English fans on red alert in Moscow

The Champions League provides Russian authorities with a key test of their World Cup readiness this week, and a glimpse at the welcome that fans can expect next year.

Liverpool and Manchester United, play on consecutive nights in Moscow – Liverpool first up against Spartak Moscow tonight, and CSKA Moscow plays United tomorrow. Although there isn’t typically disorder when the teams meet on home soil, since England fans were attacked by Russians at the 2016 European Championship in Marseille, concerns have heightened about hooliganism in the 2018 World Cup host nation.

United and Liverpool fans have been advised by the British government not to wear club colours on the streets of Moscow and to avoid walking alone.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid take on Borussia Dortmund in Germany tonight and face a side enjoying their best start to the Bundesliga.

Dortmund hadn’t conceded a goal in five domestic games until Lars Stindl scored a consolation for Borussia Moenchengladbach in a 6-1 rout on Saturday.

Dortmund have scored 19 goals in six league games, and although they lost 3-1 in their Group H opener against Tottenhamthey have been in fine form since then.

Pierre-emerick Aubameyang’s hat-trick against Moenchengladback took him to 12 goals in nine games so far this term in all competitions.

Realalsowonattheweekend, although in nowhere near as convincing fashion. Zinedine Zidane’s men emerged with a 2-1 victory from their trip to Laliga’s bottom side Alaves– only the second time they have taken maximum points in five league outings.

It seems likely, as is so often the case, that Cristiano Ronaldo’s performance will be key to how Real get on.

He has yet to find the net in two Laliga appearances so far, though he notched a brace against APOEL in the first round of Champions League matches – his 106th and 107th goals in the competition.