Bayer Leverkusen v Tottenham Hotspur (BT Sport 2)
Gary Lineker presenting, joined by Rio Ferdinand, Harry Redknapp & Jermaine Jenas, with Reshmin Chowdhury in Germany.
Commentators - Ian Darke and Owen Hargreaves


Leicester City v FC Copenhagen (BT Sport 3 / BT Sport 4K UHD)
Lynsey Hipgrave presenting, joined by Michael Owen and Martin O'Neill, with Andy May reporting.
Commentators - Peter Drury and Robbie Savage


BT Sport Extra Matches
Club Brugge v FC Porto (X1) - Alistair Mann and Stewart Robson
Lyon v Juventus (X2) - Guy Mowbray and Danny Mills
Sporting CP v Borussia Dortmund (X3) - Paul Dempsey and Don Hutchison
Real Madrid v Legia Warsaw (X4) - Jon Champion and Ally McCoist
CSKA Moscow v Monaco (X5) - Adam Summerton and Clive Allen
Dinamo Zagreb v Sevilla (X6) - Simon Brotherton and Nigel Spackman

A mysteriously moment in the Bayer Leverkusen v Tottenham game. The former had an effort on goal. The ball appears to go over the line but was not given. Darke mentions it will start the debate on goal-line technology over again. Cut a few seconds later to a reply of the near-miss followed by a graphic of the ball clearly not over the line. Cue near silence from Darke!

Celtic v Borussia Monchengladbach- Presented by Darrell Currie, with John Hartson and Johan Mjällby. Commentary from Derek Rae and Chris Sutton. Interviews by Eilidh Barbour.

Strange one.

To be fair, I didn't know that goal line technology was being used in the champions league either (was it just a tv thing or do referees have acess too?).

Re general chat on commentary - I think it depends on the viewer's personal preference.

Of course there is less time for chat with football than say cricket or golf - but there is some time - especially in a quiet game like last night.

Personally, I like general chat - if it is interesting. I can see what's going on - I don't want someone just telling me X is passing to Y and Z has just done a good shot etc.

My favourite commentators are Tyler and Darke (and Wilson though he does far fewer live games) precisely because of their general chat which, for me, provides a much more rounded and interesting viewing experience.

It's also why I'm glad Sky haven't dropped Parry. If you compare him to Leslie then sure, Leslie is much sharper and makes far fewer mistakes etc. But he doesn't have the rounded, broader broadcasting skills that Parry has.

To some extent I suspect it's a generational thing. I would imagine the likes of Tyler and Darke rate much more highly with older viewers than they do with younger viewers.

Celta Vigo v Ajax- John Roder

Gary Lineker getting loads of abuse on twitter for defending immigration, strange thing was he seemed to be tweeting such messages during the CL game and just after the CL show, Jon Gaunt has tweeted to say Gary Lineker has broken BBC impartiality rules, not sure how that is? He was on BT and tweeting from his own personal twitter account.

Gary if you are reading this, stick to the football mate, politics and football are a nasty combination!

He seem's to talk alot about politics through Twitter but i do agree stick to sport!

Well can he really complain about overseas people coming over here to work - just look at the Premier league!

The footballing media would have a much worse league to comment on if they weren't here.



I know its slightly different...and they do say football/politics shouldn't mix.

GLT was implemented for the Champions League and Europa League finals last season prior to being used at the Euro's this summer.

In fairness, it still hadn't registered with me either that UEFA had started using it given their unusual resistance to it at first.

So, I'll let Darke off for this one - as will all members of his fan club within this thread I'm sure.

UEFA Youth League:Arsenal v Ludogorets (BT Sport 2)

Commentator: Dan Roebuck.

It doesn't help that UEFA have persisted with the officials behind the goal line. The Leverkusen player appealed to the guy behind the goal which did make me think "do they have GLT in the Champions League?"

GLT is available this season in UCL

Altogether now 'If it were Fletcher...'.

To be fair to Darke, I'm not sure many of us were aware it was being used - I'd have expected to have heard a lot about its introduction.

That said it's not the first time Darke's had an issue with goalline technology - I remember at this stage last season him having a bit of a nightmare with an Arsenal goal v Bayern Munich.

On the Lineker point, not seen the tweet but do think it's wise not to mix politics and sport. Of course people can tweet what they want but it more often than not doesn't end well. And if it's not on BBC time, I don't see any issues with impartiality.

UEFA Youth League: Barcelona v Man City (BT Sport 2)

Commentator: Ben Andrews

Rangers v Celtic- Tom Miller and Alan McLaren for RangersTV

Owen Hargreaves, Robbie Savage & Michael Owen all part of the coverage of Liverpool V West Brom with Humphery. Don't know who is co-commentators yet based of my EPG.

I wouldn't mind betting it will be Robbie Savage with Darren Fletcher and Glenn Hoddle.

It seems BT have listened and made Michael Owen a pundit instead of co-commentator.

Savage next, PLEASE.

Have BT dropped Ray Stubbs? Havent seen him part of their coverage for a long time

BT as ever springing a surprise - Steve Bower on the Arsenal game tonight (alongside Martin Keown).

Wednesday 19th October - BT Sport 2 and BT Sport Showcase

Live UEFA Champions League: Barcelona v Manchester City

Gary Lineker presenting from the studio alongside Rio Ferdinand, Richard Dunne and Owen Hargreaves

Commentators: Darren Fletcher and Steve McManaman

Reporter: Des Kelly


BT Sport 3

Live UEFA Champions League: Arsenal v Ludogorets Razgrad

Matt Smith presenting from the Emirates Stadium alongside Ian Wright and Michael Owen

Commentators: Steve Bower and Martin Keown

Reporter: Lynsey Hipgrave



BT Sport//ESPN

Live UEFA Champions League: Celtic v Borussia Monchenglabach

Darrell Currie presenting from the studio alongside Johan Mjallby and John Hartson

Commentators: Derek Rae and Chris Sutton

Reporter: Eilidh Barbour


BT Sport Extra

UEFA Champions League Group Stage
Bayern Munchen v PSV Eindhoven (X2) - Jonathan Pearce and Don Hutchison
Napoli v Besiktas JK (X3) - Dave Farrar and Trevor Francis
Paris Saint-Germain v FC Basel (X4) - Alistair Mann and Ally McCoist
FC Rostov v Atletico Madrid (X5) - Paul Dempsey and Danny Mills
Dynamo Kyiv v SL Benfica (X6) - Dan Mason and Matt Holland


BT Sport 1

UEFA Champions League Goals Show

James Richardson presenting from the studio alongside James Horncastle, Julien Laurens, Raphael Honigstein and Howard Webb

Steve McManaman is getting on my nerves, Fletch.

Sam Matterface for Arsenal v Ludogorets. That should leave Clive Tyldesley on Barcelona v Man City.

That would probably mean Joe Speight on Celtic vs Gladbach as well.