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Manchester United hat-trick hero Marcus Rashford has revealed what he was told before he was brought on by manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer during the club’s landslide midweek Champions League victory over RB Leipzig.

The England star had to watch from the bench as Anthony Martial and Marcus Greenwood were preferred from the outset, and the latter had given the Red Devils the lead by the time he was introduced.

Rashford’s influence from the bench was an emphatic one as he scored a hat-trick in only 18 minutes to set up a 5-0 victory, with Martial also getting on the scoresheet from the penalty spot.

His introduction brought fresh life to the United attack – and that is exactly what he was instructed to do by Solskjaer.

“I think the manager wanted me to up the tempo. That for us means going forward,” he said after the match. “There were definitely spaces there. We got Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba on the ball. We looked dangerous throughout and that we could score every time we went forward.

"It was a real team performance. The ones who started did well and the substitutes did well too.

“We can't ask for much more than that in terms of the attitude and the intent to go and kill the game off. It worked in our favour.”

Victory was United’s second in as many Champions League outings this season, having also overcome Paris Saint-Germain on the first matchday of the competition – with Rashford again decisive in that encounter.

Domestically, though, the Red Devils have not fared so promisingly and presently lie 15th in the standings, albeit having played a game fewer than many of the sides around them.

Nevertheless, their record of two wins, a draw and two defeats is uninspiring, particularly as their last home league outing ended in a 6-1 loss against Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham.

The immediate focus for Solskjaer’s side is an Old Trafford meeting with Arsenal on Sunday, while they have a Champions League double header against Istanbul Basaksehir to look forward to, with the Turkish side yet to pick up a point in the competition thus far.

Rashford, meanwhile, has won widespread praise for his campaigns to ensure that children in poverty do not go hungry over the holiday period.

Harambee Stars head coach Jacob 'Ghost' Mulee has picked one advantage he believes Comoros enjoy ahead of the November Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers.

Mulee has already assembled a provisional squad to train ahead of the double-header but has pointed out the Islanders enjoy the advantage of having more foreign-based players than his side.

When Comoros head coach Amir Abdou picked his previous side, the squad was dominated by players doing trade in lower European divisions. There was no star name in the squad though and the only one with a European club competition experience was El Fardou Ben Nabouhane of Crvena Zvezda in Serbia.

Kassim Abdallah of Al Raed FC, Martigues’ Nadjim Abdou, and Fouad Bachirou of Nottingham Forest were the other players among the abroad-based ones.

“When you have not had a competitive tournament and your opponent has players playing in the European leagues it is quite a task,” Mulee told reporters after conducting his first training session.

“Comoros have no player playing at home and even they do not have a domestic league now and that becomes a big disadvantage for Kenya."

The majority of the players summoned are from the Kenyan Premier League and have not been active for over seven months now since the coronavirus pandemic struck.

Mulee is aware of their match fitness issues but has pegged his hope on the few active stars from foreign leagues.

“I want to see how the players who are playing in Kenya are doing although I watched them in the leagues and in the continental matches,” he explained.

“It is a good thing to have the players coming in and we have had our first training session where it has given me the opportunity to see who is where.

“Of course you know they have not had the season going since March and it means they have not played any competitive game apart from the one against Zambia.

“It was nice to beat Zambia but it is better to come and see where we are, who can go on and make the cut for the Comoros game because that is what we are training for.”

Michael Olunga, Victor Wanyama, Johanna Omollo, and Ayub Timbe are the players who failed to show up for the Zambia friendly due to travel restrictions and Mulee has revealed what he will do should they fail again.

“But you never know what might happen if we will have all of them coming it will be very perfect for us and if they will not then we will try and make a combination,” the former Tusker coach concluded.

“But we are going to use the players who are very active right now mostly the foreign-based ones, that is the plan for now.”

Kenya will be looking for a maiden win in Group H after 1-1 draws against Egypt and Togo.

Ugandan Premier League side Kyetume FC has been ordered by the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (Fufa) Dispute Resolution Chamber to pay Ibrahim Kazindula his outstanding arrears amounting to Ush 2,760,000.

The club failed to pay the winger his salary in the months of June, July, and August and opted to file a petition with the Federation on the same. The top-tier side was found guilty of the offence and Fufa acted.

"Kyetume FC [should pay] Ibrahim Kazindula his overdue payables of Ush 2,760,000 (Two Million seven hundred and sixty thousand shillings only) within thirty (30) days from the date of this decision," read part of the ruling to the player and club, as obtained by Goal.

"Kyetume FC releases Ibrahim Kazindula’s passport to him immediately.  

"In the event that the amount due to Ibrahim Kazindula is not paid by Kyetume FC within the stated time limit, the present matter shall be submitted, upon request, to Fufa for further consideration."

Kazindula has been with the Mukono-based side since 2018 in the Fufa Big League after joining from Nyamityobora.

Kyetume will be among the top-tier teams to play in the league next season.

The Premier League, which was expected to start on October 17, has now been moved to November 20. The adjustments have been made after the government allowed the resumption of both contact and non-contact sports. 

"The kick-off of the 2020/2021 season is postponed from Saturday 17th October 2020 to Friday 20th November 2020," Fufa said in a statement.

The Ugandan Cup tournament had been declared null and void although Fufa had declared KCCA FC as the country’s representatives in the Caf Confederation Cup. 

"There will be no further action of the Stanbic Uganda Cup 46th edition and Fufa the sponsor will soon announce the sponsorship details," it added.

Fufa annulled the 2019/20 season and went on to crown Vipers SC who were leading the league with 54 points after 25 league matches which translated to 80% of the games.

Former champions KCCA FC finished second in the competition but with four points less than venoms. Vipers will play in the Caf Champions League.

Marcus Rashford made RB Leipzig's defenders "look like schoolboys" according to Rio Ferdinand, who says the Manchester United star bullied Dayot Upamecano and team mates at Old Trafford.

United continued their perfect start in the Champions League by thrashing Leipzig 5-0 on Wednesday night, moving top of Group H in the process.

Mason Greenwood opened the scoring in the first half when he produced a trademark strike after latching onto an incisive Paul Pogba through ball.

Rashford came on for Greenwood just after the hour mark and got his name on the scoresheet ten minutes later, firing past Peter Gulacsi in the Leipzig net after beating the offside trap to get on the end of a perfectly executed Bruno Fernandes pass.

Upamecano, who has been strongly linked with a move to Old Trafford in recent months, was then beaten all ends up by Rashford as the visitors lost possession in midfield, and he punished the Frenchman by rifling home his second goal of the night.

An Anthony Martial penalty put the Red Devils 4-0 up before Rashford completed his hat-trick with another clinical finish to round off the scoring, leaving Ferdinand in awe.

"Marcus Rashford is on fire. It's like being in the playground with a sixth former against the younger boys and he just bullies everyone – too quick and too strong," the ex-United centre-back told BT Sport. "He was head and shoulders above Leipzig. He made some defenders, who we were raving about before the game, look like schoolboys tonight."

Ferdinand added on Upamecano's inability to get to grips with Rashford: "This is about being ruthless but I thought Upamecano had a nightmare today. This is the ruthlessness.

"There was no doubt in your mind, once he went through there, the confidence he’s showing at the moment and just his intent of hitting the back of the net and getting amongst the goals.

"Game over. There’s a venom when he hits it like that."

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer also reserved special praise for Rashford post-match while alluding to his ongoing battle to convince the government to extend their free school meals scheme amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“Marcus has showed he can keep focusing on what’s important on and off the pitch at the moment. He did really well today coming off the bench," said the Red Devils boss.

Rashford's treble against Leipzig marked the first hat-trick of his senior career and also saw him break the record for scoring three goals in the shortest amount of time in Champions League history, netting his treble in just 27 minutes.

His next chance to shine will come when United play host to Arsenal on Sunday, with that fixture coming three days before they continue their European campaign with a trip to Istanbul Baskasehir.

The World Cup winner has got involved in a public feud over his role at Camp Nou this season, complaining about being used out on the right when he prefers to feature centrally.

Griezmann has featured in all five for Barca’s league matches this season without finding the net, while in the Champions League he struck the post twice during Wednesday’s 2-0 win over Juventus in Turin - a match in which he was used through the middle.

Having been a prolific scorer previously at Atletico Madrid, where he netted 133 times in 257 outings, this represents a drought, yet Koeman has urged the 29-year-old to keep plugging away in order to receive his reward.

“As far as Antoine is concerned, it’s bad luck,” the Dutchman explained to the media after Barcelona had continued their perfect start on the continent. “He couldn’t have done any better with his first shot against the post and it was the same on his second.

“He must continue to work. What he’s doing well is creating chances for others, and we can’t complain about him.

“When luck’s not on your side, the only solution is to keep working. That’s the same for any player. The goal will come, I have no doubt about that.”

Barcelona’s victory in midweek was welcome after they suffered a disappointing loss in El Clasico to Real Madrid at the weekend – their second loss in as many Primera Division matches, ramping up the pressure on the coach who only took charge of them in the summer.

The big news breaking from Camp Nou this week, however, has surrounded president Josip Maria Bartomeu, who resigned his post in the face of increasing pressure from the club’s fans.

Bartomeu is seen as one of the reasons that Lionel Messi pushed to depart in the summer, so there is renewed optimism that the six-time Ballon d’Or winner, who got the second from the penalty spot against Juve, will sign a new contract with the club.

Barca are back in action on Saturday, when they make the trip to Alaves.

Kenya and Uganda have been pooled in Group B of the Cecafa U17 Championship following a draw that was conducted in Arusha, Tanzania.

The two leading teams in the U17 qualifiers – that will be staged in Rwanda – will qualify to represent the zone in the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) U17 tournament. The junior Afcon tournament will be held in Morocco in 2021.

Ethiopia are the other opponents in a group that is expected to be the toughest especially taking into account the recent rivalry between Kenya and the Uganda Cubs.

Tanzania have been drawn alongside Sudan and Djibouti in Group C whereas Rwanda, Eritrea, and South Sudan are in Group A.

The championship has been scheduled to take place between December 13 to December 28 in Rwanda where the Cecafa Kagame Club Cup was held in 2019.

The top team in each group and the best runners-up will qualify for the semi-finals.

Meanwhile, Cecafa also conducted the draw for the U20 competition that will be held in Tanzania.

Kenya have avoided Uganda in the group stage as they landed in a pool that has northern neighbours Ethiopia and Sudan and this is the only group with three participants.

Tanzania, Rwanda, Somalia, Djibouti are in Group A whereas Group B is expected to be a rather smooth-sailing journey for Uganda given that they have been pooled alongside Burundi, Eritrea, and South Sudan.

The three top teams in Group A and B will enter the quarter-finals where they will be joined by the two top teams from Group C. The winner of the U20 competition will seal a place in the U20 Afcon tournament set to be held in Mauritania in 2021. 

The tournament has been scheduled to be played from November 22 to December 6 before the focus will shift to the U17 competition.

No country has so far confirmed to participate nor pulled out of the tournament as the focus is now in the upcoming Afcon double-headers set for November.

Cecafa U17 Groups:

Group A: Rwanda, Eritrea, South Sudan

Group B: Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya

Group C: Sudan, Djibouti, Tanzania

Cecafa U20 Groups:

Group A: Tanzania, Rwanda, Somalia, Djibouti

Group B: Burundi, Eritrea, South Sudan, Uganda

Group C: Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan

Andrea Pirlo insisted this season would not simply be a transition campaign for Juventus, saying he still wants to win.

After just two wins from their opening five Serie A games, Juve also suffered a 2-0 loss to Barcelona in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Pirlo, who took charge in August, said while the Italian giants were rebuilding, he still wanted to win.

"No, it's a year in which we're building, but we want to try and reach results. I'm not here to build without winning," the Juve coach told his post-match news conference. "Maybe we will need a bit more time, but we have to know that results must come through a certain type of play style that maybe we are struggling to assimilate."

Goals from Ousmane Dembele and Lionel Messi either side of Merih Demiral's red card saw Barca to their win in Turin. Juve forward Alvaro Morata incredibly saw three strikes ruled out for offside.

The defeat was just Juventus' second home loss in their past 25 Champions League group-stage games.

Pirlo said the encounter showed just how much his team had to improve.

"We have to improve a lot in terms of attitude, in being good at playing this kind of game," he said.

"For many players it was one of those games they had never played, one of the first appearances in Champions League and therefore the difference in terms of personality and skill at playing this kind of game becomes visible.We will need this to improve in the future."

Pirlo's counterpart at Barcelona, Ronald Koeman, meanwhile praised what he thought was his side's most impressive performance of the season so far.

"This was our best game all season," he told reporters. "This is a big win against an important European side and we were able to play the football we're trying to impose. 

"I wanted us to play with three at the back, pushing one man forward to have extra in the middle of the pitch. That meant we created a lot of goal chances and, frankly, I think we should have finished the match off much earlier. 

"I'm very content with the football we played, with the result and especially with the character my team showed."

Juve visit Spezia in Serie A action on Sunday.

Kaizer Chiefs coach Gavin Hunt is pleased with midfielder Nkosingiphile Ngcobo's progress but has cautioned the South African football fraternity not to get carried away with praise of the youngster.

Chiefs' transfer ban means Hunt has been forced to turn inwards to find solutions for his team and this has meant giving several of the club's younger players a chance.

So far it's worked as the likes of Njabulo Blom and Ngcobo have acquitted themselves well while Siyabonga Ngezana also had a solid game in defence during Chiefs' 1-0 win over Chippa United on Tuesday night.

Speaking to the media after the Chilli Boys match on Ngcobo's progress this season, it was clear Hunt thinks the player is hugely talented.

But he did touch on a couple of areas where he thinks the 20-year-old can add to his game.

"I won't say much to him, but if he drops below the standard, then he won't play," the newly-appointed Glamour Boys coach cautioned.

"Every young player goes through ups and downs. What he does off the ball is the most important thing. He's got so much ability, the boy."

Apart from working hard off the ball, Hunt also wants Ngcobo to become a greater threat in front of goal.

"He should have scored [against Chippa], he's had two, three chances in the last three games as well to score," the coach said.

"So that's the next step of that he's got to take. But also what he's got to do is to be better without the ball. He's got to have that in him, I can only give him the platform and show him and explain to him and coach him.

"But it's up to the boy. What we mustn't do, and we do it too much in South Africa - they have one good game and we blow them up. We've got to keep his feet on the ground and really demand more from him," Hunt continued.

"Which he's got, I think he's got more in him. But ability....you can't just have players with ability, you need players doing the right thing.

"Let's take it one step at a time with him. He's played three games now. I was only there a week and I put him straight in. The next step as I say is to try to get on the scoresheet."

Aisha Falode believes Nigeria can extend its superiority to the Caf Women's Champions League, though admits winning the inaugural event will not come easy for the West Africans.

In July, Caf announced the inauguration of the Champions League for women, which will be held annually and during the second half of the year, with eight clubs competing in the finals in 2021.

For a Nigerian club to claim the title, the team must emerge 2020-21 domestic champions and move on to win the Wafu B regional play-off to earn the ticket to feature in the eight-club final.

So with that in mind, Falode, who is the Nigeria Women's Football League chairperson, is upbeat the country can replicate its women's national team dominance on the continent at club level.

“We will not only win it [Champions League] but we will prepare for it,” Falode told The Cable.

“We started women's football in Africa. Let it also be said that the maiden edition of the Champions League will be won by Nigeria.

“This time we are asking you (Amaju Pinnick) again, that we don’t want to compete in the Caf Champions League for women for fun and we have fantastic teams in the NWPL.

"We have teams who have produced a lot of players for the national teams. We will need to encourage these teams. We’ll need to play more competitive matches.

“We’ll need to play a season which is not abridged. We need to play a full season in order to prepare our teams for that competition that’s ahead of us.

“Though, the Champions League is not a given. If you see that Caf has also said there’s going to be a zonal play-off and the winner will qualify for the Champions League. 

"Even if you win the NWPL for instance, that does not give you an automatic qualification for the Champions League. You still have to meet other winners of the other leagues from another zone. 

"And it is the winner from that zone that will represent them at the Champions League proper. So, it’s going to be a difficult one and that is why we have to prepare well.”

Arsenal will welcome Dundalk for a Europa League tie at the Emirates looking to win a game since they went down 1-0 to Leicester City in the Premier League on the weekend.

Arsenal vs Dundalk Latest Odds

English sides have won 11 of their 12 home matches against sides from The Republic of Ireland in European competition and Arsenal extending the record with another win has been valued at (1.40) with ZEBet.

Dundalk have won one game in the last 18 matches in European competitions (W1 L15 D2) and a second win happening in London has been tipped at (40.00).

Dundalk have faced English opponents on six previous occasions in European competition and the only game in which they avoided defeat came against Spurs drawing 1-1 and another draw occurring has been valued at (14.00).

Arsenal vs Dundalk Team News

Mikel Arteta is expected to miss David Luiz who suffered an injury during the weekend and so Shkodran Mustafi’s probable return is expected to be a sigh of relief for him.

Cedric Soares, Mohamed Elneny, Reiss Nelson and Joe Willock could all return for the match at home.

Dundalk’s Gary Rogers is expected to return and replace former Wolverhampton Wanderers goalkeeper Aaron McCarey.

Dane Massey is out with a hip injury while Nathan Oduwa could make an appearance if he shrugs off a hamstring problem in time.

Arsenal vs Dundalk Preview

Arsenal's form has been inconsistent just as their captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has not been at his best. They came from behind to win 2-1 against Rapid Vienna in a Europa League Group B match. They are 11th on the Premier League log with as many defeats as wins in six games.

Dundalk have faced English opponents on six previous occasions in European competition, drawing Liverpool in the Fairs Cup in 1969-70, Spurs in the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1981-82 and Liverpool again in the European Cup in 1992-93.

Arsenal vs Dundalk Tips and Predictions

On matchday one, Arsenal’s Aubameyang became only the sixth player since 2009-10 to net 20 Europa League goals. Aubameyang has netted 16 goals in his last 23 appearances in the competition.

Dundalk, on the other hand, have not kept a clean sheet in their last three matches, therefore, punters can take the offer of under 2.5 goals at (3.35) with ZEBet.

Under 2.5 goals at (3.35) with ZEBet.

Odds correct at the time of writing. Please gamble responsibly.  

After having played more than 20 league games each season in the last 10 years, 32-year-old defensive midfielder Vicente Gomez finds himself in a completely new territory far away from Spain. 

For the first time in his professional career, Gomez is set to don the kit of a team outside his home country. He will be seen in a shade of yellow this season in the Indian Super League (ISL) for Kerala Blasters. 

"I have seen very little of India but hope to explore more soon. My first impression of the ISL and Kerala Blasters is very positive," Gomez, who is currently in quarantine in Goa, told Goal.

"I have heard a lot of encouraging facts. Kerala Blasters are a team with a clear vision, having a well thought-out plan to achieve their goals. Moreover, they are a serious and hardworking team with a strong intent of wanting to do very well this season, aiming to fight for the title.

"My agent mentioned that there is a possibility to play in India. My discussions with Karolis (Skynkys) on the visions of Kerala Blasters and with Kibu (Vicuna) about the team´s playing style gave me confidence that this was the best for me. I have always wanted to play in other countries and joining KBFC was the right opportunity for me," the Spaniard added. 

Gomez, who has played for Las Palmas and Deportino La Coruna in the top two tiers of Spanish football, feels the 2020-21 football season will be unique due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic. The ISL clubs have only a few weeks to train with their complete squads including foreign players due to the mandatory quarantine protocols. The season is set to kickstart on November 20 in Goa. 

"This will be the most unique season of my career. Although my previous season in the Laliga was played behind closed doors, there was still life on the streets. Not having fans to cheer and motivate you from the stands will definitely be a challenge, but my dream would be to be able to play and fight hard for the ISL title," Gomez said. 

The player will also be playing in a league with a different format for the first time in his career - ISL has a playoffs and a final and Indian clubs play at most 21 matches per football season. When queried on the shorter season in terms of number of games, Gomez was cautiously optimistic and kept his response short. 

He said, "I see this as an opportunity to maintain a high level of football across the season as there are only a few games."

The Huracan youth product started his professional career in 2007 and later moved to Las Palmas. He went on to represent Las Palmas for eight seasons in a row before joining Deportivo in 2018. He has three years of experience playing in La Liga, against the top clubs in Spain. 

All his experience will be needed at Blasters as the Yellow Army chase the playoffs for the fourth consecutive ISL season, this time in Goa. 

The current edition of the Indian Super League (ISL), which will be played in a bio-bubble in Goa, will see quite a few changes as a result.

The teams' pre-season preparations have also suffered as a result of the pandemic and as such, the usual practice of playing a lot of friendlies might not be a possibility. 

So far there has been reportedly been only one friendly among the 11 ISL teams - that between Kerala Blasters and Hyderabad FC where Rahul KP scored a brace in a 2-0 win. 

FC Goa began training with the majority of their Indian contingent, barring Ishan Pandita and Seiminlen Doungel, at the Ella Ground in Old Goa from the first week of October under the guidance of Clifford Miranda. 

Pandita, Doungel and the overseas players in Jorge Ortiz, Igor Angulo, Ivan Gonzalez, Alberto Noguera and Edu Bedia eventually joined the squad with head coach Juan Ferrando after completing their mandatory quarantine. Now, only the club's Asian recruit, James Donachie, is yet to join the group training as he was the latest to arrive the country.

Ferrando has taken close to half a dozen sessions with the team and they are set to play a pre-season friendly against Jamshedpur FC on November 1, likely to be held at Salvador do Mundo ground where the Gaurs are to shift their base to from Old Goa by the first week of November.

However, with the safety protocols due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, nothing seems like usual.

"We are deciding on a few friendlies but we need a few approvals before confirming them," a club official told Goal about the pre-season proceedings as far playing against other teams is concerned.

It has not been like anything experienced before for Ferrando as well, as the gaffer has praised his side's willingness to work through testing times.

"I have tried to follow a similar schedule when not in quarantine to keep myself motivated and get the work done efficiently. I have been designing tasks on the ground, managing the coaching staff and explaining how we will be working from this week (when the quarantine period ends). I have to say I am very proud of everyone's willingness to help both Javi (Gonzalez, assistant and conditioning coach) and me," he said after completing his quarantine period.

FC Goa enters the season in a bid to defend their ISL League Winners’ Shield. They will also get a chance to play in the AFC Champions League group stages.

The head coaches of seven out of 11 Indian Super League (ISL) clubs have started overseeing pre-season training in Goa. 

These foreign coaches all arrived at different dates this month and completed a mandatory quarantine period of 14 days in their respective hotels. 

Only four teams are waiting for their head coaches to step out onto the training field in Goa - East Bengal, Chennaiyin, Bengaluru and Odisha.

Carles Cuadrat, who landed in India with Kerala Blasters head coach and fellow Spaniard Kibu Vicuna on October 10, served his quarantine period as his team trained at the Indian Institute of Sport facility in Vijayanagar, Bengaluru. The whole squad has reached Goa and are currently serving a seven-day quarantine from October 25. The team should be out in the sun from the first week of November. 

ATK Mohun Bagan head coach Antonio Habas was the first gaffer to arrive in India. He, along with the team's Spanish contingent, landed in India in the first week of October and also became the first coach to step onto the field. 

Chennaiyin coach Csaba Laszlo and Odisha's Stuart Baxter arrived in Goa on Sunday and Monday respectively. Both newly-appointed managers will take the field in 14 days if everything goes as planned - that is during the weekend after next. 

The East Bengal squad, including coach Robbie Fowler, arrived in Goa on October 16. Fowler will take charge on the pitch for the first time on October 30. 

NorthEast head coach Gerard Nus has also served his quarantine period in Goa and has taken charge of the Highlanders' training. 

Kerala Blasters head coach Kibu Vicuna started with his sessions on October 24. Juan Ferrando (FC Goa), Manuel Roca (Hyderabad FC), Sergio Lobera (Mumbai City) have all kickstarted their preparations. Owen Coyle has recovered from Coronavirus and had his first session with the team on Tuesday.

The seventh season of Indian Super League (ISL) has a kick-off date on November 20 and the clubs are expected to play multiple friendly matches between each other in the next two weeks.

Ronald Koeman described Barcelona's 2-0 Champions League triumph away at Juventus as their "best game of the season". 

Barca bounced back in style from their Clasico defeat to Real Madrid at the weekend, with Ousmane Dembele and a stoppage-time Lionel Messi penalty making it back-to-back Group G wins. 

Juve failed to register a shot on target against the Catalan giants and, while impressed with how his side went about their business, Koeman did feel they should have wrapped up the game earlier than they ultimately did. 

"This was our best game all season," he told reporters. "This is a big win against an important European side and we were able to play the football we're trying to impose. 

"I wanted us to play with three at the back, pushing one man forward to have extra in the middle of the pitch. That meant we created a lot of goal chances and, frankly, I think we should have finished the match off much earlier. 

"I'm very content with the football we played, with the result and especially with the character my team showed."

Barca were dominant throughout, making 227 more passes than Juve and enjoying 59 per cent of possession. 

Sergi Roberto, who completed 94.5 per cent of his attempted passes, says the performance lays down a standard they should be striving to meet consistently.  

"We want to be a Barcelona side which dominates games, which owns the ball, which defends well and we're getting there," he said. "We have a new coach and this will improve continually. 

"To have six points from two games is important. It's only a two-goal win but it could have been much more. 

"Some chances didn't want to go in but we're generally content. The vital thing is to be continuously creating these chances."

Despite their winning Champions League start, Barcelona are struggling in 12th place in La Liga, seven points behind leaders Real Sociedad, but with two games in hand.

Their next league fixture comes on the road against Deportivo Alaves on Saturday.

Barcelona star Lionel Messi is the Harry Potter of football, according to Christian Vieri.

Messi assisted Ousmane Dembele's deflected opener and converted a late penalty as Barcelona recorded a 2-0 win over Juventus in the Champions League on Wednesday.

The six-time Ballon d'Or winner made a game-high five key passes and 65 passes in the opposition half as Barca improved to six points in Group G.

Vieri, who won Serie A with Juve in 1996-97 and was a 49-time Italy international, lauded Messi's contribution in Turin.

"An amazing Barcelona, there was no game. They could've scored six, seven goals easy. They played fantastic," he told CBS Sports.

"Messi is a magician, he's the Harry Potter of soccer and when he stops playing, I'm throwing my TVs away. I'm not going to work no more on TV, I'm going to watch Netflix, that's it, because when he stops there's nothing else to watch."

Since Messi's first Champions League campaign in 2004-05, only Cristiano Ronaldo (38) has provided more assists in the competition than his 35.

The Argentina international helped Barca dominate as Juve – who had Merih Demiral sent off in the 85th minute – failed to record a shot on target in a Champions League home game for the first time since 2003-04 – when Opta have such data available.

Juventus forward Alvaro Morata incredibly had three goals ruled out for offside during the encounter.

Vieri was impressed by Barcelona's performance, saying: "It's just another football, another game.

"I don't know how they lost against Real Madrid, but if you see them [against Juventus] you're going to say they can't lose against anyone this year, it's impossible the way they played.

"Every game is different but the Barcelona I saw and everyone saw it's just incredible. When you've got a number 10 like that, it's just crazy.

"It's a pity there are no fans here because the fans should be seeing a team like this."

Sitting 12th in the La Liga table, Barcelona visit Deportivo Alaves on Saturday.

Celtic manager Neil Lennon borrowed from the Donald Trump phrasebook to hit out at the "fake news" that has dogged his side through their recent dip in form. 

The Bhoys, seeking a record 10th consecutive Scottish league title in 2020-21, went down in the Old Firm Derby to Rangers and again last Thursday in the Europa League against Milan before salvaging a 3-3 draw at the weekend with Abderdeen to extend their winless run to three games. 

On-loan Brighton defender Shane Duffy in particular has been targeted for criticism over his performances, as Celtic trail their Glasgow rivals by six points at the top of the Scottish Premiership, albeit with a game in hand. 

Lennon, however, believes the critics are misguided, and slammed rumours he was close to the sack at Parkhead. 

"We have lost one game in the league and pundits are talking about me being two games away from the sack. Where that comes from I have no idea," he told reporters ahead of Thursday's Europa League clash against Lille.

"I have seen two newspapers run polls on whether I should get sacked or not. I have never seen it before in 20 years I have been here.

"Who is driving that? It is not the Celtic fans. There is a minority of our support who need to calm down, let the players settle.

"In the main I think the majority of the supporters are behind the team and behind the club.

"There is no justification for me to get sacked, none whatsoever. I shouldn't have to defend my record, it speaks for itself.

"I don't feel under any major pressure. Am I unhappy with this week's work? Yes, because we would like to play well and win.

"But I think we are getting better, stronger and have a lot to look forward to and I think I should be the man in charge of it.

"We go through a little spell and conspiracy theories come out about dressing room break ups, fall outs, all that nonsense.

"It is fake news. I sound like Donald Trump now but it is just all fake news."

Former Manchester United player Owen Hargreaves is in no doubt that Donny van de Beek will become a key part of the Reds first team, suggesting that he could have a similar impact to Bayern Munich legend Thomas Muller. 

Van de Beek completed a move to Old Trafford over the summer after United beat out Real Madrid for the Ajax star's signature. 

Since moving to Old Trafford, though, the Dutchman has had a limited impact, being confined to the bench as he continues to wait for his first Premier League start six matches into the season. 

The midfielder did get the chance to feature from the beginning in the Champions League on Wednesday, playing the first hour of his club's 5-0 rout of RB Leipzig before making way for Bruno Fernandes with his side one goal ahead. 

And while he is still yet to show his best form in the few opportunities he has enjoyed so far for United, Hargreaves believes it is only a matter of time before he becomes an undisputed part of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's plans. 

"I think he's a really good player," the ex-United, Bayern and England star told BT Sport.

"He hasn't had the opportunity to show it. He could be like what Thomas Muller is for Bayern Munich - the style.

"Everybody tried to get Thomas Muller out of the team, but once he's in, you can't get him out in terms of goals, assists, he's very unselfish, he can press the ball, he works in a midfield three, he can play as an 8 or a 10.

"[Van de Beek] is one of those... once he's in the team, Ole is going to find it hard to get him out."

Solskjaer took the opportunity to rotate his starting line-up from the weekend's draw with Chelsea and the gamble paid off handsomely as Marcus Rashford came off the bench to score a stunning hat-trick and Mason Greenwood and Anthony Martial also found the net. 

The win showed the depth of talent the Norwegian can call on, especially in midfield - a fact not lost on Hargreaves as he considered the selection dilemma around Van de Beek. 

"The problem you have is: You've got £100m Pogba, Bruno Fernandes... getting them all in one team with the front three they have is going to be a challenge for Ole," he added.