Chelsea vs Barcelona - Champions League LIVE: Latest score, team news and updates as Lamine Yamal and Estevao face off in battle of the wonderkids plus Erling Haaland is benched by Pep Guardiola

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Follow Daily Mail Sport's live blog for the latest score, team news and updates as Barcelona take on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the Champions League, plus action from the other games, including Marseille vs Newcastle and Manchester City vs Bayer Leverkusen - with Oliver Holt, Craig Hope, Kieran Gill and Jack Gaughan reporting from the grounds.

Cole Palmer back in training

This is a sight Chelsea and England fan have both been waiting for... Cole Palmer back in training.

The midfielder hasn't played since going off injured against Manchester United in mid-September, and there at one point was real concern that he would miss a longer period of time and undergo surgery.

But that wasn't needed, and he is now back in training with a view to returning to action sooner rather than later.

Fantastic news.

'No strikers on the pitch'

Chelsea have three strikers on their bench in Liam Delap, Joao Pedro and Marc Guiu. Four if we count Tyrique George. But none on the pitch.They are using Pedro Neto up top, presumably because their data says he is the fastest player at the club and therefore would be useful in bursting behind Barcelona’s high line.

 Pedro Neto, Joao Pedro, Estevao, Liam Delap and Andrey Santos on the pitch prior to the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD5 match between Chelsea FC and FC Barcelona at Stamford Bridge on November 25, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Chris Lee - Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)

Maresca: 'It is great people want to watch them'

Enzo Mareca, Chelsea manager:

Estevao is already playing high level, he is already starting for Brazil, for sure he is very young, for sure he can do many things better, but we are very happy with him.For me it's more or less the same thing I said about Pedri, it's nice for people that love football to watch players like Estevao, like Lamine Yamal, like Pedri, this is the beauty of football, so we are happy that Estevao is with us, and for sure he is going to do well.

epa12512899 Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca (L) gives instructions to substitute Estevao during the English Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers, in London, Britain, 08 November 2025.  EPA/DANIEL HAMBURY EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos, 'live' services or NFTs. Online in-match use limited to 120 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications.

The stars are in town!

By Lewis Browning

The players have arrived to a fine atmosphere in what is a freezing London.

Quite the look from Raphinha... but Yamal looks focused!

 Raphinha of FC Barcelona arrives at the stadium prior to during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD5 match between Chelsea FC and FC Barcelona at Stamford Bridge on November 25, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

 Lamine Yamal of FC Barcelona arrives at the stadium prior to the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD5 match between Chelsea FC and FC Barcelona at Stamford Bridge on November 25, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

Soccer Football - UEFA Champions League - Chelsea v FC Barcelona - Stamford Bridge, London, Britain - November 25, 2025 Chelsea's Wesley Fofana arrives at the stadium before the match Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge

The battle of the wonderkids

We are looking at two of the best wonderkids in the world doing battle tonight.

Lamine Yamal lines up for Barcelona, while Estevao is involved for Cheslea. Both are 18.

Looking to the next generation is always an important thing in world football, and these two clubs have got some absolute starts on their plates. Yamal is already a Euros winner and came second in the Ballon d'Or this year while, once Estevao builds up a head of steam, we could be looking at him reaching that level too. He's already a regular with Brazil

Exciting times for sure.

 Lamine Yamal of FC Barcelona celebrates after scores the third goal of his team during the LaLiga EA Sports match between RC Celta de Vigo and FC Barcelona at Estadio Abanca-Balaidos on November 09, 2025 in Vigo, Spain. (Photo by Bruno Penas/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)

 Chelsea's Estevao celebrates scoring his side's third goal during the Carabao Cup Fourth Round match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Chelsea at Molineux on October 29, 2025 in Wolverhampton, England. (Photo by Andrew Kearns - CameraSport via Getty Images)

Flick: 'We can see he is smiling a lot'

Hansi Flick, Barcelona manager:

I’m really very happy. He came back from a cold, but he’s OK. We’ll decide tomorrow if he starts or not. But I’m happy to have him in our team.I followed him his whole career, I was impressed with his quality, what he’s doing in the box in front of the opponent’s goal. He has shown it in Barcelona.Also for him this change to live in another culture, with fantastic people, nice weather, it’s amazing. We can see now he’s also smiling a lot. If he can enjoy the atmosphere we have it’s also very good.

Barcelona's head coach Hansi Flick speaks with Marcus Rashford during a Spanish La Liga soccer match at the Carlos Tartiere stadium in Oviedo, Spain, Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Breton)

How has Marcus Rashford been getting on?

Now enjoying his football again for both club and country, Marcus Rashford is getting back to something close to what we had come to expect of him for many years.

In 16 LaLiga and Champions League matches so far this season, he has six goal and nine assists to his name.

Maybe the change was what he needed. To get out of England. Ironically, it's helped him earn his way into Thomas Tuchel's plans and, more than likely, a spot at the World Cup.

We'll see if he can produce anything tonight.

 Photo by Urbanandsport/NurPhoto/Shutterstock (15672977s) Marcus Rashford celebrates during the match between FC Barcelona and Elche CF, corresponding to week 11 of LaLiga EA Sports, played at the Lluis Companys Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, on November 2, 2025. FC Barcelona v Elche CF - LaLiga EA Sports, Spain - 02 Nov 2025

epa12515038 FC Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski (L) celebrates with teammate Marcus Rashford (R) after scoring the 1-2 goal during the Spanish LaLiga soccer match between Celta Vigo and FC Barcelona, in Vigo, Spain, 09 November 2025.  EPA/Lavandeira Jr.

Newcastle team news: Gordon STARTS

Anthony Gordon is back for Newcastle and gets the nod. But Harvey Barnes is in too on the back of his brace at the weekend - it looks like Gordon will play through the middle, with Woltemade benched.

Thiaw and Schar continue their partnership.

Breaking:Man City team news: Haaland BENCHED

Wow. That is an interesting side from Pep Guardiola.

Changes galore. No Haaland. No Donnarumma. No Doku, no Silva, no O'Reilly, no Foden.

Let's see if it pays off!

'I am getting my wish'

I’m getting my wish – Estevao versus Lamine Yamal. It looks like Chelsea will be using Pedro Neto as a false nine also, with Liam Delap, Tyrique George and Joao Pedro all on the bench.

Barcelona team news: Yamal STARTS

Two of the three big guns start up front for Barca, with Yamal and Lewandowski both in. Raphinha is on the bench.

Rashford is on the bench too, with Ferran Torres also starting.

Breaking:Chelsea team news: Estevao STARTS

By Lewis Browning

Chelsea fans have been calling for it for a while, and they have got it - Estevao starts.

Looks like Pedro Neto will be playing up front, with Alejandro Garnacho on the other wing.

Reece James or Malo Gusto will play in midfield.

Key Updates

  • Man City team news: Haaland BENCHED

  • Barcelona team news: Yamal STARTS

  • Chelsea team news: Estevao STARTS

  • The Champions League returns!

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