premier League and we know it’s a big challenge, and that we have to focus on ourselves. What happened in the early stages of the season has been parked, and there’s a freshness and a clarity in the group going into the second half of the season.”

12.14pm GMT

It’s a lovely day in Lancashire. Yellow beams streaming into Turf Moor and all across this famous old mill town. And oh dear! This chap appears to have caught the sun. It serves as a warning to us all. Remember your Ambre Solaire, kids, those UV rays can be a bugger.

11.40am GMT

Burnley name the same side that dispatched Brighton with ease a fortnight ago. Peter Crouch still kicking his heels on the bench, there, but what can you do when Chris Wood and Ashley Barnes played so well in that 3-1 win at the Amex?

The big news for Spurs, meanwhile, is: he’s back! Harry Kane returns after his injury lay-off. He’s one of two changes to the XI that steamrollered Borussia Dortmund in the second half of a sensational Champions League performance at Wembley the other week. He replaces Lucas Moura, while Danny Rose comes in for Davison Sanchez.

11.33am GMT

Burnley: Heaton, Bardsley, Tarkowski, Mee, Taylor, Hendrick, Westwood, Cork, McNeil, Barnes, Wood.
Subs: Lowton, Gudmundsson, Brady, Gibson, Crouch, Hart, Vydra.

Tottenham Hotspur: Lloris, Foyth, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Aurier, Sissoko, Winks, Rose, Eriksen, Kane, Son.
Subs: Lamela, Wanyama, Walker-Peters, Llorente, Gazzaniga, Lucas Moura, Davies.

10.30am GMT

“This is like a final for us.” Mauricio Pochettino there, hoping his Tottenham Hotspur side claim all three points at Burnley this lunchtime, in the hope of piling pressure on Manchester City and Liverpool at the top of the table.

He’ll be hoping this pans out like one final in particular. The 1962 FA Cup final, to be precise. Tottenham beat Burnley in that one 3-1, Jimmy Greaves scoring early, Bobby Smith and Danny Blanchflower sealing the deal after Jimmy Robson had equalised in the second half for the Clarets. Burnley could have won the Double that season, but capitulated during the title run-in to gift the league to Alf Ramsey’s Ipswich Town. Different times. But we digress.

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Arsenal 3-0 BATE Borisov: Europa League last 32, second leg – as it happened

The Gunners avenged their shock defeat in Belarus and eased into the last 16.

8.33pm GMT

And that’s your lot. Amy Lawrence was at the Emirates, and here’s her verdict. Thanks for reading! Nighty night!

Related: Shkodran Mustafi header helps Arsenal to progress at expense of Bate Borisov

8.07pm GMT

Unai Emery speaks to BT Sport: “The result is good. We are improving, and our mentality was good for this match. This competition is important for us, and the result in the first match was not good. So the team did very well to come back. We spoke this morning, and in the dressing room before the match: if we score, carry on. If we score a second goal, carry on. If we score a third goal, carry on. We need this mentality. The players did the gameplan like we want.”

7.58pm GMT

Some post-match platitudes from Arsenal’s goalscorers. “It was better than last week,” begins Shkodran Mustafi. “We managed it well. We showed that we wanted to play our game and score our goals. We work on our set pieces and it was good that it paid off. There is a lot to improve still, but we are doing well.” Sokratis Papastathopoulos adds: “We are happy and now we look to the next game. The Europa League is very important for us.”

7.48pm GMT

And that’s that! Arsenal are through to the last 16 of the Europa League, Unai Emery’s dream of a fourth title still alive. The Gunners were thoroughly professional tonight. They went ahead early, and after surviving a couple of scares during a brief spell when BATE threatened an away goal, eased clear of limited opponents. “Your Portuguese-speaking readers might get a kick out of the fact that ‘Arsenal bate Borisov’ means ‘Arsenal beats Borisov’,” notes Peter Oh.

7.47pm GMT

90 min +2: Dubajic shoulder barges Monreal to the floor. It’s a garden-variety foul, but Xhaka takes great exception to it and races in, chest out, baiting Dubajic like Scrappy Doo. For goodness sake, man, you’ve won the match and there are about ten seconds to go! A totally disproportionate response to not very much. He’s lucky the ref doesn’t at least book him, because he’s right up in the official’s grille, swearing like billy-o.

7.43pm GMT

90 min +1: But that’s not going to happen, is it.

7.43pm GMT

90 min: There will be two added minutes. A goal a minute, and BATE are through on away goals.

7.42pm GMT

88 min: More of the Arsenal possession. It’s been a thoroughly drama-free second half. The loudest noise for a while is generated when the guy on the PA announces that Finsbury Park tube station is shut, causing all manner of effin’ and jeffin’.

7.38pm GMT

86 min: Suarez and Ozil buzz around the edge of the BATE box, but can’t find the combination to unlock the door.

7.37pm GMT

84 min: A ball rears up in the BATE area and hits Simovic on the arm. The referee considers giving Arsenal a penalty, raising his whistle to his lips momentarily, but then changes his mind, perhaps after consultation with his linesman.

7.36pm GMT

83 min: Arsenal continue to ping it around in the relaxed style. The crowd get a little agitated, because they’d like to see a couple more goals whistling into the BATE net, but the players don’t seem too fussed, which is fair enough given they’re the ones who have done all the running tonight.

7.34pm GMT

81 min: Arsenal play keep-ball in the midfield. Time is their pal now.

7.31pm GMT

79 min: Mkhitaryan is replaced by Suarez.

7.31pm GMT

78 min: A rare period of BATE possession in the Arsenal half. Simovic sends a heatseeker towards the top left from 30 yards. A really good effort from such a long way out, but always curling wide of the post. Cech calmly watches it sail out for a goal kick.

7.29pm GMT

76 min: Aubameyang takes, fizzing the free kick through the wall but straight down the throat of Scherbitski, who has had a very good game if you factor out the unfortunate flap for Arsenal’s third.

7.28pm GMT

75 min: Volkov hangs out a tired leg to bring down Monreal, who was cutting in from the left, 30 yards from goal. A free kick, and Aubamayang fancies it.

7.27pm GMT

74 min: Arsenal ping it about in the clock-watching fashion, just because they can.

7.25pm GMT

72 min: BATE make their last change of the night, and almost certainly their last of their Europa League run. Dubajic comes on for Skavysh, who has run himself into the ground.

7.24pm GMT

71 min: Mkhitaryan slips a clever pass down the inside-right channel to release Aubameyang into the area. He draws the keeper as he glides a little to the right, then dinks the ball over him towards the unguarded bottom left. Agonisingly, his effort bounces inches wide of the post.

7.23pm GMT

70 min: Aubameyang jigs down the inside-right channel but upon reaching the byline can only slap a shot-cum-cross into the side netting. Torreira was waiting, hoping to be set up.

7.22pm GMT

69 min: The Emirates is calm. Nothing much going on. A sense that everyone just wants to pack up and go home now. This is done.

7.20pm GMT

67 min: Stasevich tries to clear, but slices backwards into the mixer. Mustafi wins a header, and the ball drops to Ozil, in a pocket of space 12 yards out, level with the left-hand post. He’s not offside. In going for the near post, he flashes a first-time shot inches wide of the goal. A real chance; he smiles ruefully.

7.18pm GMT

66 min: Iwobi races down the left and slips Monreal free on the overlap. Monreal’s cross is deflected out for a corner, from which ...

7.17pm GMT

64 min: It’s all change at the minute, with Dragun, BATE’s first-leg goalscoring hero, making way for Berezkin.

7.16pm GMT

63 min: Guendouzi departs to warm applause. The Arsenal fans have taken to him. They’re big fans of Torreira, too, and he’s cheered to the rafters when he comes on.

7.14pm GMT

62 min: Arsenal are as good as in the last 16 now, unless something very odd occurs, because BATE aren’t doing anything in attack. Lichtsteiner clearing off the line seems an awfully long time ago now.

7.14pm GMT

Mkhitaryan bursts down the right and very nearly gets a shot away from a tight angle. Filipovic does extremely well to slide in and block for a corner. But it’s only brief relief. Xhaka whips the corner towards the far post. Scherbitski comes off his line to punch, but makes an awful balls of it, flapping at thin air. Sokratis, only just on, heads home from a couple of yards.

7.11pm GMT

58 min: Ozil is now wearing the captain’s armband. He sends Iwobi away down the left; a dink to the far post is headed wide by Mkhitaryan. Then a lovely moment as former Arsenal midfielder Alex Hleb comes on for Baga. He’s given an ovation of great warmth as he takes to the pitch.

7.10pm GMT

57 min: The Arsenal captain is on the bench getting his calf checked out by the physio. Hopefully that’s nothing too serious; he’s had hellish luck with injury of late.

7.08pm GMT

56 min: Koscielny has picked up a knock, and is replaced by Sokratis.

7.07pm GMT

54 min: The corner leads to very little.

7.07pm GMT

53 min: Rios slips a ball down the right for Skavysh, and for a second Arsenal are on the back foot. But Monreal holds him up well, and Arsenal break upfield. Iwobi drives into the BATE box from the left and tries a low curler towards the bottom right. Scherbitski parries well. BATE half clear, Mkhitaryan’s shot from the right deflected out for a corner.

7.04pm GMT

51 min: Ozil plays a cute ball down the inside-right channel to release Mkhitaryan into the BATE area. Mkhitaryan shapes to shoot but slips. The ball breaks back to Xhaka on the edge of the area. He balloons a wild effort off target.

7.03pm GMT

49 min: A worrying game of pinball in the Arsenal box. Monreal falls over backwards while attempting to clear, and only succeeds in gifting the ball to Skavysh, who shifts his feet in tight space and snatches a shot straight at Cech. A reminder that one slip could cost Arsenal dear.

7.01pm GMT

48 min: Now Guendouzi takes a potshot from outside the BATE area. That one’s not on target either, but not a bad effort at all, looped in from the right and not a million miles away from the top corner.

7.00pm GMT

47 min: Monreal has a dig from distance. No. Meanwhile here’s Paul Bowes, who knows full well what I meant: “With regard to your remark at 29 minutes: surely Aubameyang has always been within his rights to shoot himself? But it seems excessive for one miscued shot.”

6.59pm GMT

And we’re off again! Arsenal get the second half underway; there have been no half-time changes in this Europa League tie. “Not that it takes too much to turn my thoughts to the notion of heavy metal football, but crikey that Big Vase arm badge seems like a nod to The Object from Zep’s seventh album,” writes rock music’s Grant Tennille. “Given the travel distances and fixture quantity, it’s not a bad reference, really; considered to be a bit of a downer by all but the most committed fans, Jimmy Page always fancied it as their ‘album against adversity’.”

6.48pm GMT

Half-time entertainment. There’s been plenty of European action already this week, of course. Max Rushden and pals pick over the bones in Football Weekly. Enjoy!

Related: Champions League, angry Ronaldo and a Row 32 penalty – Football Weekly Extra

6.44pm GMT

That brings a satisfactory half of football for Arsenal to an end. They should ease clear in the second half, but will remember that BATE seriously threatened during the early exchanges, and an away goal will change everything. Back in 15. No flipping!

6.42pm GMT

45 min: Ozil, Iwobi and Guendouzi attack as a trio down the left flank. BATE are light at the back, and the correct passing sequence should send one of the three clear on goal. But Ozil goes inside to Guendouzi when he should find Iwobi on the left, then Guendouzi finds himself unable to reach Iwobi with a threaded pass. All three have the good grace to look frustrated.

6.40pm GMT

43 min: Iwobi’s brought down 30 yards from goal, just to the left of centre. Ozil takes it quickly, dinking a ball down the inside-left channel to release Aubameyang into the area. He’s clear, but faced with a tight angle and Scherbitski again shows his quality by narrowing the angle further and denying the striker a chance to shoot. That’s fine last-ditch keeping.

6.38pm GMT

41 min: So this match can’t go to extra time now. It could be over soon, too, if BATE don’t clear their heads. Volkov plays a weak backpass down the Arsenal right, and Ozil nearly latches onto it. Not for the first time, Scherbitski does extremely well to read the danger, race from his box, and clear.

6.36pm GMT

Aubameyang’s good work earns a corner on the left. Xhaka sends the set piece towards the penalty spot, where Mustafi rises above a dozy Baga and plants a header into the bottom left! Simple, and Arsenal hit the front in this tie for the first time.

6.34pm GMT

38 min: This is much better from Mkhitaryan, who dances this way and that down the right wing, reaches the byline, and dinks a cross to the far post that’s half cleared. The ball drops to Ozil, 12 yards out and level with the right-hand post. He creams a rising volley towards the top left ... but it’s a little bit too high. Lovely effort, though.

6.33pm GMT

36 min: Mkhitaryan drives towards the BATE box from the right wing. He’s got Lichtsteiner on the overlap, and tries to release him into space, but the pass is no good, clanked at the full-back’s feet instead of in front of him. Lichtsteiner has no chance to control, and that’s the danger over.

6.31pm GMT

34 min: Milic comes through the back of Mkhitaryan and is slightly fortunate to escape a booking. It’s not exactly been a physical battle so far, and that might explain the referee’s lenience.

6.30pm GMT

33 min: The Iwobi-Monreal combination nearly opens BATE up down the left again. Not quite, but it’s enough to earn another corner. From the set piece, the ball drops towards Lichtsteiner, who attempts a volley from 25 yards. No Matthew Le Tissier he.

6.28pm GMT

32 min: Iwobi races down the left and slips Monreal clear on the overlap. Monreal cuts back towards Ozil, who takes a comedic fresh-air swipe at the ball. It breaks to Xhaka, trundling in from deep. Xhaka lashes a wild shot high and wide right.

6.26pm GMT

30 min: Arsenal are beginning to find some rhythm. Iwobi tears down the left and floats one into the centre. Aubameyang heads harmlessly over.

6.25pm GMT

29 min: Lichtsteiner hooks a cross into the mixer from the right. Aubameyang brings it down on the penalty spot, his back to goal. He spins and sends a pea-roller into the arms of Scherbitski. He had Ozil totally free to his left, though in fairness was within his rights to shoot himself.

6.24pm GMT

28 min: Arsenal are beginning to press BATE back. Mkhitaryan reaches the byline to the left of goal, but his cutback doesn’t find a red shirt. Again the visitors hack clear.

6.23pm GMT

27 min: Monreal crosses deep from the left. Ozil, just to the right of the area, wedges it into the centre. Volkov does very well to head over his own bar under pressure from Aubameyang. Not a great deal occurs at the corner.

6.22pm GMT

26 min: Ozil conducts from deep. He slips a ball wide for Mkhitaryan, who slams a low cross into the area. Filipenko hoicks clear. Guendouzi storms back at BATE and nearly releases Lichtsteiner down the right. Just a little too much pace on the pass.

6.20pm GMT

24 min: As things stand, this match is going to extra time, and perhaps penalties. However it’s hard to see both of these defences holding out for another 66 minutes plus stoppages. We’re surely not here for the long haul.

6.20pm GMT

22 min: Monreal makes his way down the left and hopes to break into the box. No luck, as he loses control and runs into Rios. He wants a penalty but that’s never going to happen.

6.16pm GMT

20 min: Xhaka sends a rising pearler towards the top left from 25 yards. It’s a fine effort, but Scherbitski is behind it all the way and punches over. The resulting corner is worked to the right wing where Mkhitaryan flashes a low cross towards Aubameyang. Volkov is on hand to blooter clear. This game is fun, if a little frantic.

6.15pm GMT

18 min: Milic dinks a ball down the left-hand channel. Lichtsteiner covers well, with Stasevich hovering. There were huge gaps in the Arsenal defence there; had BATE moved the ball quicker, there’d have been bother.

6.13pm GMT

16 min: Milic is OK to continue. A couple of corners for Arsenal out on the right, but nothing much comes of them. At least they’ve calmed everything down, because BATE were beginning to build up a head of steam, a little uncertainty bubbling up in the stands.

6.11pm GMT

14 min: Milic accidentally boots a stooping Koscielny in the grid, then injures himself falling awkwardly. A passage of play that in an ideal world would have been soundtracked by trombone slides.

6.10pm GMT

12 min: Space for Stasevich out on the left. He reaches the byline and dinks one to the far post, but Skavysh can’t get to it and Arsenal clear. BATE are threatening to score the away goal that’d put the Gunners in all sorts of bother.

6.08pm GMT

10 min: Then almost immediately, Arsenal break forward, Aubameyang chasing a long punt down the right. Scherbitski races from his area and clears to touch, just in time. Had he not got there, Aubameyang was clear.

6.07pm GMT

9 min: And BATE come again! Baga surges down the right and loops a cross into the centre. Dragun meets the dropping ball, six yards out and level with the left-hand post, and drives goalwards. Lichtsteiner is forced to hack off the line!

6.06pm GMT

8 min: But Arsenal can’t get too carried away. One simple ball down the inside-right channel and Skavysh is romping ahead of Koscielny and into the Arsenal area. Hearts in mouths as he slams his shot into the side netting. Should have done so much better.

6.04pm GMT

7 min: Ozil combines well with Iwobi down the inside-left channel. Reaching the byline, he cuts back for Mkhitaryan, who slashes a first-time shot miles over the bar, and wide to boot. He had more time than he thought.

6.03pm GMT

6 min: Iwobi bustles down the left and earns another Arsenal corner. Ozil’s delivery isn’t all that, and Stasevich tries to break upfield. But Xhaka presses hard and wins the ball back immediately. It breaks to Iwobi, who is unchallenged on the left-hand corner of the box. He opens his body and attempts to send a curler into the top right. Not quite; it floats wide. But this is some start by Arsenal!

6.01pm GMT

The Gunners are level in the tie already! Aubameyang bombs down the right and crosses low. There’s no red shirt nearby, but no worries, because Volkov, facing his own goal, hangs out a leg and slices the ball into the bottom left, his keeper wrong footed and given no chance.

6.00pm GMT

3 min: Ozil’s in the thick of it already, one-twoing with Xhaka down the left, then earning a corner off Volkov. The set piece is worked to Mkhitaryan, just to the left of the box. His low cross is punched clear by Scherbitski.

5.58pm GMT

2 min: A fast start for Arsenal, as Guendouzi slips a fine ball down the right wing for Lichtsteiner to chase. Lichtsteiner whips in a low cross, and it’s met by Iwobi, who slams a first-time shot straight at Scherbitski. That’s got the crowd going!

5.57pm GMT

We’re off! BATE get the second leg underway, all attention on the returning Mesut Ozil. On that subject, here’s Kári Tulinius: “Through the years Unai Emery has reminded me of several co-workers I’ve had through the years who were excellent at their jobs but weren’t there to socialize and make friends. Perfectly pleasant but a bit distant. However, at Arsenal it’s all about his personality, especially his connection with Özil, while his work is merely good. Even here, in the cup where he’s had his greatest triumphs, thoughts turn immediately to how Özil will perform, rather than the prospect of a title.”

5.53pm GMT

The teams are out! Arsenal are in their famous red shirts with white sleeves, while BATE wear their first-choice yellow. The Emirates is far from full, but fans keep streaming in, and those already here are doing their best to make some noise. We’ll be off in a minute, but before it all gets going, here’s a wild idea from mad professor Charles Antaki: “If the Arsenal backroom staff were up to it, they might conjure a hybrid Lichtsteiner/Maitland-Niles to be a decent full back - young, athletic, purposeful, but wise, single-minded and not above some enjoyable tactical fouling. On the other hand the creature might as easily come out as old, positionally dodgy, prone to giving the ball away and just generally pants. Alternatively they could push Carl Jenkinson onto the field and hope for the best.”

5.49pm GMT

Unai Emery talks to BT Sport! “Good afternoon! We need to come back at home, push from the first minute to the 90th, and to be competitive. But they have shown that they are competitive too, and strong, and will continue doing their defensive work. We need passion, and must be clear with our game plan. Ozil is going to play and I am sure he is going to play a good match. We need every player to play well, and make combinations in attack near the box.”

5.46pm GMT

It’s fair to say this is unlikely to become one of those Great European Nights for the ages. The pre-match atmosphere at the Emirates is somewhat subdued, though you can’t really blame the fans, simply because they’re not there, so many unable to make this preposterous kick-off time. Arsenal fans desirous of finding a popular scapegoat will be thrilled to hear that Chelsea can be blamed for this farce in its entirety: because they’re playing in the Europa League in London tonight too, they get first dibs on the later kick-off time, on account of having a better Uefa ranking.

5.20pm GMT

Pennant watch. Quality ceremonial memorabilia, much as you’d expect from a classy old institution like The Arsenal. Just a shame about the badge, really; they never should have got rid of the grand and gorgeous 1949 crest, Victoria Concordia Crescit, all that. Copyright schmopyright.

5.03pm GMT

Mesut Özil is back! He’s one of only two changes to Arsenal’s starting XI in Belarus last week. He replaces the suspended Alexandre Lacazette. Meanwhile Stephan Lichtsteiner takes the place of the poorly Ainsley Maitland-Niles.

BATE make just one switch. Slobodan Simović replaces Alexander Hleb in midfield, the former Gunner dropping to the bench on his return to his old north London stomping ground.

5.02pm GMT

Arsenal: Cech, Lichtsteiner, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal, Guendouzi, Xhaka, Mkhitaryan, Ozil, Iwobi, Aubameyang.
Subs: Leno, Papastathopoulos, Ramsey, Torreira, Suarez, Kolasinac, Nketiah.

BATE Borisov: Scherbitski, Rios, Volkov, Filipenko, Filipovic, Simovic, Dragun, Milic, Baha, Stasevich, Skavysh.
Subs: Chichkan, Yablonskiy, Berezkin, Dubajic, Hleb, Nemriko, Moukam.

11.22am GMT

Thursday evening, 5.55pm. It’s no time to kick off a big football match, as irritated Arsenal fans who can’t get to the stadium in time from work will tell you. “It’s totally unacceptable and inconvenient,” a spokesperson for the Arsenal Supporters’ Trust told our national broadcaster. “Arsenal fans have to travel to the game after work from across London, the south-east and further afield. The result will be a huge number of empty seats and many fans having to pay for a ticket on their season tickets which they cannot use.” Well done, Uefa! Well done, everyone!

But here we are. Arsenal are a goal adrift in this Europa League round-of-32 tie, having lost embarrassingly at BATE Borisov in the first leg. It shouldn’t be an irredeemable problem, given they beat the Belarusians 6-0 at the Emirates only last season. But they’ll have to turn it around without Alexandre Lacazette, who got himself sent off in Belarus last week.

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The Fiver | It was nice to see Diego Simeone bucking that trend

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The punditry career of Robbie Savage. The reboot of Magnum PI. The Independent Group extemporising philosophically on roundtable debate shows. There’s enough unnecessary, inexplicable, depressing nonsense on television to be dealing with these days without getting worked up about VAR. So hats off to Pep Guardiola for shrugging his shoulders last night and declaring himself “a big fan” of the much-maligned, pernickety officiating system which has only tarnished three Big Cup knockout matches and one World Cup final so far. “I trust VAR!” he trilled with the magnanimity one can only afford when your team has dodged a bullet and it might be best to keep your powder dry so you can properly kick off when the video ref awards Real Madrid a preposterous last-minute penalty in the next round.

Related: VAR brings drama – it enhanced the Champions League at Schalke

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Atlético Madrid 2-0 Juventus: Champions League last 16, first leg – as it happened

Atlético take a healthy lead to Turin after a dominant performance against Juve.

10.08pm GMT

Sid Lowe was at the Metropolitano this evening. Here’s the great man’s take on a fine Atletico performance. Thanks for reading! Nighty night!

10.02pm GMT

That was a huge second-half performance by Diego Simeone’s side. Diego Costa missed a sitter; Antoine Griezmann hit the crossbar; Alvaro Morata had a goal chalked off by VAR for his part in a very light physical exchange with Giorgio Chiellini; and they finally made the pressure tell, Jose Maria Gimenez and Diego Godin scoring two late crucial goals. Juventus had no answer. Their long wait for European Cup number three looks like continuing ... unless they can pull off a stunning comeback in Turin in three weeks time. And that’s a tall order against a side so defensively resolute as Atletico.

9.57pm GMT

And that’s a deserved victory for Atletico, who were sensational in the second half. Not least because they could have lost the head after being denied a goal by a miserable VAR decision. Instead they hit Juve with two late goals to take a huge advantage to Turin! They celebrate accordingly, as Ronaldo trudges off in deep contemplation.

9.55pm GMT

90 min +3: Can, deep on the right, sends a lovely diagonal ball towards Ronaldo, on the left-hand edge of the Atletico six-yard box. Ronaldo rises high, but can’t keep the ball down, and he eyebrows it harmlessly over the bar. The home fans enjoyed that immensely!

9.54pm GMT

90 min +1: In the first of four added minutes, Atletico clear the resulting corner with ease, then break upfield. Lemar wastes a glorious chance from the edge of the Juve box, blazing over when he had to work Szczesny at the very least.

9.52pm GMT

90 min: Ronaldo takes the free kick. It’s a really tight angle, near the byline. He’ll not shoot, will he? No! He pulls it back to the edge of the box for Bernardeschi, who sends a first-time pearler towards the top left. But Oblak, at full stretch, turns it over!

9.51pm GMT

89 min: Alex Sandro probes down the left. Just as he’s about to enter the box, Griezmann slides in to dispossess him. But the Atletico striker’s taken some of his man, so that’s a booking and a free kick just outside the area.

9.49pm GMT

87 min: A free kick for Juve out on the left. Bernardeschi takes, swinging it into a packed box. It’s cleared, and for a second it looks like Lemar will tear off at speed down the right on the counter, Juve light at the back. But he trots down a cul-de-sac.

9.48pm GMT

85 min: Joao Cancelo comes on for Blaise Matuidi. Ronaldo blooters an ambitious effort over the bar. “Sack it off,” writes Sean Moore, who can vote for me by proxy.

9.47pm GMT

Juve are really reeling now! A free kick out on the right is hoicked into the mixer by Griezmann. Mandzukic, facing his own goal, tries to hook clear, but only sends the ball towards Godin, on the right-hand corner of the six-yard box. Godin flicks goalwards from a tight angle, the ball breaking off Ronaldo and into the net. I think it was going in anyway, but try taking it off Godin if it wasn’t!

9.44pm GMT

81 min: Juve are reeling. Griezmann wins a corner with a bustling run down the right. One corner leads to another, and the Italian champions eventually clear. But the mood has changed in the Metropolitano now, with the home fans finally having something to celebrate, and the visitors are on the back foot.

9.43pm GMT

80 min: Juve wanted the ref to go to VAR there, but he wasn’t having any of it. Massimiliano Allegri responds by hooking Paulo Dybala and sending on Federico Bernardeschi.

9.41pm GMT

Lemar swings the corner into the mixer. Morata wins a header. Mandzukic tries to flick clear but the ball slams off the prone Bonucci and sits up for Gimenez, who slams home from the middle of a melee, into the bottom left! No more than Atletico deserve!

9.40pm GMT

77 min: A free kick out on the right for Atletico. Griezmann stands over it, the box loaded. He swings it long. It’s half cleared, allowing Lemar to shoot from just outside the area. It deflects out for a corner on the left. From which ...

9.38pm GMT

76 min: Emre Can has come on for Miralem Pjanic, by the way.

9.38pm GMT

74 min: Morata is fuming. He’s baring his teeth in anger. That decision was very generous towards Juve. And it took a good couple of minutes to make. Clear and obvious? VAR needs work. Or maybe sacking off. You decide.

9.36pm GMT

72 min: NO GOAL! Atletico Madrid 0-0 Juventus. Morata has been judged to have pushed Chiellini in the back just before heading home. There wasn’t much in it, Chiellini having gone down very easily, but the referee’s decided to rule it out. That’s a tight decision, bordering on poor. Atletico are livid, and you can’t really blame them.

9.34pm GMT

70 min: GOAL? Atletico Madrid 1-0 Juventus (Morata 70). What a header this is! A throw on the right. Saul slips a pass left towards Lemar, who then finds Felipe Luis on the left wing. A sensational cross finds the head of Morata, on the penalty spot. Morata powers a header into the top left, Szczesny rooted to the spot! But it’s going to VAR!

9.31pm GMT

69 min: Rodri sprays a pass to Griezmann on the right. He races towards the box, then one-twos with Correa. For a second, he’s sure to burst through for a shot. But Chiellini comes out of nowhere to close the door.

9.29pm GMT

67 min: Here comes that final Atletico change. Koke, returning from injury, hasn’t been able to complete the 90. Angel Correa comes on in his place.

9.28pm GMT

65 min: Juve are bossing the possession. The home crowd don’t like it. A lot of whistling. As a result it looks as though Atletico are preparing their final substitution of the evening. Meanwhile here’s Matt Dony, re Ronaldo’s projection on 49 minutes. “The psychology of footballers, especially forwards, being able to shift blame for their mistakes somewhere else is fascinating and important. They are generally the most ‘confidence-dependent’ players, and they need to have a confidence in their own abilities. So, if something goes wrong, they need to shift the blame to, say, the pass that came in to them, or a bobble on the pitch, or a lucky defender. Arsenal’s psychologist used to test for this ability and quantify it. Unsurprisingly, Lord Bendnter’s results were off the scale, dwarfing even Henry’s.”

9.26pm GMT

63 min: Pjanic sees a long-range shot deflected out for a corner on the right. Oblak punches clear. Lemar then makes his first contribution, an absurd slice miles into the sky that goes back towards trouble. It’s going to be another corner, but the ref’s spotted Alex Sandro’s arm flailing in Koke’s grid, so it’s a free kick and the pressure released on Atletico.

9.24pm GMT

62 min: A purposeful run by Morata down the middle, with Juve backtracking. He slips the ball wide left for Griezmann, who in turn feeds Koke. But the momentum’s gone, and the move peters out.

9.23pm GMT

61 min: Atletico make their second change. Thomas Lemar comes on for Thomas.

9.22pm GMT

59 min: Ronaldo knocks the ball way in front of himself down the left, hoping to win a footrace with Gimenez. He does, and for a second he looks like getting a shot away from a tight angle just inside the box, but Godin comes across to nick the ball clear. Corner, which leads to nothing. Ronaldo still has a pair of jets in his boots, despite his advancing years.

9.19pm GMT

57 min: Diego Costa is replaced by Alvaro Morata. That’s the last Juve will see of the big man in this tie.

9.18pm GMT

55 min: The corner comes to nothing, though Atletico appeal for a penalty when Ronaldo’s clearing header scrapes the shoulder of Mandzukic. Then Alex Sandro clatters into Gimenez while contesting a 50-50 out on the wing. It looks accidental, but the ref books the Juve man, who’ll miss the second leg.

9.17pm GMT

53 min: Griezmann Deserves Better pt.II! He chases a neat Koke flick down the inside-left channel and dinks a shot over Szczesny. It’s surely going in. But Szczesny gets a fingernail to the ball, and diverts it onto the crossbar! The rebound’s cleared, put over by Chiellini. What an effort by Griezmann! But what a save!

9.15pm GMT

52 min: That was an awful shank of a finish, taking up a clump of turf. Such a shame, because Griezmann’s through ball was exquisite. It deserved better.

9.13pm GMT

50 min: What a miss by Diego Costa! Griezmann latches onto a poor Chiellini header in the centre circle. He plays a delicately weighted first-time ball down the middle to release Costa. The striker reaches the area, opens his body, and ... sidefoots badly wide to the right. What a clunking finish. He was berating himself the second it left his boot.

9.12pm GMT

49 min: Matuidi bustles in from the left, refusing to give up as he’s knocked off balance. He slips a pass to Ronaldo on the right. Ronaldo wings the ball miles over the bar, then looks around as though it’s somebody else’s fault. Although to be fair, he’s got plenty of credit in the moral bank when it comes to shooting.

9.10pm GMT

47 min: A scrappy start to the half. But suddenly Alex Sandro bursts down the left, then feeds Ronaldo, who crosses deep. Pjanic tries to skelp home, but his effort is deflected out for a corner that comes to nothing.

9.08pm GMT

Here we go again! Atletico get the ball rolling for the second half. There have been no changes at the break. Juve had kept the hosts waiting, and Simeone wasn’t too happy, tapping his watch, the internationally recognised mime for Hurry Up You Tardy Buggers. The ref couldn’t give two hoots.

8.58pm GMT

Half-time entertainment: Marina Hyde v Gordon Taylor? There’s only going to be one winner.

8.53pm GMT

And that’s the end of a hotly contested first half. Ronaldo went close with a free kick. The hosts were inches away from being awarded a penalty, but VAR said no. Apart from that, it’s been the tight tussle we expected. Entertaining enough, though, and with Simeone shaking his head in anger at some perceived slight as the whistle went, expect his team to be fully competitive when they reappear.

8.51pm GMT

45 min +3: Thomas goes in hard on Dybala, who is going nowhere in the middle of the park. That’s a no-brainer booking, in more ways than one, and that’s another Atletico player who’ll be missing in the second leg.

8.49pm GMT

45 min +1: Nope. It’s easily dealt with. Koke blooters clear ... right into poor De Sciglio’s startled coupon! Ooyah, oof, that’s gotta hurt. The Juve defender goes down, to be revived by the magic sponge.

8.47pm GMT

45 min: Alex Sandro dribbles down the left and purchases a corner off Godin. One last chance for a first-half goal.

8.46pm GMT

44 min: A feisty half is petering out.

8.45pm GMT

42 min: Ronaldo is down holding his left ankle, Saul Niguez having stood on his foot. For a second, it looks serious as Ronaldo raises his arm and remains prone. But the referee’s not having a bar of it, and eventually Ronaldo sits up in a huff. He’s not getting the decision, but at least he’s not injured.

8.43pm GMT

40 min: Mandzukic and Dybala ping the ball back and forth between each other down the right. They nearly open Atletico up, but Thomas is wise to their grift and closes down the space just as Dybala threatens to nip into the area and shoot.

8.41pm GMT

38 min: Juve spend the best part of two minutes stroking it around the middle of the park. The home fans aren’t impressed, and whistle accordingly. On the touchline, Simeone is getting agitated, jabbering in the fourth official’s lugs. Costa, who wants to watch himself having already been booked, joins the philosophical debate. A pleasing edge to this match.

8.38pm GMT

36 min: Griezmann shoots from distance. A big deflection earns a corner on the left. Koke takes. Rodri gets too much on a near-post flick-on, and the ball sails over the bar.

8.36pm GMT

34 min: Then suddenly Dybala bursts into a little space down the inside-left channel. He pearls a shot towards the bottom right from 25 yards, but it’s off target and Oblak claims it with ease anyway.

8.36pm GMT

33 min: Juve stroke the ball around as whistles continue to ping around the Metropolitano. For the first time since the kick-off, there’s something of a lull.

8.35pm GMT

31 min: The crowd are beyond livid, as you’d imagine from such a borderline VAR decision. It looked the right one, though there wasn’t a great deal in it. The fans holler and hoot as Ronaldo clatters into Juanfran; no booking. Then Costa is flagged offside as he chases after a long ball down the left. The linesman gets an earful. He’s on a rolling boil now, a bain-marie of belligerence.

8.32pm GMT

29 min: Atletico fume awhile. Then Griezmann pings the free kick, right on the line at the left-hand corner of the box, towards the top left. Szczesny makes a song and dance of pushing it round the post, then Juve tidy up the corner without any fuss.

8.30pm GMT

27 min: Koke bursts down the middle of the park at speed. He slips a pass down the inside-left channel for Diego Costa, who pushes the ball forward and races after it. De Sciglio clips Costa’s heel. Costa goes over in the area. The ref points to the spot. But then the penalty’s overturned by VAR, with the initial contact having been made outside the box. Just a free kick, then.

8.28pm GMT

25 min: Griezmann nearly sends Juanfran away down the right. The full back would have been in acres, but the pass wasn’t all that and Alex Sandro is able to do enough to put a stop to his gallop. That’s a good chance to worry Juventus spurned.

8.26pm GMT

23 min: Ronaldo slips a pass wide left for Alex Sandro, who crosses high. Mandzukic rises highest and hopes to send a header into the top left, but the ball sails harmlessly over the crossbar.

8.24pm GMT

21 min: Atletico pin Juve back awhile. A bit of head tennis in the box. Eventually the ball lands on terra firma and Koke backheels down the inside-right channel in the hope of cutely finding Griezmann. It’s very close to being brilliant, but the ball takes a little deflection away from the striker that allows Szczesny to snaffle.

8.22pm GMT

19 min: Bentancur nearly plays Chiellini into trouble with a loose backwards pass, Griezmann sniffing around. But the defender is alert to the danger and stands firm. Juve go up the other end, Mandzukic nearly making room for a shot on the edge of the box. Not quite. This is a proper battle, and highly entertaining.

8.20pm GMT

17 min: Dybala is this close to sending Ronaldo away down the right wing with a quarterback’s pass from deep. But Godin reads it well to make a crucial interception. Suggestions of handball by the defender, but the referee waves play on.

8.18pm GMT

15 min: Thomas sends a speculative effort towards the bottom-left corner of the Juve goal from 25 yards. It’s a proper no-nonsense belt, and Szczesny goes very well to get down and smother the fierce daisycutter. This is great fun.

8.17pm GMT

13 min: A free kick for Atletico near the centre circle. Griezmann floats it in long, and wins a corner, the ball skimming off the head of De Sciglio. From the corner, Juve break upfield, Dybala nearly rounding the last man Juanfran. But the ball rears up onto his arm, and the ref blows for a free kick. Atletico once again collectively pressure the ref to issue a yellow card. They’re on one tonight.

8.15pm GMT

12 min: Ronaldo has another look at goal, this time from distance out on the right. It’s deflected out for a corner. The set piece finds the head of Bonucci, ten yards out. He’s got to score, but he sends his effort over the bar. This has been some start; this match promises to be some ride.

8.13pm GMT

10 min: Costa’s lid is rattling, the inside of his head a pressure-cooker just desperate to boil over. He gets right up in the referee’s grille when he’s tripped in the midfield by Matuidi. He’s demanding retribution but the ref’s not interested. Costa needs to simmer down. Let’s see if he lasts the evening, me old soccer-loving pals.

8.12pm GMT

9 min: Ronaldo, made irritable by waiting, pelts a sensational rising free kick towards the top left. It’s heading in, a real heatseeker, but Oblak sticks up a strong arm to turn it over the bar. The corner is a non-event.

8.11pm GMT

8 min: Ronaldo trots up to belt the free kick goalwards, but it’s a false start, because Diego Costa had encroached. That’s a ludicrous booking that means he’s out of the second leg! What top-notch buffoonery.

8.09pm GMT

7 min: Ronaldo, formerly of local concern Real, is getting all sorts of pelters from the home crowd. As you’d expect. The whistling nearly takes the roof off as he skitters down the inside-left channel. He’s barged over by Gimenez, and that’s a foul 30 yards from goal. Ronaldo opens his legs, sets himself, and you know what comes next.

8.08pm GMT

5 min: Griezmann dinks the ball past a couple of static Juve midfielders and runs into an awful lot of space down the inside-left channel. He should probably take a shot upon reaching the edge of the box, but tries to find Costa with a cute diagonal pass. It’s not accurate enough and Szczesny gathers without fuss.

8.07pm GMT

4 min: Atletico come at Juve again, Costa winning a corner out on the right. The resulting set piece is a complete waste of time, sent straight out of play by Koke, but this is an impressive fast start by the hosts.

8.05pm GMT

2 min: They’re not getting one, even after a check with the old VAR. The referee limits himself to bollocking the Atletico captain Godin for arguing the point a wee bit too forcefully.

8.04pm GMT

1 min: Juve send the ball long from kick-off, and it’s in the hands of Oblak, who launches it back upfield. Costa flicks on. Griezmann nearly gets the better of Chiellini, but not quite. The ball is knocked out for a throw on the left, from which Griezmann shoots from the left-hand edge of the box. It’s wide and high, but he’s caught by Matuidi. There doesn’t look to be much in it, but Atletico surround the ref demanding a penalty.

8.02pm GMT

And we’re off! Juve get a boisterous party started. This is a sensational atmosphere, in a gorgeous stadium. European football at its very best.

7.59pm GMT

The teams are out! They’re a bit behind schedule, after some interminable faffing around in the tunnel, but never mind, there’s still magnificent atmosphere at the Metropolitano! The place is bouncing. Atletico are in their ... we’ve covered this. We’ll be off in a minute, but in the meantime, a few wise words from Ciaran Crowther: “I think the winner of this tie stands a great chance of winning the Champions League, surprised so many pundits are discounting both of these teams in favour of serial chokers like PSG or Man City. As they say in American football: offense wins games, defense wins championships. And you could certainly say both of these teams have championship-winning defences as well as some proper firepower going forward.”

7.34pm GMT

Kit watch. The hosts will be wearing their traditional mattress-inspired red and white stripes, which aren’t a feature on the back of the shirt and therefore aren’t pictured below. No need to thank us.

7.12pm GMT

Atlético make four changes to the side named for the 1-0 win at Rayo Vallecano on Saturday. Thomas, Koke, Juanfran and Diego Costa are in. Santiago Arias, Ángel Correa and Alvaro Morata drop to the bench, while Alejandro Galvez misses out entirely.

Juve make three changes to the team selected for the 3-0 home victory over Frosinone last Friday. Miralem Pjanić, Alex Sandro and Blaise Matuidi return, taking the places of the benched João Cancelo and Emre Can, and the injured Sami Khedira.

7.10pm GMT

Atlético Madrid: Oblak, Juanfran, Gimenez, Godin, Filipe Luis, Koke, Thomas, Rodri, Saul, Griezmann, Costa.
Subs: Adan, Arias, Kalinic, Correa, Lemar, Savic, Morata.

Juventus: Szczesny, De Sciglio, Bonucci, Chiellini, Alex Sandro, Bentancur, Pjanic, Matuidi, Dybala, Mandzukic, Ronaldo.
Subs: Perin, Caceres, Joao Cancelo, Can, Rugani, Bernardeschi, Spinazzola.

4.57pm GMT

It’s guaranteed to be another Nearly Year for at least one of the Nearly Teams of recent seasons. Atlético Madrid and Juventus have both reached the final twice in the past five years, but neither have lifted the trophy during that time. Atlético were denied by their city rivals Real in 2014 and 2016; Juve were downed by Barcelona in 2015 and Real in 2017. Only one of them will still have the chance to right those wrongs after this tie is over.

Atlético will be especially desperate to reach the final again, because this season it’s going to be played at their very own Estadio Metropolitano. Diego Simeone’s team aren’t going into this tie in the best form, having won just four of their last nine matches in all competitions. But it’s not all bad news. Antoine Griezmann has smoking-hot boots right now, with ten goals in his last 11 appearances. Los Colchoneros - the reigning Europa League champs - have won their last eight European matches at home. They’re unbeaten in 12 home Champions League matches. And they’ve won their last five home games against Italian teams. Plenty to go on there.

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Atlético Madrid v Juventus: Champions League last 16, first leg – live!

Atlético take a healthy lead to Turin after a dominant performance against Juve.

10.08pm GMT

Sid Lowe was at the Metropolitano this evening. Here’s the great man’s take on a fine Atletico performance. Thanks for reading! Nighty night!

10.02pm GMT

That was a huge second-half performance by Diego Simeone’s side. Diego Costa missed a sitter; Antoine Griezmann hit the crossbar; Alvaro Morata had a goal chalked off by VAR for his part in a very light physical exchange with Giorgio Chiellini; and they finally made the pressure tell, Jose Maria Gimenez and Diego Godin scoring two late crucial goals. Juventus had no answer. Their long wait for European Cup number three looks like continuing ... unless they can pull off a stunning comeback in Turin in three weeks time. And that’s a tall order against a side so defensively resolute as Atletico.

9.57pm GMT

And that’s a deserved victory for Atletico, who were sensational in the second half. Not least because they could have lost the head after being denied a goal by a miserable VAR decision. Instead they hit Juve with two late goals to take a huge advantage to Turin! They celebrate accordingly, as Ronaldo trudges off in deep contemplation.

9.55pm GMT

90 min +3: Can, deep on the right, sends a lovely diagonal ball towards Ronaldo, on the left-hand edge of the Atletico six-yard box. Ronaldo rises high, but can’t keep the ball down, and he eyebrows it harmlessly over the bar. The home fans enjoyed that immensely!

9.54pm GMT

90 min +1: In the first of four added minutes, Atletico clear the resulting corner with ease, then break upfield. Lemar wastes a glorious chance from the edge of the Juve box, blazing over when he had to work Szczesny at the very least.

9.52pm GMT

90 min: Ronaldo takes the free kick. It’s a really tight angle, near the byline. He’ll not shoot, will he? No! He pulls it back to the edge of the box for Bernardeschi, who sends a first-time pearler towards the top left. But Oblak, at full stretch, turns it over!

9.51pm GMT

89 min: Alex Sandro probes down the left. Just as he’s about to enter the box, Griezmann slides in to dispossess him. But the Atletico striker’s taken some of his man, so that’s a booking and a free kick just outside the area.

9.49pm GMT

87 min: A free kick for Juve out on the left. Bernardeschi takes, swinging it into a packed box. It’s cleared, and for a second it looks like Lemar will tear off at speed down the right on the counter, Juve light at the back. But he trots down a cul-de-sac.

9.48pm GMT

85 min: Joao Cancelo comes on for Blaise Matuidi. Ronaldo blooters an ambitious effort over the bar. “Sack it off,” writes Sean Moore, who can vote for me by proxy.

9.47pm GMT

Juve are really reeling now! A free kick out on the right is hoicked into the mixer by Griezmann. Mandzukic, facing his own goal, tries to hook clear, but only sends the ball towards Godin, on the right-hand corner of the six-yard box. Godin flicks goalwards from a tight angle, the ball breaking off Ronaldo and into the net. I think it was going in anyway, but try taking it off Godin if it wasn’t!

9.44pm GMT

81 min: Juve are reeling. Griezmann wins a corner with a bustling run down the right. One corner leads to another, and the Italian champions eventually clear. But the mood has changed in the Metropolitano now, with the home fans finally having something to celebrate, and the visitors are on the back foot.

9.43pm GMT

80 min: Juve wanted the ref to go to VAR there, but he wasn’t having any of it. Massimiliano Allegri responds by hooking Paulo Dybala and sending on Federico Bernardeschi.

9.41pm GMT

Lemar swings the corner into the mixer. Morata wins a header. Mandzukic tries to flick clear but the ball slams off the prone Bonucci and sits up for Gimenez, who slams home from the middle of a melee, into the bottom left! No more than Atletico deserve!

9.40pm GMT

77 min: A free kick out on the right for Atletico. Griezmann stands over it, the box loaded. He swings it long. It’s half cleared, allowing Lemar to shoot from just outside the area. It deflects out for a corner on the left. From which ...

9.38pm GMT

76 min: Emre Can has come on for Miralem Pjanic, by the way.

9.38pm GMT

74 min: Morata is fuming. He’s baring his teeth in anger. That decision was very generous towards Juve. And it took a good couple of minutes to make. Clear and obvious? VAR needs work. Or maybe sacking off. You decide.

9.36pm GMT

72 min: NO GOAL! Atletico Madrid 0-0 Juventus. Morata has been judged to have pushed Chiellini in the back just before heading home. There wasn’t much in it, Chiellini having gone down very easily, but the referee’s decided to rule it out. That’s a tight decision, bordering on poor. Atletico are livid, and you can’t really blame them.

9.34pm GMT

70 min: GOAL? Atletico Madrid 1-0 Juventus (Morata 70). What a header this is! A throw on the right. Saul slips a pass left towards Lemar, who then finds Felipe Luis on the left wing. A sensational cross finds the head of Morata, on the penalty spot. Morata powers a header into the top left, Szczesny rooted to the spot! But it’s going to VAR!

9.31pm GMT

69 min: Rodri sprays a pass to Griezmann on the right. He races towards the box, then one-twos with Correa. For a second, he’s sure to burst through for a shot. But Chiellini comes out of nowhere to close the door.

9.29pm GMT

67 min: Here comes that final Atletico change. Koke, returning from injury, hasn’t been able to complete the 90. Angel Correa comes on in his place.

9.28pm GMT

65 min: Juve are bossing the possession. The home crowd don’t like it. A lot of whistling. As a result it looks as though Atletico are preparing their final substitution of the evening. Meanwhile here’s Matt Dony, re Ronaldo’s projection on 49 minutes. “The psychology of footballers, especially forwards, being able to shift blame for their mistakes somewhere else is fascinating and important. They are generally the most ‘confidence-dependent’ players, and they need to have a confidence in their own abilities. So, if something goes wrong, they need to shift the blame to, say, the pass that came in to them, or a bobble on the pitch, or a lucky defender. Arsenal’s psychologist used to test for this ability and quantify it. Unsurprisingly, Lord Bendnter’s results were off the scale, dwarfing even Henry’s.”

9.26pm GMT

63 min: Pjanic sees a long-range shot deflected out for a corner on the right. Oblak punches clear. Lemar then makes his first contribution, an absurd slice miles into the sky that goes back towards trouble. It’s going to be another corner, but the ref’s spotted Alex Sandro’s arm flailing in Koke’s grid, so it’s a free kick and the pressure released on Atletico.

9.24pm GMT

62 min: A purposeful run by Morata down the middle, with Juve backtracking. He slips the ball wide left for Griezmann, who in turn feeds Koke. But the momentum’s gone, and the move peters out.

9.23pm GMT

61 min: Atletico make their second change. Thomas Lemar comes on for Thomas.

9.22pm GMT

59 min: Ronaldo knocks the ball way in front of himself down the left, hoping to win a footrace with Gimenez. He does, and for a second he looks like getting a shot away from a tight angle just inside the box, but Godin comes across to nick the ball clear. Corner, which leads to nothing. Ronaldo still has a pair of jets in his boots, despite his advancing years.

9.19pm GMT

57 min: Diego Costa is replaced by Alvaro Morata. That’s the last Juve will see of the big man in this tie.

9.18pm GMT

55 min: The corner comes to nothing, though Atletico appeal for a penalty when Ronaldo’s clearing header scrapes the shoulder of Mandzukic. Then Alex Sandro clatters into Gimenez while contesting a 50-50 out on the wing. It looks accidental, but the ref books the Juve man, who’ll miss the second leg.

9.17pm GMT

53 min: Griezmann Deserves Better pt.II! He chases a neat Koke flick down the inside-left channel and dinks a shot over Szczesny. It’s surely going in. But Szczesny gets a fingernail to the ball, and diverts it onto the crossbar! The rebound’s cleared, put over by Chiellini. What an effort by Griezmann! But what a save!

9.15pm GMT

52 min: That was an awful shank of a finish, taking up a clump of turf. Such a shame, because Griezmann’s through ball was exquisite. It deserved better.

9.13pm GMT

50 min: What a miss by Diego Costa! Griezmann latches onto a poor Chiellini header in the centre circle. He plays a delicately weighted first-time ball down the middle to release Costa. The striker reaches the area, opens his body, and ... sidefoots badly wide to the right. What a clunking finish. He was berating himself the second it left his boot.

9.12pm GMT

49 min: Matuidi bustles in from the left, refusing to give up as he’s knocked off balance. He slips a pass to Ronaldo on the right. Ronaldo wings the ball miles over the bar, then looks around as though it’s somebody else’s fault. Although to be fair, he’s got plenty of credit in the moral bank when it comes to shooting.

9.10pm GMT

47 min: A scrappy start to the half. But suddenly Alex Sandro bursts down the left, then feeds Ronaldo, who crosses deep. Pjanic tries to skelp home, but his effort is deflected out for a corner that comes to nothing.

9.08pm GMT

Here we go again! Atletico get the ball rolling for the second half. There have been no changes at the break. Juve had kept the hosts waiting, and Simeone wasn’t too happy, tapping his watch, the internationally recognised mime for Hurry Up You Tardy Buggers. The ref couldn’t give two hoots.

8.58pm GMT

Half-time entertainment: Marina Hyde v Gordon Taylor? There’s only going to be one winner.

8.53pm GMT

And that’s the end of a hotly contested first half. Ronaldo went close with a free kick. The hosts were inches away from being awarded a penalty, but VAR said no. Apart from that, it’s been the tight tussle we expected. Entertaining enough, though, and with Simeone shaking his head in anger at some perceived slight as the whistle went, expect his team to be fully competitive when they reappear.

8.51pm GMT

45 min +3: Thomas goes in hard on Dybala, who is going nowhere in the middle of the park. That’s a no-brainer booking, in more ways than one, and that’s another Atletico player who’ll be missing in the second leg.

8.49pm GMT

45 min +1: Nope. It’s easily dealt with. Koke blooters clear ... right into poor De Sciglio’s startled coupon! Ooyah, oof, that’s gotta hurt. The Juve defender goes down, to be revived by the magic sponge.

8.47pm GMT

45 min: Alex Sandro dribbles down the left and purchases a corner off Godin. One last chance for a first-half goal.

8.46pm GMT

44 min: A feisty half is petering out.

8.45pm GMT

42 min: Ronaldo is down holding his left ankle, Saul Niguez having stood on his foot. For a second, it looks serious as Ronaldo raises his arm and remains prone. But the referee’s not having a bar of it, and eventually Ronaldo sits up in a huff. He’s not getting the decision, but at least he’s not injured.

8.43pm GMT

40 min: Mandzukic and Dybala ping the ball back and forth between each other down the right. They nearly open Atletico up, but Thomas is wise to their grift and closes down the space just as Dybala threatens to nip into the area and shoot.

8.41pm GMT

38 min: Juve spend the best part of two minutes stroking it around the middle of the park. The home fans aren’t impressed, and whistle accordingly. On the touchline, Simeone is getting agitated, jabbering in the fourth official’s lugs. Costa, who wants to watch himself having already been booked, joins the philosophical debate. A pleasing edge to this match.

8.38pm GMT

36 min: Griezmann shoots from distance. A big deflection earns a corner on the left. Koke takes. Rodri gets too much on a near-post flick-on, and the ball sails over the bar.

8.36pm GMT

34 min: Then suddenly Dybala bursts into a little space down the inside-left channel. He pearls a shot towards the bottom right from 25 yards, but it’s off target and Oblak claims it with ease anyway.

8.36pm GMT

33 min: Juve stroke the ball around as whistles continue to ping around the Metropolitano. For the first time since the kick-off, there’s something of a lull.

8.35pm GMT

31 min: The crowd are beyond livid, as you’d imagine from such a borderline VAR decision. It looked the right one, though there wasn’t a great deal in it. The fans holler and hoot as Ronaldo clatters into Juanfran; no booking. Then Costa is flagged offside as he chases after a long ball down the left. The linesman gets an earful. He’s on a rolling boil now, a bain-marie of belligerence.

8.32pm GMT

29 min: Atletico fume awhile. Then Griezmann pings the free kick, right on the line at the left-hand corner of the box, towards the top left. Szczesny makes a song and dance of pushing it round the post, then Juve tidy up the corner without any fuss.

8.30pm GMT

27 min: Koke bursts down the middle of the park at speed. He slips a pass down the inside-left channel for Diego Costa, who pushes the ball forward and races after it. De Sciglio clips Costa’s heel. Costa goes over in the area. The ref points to the spot. But then the penalty’s overturned by VAR, with the initial contact having been made outside the box. Just a free kick, then.

8.28pm GMT

25 min: Griezmann nearly sends Juanfran away down the right. The full back would have been in acres, but the pass wasn’t all that and Alex Sandro is able to do enough to put a stop to his gallop. That’s a good chance to worry Juventus spurned.

8.26pm GMT

23 min: Ronaldo slips a pass wide left for Alex Sandro, who crosses high. Mandzukic rises highest and hopes to send a header into the top left, but the ball sails harmlessly over the crossbar.

8.24pm GMT

21 min: Atletico pin Juve back awhile. A bit of head tennis in the box. Eventually the ball lands on terra firma and Koke backheels down the inside-right channel in the hope of cutely finding Griezmann. It’s very close to being brilliant, but the ball takes a little deflection away from the striker that allows Szczesny to snaffle.

8.22pm GMT

19 min: Bentancur nearly plays Chiellini into trouble with a loose backwards pass, Griezmann sniffing around. But the defender is alert to the danger and stands firm. Juve go up the other end, Mandzukic nearly making room for a shot on the edge of the box. Not quite. This is a proper battle, and highly entertaining.

8.20pm GMT

17 min: Dybala is this close to sending Ronaldo away down the right wing with a quarterback’s pass from deep. But Godin reads it well to make a crucial interception. Suggestions of handball by the defender, but the referee waves play on.

8.18pm GMT

15 min: Thomas sends a speculative effort towards the bottom-left corner of the Juve goal from 25 yards. It’s a proper no-nonsense belt, and Szczesny goes very well to get down and smother the fierce daisycutter. This is great fun.

8.17pm GMT

13 min: A free kick for Atletico near the centre circle. Griezmann floats it in long, and wins a corner, the ball skimming off the head of De Sciglio. From the corner, Juve break upfield, Dybala nearly rounding the last man Juanfran. But the ball rears up onto his arm, and the ref blows for a free kick. Atletico once again collectively pressure the ref to issue a yellow card. They’re on one tonight.

8.15pm GMT

12 min: Ronaldo has another look at goal, this time from distance out on the right. It’s deflected out for a corner. The set piece finds the head of Bonucci, ten yards out. He’s got to score, but he sends his effort over the bar. This has been some start; this match promises to be some ride.

8.13pm GMT

10 min: Costa’s lid is rattling, the inside of his head a pressure-cooker just desperate to boil over. He gets right up in the referee’s grille when he’s tripped in the midfield by Matuidi. He’s demanding retribution but the ref’s not interested. Costa needs to simmer down. Let’s see if he lasts the evening, me old soccer-loving pals.

8.12pm GMT

9 min: Ronaldo, made irritable by waiting, pelts a sensational rising free kick towards the top left. It’s heading in, a real heatseeker, but Oblak sticks up a strong arm to turn it over the bar. The corner is a non-event.

8.11pm GMT

8 min: Ronaldo trots up to belt the free kick goalwards, but it’s a false start, because Diego Costa had encroached. That’s a ludicrous booking that means he’s out of the second leg! What top-notch buffoonery.

8.09pm GMT

7 min: Ronaldo, formerly of local concern Real, is getting all sorts of pelters from the home crowd. As you’d expect. The whistling nearly takes the roof off as he skitters down the inside-left channel. He’s barged over by Gimenez, and that’s a foul 30 yards from goal. Ronaldo opens his legs, sets himself, and you know what comes next.

8.08pm GMT

5 min: Griezmann dinks the ball past a couple of static Juve midfielders and runs into an awful lot of space down the inside-left channel. He should probably take a shot upon reaching the edge of the box, but tries to find Costa with a cute diagonal pass. It’s not accurate enough and Szczesny gathers without fuss.

8.07pm GMT

4 min: Atletico come at Juve again, Costa winning a corner out on the right. The resulting set piece is a complete waste of time, sent straight out of play by Koke, but this is an impressive fast start by the hosts.

8.05pm GMT

2 min: They’re not getting one, even after a check with the old VAR. The referee limits himself to bollocking the Atletico captain Godin for arguing the point a wee bit too forcefully.

8.04pm GMT

1 min: Juve send the ball long from kick-off, and it’s in the hands of Oblak, who launches it back upfield. Costa flicks on. Griezmann nearly gets the better of Chiellini, but not quite. The ball is knocked out for a throw on the left, from which Griezmann shoots from the left-hand edge of the box. It’s wide and high, but he’s caught by Matuidi. There doesn’t look to be much in it, but Atletico surround the ref demanding a penalty.

8.02pm GMT

And we’re off! Juve get a boisterous party started. This is a sensational atmosphere, in a gorgeous stadium. European football at its very best.

7.59pm GMT

The teams are out! They’re a bit behind schedule, after some interminable faffing around in the tunnel, but never mind, there’s still magnificent atmosphere at the Metropolitano! The place is bouncing. Atletico are in their ... we’ve covered this. We’ll be off in a minute, but in the meantime, a few wise words from Ciaran Crowther: “I think the winner of this tie stands a great chance of winning the Champions League, surprised so many pundits are discounting both of these teams in favour of serial chokers like PSG or Man City. As they say in American football: offense wins games, defense wins championships. And you could certainly say both of these teams have championship-winning defences as well as some proper firepower going forward.”

7.34pm GMT

Kit watch. The hosts will be wearing their traditional mattress-inspired red and white stripes, which aren’t a feature on the back of the shirt and therefore aren’t pictured below. No need to thank us.

7.12pm GMT

Atlético make four changes to the side named for the 1-0 win at Rayo Vallecano on Saturday. Thomas, Koke, Juanfran and Diego Costa are in. Santiago Arias, Ángel Correa and Alvaro Morata drop to the bench, while Alejandro Galvez misses out entirely.

Juve make three changes to the team selected for the 3-0 home victory over Frosinone last Friday. Miralem Pjanić, Alex Sandro and Blaise Matuidi return, taking the places of the benched João Cancelo and Emre Can, and the injured Sami Khedira.

7.10pm GMT

Atlético Madrid: Oblak, Juanfran, Gimenez, Godin, Filipe Luis, Koke, Thomas, Rodri, Saul, Griezmann, Costa.
Subs: Adan, Arias, Kalinic, Correa, Lemar, Savic, Morata.

Juventus: Szczesny, De Sciglio, Bonucci, Chiellini, Alex Sandro, Bentancur, Pjanic, Matuidi, Dybala, Mandzukic, Ronaldo.
Subs: Perin, Caceres, Joao Cancelo, Can, Rugani, Bernardeschi, Spinazzola.

4.57pm GMT

It’s guaranteed to be another Nearly Year for at least one of the Nearly Teams of recent seasons. Atlético Madrid and Juventus have both reached the final twice in the past five years, but neither have lifted the trophy during that time. Atlético were denied by their city rivals Real in 2014 and 2016; Juve were downed by Barcelona in 2015 and Real in 2017. Only one of them will still have the chance to right those wrongs after this tie is over.

Atlético will be especially desperate to reach the final again, because this season it’s going to be played at their very own Estadio Metropolitano. Diego Simeone’s team aren’t going into this tie in the best form, having won just four of their last nine matches in all competitions. But it’s not all bad news. Antoine Griezmann has smoking-hot boots right now, with ten goals in his last 11 appearances. Los Colchoneros - the reigning Europa League champs - have won their last eight European matches at home. They’re unbeaten in 12 home Champions League matches. And they’ve won their last five home games against Italian teams. Plenty to go on there.

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The Fiver | Staring us in the face, in plain sight, giving us the big do-you-want-some

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Yesterday evening, Barcelona took 25 shots against Lyon but none of them went in, so they drew for the fourth time in five matches. At Anfield, Naby Keïta had a pass completion rate of 74%. But apart from those two examples of things that are brimful of pretty attacking promise but aren’t quite clicking at the moment, there was very little to talk about in Big Cup. The needle on the Fiver’s patented Entertainmentometer™© got stuck halfway between Mildly Diverting But Only Because There’s Nothing On Any Of The Other Channels and Intriguing But Only Because You’re Trying Way Too Hard. Bah. As a banner displayed in the Bayern end and applauded by the Liverpool fans noted, you had to pay £48 for a ticket to watch this stuff. One day a real rain will come.

Related: Is defending making a comeback after the gung-ho attacking years?

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Liverpool 0-0 Bayern Munich: Champions League last 16 – as it happened

Bayern are favourites to progress after a defensive masterclass at Anfield.

9.14am GMT

More courage required, says Klopp:

Related: Liverpool need more courage to beat Bayern Munich, says Jürgen Klopp

9.10am GMT

Meat and potatoes from Jordan Henderson:

Related: Jordan Henderson steps up to show the value of meat and potatoes | Barney Ronay

9.10am GMT

How did the players perform? Paul Wilson runs the rule over them:

Related: Liverpool 0-0 Bayern Munich: Champions League player ratings

10.23pm GMT

And that’s your lot. Andy Hunter was our man at Anfield, and here’s his take. Thanks for reading, and see you here in three weeks for the second leg. Nighty night!

Related: Liverpool and Bayern Munich trade blows but draw leaves tie poised

10.21pm GMT

Here’s a relaxed and smiling Jurgen Klopp, speaking to BT Sport. “First half we forced it a little bit. It was not a day when it clicked in the very first minute. Bayern are obviously very strong. We made our life a bit difficult with the last pass. There were about ten situations, either on the counter or around the box, when we gave it away or shot in their legs. So the positive thing is that the result is the best draw you can get. But yes, we can play better. It was a big fight, and we had the better chances. For us it is OK, the tie is not over. It’s not a dream result, but a good one and we can work with it. It’s not a game you will remember in 20 years! A lot of things were really good but we were playing against an outstandingly good side. I’m not over the moon, but I’m completely OK. So let’s recover and play against United which will be another tough one.”

10.07pm GMT

Jordan Henderson speaks to BT Sport. “It’s obviously disappointing that we haven’t scored. But we kept a clean sheet and defended well, which is a positive, and had enough chances in the first half to score one or two. But it’s not the worst result in the world. We’ve got to go there and put in a performance. I thought our level was good but we lacked a little in our final third. We had to defend with everyone and counter-pressed well, but they’re a good team and are going to have moments. It’s still alive. It’ll be difficult but we have experience in the Champions League. We go again.”

Andy Robertson adds: “We were playing a very experienced team. Obviously we went on a run last year, but they’ve been there and done it for five or six years, and know how to break up the play, especially away from home. We need to go over there and believe we can cause them the problems we caused them tonight, and get a crucial goal. Fabinho is different class, he did a job and put in a couple of decent tackles. We were there to protect him but he didn’t need it.”

9.59pm GMT

In retrospect, it was always going to end like this, wasn’t it? Two free-scoring attacks against a couple of creaking defences. You know how football works. We should have known better. Bayern were superb at the back tonight, and look very happy with their evening’s work, as they should. They go over to share a moment with their fans. Everybody happy. But they didn’t show too much in attack. Liverpool weren’t at their best, but Joel Matip’s weird slice towards his own net apart, the VVD-less defence wasn’t troubled much. Liverpool will console themselves with the knowledge that Bayern will attack more at home, presumably leaving their forward three a little more space in which to work. And to be fair, they still managed to create chances against Bayern’s relentless defence tonight; they just forgot to work Manuel Neuer, is all. Bayern are favourites to progress now, of course, but Liverpool aren’t in Ah Well Let’s Concentrate On The League territory just yet.

9.52pm GMT

And that’s that. A 0-0 scoreline at home isn’t the worst in Europe - no away goal conceded - but it’s not ideal either. It’s advantage Bayern at the halfway stage, and Jurgen Klopp doesn’t look particularly happy.

9.51pm GMT

90 min +4: Bayern continue to break up Liverpool’s attempts to attack. Robertson eventually fouls Javi Martinez in frustration.

9.50pm GMT

90 min +3: Mane has a good run at Sule down the left, but his attempted pass through to the nearby Salah is cut out by Javi Martinez. Bayern have bested Liverpool at their own pressing game tonight.

9.49pm GMT

90 min +2: Bayern keep hold of the ball. Anfield considers this in silence.

9.47pm GMT

90 min +1: Rafinha comes on for the excellent Serge Gnabry.

9.47pm GMT

90 min: Sule goes over having had his toes squished by Origi. Time ticks on. Bayern have run the clock down in the professional style. There will be four added minutes.

9.46pm GMT

89 min: The free kick isn’t up to much, and sails through the box unchallenged. Throw for Bayern, and the pressure’s off.

9.45pm GMT

88 min: Hummels clumsily clatters into the back of Origi, who was going nowhere down the Liverpool right. A free kick and a chance for Alexander-Arnold to deliver something into the box.

9.45pm GMT

87 min: James Rodriguez trots off. Renato Sanches, who lost at Anfield 5-0 last season with Swansea City, replaces him. Eventually the goal kick’s taken.

9.44pm GMT

86 min: The resulting corner sees Mane and the hapless Matip get in each other’s road. The ball sails harmlessly over the bar for a goal kick. Martinez then goes down with cramp, and he milks it marvellously, a masterclass in gamesmanship and clock management.

9.42pm GMT

85 min: Wijnaldum drives at a backtracking Bayern defence. He’s got players either side, but confuses himself and clanks his pass into a green shirt. Liverpool come again through Robertson, and his low cross from the left is flicked towards the bottom left by Mane’s deft stooping header. Neuer turns it round the post.

9.41pm GMT

83 min: Milner slips Salah into space down the right. Salah wins a corner off Alaba. Alexander-Arnold takes. It’s half-cleared. Henderson hoicks the ball into the mixer. It’s half-cleared again. Henderson loops long towards Robertson, coming in from the left. The ball breaks to Matip, on the edge of the area. He’s got time to take a touch, but slashes a first-time effort over the bar. That’s abysmal. Liverpool’s two best chances have fallen to Matip, which explains an awful lot.

9.38pm GMT

81 min: The corner’s half cleared. Alexander-Arnold attempts a wildly optimistic shot from 30 yards. It flies 30 yards over the bar. And then Bayern make their first change, swapping Kingsley Coman for Franck Ribery. Bayern sniff a precious away goal.

9.37pm GMT

80 min: Henderson nicks the ball off Thiago, and sends Mane scampering into space. Mane rolls the ball wide left for the marauding Robertson, whose shot is deflected wide by Kimmich. Corner.

9.36pm GMT

79 min: Space for James down the inside-left channel. He pulls a low shot across goal and harmlessly wide right.

9.35pm GMT

78 min: It’s pelting down at Anfield. James wedges a pass down the left to release Alaba, who then looks for Coman in the middle. Liverpool are in the process of scrambling clear when the flag goes up for offside from the original pass. Bayern look the most likely to break the deadlock.

9.33pm GMT

76 min: Thiago sprays a diagonal ball to Gnabry on the right. He cuts inside and lashes wildly over from distance. Liverpool then make the first changes of the evening: James Milner and Divock Origi replace the confidence-light Naby Keita and the recovering Roberto Firmino.

9.31pm GMT

74 min: Keita turns on the jets to dribble down the left. The ball’s eventually flicked wide right to Salah, who sashays into the area. He makes some space to shoot, fighting his way past Alaba, but then a heavy touch takes him into territory occupied by his own man Wijnaldum, who can’t get out the way. Chance spurned.

9.29pm GMT

72 min: Alexander-Arnold’s delivery is uncharacteristically poor, but Sule needlessly flicks a header behind for a corner. Liverpool look the gift horse in the mouth, doing absolutely nothing with the bonus set piece.

9.28pm GMT

70 min: Salah dribbles in from the right, across the face of the box. He wants a free kick as Hummels slides in, but he’s not getting it. Anfield boils over in frustration. But then there’s a new burst of life in the crowd as James drags down Matip while attempting to break. A free kick that allows Liverpool to load the box.

9.26pm GMT

68 min: Keita continues to look pained, as he’s charged down twice in quick succession just inside the Bayern box, before he can pull the trigger to shoot. If ever there’s a player who needs a goal to build some confidence and unlock his vast potential, it’s Keita.

9.24pm GMT

66 min: Good pressing by Firmino, Robertson and Keita down the left. Keita threatens to break clear in the box, but James nips in ahead of him, then slips over and is gifted a free kick. Keita looks pained.

9.22pm GMT

65 min: A throw to Liverpool deep in Bayern territory. Alexander-Arnold doesn’t have many options, and flings it straight to Neuer. Bayern are doing a number on Liverpool here. Do the hosts have an answer?

9.21pm GMT

64 min: Matip shanks a simple pass out of play. The first groans this evening from the Anfield faithful, who are beginning to get antsy. On the touchline, Klopp prowls with a frown.

9.20pm GMT

62 min: Thiago stands on Henderson’s foot. Henderson isn’t too pleased about it, but it looked accidental, all happening in a spilt second as the pair contested a loose ball.

9.19pm GMT

61 min: Alexander-Arnold steals the ball off Coman and goes off on a baroque dribble down the right. He glides into the box, and for a second it all looks like it’s going to open up. But Hummels closes him down just in time. But that’s the sort of energy Liverpool need to show. Much better.

9.17pm GMT

60 min: Alisson boots long. Salah is caught offside. Liverpool are beginning to get a little frustrated. A few heads hanging. Bayern look comfortable right now.

9.16pm GMT

59 min: Gnabry has been Bayern’s most exciting attacker tonight. He cuts in from the right and pearls a fine left-footed shot towards the top right. It’s inches over the bar. Alisson would probably have met it, with a fingertip at least, had it been on target. But it would have been a close-run thing; it really was a magnificent effort.

9.15pm GMT

58 min: The corner’s hit long. James shoots, coming in from the left. It’s deflected out for another corner on the other side. That one’s a complete waste of time.

9.14pm GMT

57 min: Gnabry dribbles with purpose down the right and into the box. He skates past Robertson and Keita, and is finally stopped by Fabinho, who blocks for a corner on the right.

9.12pm GMT

55 min: Henderson is booked for clipping the heel of Javi Martinez, who is happy to stay on the ground awhile tugging at his bootlaces and socks. Anfield responds in frustration.

9.12pm GMT

53 min: Keita bursts down the middle into an awful lot of space, Bayern having committed too many men forward. His pass wide left for Robertson should send the left-back clear, but he hits James. He gets a second chance, but the ball clanks off Robertson and loops towards the right-hand post. Salah is there, tight on the byline with Firmino in attendance, but he takes a wild fresh-air swipe and it’s a goal kick. A wonderful chance spurned.

9.09pm GMT

52 min: Coman races into acres down the left. He steams past Wijnaldum and crosses low to Lewandowski by the near post. Lewandowski traps and shapes to shoot, but Fabinho block-tackles brilliantly, a fine challenge given any mistake would have resulted in a penalty kick.

9.07pm GMT

50 min: Kimmich goes down having been nicked by Mane. Then he springs up when, play having continued, the ball comes back to him. Plenty of pantomime whistling. All good clean fun.

9.06pm GMT

48 min: A free kick from Alexander-Arnold out on the right. He floats it into the mixer, and the ball gently scrapes the top of Hummels’ head. It should be a corner on the left, but Liverpool don’t get the decision. Goal kick. Nobody in red seems particularly upset, to be fair.

9.04pm GMT

47 min: Liverpool put the press on, and Bayern give up possession in the final third. Wijnaldum loops a fine pass wide right for Alexander-Arnold, who controls it at pace, enters the box, and slips inside for Salah. But Liverpool’s star striker can’t sort his feet out for a shot. A nice sweeping move though.

9.02pm GMT

Bayern get the second half underway! Liverpool kick towards the Kop in this second half, as is their preference. There have been no half-time changes.

8.49pm GMT

Half-time entertainment: This classic Joy of Six features the story of the 1981 semi-final between these two giants of the European Cup. The peerless Rob Smyth is your host.

Related: Champions League preview: The Joy of Six: European Cup semi-finals

8.48pm GMT

One minute of added time. Salah’s persistence down the right allows Alexander-Arnold to cross. Firmino flicks on at the near post, but can’t find Mane and Neuer gathers. And that’s the end of an entertaining first half. Not sure how it’s still goalless; Joel Matip could easily have scored at both ends for starters. It promises to be quite the second half; don’t leave us now!

8.45pm GMT

45 min: Liverpool are beginning to create chances. Some nice one-touch interplay down the inside-right channel from Salah and Wijnaldum, and suddenly Firmino has the ball beside the byline. He dinks into the middle for Mane, but there’s too much weight on the pass, and Bayern are able to clear.

8.44pm GMT

43 min: Firmino heads the set piece clear of danger. But Bayern are soon coming back down the right again through the excellent Gnabry. Liverpool are thankful that Henderson’s radar is working, and he nips in to intercept just when his team were looking stretched.

8.42pm GMT

42 min: Better from Matip down the other end, as he intercepts a Gnabry right-wing cross with Lewandowski waiting to slam home from six yards. It’s a corner, though.

8.42pm GMT

40 min: It’s end-to-end fun now! Coman wins a corner down the left; Lewandowski runs into his own man Martinez and Alisson is able to clear. Up the other end, Wijnaldum dinks a ball, right to left, to find Mane clear, but facing a tight angle. He wins a corner from which Firmino sets Salah away down the left with a cute backheel. Salah’s low cross to the near post is slapped wide, first time, by Matip, who beats the ground in frustration over his miss.

8.39pm GMT

38 min: Keita, to the right of the D, shoots. The ball loops up off Hummels and drops to Mane, who once again has his back to goal. This time he tries a super-spectacular bicycle kick towards the top right. He shins it well wide right.

8.37pm GMT

36 min: Alaba and Coman combine well down the left to win a corner. James takes his own sweet time to wander over and take it. It’s not worth the wait, Fabinho heading purposefully clear. But then Alexander-Arnold is dispossessed when attempting to counter, and Gnabry is able to whistle a low shot from the inside-right position towards the bottom left. Alisson can’t be sure that it’s going wide - though it is - and fingertips round the post well. The resulting corner leads to nothing.

8.35pm GMT

34 min: A short break in play as Kimmich gets sponged down by the trainer. He’ll be good to continue.

8.34pm GMT

32 min: Firmino dribbles down the middle and flicks towards Keita, who has space on the edge of the box. Keita shoots low towards the bottom left, but the ball’s blocked by a fine spread from Sule. The ball breaks to Mane on the penalty spot. Mane’s facing the wrong way, so swivels through 180 degrees and sends a confused effort wide right. Liverpool claim a penalty, the ball having hit Sule’s hand after the block, but it was totally accidental and they’re never getting that decision, VAR or no.

8.32pm GMT

31 min: Space for Robertson down the left, with team-mates in the Bayern box. But he blasts a dreadful cross over the area and out of play on the right. Quite a few men in red are looking shaky tonight.

8.30pm GMT

30 min: On the touchline, Bayern coach Niko Kovac rants in a very expressive style. Not exactly sure why, because nothing of note’s happened on the field of play. But it’s enough for the referee to come across and order him to pipe down, else he’ll be sitting in Anfield’s fancy new main stand.

8.30pm GMT

29 min: Liverpool are at their best when they pile forward quickly. Henderson fires a pass up the centre to get Wijnaldum, Mane and Keita running at the visitors. Nothing quite comes off this time, but Bayern look nervous when forced to backtrack.

8.28pm GMT

27 min: Mane dribbles hard down the left, and is cynically hacked from behind by Kimmich. That means the Bayern right-back misses the second leg.

8.26pm GMT

26 min: Bayern knock the ball around at the back to take a little of the sting out of the game. Their fans are still making the majority of the noise. “Alisson has so far given us his best Dudek and Karius,” suggests Niall Mullen. “If he could stay away from James, Westerveld, Carson, Kirkland, Jones, Friedel, Mignolet and Arphexhad, then we’ll be fine.”

8.24pm GMT

24 min: Sule clumsily, and needlessly, bundles over Mane near the left-hand corner flag. A free kick, to be taken by Alexander-Arnold. The free kick, flicked to the near post, is cleared back to Alexander-Arnold, who loops a glorious ball to the far post for Salah, racing in from the right. It’s a chance on a plate, but Salah sends his downward header wide right from close range. Not entirely sure how this game is still goalless.

8.23pm GMT

22 min: Gnabry latches onto a very poor backwards header from Robertson, intended for Matip. Gnabry takes a heavy touch to run the ball out for a goal kick, which is another let-off for Liverpool, because Lewandowski was all alone in the middle, Matip having been attracted to Gnabry like a moth to a flame.

8.21pm GMT

20 min: Keita tries to get Liverpool going in attack once more, driving passes forward, breaking the lines. He ends up on the edge of the Bayern box, taking turns with Salah to miskick with their backs to goal. Eventually Keita flicks the ball up and attempts an ambitious overhead kick, which harmlessly bounces out wide right for a goal kick. But full marks for ambition.

8.19pm GMT

18 min: Not sure how Liverpool’s goal is still intact. Alisson’s footwork hasn’t been too good; Matip looks a bag of nerves. Anfield is reacting accordingly, with the Bayern fans making all the noise now.

8.17pm GMT

16 min: Salah, out on the right, slips a ball inside for Keita, who shuttles it on to Mane. Mane dribbles hard into the area, but slams his shot wide left. Bayern go straight up the other end and once again nearly score, Lewandowski closing down Alisson, who flicks lamely to Matip. Matip then attempts a similarly weak flick away, and is dispossessed by Coman, who lashes a shot into the side netting from a tight position on the left.

8.15pm GMT

14 min: Gnabry tears down the right. His low fizzing cross is met by Lewand... hold on, no, it’s Matip, who slices hard towards his own goal from close range. Alisson is in exactly the right place, and the ball smashes off him. Not sure he knew anything about that. A huge stroke of luck for Liverpool. A hectic game of pinball in the area ensues. Liverpool eventually clear their lines.

8.13pm GMT

12 min: Thiago clips the heel of Wijnaldum as he dribbles down the right. Free kick, to be taken by Alexander-Arnlold. Hummels heads clear. But Liverpool come again, and Henderson, just to the left of the centre circle, floats a ball down the middle and finds Salah racing into the area! He’s ahead of Sule, and sticks out a telescopic boot in the hope of guiding the ball into the bottom left. But he can’t get enough on it, and it’s an easy claim for Neuer.

8.11pm GMT

10 min: Space for Gnabry down the right. He dinks a cross into the box. Alisson comes out to punch, but Fabinho gets in the road and heads upfield instead. No harm done, but Fabinho holds a hand up in apology to his keeper. Some early miscommunication there; Liverpool may end up missing Virgil van Dijk terribly.

8.09pm GMT

8 min: Bayern begin to hog the ball. They’re not doing much with it, but that’s not really the point. They’ve quietened Anfield considerably, their first task successfully completed.

8.08pm GMT

6 min: Coman dribbles down the left and nearly breaks into the Liverpool box. The ball flies away from him, and Henderson should clear, but the Liverpool midfielder blooters the ball into Coman’s face. For a second, the rebound seems to have teed up Lewandowski, but the flag goes up for hand-ball against Coman, which seems a little generous to the hosts.

8.07pm GMT

5 min: Sule and Hummels knock the ball around at the back in style. Memories of Hansen and Lawrenson, though the crowd give this particular tribute act pelters. Neuer then shanks a pass into touch, but the indiscretion doesn’t cause Bayern any serious bother.

8.04pm GMT

3 min: Liverpool press hard but Neuer is calm under pressure with the ball at his feet. Play moves up the other end, and it’s the turn of Alisson to showcase his skills, finding Wijnaldum in the middle of the park with a threaded pass. Both teams look well up for piling forward.

8.03pm GMT

2 min: Liverpool spend the first 60 seconds stroking the ball about. In the 61st, Lewandowski intercepts and is bowled over by Matip. Nothing comes of the free kick, in the centre circle, but Matip will need to be a lot calmer than that if he’s to survive this evening without mishap.

8.01pm GMT

And we’re off! Liverpool get the party started; Bayern will be kicking towards the Kop in this first half. A huge roar. “Given it’s completely the wrong colour, would you go so far as to say the Liverpool one is not a germane pennant?” Richard McGee, ladies and gentlemen, because somebody had to go there at some point.

7.58pm GMT

The teams are out! It’s a typical Anfield European Night™, with both sets of fans contributing to a wonderful pre-match atmosphere. A chorus of You’ll Never Walk Alone drowns out the official Champions League anthem. Liverpool are in their famous red kit, so Bayern are forced into their second-choice light green. A reminder that VAR is in operation tonight, constantly checking for clear and obvious errors related to the following four match-changing situations: goals, incidents in the penalty area, red cards, and mistaken identity. We’ll be off once coins have been tossed and pennants exchanged!

7.48pm GMT

7.40pm GMT

A cheery Jurgen Klopp speaks to BT Sport ahead of this clash with his 2013 nemesis. “It was not a mind game, but Dejan had no chance for the game today, I don’t think he’s even got a chance for the next game. So it was clear Fabinho had to play tonight. Bobby was positive yesterday but he was not fine; today he is fine. The further you go, the stronger your opponents get, though we have already faced some strong opponents. Tonight we will face a proper opponent. They have problems as well, so that’s how it is, we always have to make the best of what we’ve got. It will be a tough game for both teams!”

7.32pm GMT

“10th March 1971, Fairs Cup 4th round 1st leg, Liverpool 3 Bayern Munich 0 (Alun Evans Hat Trick),” writes TG. A reference there to a tie omitted in the preamble of this MBM. Yes, Liverpool and Bayern have only met five times in Uefa competition ... but I didn’t mention their quarter-final match-up in the old Fairs Cup in 1971, a tournament outside Uefa control at the time. So let’s right that wrong. TG’s covered the first leg; the second was drawn 1-1, Ian Ross and Edgar Schneider with the goals. Liverpool went on to lose to eventual winners Leeds in the semis. Winger John McLaughlin played in both quarter-final ties for the Reds, a fact I raise merely as an excuse to crowbar in this burst of melodic pugilism from his guitarist namesake.

7.16pm GMT

Pennant watch. Liverpool will be gifting Bayern this well-upholstered number. Hopefully captain Jordan Henderson won’t hold it too closely to his chest before handing it over, else folk spot it doesn’t quite match the red of the shirt.

7.04pm GMT

As expected, Dejan Lovren wasn’t able to make it back from injury, and so he sits it out with the suspended Virgil van Dijk in the stands. Liverpool name Joel Matip and Fabinho in the heart of their defence, while welcoming back Trent Alexander-Arnold and captain Jordan Henderson. Roberto Firmino had been suffering from a virus, but he’s better now and able to start.

As for Bayern: they make just one change to the team that fell behind twice at Augsburg last Friday, only to recover for a 3-2 win that closed the gap on Borussia Dortmund at the top of the Bundesliga. Javi Martinez returns, taking the place of the injured Leon Goretzka.

6.54pm GMT

Liverpool: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Fabinho, Robertson, Wijnaldum, Henderson, Keita, Mane, Salah, Firmino.
Subs: Mignolet, Milner, Sturridge, Moreno, Lallana, Shaqiri, Origi.

Bayern Munich: Neuer, Kimmich, Sule, Hummels, Alaba, Thiago, Martinez, James Rodriguez, Gnabry, Lewandowski, Coman.
Subs: Ulreich, Ribery, Rafinha, Davies, Mai, Sanches, Shabani.

2.40pm GMT

Liverpool and Bayern Munich have ten European Cups between them. So it’s a little surprising, given their rich histories on the continent, that they’ve only met each other in Europe’s premier club competition once before. That was a semi-final clash in 1981, Liverpool winning on away goals thanks to Ray Kennedy’s late strike, a typically clinical, cute and clever finish from a quiet genius.

That tie apart, the clubs have only played three other competitive Uefa matches. Bayern came out on top in the semi-finals of the 1972 Cup Winners Cup, Gerd Müller (2) and Uli Hoeness doing the damage in a 3-1 win in Munich, Alun Evans scoring Liverpool’s consolation. Then in the 2001 Super Cup at Monaco’s Stade Louis II, John Arne Riise, Emile Heskey and Michael Owen put Gerard Houllier’s side three up, just enough to hold off a late Bayern comeback launched by Hasan Salihamidžić and Carsten Jancker.

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The Fiver | Sarriball, a philosophy now critiqued in the intense colloquial style

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Maurizio Sarri rolled out of bed on Tuesday morning, then rolled his first cigarette of the day. Then he rolled his second and third, before lighting the first one. That’s standard practice, ensuring that, providing he keeps a steady pace, rolling one while smoking one, he’ll always have a buffer of two rollies, just in case he’s forced to break away momentarily to work on some other project, such as deciding which set of scrubs to wear for the match, or which minute he plans to replace Pedro with Anyone But Callum Hudson-Odoi. Then he slapped a few Nicorette patches on to his arms, popped a strip of NRT gum in his mouth, slipped a pouch of dip under each eyelid, and he was up and running for the day.

Related: Chelsea fans don’t often have time to turn on a manager – this felt decisive | Jonathan Wilson

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Tottenham Hotspur 3-0 Borussia Dortmund: Champions League – as it happened

Stand-in wing-back Jan Vertonghen was the man of the match as Spurs took a big step towards the quarter-finals.

12.00am GMT

Related: Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho finally makes a mark in the English club game | Barney Ronay

11.30pm GMT

Related: Tottenham 3-0 Borussia Dortmund: Champions League player ratings

10.25pm GMT

So that’s your lot. A huge second-half performance by Tottenham Hotspur. The leaders of the Bundesliga were swept aside, and now Spurs have one foot in the quarters. Just one solid night’s work at the Westfalenstadion in three weeks’ time should do it. Our man Daniel Taylor was at Wembley, and here’s his report. Thanks for reading! Nighty night!

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10.23pm GMT

And here’s Mauricio Pochettino, who really earned his corn tonight at half-time. “It was a fantastic second half. It was a very difficult game from the beginning, and difficult to find our best positions in both directions. We struggled to play the way we wanted to play. But afterwards we played with more confidence. In the second half, we played a very good game. Against a very good side like Dortmund, in the Champions League, it is still difficult and there is still a lot of work to do. 3-0 is a very good result but we need to think how we can finish the job. We have an unbelievable squad, the only problem we have is I can only pick 11, not 22.”

10.16pm GMT

Jadon Sancho comes out to speak. “Aw, I don’t have any words for the second half. We tried our best but tonight Tottenham was the better team. First half we played really well, but in the second we dropped a bit and lost focus. Next leg we have to keep focus for the whole game. Jan Vertonghen is a good player, but hopefully next time we can handle it a bit better. But I’m happy to be home and play in front of my friends and family, I’m happy to be here. We’re still in it, still focused, and will go into the next leg thinking we can score enough goals.” The 18-year-old Dortmund winger an impressive interviewee, despite his obvious disappointment.

10.08pm GMT

Here’s the man of the moment - the man of the match - Jan Vertonghen. “We were not creating too many chances, they had the better of the game in the first half. But in the second they dropped off a bit, and our early goal helped us. They were happy with 1-0 so we could continue attacking. It was just one of those nights. A great cross by Serge for the goal, who saw me running.”

His pal Heung-Min Son adds: “Jan is technically unbelievable, he could play any position. I am happy for him with his one goal and one assist. The cross for my goal was unbelievable, unreal, I just had to touch the ball. I feel sorry because when I scored I didn’t run to him! I am honoured to play with him and he can play striker for me!”

10.03pm GMT

It’s also worth noting that Spurs have only reached the quarter finals of the European Cup or Champions League on two occasions before. The glory, glory team of Blanchflower, White and Mackay made it to the semis in 1962, while a Crouchigol took Harry Redknapp’s team past Milan and into the quarters in 2011. Nobody at Spurs will be counting their chickens, but a third appearance at the business end of this tournament is well within their reach now.

9.58pm GMT

Easy to forget now that Spurs were second best in the first half, albeit not by any great distance. However they were wonderful in the second period and simply blew Dortmund away! Heung-Min Son and Christian Eriksen both excelled, but the plaudits will go to stand-in wing-back Jan Vertonghen, whose front-foot display as an ersatz winger in the second period was quite something to behold. And he didn’t neglect his defensive duties either, allowing Dortmund not a sniff after the restart. Mauricio Pochettino walks off smiling quietly, another tactical plan having come together.

9.51pm GMT

How about that Jan Vertonghen, huh.

9.51pm GMT

90 min +1: Victor Wanyama comes on for Moussa Sissoko. It’s a party atmosphere at Wembley.

9.50pm GMT

90 min: Just two minutes of stoppage time to come. Guerreiro hits a first-time curler towards the top left from 25 yards. If it had been on target, it was a goal because Lloris wasn’t getting there. But Dortmund aren’t getting an away goal that would give them a desperately needed boost ahead of the second leg. Inches wide.

9.48pm GMT

89 min: Son Heung-Min - who would be man of the match on any other day, but you’re not getting that award off Jan Vertonghen - makes way for Erik Lamela.

9.47pm GMT

87 min: Raphael Guerreiro comes on for Jadon Sancho. The Bundesliga leaders don’t know what’s hit them. Tottenham have been quite outstanding since the restart!

9.46pm GMT

What a second-half showing this is from Spurs! Eriksen works his way down the left and earns a corner. He takes the set piece himself, and loops it into the six-yard box, where Llorente nips in ahead of Diallo and heads neatly towards the bottom right and in! Wembley’s roof now spinning over the Severn Bridge.

9.44pm GMT

84 min: Lucas Moura makes way for Fernando Llorente. The Wembley roof is now frisbeeing halfway down the M4.

9.43pm GMT

Vertonghen has been the star of the show tonight, and now he’s set the seal on it! Aurier, deep on the right, loops a cross into the centre where Vertonghen has made a striker’s run. It’s a perfect cross, dropping right in front of Vertonghen, and he powers a first-time sidefoot past Burki. Who needs Harry Kane when you’ve got Jan Vertonghen?

9.41pm GMT

82 min: Son is sent scampering into space down the left by Winks, quarterbacking from deep, but can’t quite summon the energy to power towards the Dortmund area. He’s forced to check back and the move breaks down.

9.39pm GMT

80 min: Sancho was a jet-heeled sensation in the first half, but he’s not been so proactive in the second. He’s got a chance to race at the Spurs back line, but turns tail this time and though his skill earns a free kick off Sissoko, it’s in the middle of the park and not much use to Dortmund at all.

9.38pm GMT

78 min: And here’s Wayne Ziants: “I don’t know about the game, but I’m thrilled by the fact that every Dortmund player in the starting XI has between five and seven letters in his name. The side picks itself.” Oh Schmelzer! How could you!

9.36pm GMT

77 min: Dortmund make the first change of the evening, replacing Dan-Axel Zagadou with Marcel Schmelzer.

9.35pm GMT

76 min: Eriksen’s flat delivery goes through a thicket of players and finds its way to Moura, bombing in from the left. Moura lashes towards the top right; the ball is blocked by Delaney’s back, and out for a corner. There’s a quick VAR check for a handball shout against Delaney, but nothing’s doing. And then from the second corner, Moura blazes over the bar from distance, and that’s the end of all that.

9.33pm GMT

75 min: Vertonghen digs out a deep cross from a tight spot on the left. Son recycles on the other flank, and tees up Eriksen, whose low shot from the edge of the box is deflected out for a corner on the right. Eriksen to take himself.

9.32pm GMT

73 min: Dortmund take a turn to probe this way and that. Dahoud tries to flick Pulisic clear down the inside-left channel, but the ball breaks to Lloris who can clear and set Spurs away on the break. Moura romps down the left, with Son free on the right. Hakimi is the only Dortmund player back! But the defender does exceptionally well to deny Moura the chance to flick a pass inside for Son, and eventually the ball is sent back to Burki, who tidies up.

9.30pm GMT

71 min: Spurs ping it around the midfield with such style that the crowd break into spontaneous applause at their crisp triangulations. Of course, almost immediately, Alderweireld gives up possession with a clunker of a pass. Timing is everything in comedy.

9.28pm GMT

69 min: A lot of space for Dahoud, 25 yards from goal, teed up by Delaney. But his shot, an attempted thread into the bottom right, has no oomph whatsoever. Lloris snaffles without drama.

9.27pm GMT

67 min: Dortmund continue to toil. Their fans continue to make a wonderful noise. Their drummers have been going metronomically all night. Jaki Liebezeit would be proud.

9.24pm GMT

65 min: Aurier powers his way down the right. He’s got Moura in the middle, but his low cross is hooked away by Toprak. That’s great defending. Spurs are causing Dortmund all manner of bother here.

9.23pm GMT

63 min: Vertonghen’s wing wizardry continues. Now he whips low into the Dortmund box from the left, Son very nearly bundling home from close range. But three yellow shirts bundle Son and the ball out for a corner instead. And the set piece comes to nothing. Spurs - and in particular Vertonghen and Son - have been superb since the restart.

9.21pm GMT

62 min: Pulisic dribbles into the Spurs box from the left. For a second it looks like it’s going to open up for him, but Sanchez pressurises him from behind and the ball clanks between his legs. Spurs clear. That’s the first time Dortmund have looked dangerous since the restart.

9.21pm GMT

61 min: Alderweireld rakes a long pass down the left to release Eriksen in acres. Dortmund were fast asleep! Eriksen tears into the box, and merely has to find Son in the middle for a tap-in. But his cross is headed out just in time by Zagadou. The resulting corner nearly leads to a goal as well, Eriksen’s delivery from the left nearly flicked into the top left by Alderweireld. But Burki gathers.

9.19pm GMT

59 min: That wonderful assist has got Vertonghen’s juices flowing. He channels his inner Tom Finney, dribbling his way down the left, cutting inside, and shaping for a shot. He should probably slip in Son, but gets caught up in the mood and sends a shot over instead.

9.17pm GMT

58 min: However the Dortmund fans are still giving it all they’ve got. They’re contributing to a fine atmosphere at Wembley.

9.16pm GMT

57 min: The Spurs press is so much more intense in this second half. Dortmund continue to labour as a result.

9.13pm GMT

55 min: It takes a while to find a ball so the free kick can be taken. It’s not worth the wait, Eriksen blootering witlessly, uncharacteristically, into the Dortmund wall.

9.12pm GMT

53 min: Dortmund are understandably a bit flat since that early second-half blow. They’re struggling to string more than a couple of passes together. Spurs want to make hay while the sun shines. Vertonghen tears down the left and slips a pass inside for Son, who Cruyff turns Delaney and is clipped on his heel for the trouble. A booking for Delaney, and a free kick in an extremely dangerous position to the left of the D.

9.10pm GMT

51 min: Eriksen tries to find Moura with a raking pass down the middle. Just a little too much juice on the ball, allowing Burki to gather.

9.08pm GMT

49 min: Wembley has erupted, the roof currently spinning over Hanger Lane roundabout. A superb start to the second half, and it’s going to be interesting to see how Dortmund - who were on balance, just about, the better team in the first half - respond to that.

9.06pm GMT

Just over a minute into the second half, and Spurs lead! Alderweireld launches long down the left. Moura flicks a header into the box, but Burki gathers. No matter, because Spurs are back at Dortmund again, Vertonghen tight on the left touchline. The big defender curls a perfect cross into the centre, inches over Zagadou’s head. It drops to Son, who sidefoots powerfully into the top left! A fine run and finish by Son, but what a cross from Vertonghen!

9.03pm GMT

We’re back! Spurs get the second half underway. There have been no half-time changes.

8.54pm GMT

Half-time entertainment. For those of you who can’t be bothered to click, the answer is no.

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8.49pm GMT

And that’s that for the first 45. Interesting rather than exciting, though both teams will wonder how they haven’t scored. Lucas Moura and Dan-Axel Zagadou have both gone very close, while Jadon Sancho has been a handful.

8.48pm GMT

45 min: ... Dortmund nearly score! They take it short, Sancho chips to the far post, Zagadou rises highest and should plant a header home from close range. But the ball takes a slight deflection off Foyth, and Lloris is able to get over and palm away with a strong hand. Great save! Another corner follows, but that comes to nought.

8.46pm GMT

44 min: Goetze barges his way through a couple of challenges down the right and earns a corner. From which ...

8.45pm GMT

42 min: Hakimi goes on a power wander down the right. He looks for Goetze in the middle, but the ball takes a huge deflection off Vertonghen and loops into the arms of Lloris.

8.43pm GMT

40 min: Sancho was livid at the lack of any decision from the referee there. You can’t blame him. But it was a wonderful, exhilarating run by the English youngster, who has been the star turn in this first half.

8.42pm GMT

38 min: Sancho tears down the inside-right channel, gliding into the centre. Sissoko, having been burned for speed, cynically clips Sancho’s foot. It’s got to be a free kick to the right of the D, and a booking for Sissoko, but the referee waves play on. That’s a very poor decision. Sissoko and Spurs have got away with one there.

8.40pm GMT

37 min: An odd cameo from Burki, who has the ball at his feet, lets it clank between his legs, spins through 360 degrees in confusion, then rediscovers his poise well enough to scoop a pass over Moura towards Toprak in the left-back position. From the ridiculous to the sublime.

8.39pm GMT

36 min: Eriksen finds Son free down the left. He enters the box and hits a hard cross-cum-shot towards Moura in the middle. Burki, at the near post, kicks away from danger.

8.38pm GMT

35 min: Delaney has a crack from a position to the left of the D. It’s heading into the bottom left. Lloris gets down well, though can only parry straight back into the box. Sanchez can’t quite clear; Sancho can’t quite shoot. Spurs eventually clear their lines.

8.36pm GMT

34 min: This is a little better from Spurs, as Moura nearly fashions space for a shot 25 yards out. Then Vertonghen whips a cross in from the left; Zagadou clears. Finally Aurier and Foyth combine crisply on the right touchline; Foyth cuts one back for Eriksen, who blazes a wild first-time effort over the bar from the edge of the box.

8.35pm GMT

32 min: Son tries to trick Zagadou down the right with an elaborate dummy. It nearly comes off but he runs out of pitch. Still nothing quite working for the hosts.

8.33pm GMT

30 min: But then they’re not getting any help from the referee either. Hakimi stands on Vertonghen’s toe, near the left-hand corner flag, but Spurs aren’t awarded a free kick in a dangerous position. Instead Dortmund nearly open them up from the resulting goal kick, Goetze close to setting Sancho off on another of his searing scampers on the right. Not quite.

8.32pm GMT

29 min: Alderweireld creams a long pass down the inside-left, hoping to release Son. But Toprak calmly flicks a header back to Burki and that’s that dealt with. Spurs are not clicking in the final third right now.

8.30pm GMT

27 min: A much-needed period of sterile domination for Spurs. They’re going nowhere, but they’ve pushed Dortmund back after a period in which the visitors were beginning to ask some awkward questions.

8.28pm GMT

25 min: Not much happening for Spurs right now. Moura drops deep in the hope of making something happen, but his play is nervous and fidgety and he gives up possession with some loose control and a poor ball forward.

8.26pm GMT

23 min: Sancho runs at Spurs down the inside-right again, and in tandem with Goetze causes all sorts of bother in the box. Fortunately for Spurs, they’re able to crowd the pair out in numbers, and an eventual shot squirts softly through the thicket and into the arms of Lloris. Dortmund are beginning to look extremely dangerous.

8.25pm GMT

21 min: Sancho is sent scampering clear down the right wing, thanks to a first-time pass from Dahoud. For a second it looks as though he’ll make it into the box for a shot, turning Sanchez this way and that. But he decides to cross, and his low ball, intended for Goetze, is cut out well by Foyth.

8.22pm GMT

20 min: Vertonghen clears Pulisic’s free kick with ease, but Witsel immediately comes back at Spurs and sends a low fizzer towards the bottom left. Lloris is behind it all the way and gathers confidently.

8.21pm GMT

19 min: Sissoko slides in clumsily on Hakimi as the right-back races down the wing. This is a free kick just to the right of the Spurs box, which is now loaded with Dortmund players.

8.21pm GMT

18 min: The visitors enjoy another period of sterile domination. This match has had a nice back-and-forth swing so far, with both teams enjoying periods of possession. Nice.

8.19pm GMT

16 min: Dortmund have had a sniff now, and it’s suddenly enlivened them. Goetze slips a pass down the inside-right channel that should release Sancho, but the young striker takes a heavy touch that allows Vertonghen to come across and clear. He should have made it to the area for a shot on goal.

8.18pm GMT

15 min: Foyth over-elaborates on the left-hand edge of his own box. Goetze strips him of possession and sets up Pulisic for a dribble into the area. He’s faced with a tight angle, and has Sancho in the middle, waiting to tap home. But he tries to beat Lloris, who isn’t getting beaten at his near post and kicks away.

8.16pm GMT

14 min: Passes aren’t sticking right now. Sanchez plays a poor one forward, Sancho intercepts, looks for Goetze, falls over.

8.14pm GMT

12 min: Good work by Aurier, who chases an Eriksen pass down the right and earns Spurs the first corner of the match. Eriksen takes. Foyth fresh-air kicks, and Dortmund can break upfield. Pulisic turns on the jets down the left and Aurier pulls him back by the elastic of his trousers. That’s another first for Aurier: the first yellow of the game.

8.12pm GMT

10 min: And it’s giving Dortmund something to think about. Winks bursts into space in the middle of the park, and should release Son down the inside-right channel, but overhits the pass. Not by much; small margins.

8.11pm GMT

9 min: After a slow-ish start, Spurs are beginning to get more into the game. They enjoy an extended period of possession for the first time this evening.

8.10pm GMT

7 min: Spurs nearly take the lead in spectacular style! Delaney’s header upfield isn’t all that. Sanchez returns it, and the ball drops towards Moura, just inside the box on the left. Moura takes the ball down with one touch, then creams a diagonal volley inches wide of the top right! So closde. Burki wasn’t getting to that.

8.09pm GMT

6 min: Delaney slips a clever ball down the inside-left channel, into acres, but Pulisic was a bit slow to read it. Foyth plays it back to Lloris, who gives Spurs fans a shudder, nearly getting closed down by Sancho. But he gets it away.

8.06pm GMT

4 min: Dortmund are enjoying the lion’s share of possession in these early exchanges, but nearly all of it is in their half. Goetze and Pulisic try to get positive down the left, but Foyth is in charge of this situation and clears.

8.05pm GMT

2 min: Dortmund spend some more time knocking the ball around at the back. Then Delaney scoops a pass forward down the left for Sancho, who briefly threatens to drop a shoulder and scoot past Foyth, but Spurs hold their shape well and eventually the ball’s won back. Early signs that Dortmund aren’t planning to sit back all evening.

8.03pm GMT

And we’re off! The visitors get the party started, as Wembley erupts again in noise. Roars pinging off the walls. Dortmund stroke it around the back awhile, then gift the ball to Winks, who combines with Vertonghen to send the ball out for a throw. Everyone just happy to get their first touch.

8.01pm GMT

A minute’s silence before kick-off. It’s in tribute to England’s 1966 World Cup goalkeeping hero Gordon Banks, who passed away yesterday, and the tragic Emiliano Sala. It’s perfectly observed, then it segues into warm applause. A touching moment. RIP.

7.57pm GMT

The teams are out! A wonderful European atmosphere at Wembley, not least because the Dortmund fans have been in situ for ages and have been giving it plenty. Tottenham Hotspur sport their world-famous lilywhite shirts, while Dortmund are in their equally storied yellow and black. It’s an aesthetic treat, my old association-football-loving pals. We’ll be off in a couple of minutes!

7.47pm GMT

A relaxed Mauricio Pochettino speaks to BT Sport! “I am always positive. Of course we have the utmost of respect for our opponent, Borussia Dortmund is a fantastic team and will be very competitive. But I believe in my players. It will be different, we cannot compare to last season, the momentum, the circumstance, the situation is different. We believe we need to be at our best if we want to win. The competitive level is so high, with the Premier League it is the best competition, and we need to be 100 percent focused. We have tried to provide the team with fresh legs. I trust and believe in all the players and hope I am right in my selection. People can talk after, but we always try to be right and prepare so we can win today.”

7.36pm GMT

A reminder that VAR is in use for the first time in the Champions League this week. All the officials have been issued with a nicely typeset leaflet explaining how the VAR team will “constantly check for clear and obvious errors related to the following four match-changing situations: goals, incidents in the penalty area, red cards, and mistaken identity.” Two matches in, and there’s been no major controversy that would lead you to question whether the whole thing is worth the effort yet. But give it time. Older readers may recall Andy Townsend’s Tactics Truck, from 2001 ITV light-entertainment vehicle The Premiership. The set-up’s not a million miles away from that. Tragedy + time = comedy.

7.26pm GMT

Pennant watch: Tottenham’s crest is a stone-cold design classic, but the same can’t be said of this pennant. Some major leading issues with the text squeezed in at the top, it’s all over the place. Note that while the commemorative flag hangs from a solid silver hook, keeper and captain Hugo Lloris’s shirt is on something of a shoogly peg. A cheap and cheerful metaphor for his recent form.

7.09pm GMT

Both sides make four changes from their weekend XIs. Of the team named for the 3-1 win over Leicester City, Tottenham drop Kieran Tripper, Danny Rose, Oliver Skipp and Fernando Llorente to the bench. Their places are taken by Serge Aurier, Toby Alderweireld, Juan Foyth and Lucas Moura. Jan Vertonghen will play left wing-back as Spurs start with a back three.

Dortmund drop Raphael Guerreiro, Maximilian Philipp, Lucasz Piszczek and Julian Weigl from the team that capitulated against Hoffenheim. Thomas Delaney, Omer Toprak, Dan-Axel Zagadou and Chelsea-bound Christian Pulisic take their places.

7.08pm GMT

Tottenham Hotspur: Lloris, Aurier, Sanchez, Foyth, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Sissoko, Winks, Eriksen, Son, Lucas Moura.
Subs: Gazzaniga, Trippier, Rose, Lamela, Wanyama, Llorente, Skipp.

Borussia Dortmund: Burki, Hakimi, Zagadou, Toprak, Diallo, Witsel, Delaney, Sancho, Dahoud, Pulisic, Gotze.
Subs: Hitz, Guerreiro, Balerdi, Philipp, Wolf, Schmelzer, Bruun Larsen.

2.24pm GMT

According to their sporting director Michael Zorc, Borussia Dortmund have eschewed former coach Jurgen Klopp’s “heavy metal football” in favour of a “modern jazz approach” built around bandleader Lucien Favre’s inventive new 4-2-3-1 arrangement. Nice! On the wings, Jadon Sancho and Jacob Bruun Larsen. Playing full back, Achraf Hakimi. Axel Witsel and Mario Gotze in midfield. Theydon Bois on guitar. Clam on bass.

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The Fiver | Utterly dependent on how PSG’s central nervous system holds up

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It was a great evening for José Mourinho. It wasn’t too bad for Paris Saint-Germain either, though let’s remember they’ve got three weeks to think about what a great position they’re in, and those extremely vivid, cold-sweat-tinged memories of Sergi Roberto aren’t going to go away any time soon. But despite there remaining, if history is any guide, a real chance that the French champions could still balls this up with the kind of inevitable meltdown that would put Brazil’s 2014 World Cup squad to shame, it wasn’t great for Manchester United, who lost a home tie in Europe by more than one goal for the first time since records began in 1956.

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