Wednesday’s briefing: Estevao gives Barca the Blues and Pep’s changes backfire

Brazilian winger Estevao’s superb goal crowned a memorable Chelsea win in the Champions League as they beat 10-man Barcelona 3-0 at Stamford Bridge.

Pep Guardiola’s wholesale changes backfired as they slumped to a 2-0 home defeat to Bayer Leverkusen and Newcastle let slip the lead at Marseille, who fought back to win 2-1 thanks to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s double.

Martin Odegaard could return from injury in Arsenal’s Champions League showdown with Harry Kane’s Bayern Munich.

Estevao scores wondergoal

Estevao scored an outstanding individual goal as Chelsea got their Champions League campaign back on track with a stunning 3-0 win over 10-man Barcelona at Stamford Bridge.

Enzo Maresca’s side already led though defender Jules Kounde’s own goal when, 10 minutes into the second half, the Brazilian winger drove at a defence already missing red-carded captain Ronald Araujo and produced a moment that will be talked about in west London for years.

Reece James flicked the ball into his path down the right and from there the 18-year-old mesmerised, slipping inside Pau Cubarsi then gliding across Alejandro Balde before rifling a rising, unstoppable finish high into the net.

Liam Delap scored his first goal since the Club World Cup to round things off. The win meant Chelsea will likely secure a direct passage into the last 16 with victories from their final two matches.

Man City and Newcastle both beaten

Manchester City paid the price for making wholesale changes as they slumped to a surprise 2-0 home loss to Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League.

Pep Guardiola’s decision to bench a host of big names including Erling Haaland and Gianluigi Donnarumma backfired as Alejandro Grimaldo and Patrik Schick fired the Germans to a memorable win and ended City’s unbeaten record in the league phase.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang dented Newcastle’s top-eight hopes as Marseille came from behind to claim their second win of the campaign.

The Magpies led 1-0 at the Velodrome courtesy of Harvey Barnes’ sixth-minute opener and were good value for it, but they were undone by former Arsenal forward Aubameyang inside five second-half minutes.

Odegaard boost for Arsenal

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard could return for Wednesday’s Champions League blockbuster against Bayern Munich.

The Norwegian midfielder has been sidelined since early October with a knee injury but is pushing to make his comeback at the Emirates Stadium in a heavyweight showdown between the top two sides in the Champions League table.

“We have to make sure that we carry that energy again to the stadium, to each individual and play with the same dominance, aggression, and efficiency against a top side,” said Gunners boss Mikel Arteta.

“This is the kind of game in the competition that we want to face and we’ve been very consistent. They have been as well and tomorrow is a great test for us to see where we are.”

‘Ridiculous’ Liverpool defending irks Slot

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot accepted the amount of goals his side have conceded is “ridiculous”.

Saturday’s 3-0 loss to Nottingham Forest was the eighth defeat in 11 matches and they are regularly being exposed defensively, especially at set-pieces.

Asked to describe the current situation before Wednesday’s home Champions League game against PSV, Slot said: “Ridiculous, almost. Something I didn’t expect to be in, not at any club I worked at let alone if you are manager of Liverpool.

“That is unbelievable. It is unexpected for the club, for me, for everyone, but if you ever needed to face this maybe this is the best club to face it because the harder it gets the more we are together, the more we are trying to do the things Liverpool usually achieves.”

What’s on today

Arsenal bid to make it five straight Champions League wins this season at the Emirates Stadium in a top-of-the-table clash with Bayern Munich, who are also looking to extend their 100 per cent start.

Liverpool take on Dutch champions PSV at Anfield and Tottenham face a daunting task at defending European champions Paris St Germain.

There are also Championship fixtures, including Wrexham’s home game against Bristol City and Birmingham’s derby clash at West Midlands rivals West Brom.