Welcome to the live blog where the Champions League and Carabao Cup collide, and where we're treated to a tactical deep dive that somehow mentions Gary Neville and failed midfielders. Tonight's fixtures include Lille v Betis, Dortmund v Villarreal, Palace v Middlesbrough, and Sunderland v Hull, but the main event is Real Madrid v Inter, with Mourinho's men looking to bounce back from a loss at Betis.

Inter, meanwhile, are looking solid, winning three from three in Serie A, and apparently plan to 'clutter the centre of the pitch' - a strategy as thrilling as it sounds. The blog laments the absence of Yan Diomande from the start, but Mourinho, in an uncharacteristic move, has opted against a defensively-minded midfielder. Curtis Jones gets a vote of confidence, with the writer believing he'll thrive with regular selection, while Thuram and Martinez pose a threat that no Madrid centre-back should fancy.

Over to Madrid, who are without the suspended Eduardo Camavinga, Bernardo Silva, and Arda Guler - a trio that sounds like a law firm but is actually a midfield crisis. Trent Alexander-Arnold steps in on the right of the central three, a decision that draws a comparison to Gary Neville's observation that most right-backs are failed midfielders. The blog doubts his utility there but concedes he can create something from nothing. Brahim Diaz provides the extra body in midfield, and Yan Diomande remains a mystery on the bench. All this and more, minus the actual scores, in tonight's live blog.