hello from the bbc sport centre. six more games in the champions league on thursday. five—time winners barcelona are in action, they go to monaco. the spanish giants have had a faultless start to the season. five wins out of five sees them sit top of la liga, the only team with a 100% winning record. the last time they won the champions league however was back in the 2014—2015 campaign. monaco beat barcelona in pre—season but barca boss hansi flick says his side are ready to put on a performance.

stop it is a new situation. the — stop it is a new situation. the champions league is the best— the champions league is the best competition in the world so everyone i think is ready, wants— so everyone i think is ready, wants to _ so everyone i think is ready, wants to play, and hopefully it goes _ wants to play, and hopefully it goes in — wants to play, and hopefully it goes in the right direction. last year's europa league runners—up bayer leverkusen kick off their champions league campiagn away at feyenord. after going unbeaten in the bundesliga last season, xavi alonso's side have already lost a game this season but alonso is relishing being back amongst europe's elite. champions league, it is really special, it is the big one, it is the one that everyone wants to play, and i'm really delighted we are back in this competition. we have a great, challenging season ahead of us and it is starting here tomorrow. it is going to be a big challenge playing against feyenoord in a great stadium, a great atmosphere, a great kick—off for the champions league season.

we know we need quality and experience _ we know we need quality and experience to _ we know we need quality and experience to players - we know we need quality and experience to players who - we know we need quality and l experience to players who have been _ experience to players who have been in — experience to players who have been in situations _ experience to players who have been in situations like - experience to players who have been in situations like the - been in situations like the game _ been in situations like the game tomorrow. - been in situations like the game tomorrow. it - been in situations like the game tomorrow. it is- been in situations like the game tomorrow. it is a i been in situations like the i game tomorrow. it is a game like _ game tomorrow. it is a game like you — game tomorrow. it is a game like you said _ game tomorrow. it is a game like you said at _ game tomorrow. it is a game like you said at a _ game tomorrow. it is a game like you said at a completelyl like you said at a completely different _ like you said at a completely different level, _ like you said at a completely different level, the - like you said at a completely. different level, the champions league. — different level, the champions league. the _ different level, the champions league, the german _ different level, the champions. league, the german champions coming — league, the german champions coming in — league, the german champions coming in who— league, the german champions coming in who haven't - league, the german champions coming in who haven't lost - league, the german champions coming in who haven't lost a . coming in who haven't lost a lot of— coming in who haven't lost a lot of games _ coming in who haven't lost a lot of games. so _ coming in who haven't lost a lot of games. so we - coming in who haven't lost a lot of games. so we need i lot of games. so we need players _ lot of games. so we need players to— lot of games. so we need players to feel— lot of games. so we need players to feel the - lot of games. so we need players to feel the game, lot of games. so we need - players to feel the game, feel the rhythm. _ players to feel the game, feel the rhythm, feel— players to feel the game, feel the rhythm, feel the - players to feel the game, feel- the rhythm, feelthe momentum, knowing _ the rhythm, feelthe momentum, knowing when _ the rhythm, feelthe momentum, knowing when to _ the rhythm, feelthe momentum, knowing when to shut _ the rhythm, feelthe momentum, knowing when to shutdown - the rhythm, feelthe momentum, knowing when to shut down the l knowing when to shut down the gene — knowing when to shut down the gene went— knowing when to shut down the gene went to— knowing when to shut down the game, went to open _ knowing when to shut down the game, went to open up - knowing when to shut down the game, went to open up the - knowing when to shut down the i game, went to open up the game. arsenal winger bukayo saka is available to play in their champions league opener at atalanta. saka was taken off in sunday's north london derby win at tottenham with arsenal boss mikel arteta saying he could not continue. captain martin odegaard has been ruled out with a significant ankle injury which arteta hopes won't have too much of an impact on their perfomances. he is ourcaptain, he is our captain, he is one of our biggest airs without a doubt, one of the most consistent players in the last two, three seasons. our

identity as well is related to his way of playing and way of playing. we will have to deal with that. it is for the team to show how capable we are to maybe show a different face, and the fact we have other players and other options that we can still be very effective. three other games to tell you about for the men. french side brest make their champions league debut they're at home to sturm graz of austria. atletico madrid face rb leipzig and benfica go to red star belgrade. there are three women's champions league ties on thursday. real madrid are in portugal to play sporting. turkish side galatasary are at home to slavia prague and german side st polten host nk mura of slovenia. the bmw pga championship is under way at wentworth in surrey. a host of last year's european ryder cup—winning team are in action, including rory mcilroy and shane lowry, tommy fleetwood, matt fitzpatrick and justin rose. mcilroy meanwhile says it will be difficult for ian poulter or lee westwood to be a future ryder cup captain.

he believes they no longer have a connection with europe s emerging stars after making the move over to liv golf. with the guys that left, poulter, westwood, how can these — poulter, westwood, how can these young up and comers build a rapport— these young up and comers build a rapport with them when they are never— a rapport with them when they are never here, you can't see them? — are never here, you can't see them? i— are never here, you can't see them? i think that is a really important _ them? i think that is a really important part of a ryder cup and ryder cup captaincy. i am not saying _ and ryder cup captaincy. i am not saying poulter does not have — not saying poulter does not have the _ not saying poulter does not have the credentials to be a ryder— have the credentials to be a ryder cup captain but ijust think— ryder cup captain but ijust think with the current state of where — think with the current state of where everything is, you need someone _ where everything is, you need someone that is around and showing _ someone that is around and showing their face as much as they— showing their face as much as they can _ showing their face as much as they can. and right now, that honestly— they can. and right now, that honestlyjust can't be them because _ honestlyjust can't be them because they are elsewhere. the wnba is heading back to portland, with oregon s biggest city getting an expansion team that will begin play in 2026.

the team will be owned and operated by raj sports, led by lisa bhathal merage and alex bhathal, who also own the portland thorns of the national women s soccer league. they paid $125,000,000 for the franchise. cricket and it's day 2 of the 1st test between sri lanka and new zealand in galle. sri lanka were bowled out for 305 in their first innings, in reply new zealand are 158—2. tom latham went for 70, kane williamson has just hit his half century. it's day i of the first test between india and bangladesh in chennai, bangladesh won the toss and put india in to bat, india 258—6. in around 45 minutes' time england face australia in their first 0ne—day international at trent bridge. and that's all the sport for now.

you are life with bbc news. we are keeping across the bank of england for you now. in the next few minutes at midday we will get the latest decision on interest rates. most economists expect interest rates to be kept on hold at 5%. it comes after it was revealed inflation remained at 2.2% last month. stay with us as we bring you all the latest reaction and find out what it means for your money. let's speak now to our cost of living correspondent, colletta smith.

the expectation of markets and analysts is that the bank of england will hold rates at 5%. it was lowered six weeks ago, on the 1st of august, the bank of england made the decision to cut the rate down to 5%, the first cut since march 2020. a significant decision. the bank indicated there will be further cuts to come. still some speculation as to whether today at noon we will hear whether the bank of england will make the bank of england will make the reduction which will impact people's finances, businesses, and passing that on to high street banks. what we have seen in recent days is the international central banks making decisions to reduce

their rate, seven days ago, we saw the european central bank reduce their interest rates, we saw a few hours ago in america, the federal reserve, the equivalent of the bank of england, reduce their interest rates, the first time they have made a cut in four years. that's an expectation the bank of england will hold it for another six weeks. ijust another six weeks. i just want to show viewers of this graphic which shows the relationship between inflation and bank of england interest rates. we have seen interest rates. we have seen interest rates rise over the last few years, holding steady as well. and inflation falling over that period. talk us through the relationship between inflation

and the bank of england interest rates? what the bank of england is trying to do by raising or reducing interest rates is to calm down inflation, keep a—level on prices we pay for everything. when we see inflation rising as we have done globally over the last couple of years, we have seen huge spikes in prices, the central banks have decided to act on that by increasing interest rates, making it more expensive for people to borrow money, for businesses to borrow, and encouraging people to save more, effectively getting people to spend less because of spending less, the theory goes prices then fall if fewer people are buying products, people have to reduce the price to tempt in shoppers. that is the theory of the relationship between interest rates and inflation. because of those high inflation figures,

thatis those high inflation figures, that is why the bank of england and other central banks have been increasing interest rates dramatically. what we have seen over this last year is falls in the level of inflation putting pressure on the bank of england to say inflation is coming under control. although it is still above target, the point at which they would like to see inflation, 2%, we are still above that in the uk, it is lower than it was. the bank is under pressure to say, the public have sustained a lot with high interest rates, higher borrowing rates, so reducing that level would ease the pressure on the public. last month the bank cut its rate down to 5%. have we seen

that feeding through to the economy, crucially for mortgage holders? we are seeing an immediate impact. mortgage rates went through the roof. the hope for mortgage holders is that rate will come down. that is what we have been seeing. mortgage rates are often predicted into the future. people say a reduction in price because the bank has indicated there will be further falls in interest rates, a reduction in mortgage prices is already priced into mortgage rates which is why we are

seeing gradualfalls rates which is why we are seeing gradual falls over the last weeks and months. it is still way above the point people have been paying, for a decade, of very low mortgage rates. now even though predictions for where interest rates will fall, even by the end of next year, with only b2 3.5%. so mortgage holders in the uk need to be used to the fact they will be paying 4% or overfor fact they will be paying 4% or over for their fact they will be paying 4% or overfor their mortgage fact they will be paying 4% or over for their mortgage rates evenif over for their mortgage rates even if they are getting five or ten year deals. 0n or ten year deals. on that point about mortgage rates, let us listen to the chief economist at nationwide who said rates have a long way to go to make mortgages more affordable. houses are still quite expensive, if you are a typical

anna. — expensive, if you are a typical anna. the _ expensive, if you are a typical anna, the monthly mortgage payment is now taking 36% of the average take—home pay. the loan _ the average take—home pay. the loan on _ the average take—home pay. the loan on average is 30. it is more — loan on average is 30. it is more stretched. because house prices _ more stretched. because house prices are — more stretched. because house prices are still high and interest rates so much higher than — interest rates so much higher than before. robert gardner, chief economist at nationwide. you are watching bbc news. we are keeping an eye on the bank of england where we are expecting the latest interest rate decision from the bank. at the moment most economists are saying they expect the bank of england monetary policy committee to hold rates at 5%. in the meantime we are waiting to get that figure which should land here with us at the bbc news room at midday.

let's speak to yogeeta bawa, a homeowner. who has been watching the interest rates. how have you been affected by the recent interest rates? tha nk interest rates? thank you for having me. i remortgaged injuly, it was my two years fixed which came to an end, and mine has doubled to what i have started with, my monthly costs have gone up by £700 a month, £8,000 a year. how has that affected you and your family how has that affected you and yourfamily in how has that affected you and your family in terms of how much you can spend? it has been a massive burden. leading up to the interest rates, the stress it causes. then you have to make everyday decisions differently. thinking about maybe not having any meals out, extra treats for the

kids, to reel back the money you might have otherwise spent. it is a huge strain. it is a lot of pressure. coming in at 2.4% when i bought my home, to where we are now no, there are 25%, is a huge impact, very stressful. stay with us. a reminder you are watching bbc news. live coverage as we keep an eye on the bank of england as we expect the latest interest rate decision from the bank. last month in august, the rate was cut from 5.25%, to 5%. at the moment the expectation is the bank of england will hold its rates at 5%. a lot of that is coming from the latest inflation figures we had, coming in on wednesday, which showed inflation had been held at 2.2% last month. at the

moment, we have that