Title Race Blown Wide Open & A Dark Day In Lisbon 

10:30Gary Lineker:CZS hasn't done one.

10:32Alan Shearer:I know it is, but get yourselves together and go, come on. And let's be a bit more aggressive in our game. Let's be a little bit more on the front foot, particularly when we get ahead. I don't know. Is this a mindset? Are we just looking at it? It's a little stutter in the middle of a season, which every team probably will have at some point, even if you go on to win the title I suspect they'll still go on to win the title myself but this might be a little shot in the arm that not saying they need but they need to sort out

11:03Gary Lineker:I would still say the same I would still go along with that they'll probably still win it just but I think if you need a game after what's happened then it's not a bad one to have in your local rivals I know they've got a new manager and I know it's a way all of those things but what a response it would be to come out and go and win at Tottenham at the weekend. And I think that's a good game for them to have so soon after. But yeah, I never expected Arsenal to do it the easy way. I always knew that if you've been in there, you know there's going to be bumps and everything else along the road and nervy times, et cetera.

11:41Gary Lineker:And people are going to be chucking questions and bombs and everything at you. And you've got to somehow get over that. So I did expect this to happen, but it's now, yeah, let's see what they're made of. Let's see what they've got.

11:55Alan Shearer:Also, though, if they did lose the London Derby, obviously Spurs have got a new man in charge. There's going to be a hell of an energy in there. The Tottenham team and fans would like nothing more. Look at Kaz is loving this, isn't he?

12:11Danny Murphy:Look at him.

12:12Alan Shearer:I love a title race, Micah. I love a title race. I play for Tottenham, obviously, so you know where my allegiances lie in that sense. But at the same time, there are no football clubs I dislike. I've never understood the hating a football club thing. I just want to see a tighter race. I want to see it close. You can imagine Pep watching last night and all the City team when that goal goes in right at the end. I guarantee you now every single one of them would have jumped out their armchair or their chair, wherever they were. and so it makes it exciting. It's what we want, isn't it?

12:47Danny Murphy:It's all going down to the City and Arsenal in April. Said it months ago, that's exactly what it's going to be. As long as, well, Man City have got Newcastle who after that 6-1 win against Carabag, full of confidence. Long trip, though. Long trip.

13:02Gary Lineker:Have you seen their record at Man City as well, by the way?

13:06Alan Shearer:It's not great, is it, Al?

13:07Gary Lineker:Not great. Looking awful. So, yeah, I wouldn't expect too much there, no, even with their 6-1 win.

13:15Alan Shearer:City are now just the five points behind, but they've got a game in hand. They've won four out of their last five in all comps. I suppose the question is, can we see City being as consistently brilliant as they were when they won it four in a row? Remember, they win pretty much every game after Christmas and you couldn't see them ever dropping points. They went toe-to-toe, didn't they, on occasions with Liverpool. I'm not quite sure City are there. Can they be consistent enough to track Arsenal down?

13:49Gary Lineker:Well, with their two signings, with Gui and with Semenya, yeah, they could be, yeah, because Gui's without doubt been a huge addition to them. Without him, then, I would have said definitely not, no, but I think he's been huge for them and will be. Having said that, I still think you get chances against them. that's just the way they are and playing. But yeah, they can do that. Yeah, they've been in this position, know exactly how it works. They know exactly what to do. Their manager is obviously, he is what he is and hugely successful. So yeah, they can, there's no doubt, yeah.

14:23Alan Shearer:What do you think, Mike? The Ruben Diaz as well, gay partnership looks like that might be something special.

14:30Danny Murphy:Yeah, it's always hard to sort of predict, isn't it? Because you're judging them by such high standards. I don't think they are what they were a couple of seasons ago. But Alan's completely right. Semenyo has made a difference straight away. And Gahey has also. But one player who's not been talked about, Bernardo Silva, in the last two months has been playing some of the best football I've ever seen him play in a Man City jersey. Foden's in and around it. Haaland's back scoring. eight Norries back in the team. Yeah, I think they can outscore teams. They're still vulnerable on the counter-attack, but they've got something.

15:13Danny Murphy:I saw it in the first half against Spurs. And then to come back at Anfield after the Sabozlai free kick and then get that moment. And we always talk about moments. That felt like it might be a turning point. Within the season, don't we? And turning points. That could have just been it. I think it's going to go right to the end of the season. I really do.

15:35Gary Lineker:You know what, Michael? I think, you know, you say, oh, Man City might not hit the heights of other seasons. They might not have to because other teams are not hitting the heights of other seasons either. Liverpool are miles away. Arsenal, they're struggling with form. What is it? Three and nine or something like that. They've only won. So they might not have to get to those heights to get to win it.

15:55Danny Murphy:Totally agree with that. They could just do enough. But I still wouldn't write Arsenal off yet. Well, you can't write Arsenal after five points ahead of the lay table. Let me explain in layman's terms. You've got a team who does everything to win a game. And you've got a team who gets a goal and goes back in a defensive structure. And I said at the start of the year, Arsenal need to take the handbrake off. They did for a couple of months. And then it sort of changed a little bit. And now, psychologically, you're thinking, get the goal, get two goals. And anyone in the right mind, you tune a lot.

16:27Danny Murphy:You think, okay, let's go a little bit deeper. but you've got a manager who wants to protect and a manager who wants to win and that's what it's going to be towards the end of the season. Who's going to outdo each other in their tactics? And... Is Arteta a bit more Mourinho than he is Pep? Oh yeah. I think when Arteta first started at Arsenal the football he played was sensational. The rotations, the passing, the speed in which they got from from back to front was excellent. But there's nothing wrong with being a Mourinho because you're up against Pep. You know this notion that, oh, you've got to play this amazing football.

17:06Danny Murphy:Pep's best at doing that, so you have to adapt. Like we talked about him at Amarim so many times that he didn't adapt. Ateta's had to adapt his football to get results. The problem is, if he doesn't win the league at the end of it, he's going to be judged for the football that he plays. So he needs to get over the line for his own sake.

17:24Gary Lineker:If he doesn't win the league, he might not be at Arsenal.

17:27Danny Murphy:Well, that's it.

17:29Gary Lineker:Because after the chances they've had to win it, they've been second, haven't they? And with what they've spent and the players they've got and the position they are in, still in, they have to win it.

17:42Alan Shearer:Unless they win the Champions League.

17:44Gary Lineker:True.

17:44Alan Shearer:For the first time in their history. Are they better suited for the Champions League than perhaps this particular situation because of the recent history of the Premier League? Maybe.

17:55Gary Lineker:Mentally, maybe it would be, well not easier but mentally it might be an easier barrier to get over to go and win that than it is to win the Premier League you're right because of what's happened to them in the Premier League yeah

18:06Alan Shearer:and then you've got the psychological thing of course of the two teams meeting in the Carabao Cup final yeah because Arsenal not won a trophy obviously for quite a number of years since that was at the FA Cup under Arteta when he first arrived so shape her up nicely nice few months ahead guys good very excited good lots to talk about Yeah, lots to talk about. There's lots to talk about when we come back.

18:56Alan Shearer:And when you're ready to launch, use code FOOTBALL, all uppercase, to get 10 % off your first purchase of a website or domain.

19:05Gary Lineker:Hello, everybody, and welcome to The Book Club, a new podcast from Goalhanger, hosted by me, Dominic Sandbrook. And me, Tabitha Syrod. As some of you may know, I've been Dominic's producer on The Rest is History, and we even did a mini-series last year about all things books. And since we enjoyed that so much, we have decided to roll it out as its own show. So it'll be coming out every Tuesday. We'll be doing a different book each time and digging into all the stories behind them. And we are going to be talking about the historical contexts behind some of the greatest and most famous books of all time.

19:40Gary Lineker:We're going to be digging into the remarkable people behind them, the unexpected stories behind the stories, and also unravelling the plot of each book a bit and delving into the depths of the story. Now, you don't have to have read the books to listen to the show, but we hope that by the end of each episode, you will be able to pretend to people that you've read them. That is the key thing. And either way, whether you read them or not, we hope that you'll learn lots of fascinating facts. You'll do lots of great stories and maybe, Tabby, the odd laugh. We will be looking at thrilling Gothic bodice rippers like Wuthering Heights and Frankenstein, as well as iconic stories like The Great Gatsby or Little Women.

20:19Gary Lineker:And then also some more modern stuff. So Game of Thrones, Normal People, The Hunger Games, Hamnet, all manner of exciting stories. So please join us on our journey into all things books, wherever you get your podcasts. Just search for The Book Club every Tuesday, and hopefully we will see you there.

20:49Alan Shearer:This episode is brought to you by Whoop. In the modern game, of course, there are a lot more games and that feeling of being slightly off by Monday. And that's how it shows up. Not as an injury, it's just fatigue creeping in. Off the pitch, everyday life stacks up too. Work, travel, late nights, early starts. Whoop helps you see how sleep, recovery and stress are impacting your overall health over time.

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22:13Alan Shearer:Jr. having scored a fabulous goal, celebrated as any player would. And then, according to Vinicius Jr. and Kylian Mbappe, who was close by, was subjected to racial abuse from Gianluca Prestiani, one of Benfica's players. It will, of course, be difficult to prove, but I would say two things. One, why would Vinicius Jr. and indeed Mbappe lie? This was a moment of joy for them to saver and golazo. It makes no sense really, does it, to turn that into a moment of accusation and despair? Secondly, why? Unless you were trying to smother your words, would you hide behind your shirt? Either way, once again, racism discolours the beautiful game.

22:58Alan Shearer:I would argue though that this goes beyond football. We live in a time where division is sown, where we're turned against each other, whether it be the colour of our skin, race or religion. It comes from the top. We see it everywhere. Only in the last couple of weeks, we've seen the President of the United States post an image of the former President and his wife as monkeys. Now we're witnessing accusations of something similar on a football pitch. The post-match tribalism was also depressing. Jose Mourinho had the gall to blame Vinicius for celebrating his goal, basically saying he had had it coming.

23:38Alan Shearer:I'm sorry, but that is gaslighting. Players celebrate goals. Should they think in a moment, if I celebrate, I'll provoke racial abuse? Of course not. It's ludicrous and wrong, I would say, to put the blame on Vinicius. Mourinho went on to say that the club's greatest ever player was black. The great Eusebio, he's right, of course he was, but it did feel a little bit like one of those, oh, one of my mates' black moments. This was not about Benfica, even though images of two young fans were seen to be making monkey gestures at Madrid players. This was not, I don't think, a moment for tribalism. It should have been a moment when all of football came together.

24:18Alan Shearer:Whether it's proved that there was racist abuse or not remains to be seen. I imagine it will be very difficult. I'll be accused probably, not for the first time, along with others, of being woke. but I think it's hugely important that it's not just black players that speak out. It needs to come from us. It seems so odd and inhumane that caring and kindness is seen as a flaw and something to be despised. I genuinely, genuinely believe that the vast majority of fans inside the Stadium of Light were not prejudiced against the colour of someone's skin. I'd also say that 99 % of professional footballers are genuinely not in the slightest bit racist.

25:03Alan Shearer:In fact, the multicultural harmony of dressing rooms are an example, I think, to the world. They make me proud of our sport. Alas, there'll always be the odd exception that ruins it for everyone. What happened on Tuesday night was as distressing as it was depressing. And let's just remember who the victim was and that we remain on the right side. It's not the first time we spoke of these issues. and it won't be the last I suspect. And I think the way it turned against Vinicius was very sad.

25:36Gary Lineker:Well, I was there. I did the game, guys. I was co-commentating with John Champion and Mark Clattenburg, the referee, sat alongside us. And yeah, you've just spoken there for three or four minutes and you haven't mentioned his wonderful goal, which was what we should be talking about. That should have been the story. It was an amazing goal from an amazing player. Yeah, we shouldn't be witnessing what we saw. It clearly did look like he abused him. Because why else would you pull your top up to say something to someone on the football pitch? It looked as if he was clearly trying to hide something.

26:15Gary Lineker:And yeah, Vinny was right to then call it out. And I thought the referee handled a very difficult situation very well. The ground then turned very hostile, very nasty and all of those things. And it was a really horrible situation. Yeah. And something that clearly we've spoken about before. And you're right, we will speak about again. But that's in no way acceptable with what looks as if has gone on.

26:41Danny Murphy:Can I just ask you, Gaz? I mean, it's such a difficult situation this, isn't it? Because you've got a young player, Prestiani, who's now turned into the victim. he covered his mouth with his shirt so on cbs when i was doing a coverage i called him a coward which he is a coward for doing that he knew exactly what he was doing but we don't know the context of what he said so you've got mbappe and venetius jr saying he did and then you've got and then you've got all these people saying oh well well you can't prove it so then what can

27:15Alan Shearer:you possibly do well that's my that was my point in my in my words what can you possibly do it's

27:22Danny Murphy:draining it's frustrating it's using the perfect word gaslighting and you know what's what's very difficult you know when in society he mentioned it and i always give people a fair shake yeah i know you do i always try to be positive i always i have no agenda i have i don't have any narrative I'm just me. I say what I see. And what happened with this is, you could feel the pain from Vinicius that even if he was telling the truth, you can't prove it. So then you get these microaggressions like, well, no one's believing what I say. Now it bumbles on, it bumbles on. What do you wait for doing this situation?

28:05Danny Murphy:What do you do in the second leg? It's very hard for them if there's no evidence. And it's just sad to see that we're still talking about these things. Now we have so many cameras, we have so many microphones or whatnot, and all it's become is their word against his.

28:24Gary Lineker:Clarence Seedorf, who was a pundit on the evening and we were working with, went on to the Real Madrid bus. Yeah, watched it. And spoke to Vinicius after the game. And Vinicius clearly told him what he says, what was said to him.

28:40Alan Shearer:you could quite clearly see Vinicius mouthing it as he ran towards the referee. It was the term mono. Mono is monkey in Spanish. And if that was said, I mean, that's truly unacceptable. It's quite rare that it comes on the pitch from one player to another. It's normally a fan, isn't it? On the sidelines, somebody shouting something. And, you know, some people have a go at Vinicius. There's a lot of history. He seems to be quite targeted, but he's someone that does want to speak out when it happens to him, which is quite a brave thing to do, which it shouldn't have to be. But he does become then the accused, which I think is grossly unfair.

29:20Alan Shearer:I think, you know, we've all got to stand up when we see this sort of thing.

29:24Danny Murphy:But you say stand up, Gaz. How can you stand up when there's no evidence, you know? That's the part that frustrates me. Well, he has, the evidence is his word, isn't it? I know, but then Prestiani's word also, which is so frustrating. We all know he said something. We can't prove what that was. No, we can't. And the thing is, to my last point is, when I talked about, in terms of no narrative, no agendas and all this, people of color and even people, you know, White people are scared to talk about this topic because they don't want to mix their words. They don't want to say the wrong thing. They don't want to be accused of backing someone else.

30:14Danny Murphy:And it's a very difficult place to be in.

30:18Alan Shearer:I saw Thierry Henry on your show. So I thought he spoke very eloquently on the issue. And I mean, obviously he said he had contact with, again, with Kylian Mbappe. I don't know. We have to take these allegations very seriously. You're right, Mark. It is very difficult. You have to, it's like walking on a minefield with these things because we should all be on the same side and we should all be together on this, but sadly we're not. And that's why it becomes very difficult. I mean, Alan as well, he's doing live co-commentary and you can't really know what's going on when you sat up there all that distance away.

30:50Alan Shearer:That's right. It must have been very difficult for you. It was tough. And obviously Mark Klattenberg got himself in a hole. He subsequently apologized. I've been, I've done broadcasts from these things. have happened before. You have to be, you have to choose your words very carefully, don't you?

31:05Gary Lineker:But also you have to talk for 10 minutes.

31:09Alan Shearer:Yeah.

31:09Gary Lineker:And 10 minutes is a hell of a long time when the game has been halted, you know? You can't just stay silent. And Mark was really upset that I knew exactly what he was trying to say and he might have just got one or two words mixed up. And he has, are you right, he has apologised for what he said, but there was no intention there. But it is really difficult when you have to talk for 10 minutes because there are pitches there and you can't just stay silent and clearly, obviously, you have to get every single word right in today's world because there's always someone on social media ready to jump on you if you get a word wrong.

31:50Danny Murphy:The conclusion though, Vinnie Jr is not lying, you know? Of course he's not lying. He's not lying. Kylian Mbappe's not lying. Why would you lie about that? Exactly.

32:01Alan Shearer:What would you need to lie about? You've just scored one of the great Champions League goals of your career and you're buzzing. Yeah, he goes to the corner, does a brilliant celebration. It was a bit of Roger Miller, wasn't it, and all that. But to then blame him for that, you go, whoa, no, that's not right. And then you could see he keeps smiling and then someone's had a little bit of a pop and he's going, whoa, whoa, what's going on? And then there was the moment, wasn't there? And you could see the way he completely ripped. I mean, it will be very, very difficult to prove. So what happens now with UEFA?

32:34Alan Shearer:I've no idea. They probably have an inquiry that will take, I don't know. But again, I think the majority, we've seen the response, the majority of football has stood up against this and stood on the side of Vinny Jr., which I think is really important. I think in many ways, and I go back to my words, that football is often a really, really good example of how we can be harmonious together. And how ludicrous it is that we look at the color of someone's skin and think any differently of them. So hopefully, hopefully it'll, you know, football is so big and so global and so watched by so many that it can have, I think, an influence.

33:15Alan Shearer:And that's why it's sad when things like this happen, because it's really very rare, actually, on the football pitch itself or in a dressing room. Very rare.

33:24Danny Murphy:Very rare. Just moving on a little bit. I don't know if he was going to bring up next. Mourinho let me down Mourinho's comments afterwards I don't know if you've got his comments there but I've got them here someone who you look up to who you idolise and he's the special one and even when his career's gone not the way he wanted to in recent years although he's doing really well at Benfica I just looked at him and think his charisma, the way he talks the way he handles himself in the media yeah he rubs people up the wrong way But I absolutely love him. And he had a chance to just say, you know, well, we've not seen all the evidence.

34:05Danny Murphy:I don't want to pick a side. We'll let the authorities do what they need to do and we'll deal with it afterwards. But all the noise coming out afterwards has just been pathetic. I mean, I've got his words here.

34:17Alan Shearer:I told him when you score a goal like that, you just celebrate and walk back. Why?

34:24Danny Murphy:Vinicius is coming for a man who storms the pitch every time. Charge down the touchline. But that's the bit I can't comprehend, guys, you know?

34:32Alan Shearer:Do you know what's kicked in there, Michael? What's kicked in there is tribalism. Tribalism, defending his clan, his club. You know, it's all about his team, his player. That's what he's thinking there. And he's also, his ego's kicked in a little bit. He's gone up to Vinicius and he's obviously a former Real Madrid manager. And then he wants to tell everyone else what he said to Vinicius, because I think I'm the great peacemaker, or whatever his ego's kicked in and taken over. But you're absolutely right. He got it wrong. He really, really did get it wrong. I mean, he turned, you know, Vinicius, who's the victim in this, he basically accused him of creating this scenario.

35:14Gary Lineker:Yeah. I mean, after he'd been sent off, he could have clearly just come out and said, the scenes were unacceptable. Let me have a look into it. There has to be an inquiry into this. We weren't good enough on the pitch, but what happened in those 10 minutes, we're going to have to look into. And rather than saying what he did, I mean, it was a terrible look in what he said. It wasn't good at all.

35:40Alan Shearer:It really was. it's obviously not the first time Vinny Jr. has received racist abuse either Valencia in 2023 some Valencia fans were sentenced to eight months in prison actually but that was a fan based thing this was different because it was a fellow footballer which makes it all the more depressing but anyway I think Madrid will probably go through whatever happens with that one goal lead if we can get back to football

36:07Gary Lineker:well they should have they should have won five or six nil at least guys Yeah, they should. They missed some big chances in the first half, Madrid. Benfica were poor. They didn't have enough up front, didn't trouble Real Madrid at all. And it should be pretty straightforward for Real Madrid on the pitch next week.

36:24Alan Shearer:Yeah, I would say so. We can't go without talking about the magnificence of one Newcastle United football club. Wow, that first half against the... Well, we were in the group chat, weren't we, Seth? Crikey. This is a bit easy. I mean, how many goals could they have scored in that first half?

36:45Gary Lineker:It was like, yeah, it was... What a game to play, particularly for a forward, and Anthony Gordon, I mean, getting his four goals. I loved... I think Kieran Trippier must have said something about giving someone else the penalty.

36:59Alan Shearer:No, he did. I was going to ask you about that.

37:02Gary Lineker:Get off. No, why the hell do you think I'm giving a penalty away? Are you fucking mad? no chance

37:09Alan Shearer:Trippier clearly had the hump with him didn't he about it so what you can have the hump

37:13Gary Lineker:whatever I don't care I'm not giving the ball away I've got to you work your nuts off to get to score goals and when someone gives you the opportunity and you're the penalty taker no way mate you're not I'm not giving the ball away well done Anthony Gordon for not doing that

37:27Alan Shearer:I knew you'd say that I was going I knew you'd say that you expect me anything different no no I would say exactly the same thing I mean Christ you've got a chance to score four goals in a Champions League exactly not many players

37:40Gary Lineker:in the history of the game have done that I think he's second in the list of goal scorers in the Champions League this season just behind Mbappe yeah which is incredible big result for Newcastle clearly they're not going to throw it away in the second leg and they're into the round of 16 I wouldn't have thought so against Chelsea or Barcelona so they've put themselves in a really strong position three great away wins they've had because their away form has been terrible this season. And so to win at Spurs, win at Villa, go all the way over there, which is a nightmare trip for them. And then let's see if they can go and win at Man City on Saturday.

38:19Gary Lineker:Hold on.

38:20Danny Murphy:Nightmare trip for them. You want to be in the Champions League? Newcastle wasn't even the biggest star yesterday. Bodo Glimp was, mate. Oh, shut up. Being into Milan.

38:31Alan Shearer:I mean, that was extraordinary, Mike. I presume I was watching Arsenal.

38:35Danny Murphy:I was covering that. I was covering that game. They were excellent. I'm telling you, a lot of people look at the name and just think, oh, they must have fluked their way. They play some really good football, really good on a counter-attack. They've got a guy called Fett Hager, I think his name is pronounced, and a guy called, it's spelled H-O-G-H, but it's pronounced who? Who? Who's that?

39:01Alan Shearer:Sorry, Mike. but that's what was that Man City Atletico and now Inter they've been yes in the Champions League this season I mean blimey yes exactly fantastic story incredible which game did you were you mainly focused on last night Michael

39:18Danny Murphy:we was doing we was doing all of them but Bodoglum Inter was our main main game just because the story and they deserved it did they they were they deserved it they played really well a lot of energy the play on a plastic pitch as well which obviously is difficult but I must say the one against Atletico Madrid in the league phase and that was in Madrid so we can't really use the pitch but they're just an amazing watch really is the fans are great and it's a great story

39:50Alan Shearer:quite a game bruised Atletico as well wasn't it?

39:53Danny Murphy:a few goals going on there yeah I saw the goals in that 3-3 yeah it went 2-0 up didn't they and then two and then three, two. And then it was a crazy game. And then one of the goals at the end looked like it was offside. It was onside, Zolis, to make it 3-0. So that'll be a good game as well. But I expect Atletico Madrid at home to go through there. Do you think Inter will turn it around? Not if they played like they did yesterday, no.

40:20Gary Lineker:Yeah, I've seen Inter a couple of times this season. I've been to San Siro and watched them in the Champions League. I've not been that impressed with them. They're a bit of an agent team. No, I don't think they're that great, to be honest.

40:32Alan Shearer:Can you imagine the reaction in Italy? Oh, no. If they go out. Can you imagine the reaction in Italy if they go out to Bodo Glimp? Yeah, yeah, exactly. Into Milan. Internazionale.

40:42Gary Lineker:PSG got a good big result as well, didn't they? Turned it around. They were two down, weren't they? Two down against Monaco, yeah. Substitute Desiree Duesnick came on and scored a couple and got an assist as well, yeah.

40:53Alan Shearer:He's a player. He's a talented young man. Class. Class act, have you? Before we bid you farewell, I'm just telling you how the draw pans out. I mean, it's slightly odd because they've done a draw and now they're going to do another little bit of a draw. So you've got the winners of Monaco, Paris, PSG will play against Barcelona or Chelsea. Galatasaray or Juventus, Galatasaray 5-2 against Juve, that was a cracking game, will play either Liverpool or Tottenham. Now, don't forget, Liverpool are not playing Tottenham. It's just that they'll do another draw to decide which of those two teams. So it's a bit odd.

41:33Alan Shearer:Benfica or Real Madrid will play against Sporting or Man City. Dortmund or Atalanta will play Arsenal or Bayern. Carabao or Newcastle, as you quite rightly said, will play Chelsea, Barcelona. Club Bruges or Atleti will play Tottenham, Liverpool. Bodo Glimp or Inter will play Man City or Sporting Olympiacos or Leverkusen will play Bayern or Arsenal so there's it's a funny one isn't it

42:03Gary Lineker:can you work it out some potentially huge fixtures in there for the round for the round of 16 I mean there's some big big games in there

42:12Alan Shearer:big one who would you sooner play as a Newcastle fan Barca or Chelsea Barca because you are going through you're probably the one team you would say that's absolutely guaranteed to go through.

42:23Gary Lineker:When we win the Champions League, we can say we beat Barcelona on the way. So yeah, Barcelona, yeah.

42:30Danny Murphy:If you play Gordon up front against Barcelona, he'll score a hat-trick. With a high line.

42:35Alan Shearer:I was going to talk about Anthony Gordon playing up there as a centre-forward, actually. I meant to bring it up early and I forgot. That's a good option for England, isn't it? To have the fact that he can play on the left or if anything happened to Harry Kane or, you know, obviously there's Ollie Watkins as well. Tammy Abraham. Well, Tammy Abraham's only just come back to Villa, but he's not really had a look in under Tuchel. But who knows? Yeah, he's... Good option. Good option because he's got so much pace that gives behind something different. That was going to be my point. So he could turn himself into a centre-forward, Al.

43:09Gary Lineker:Yeah, you said it. You prefer him up there to the other two that they signed. And he certainly gives Newcastle more options in that just because of his sheer pace. might have one or two different issues when teams sit deep in a low block then it's more difficult but I think in the Champions League where most teams will just maybe come out and play and try and play their own game then there is a lot more space in behind for him to get I mean look you might have scored a hat-trick last night against Carabag even at your age now Gaz they were that bad having said that he still had to score the four goals and he is a threat because of his pace Yeah.

43:50Alan Shearer:Okay. Nice positive way to finish. So we'll call it a day there. Goodbye from me. Goodbye from me.

43:56Gary Lineker:Goodbye from me.

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