TESTING TIMES FOR LIVERPOOL, SPORTING AND BORUSSIA MONCHENGLADBACH: RETURN OF THE UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE

The UEFA Europa League returns to our lives today and if you’re not yet wholeheartedly embracing our favourite club tournament, now is the time to start.

We are into matchday three of the group stage and while nobody is yet drinking in the proverbial last chance saloon, the groups are beginning to take shape.  Some clubs that might have expected to be in a more robust position really need to switch on before it’s too late.

As always, UEFA.com offers a free streaming service if you’re unable to get along to or watch any of the games on TV, and there are some very noteworthy contests around.

In Group A, Anzhi travel to Anfield sitting pretty as set leaders and will want the exposure of this match to show how serious a contender the club has become.  Defeat for Liverpool could see the reds stranded, especially if Udinese pick up points in Switzerland at Young Boys.

In Group C Borussia Monchengladbach face Marseille on the back of a 4-0 thumping by Werder at the weekend.  Defeat for The Foals would almost wipe out any chance of progress in the tournament and a season that promised much will have unravelled quickly.

Group F offers a very tasty tie between Dnipro and Napoli, while Sporting could be staring down a barrel should they fail to get something at Genk in Group G.  Some good youngsters could be on show in the Group H match between Inter and Partizan, while Lyon versus Athletic is an attractive proposition in Group I.

All kick off times GMT   

                Rubin Kazan v Neftchi 17:00

                Genk v Sporting 18:00

                Videoton FC v Basle 18:00

                Inter Milan v Partizan Belgrade 18:00

                Sparta Prague v Hapoel Kiryat Shmona 18:00

                Lyon v Athletic Bilbao 18:00

                Panathinaikos v Lazio 18:00

                Maribor v Tottenham 18:00

                Rosenborg v FC Metalist Kharkiv 18:00

                Rapid Vienna v Bayer Leverkusen 18:00

                Helsingborgs IF v Hannover 96 18:00

                Levante v FC Twente 18:00

                Liverpool v Anzhi Makhachkala 20:05

                Young Boys v Udinese 20:05

                Atletico Madrid v Academica 20:05

                Hapoel Tel-Aviv v Plzen 20:05

                Borussia M'gladbach v Marseille 20:05

                AEL v Fenerbahce 20:05

                Newcastle v Club Brugge 20:05

                Maritimo v Bordeaux 20:05

                Steaua Bucuresti v Molde 20:05

                VfB Stuttgart v FC Copenhagen 20:05

                PSV v AIK 20:05

                Dnipro v Napoli 20:05