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MARCUS RASHFORD VS CHELSEA: BARçA'S LOAN STAR RETURNS FOR CL SHOWDOWN

Marcus Rashford is fit and available for Barcelona's crucial Champions League trip to Chelsea. The in-form loanee returns from illness, giving coach Hansi Flick a fully stocked attack for the Group D clash.

Marcus Rashford vs Chelsea: Barça's Loan Star Returns for CL Showdown
Pedri, Gavi Still Out, But Rashford Is Ready

Marcus Rashford is back from the flu and ready to play for Barcelona in their Champions League game against Chelsea in London this week.

Rashford, 28, didn't play in Barça's 4-0 win against Athletic Club on Saturday because he wasn't able to train in the days before the game.

He was back training with his teammates on Sunday and Monday and will be in coach Hansi Flick's team at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday.

The Manchester United player, who is on loan at Barça, has been great in Europe this season. He has scored four goals, including two against Newcastle United, and has one assist in four games.

He has scored six goals and has eight assists in 16 games in all competitions for the Spanish champions.

His return gives Flick a selection headache since some other key players are also back from injury.

Ferran Torres, Robert Lewandowski, and Lamine Yamal started up front against Athletic, and Raphinha came on as a substitute after being out injured for two months.

With Rashford available, Flick has five players for three positions, though he has used Raphinha as an attacking midfielder before.

Goalie Joan García also came back at the weekend after being out for two months. He helped Barça keep their first clean sheet since September, but Pedri, Gavi, and Marc-André ter Stegen are still out.

Pedri could be back for the game against Alavés this weekend, but Gavi and Ter Stegen won't be back for a while.

Tuesday's game in London is a chance for Barça to improve after a disappointing 3-3 draw against Club Brugge in their previous Champions League match.

Like Chelsea, they have seven points from four games, which puts them 11th in the standings. A win this week would help them move closer to their goal of finishing in the top eight.

Barcelona Nears a New Contract with Eric García

Barça is close to reaching a new long-term deal with Eric García, according to sources at ESPN.

García's contract ends next summer, but talks have gone well recently, and an agreement is expected soon.

The former Manchester City defender has become an important player under Hansi Flick this season, playing well as a central defender, right-back, and even as a holding midfielder.

García will be the latest player to have his contract renewed for strategic reasons, following Pedri, Gavi, and Frenkie de Jong. Sporting director Deco will now focus on Robert Lewandowski and Andreas Christensen.

Once García signs his new contract, they will be the only permanent players in the current squad whose contracts end in 2026.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SHOCKER: LUCIANO SPALLETTI RANKS BODø/GLIMT ABOVE JUVE IN CERTAIN AREAS

Luciano Spalletti warns Juventus face a tough challenge vs Bodo/Glimt. The Juventus manager cites freezing Norwegian weather and an artificial pitch as major disadvantages for his team in this crucial Champions League clash.

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Spalletti Puts Bodø/Glimt Above Juventus For Continental Competitions

Luciano Spalletti thinks Juventus might struggle in their Champions League game against Bodo/Glimt on Tuesday. He pointed to the freezing temperatures and the artificial field at Aspmyra Stadion in Norway as potential problems.

Juventus is still trying to get its first Champions League win this season. So far, they've tied with Borussia Dortmund, Villarreal, and Sporting CP, and lost 1-0 to Real Madrid.

With only three points, Juventus isn't in a spot to advance. They're in 26th place, just ahead of Bodo/Glimt, who they play on Tuesday. Bodo/Glimt has two ties and two losses in their first four European games.

Spalletti said that the field and weather put Juventus at a disadvantage.

At a press conference on Monday, Spalletti wanted everyone to stay calm. He said things aren't as bad as they seem after their 1-1 tie with Fiorentina.

“Let’s just take it one step at a time. It's not like we've had total failure. The players did alright. I’ve said before that we need to do better and get out of this situation. We need to use what we have and play to our strengths. I can see that the team wants to do well.”

About the game against Bodo/Glimt, Spalletti added, “The field and weather are a disadvantage. I’ve been lucky enough to coach in other countries. The air is different; it’s really cold, and we're not used to it. It’s just different from what we're used to.”

“We need to want it more than they do to make up for the differences between the two teams. They’re great at finding talented players. It’s not just the field and the cold. They're valuable, and they've played well in international games.”

So, what does Spalletti expect from his players in Norway?

“This is a new challenge, and I hope they can adjust. They need to know how to handle a team that fights hard and makes things tough for everyone. If we want to compete, we need to see how fast they are and play good, smart football, even on this kind of field.”

“In Florence, the ball wasn't moving fast enough in the first half, so we tried to play through the middle. I saw some changes in the second half. We have talent, but we need to complete our passes and not let the other team score on us.

“We need to get used to the weather, avoid mistakes, and play our best. We've been good at punishing teams, but we also need to create space. We need to think beyond the first pass and get better at that.”

How will the artificial field affect Juventus's play?

Spalletti said that the field and the weather are a problem because of the way the ball bounces and moves. That could hurt us, but we’ll deal with it. We’ve been scared before, so we’ll face it and adapt. The field is a factor, but we want to play well.”

Can Juventus learn anything from Lazio's game against Bodo/Glimt last season?

“They play well, but I talk to my players directly. They need to understand that tomorrow will be tough. We’ve watched them, and our analysts have too. Speed is important, and we know that. We want to be ready. We don’t want easy games; we want hard ones. We want to adapt and get credit for it.”

When asked if he would switch to a back four against Bodo/Glimt, Spalletti said he would make some changes to the starting lineup.

“We’ll switch some players around. We can’t leave any gaps because they’re strong and know how to play close together. We need to stay tight and make them play around us.”

JAMIE CARRAGHER REVEALS ARNE SLOT'S BURNING UCL DESIRE

Jamie Carragher says Liverpool boss Arne Slot is "obsessed with the Champions League." After a chance meeting, Carragher sensed Slot's primary goal is European glory, a shift in focus from their Premier League title win last season.

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Carragher Unlocks Manager's Champions League Goal

Jamie Carragher mentioned he thinks Liverpool's coach, Arne Slot, is really focused on the Champions League after they ran into each other.

Being super into winning the European Cup isn't a bad thing at all. But it might be a problem if the way they play hurts Liverpool's performance in England.

We'll have to wait and see if that happens, but some of Liverpool's new players, especially Florian Wirtz, seem better suited for European games than the Premier League.

Carragher, who used to play for Liverpool and now talks about football on Sky Sports, said, I think Slot is really focused on the Champions League. He talks about PSG a lot from last year, after they lost to them.

He speaks highly of them. He seemed to admire losing to that team and how they won the tournament and played in the final.

I think he likes coaches whose teams play that way, and that's how he wants his team to play when they're at their best.

That's why, after last season, he talked about Liverpool controlling the game and wanting more skill—you can see that with the players he's signed. But when you spend that much money, you have to be one of the favourites for the Champions League.

Arne Slot even introduced Jamie Carragher to his family as someone who won the Champions League.

Carragher won the Champions League with Liverpool in 2005, even though they weren't doing great in England that season, finishing fifth in the league behind Everton.

Now that Liverpool is 11 points behind Arsenal, who are at the top of the league, many fans are hoping they can win the Champions League this season, as they did in Istanbul.

"I actually ran into Arne Slot this summer when he was on vacation; we were both on holiday," Carragher added.

He was with his family, and I thanked him for what he did for Liverpool last season in terms of winning the league.

He introduced me to his wife and kids as a Champions League winner, and I got the feeling he thinks, 'That's our next goal.'

I could tell by the way he said it, 'We've won the league, but we want to win the Champions League.'

That's the vibe I got, and it stuck with me. You can tell he really wants it, as all great coaches do.

But when you're the coach of Liverpool, a club known for the Champions League, we have to get close.

While fans would have wanted to win the Premier League again, many would have chosen the Champions League over winning in England at the beginning of the season.

The next step is beating PSV on Wednesday, but Liverpool needs to get back in form after losing eight of their last 11 games.

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