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Barcelona sensation Ansu Fati said he is continuing to learn from superstar captain Lionel Messi after setting a Champions League record on Tuesday.

It was a record-breaking night as La Liga giants Barca opened their Group G campaign with a 5-1 rout of Hungarian visitors Ferencvaros at Camp Nou.

Messi became the first player to score in 16 successive Champions League campaigns after his 27th-minute penalty opened the scoring for Barcelona.

Fati doubled the lead with a volley as he became the first player to have scored two Champions League goals before celebrating his 18th birthday.

The 17-year-old was full of praise for his team-mate after the game, saying that the veteran is still showing his star power with the Blaugrana.

"Messi is still Messi," Fati told Movistar post-match. "He can score in any action. 

"We are very happy to have him here with us and I continue to learn from him."

"We start with a good victory, we have to continue like that," Fati added. "[My goal is] thanks to all my team-mates, they make things easy for me. It's a fantastic pass from Frenkie [De Jong] and I just had to push the ball."

Philippe Coutinho, Pedri and Ousmane Dembele were also on target for Barca, while defender Gerard Pique was sent off in the 68th minute.

Barca are the first team ever to have two goalscorers aged 17 or under in a single Champions League match thanks to Fati and Pedri.

"It's good for the team, it means we're good," Fati replied when asked about Barca's attackers scoring goals.

"The more competitive there is between us, the better. We all come out better."

Barca will now turn their attention to Saturday's Clasico showdown against bitter rivals and defending La Liga champions Real Madrid.

Madrid, who have a game in hand, are third and one point behind Real Sociedad, while Ronald Koeman's Barca are four points off the pace, having only played four matches.

"I approach it with maximum enthusiasm," said Fati. "It's a Clasico, I've always dreamed of competing in it."

Fati made two Clasico appearances last season, but both were brief cameos that totalled 16 combined minutes.

Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman was happy with what he saw from Lionel Messi on Tuesday, as the Argentine sent his side on the way to a dominant victory in their Champions League curtain-raiser. 

Koeman hit the headlines following Saturday's Liga defeat to Getafe with some guarded words of criticism against his captain, who four days earlier had played 90 minutes in the altitude of Bolivian capital La Paz as he helped Argentina to victory in the World Cup qualifier. 

“Maybe, right now, Messi’s performances could be better,” Koeman told reporters ahead of the Champions League clash against Ferencvaros.

“But he is happy, he is working hard and he wants to be the captain of this team.

“I do not have a single complaint. He has also had some bad luck. He hit the post and in another game that will be a goal. I don’t have any doubts about his performances and we are going to see him back to his best in the games to come, I am sure.”

Messi responded by opening the scoring from the penalty spot in Tuesday's 5-1 thrashing of the Hungarians, while 17-year-old pair Ansu Fati and Pedri also hit the headlines by both finding the net for the Blaugrana at Camp Nou. 

The Argentine contributed an assist for Ousmane Dembele's late goal to round off the rout and posed a constant threat across the 90 minutes, prompting Koeman to praise his performance. 

"If he plays like he did tonight, I will have no complaints over Leo," the Dutchman told reporters after the final whistle. 

"He worked hard, he scored from the penalty spot but I then I too used to score penalties. If he doesn't score but gives two or three assists we cannot ask more of him. 

"We have people up front playing well and that is the best thing for a coach. I think we have shown that we have great players up front. 

"With a great Leo, with two assists, and that is why we leave here happy. There is competition and not just for the right wing. We can play differently with Leo out wide or at No.10. There are great players in attack."

Messi and Barca will be back in action on Saturday, when they host Real Madrid in the first Clasico of the 2020-21 season.

Borussia Dortmund star Giovanni Reyna has detailed the half-time instructions he was given in a game-changing substitute appearance against Lazio on Tuesday. 

Though Reyna grabbed an assist on Erling Haaland's second-half goal, the German side still fell short in a 3-1 defeat at the Stadio Olimpico in both teams' Champions League opener.

Dortmund fell behind 2-0 at half-time after a goal from their former striker Ciro Immobile and an own goal from Marwin Hitz.

Looking for a spark, Dortmund boss Lucien Favre introduced Reyna in place of Jude Bellingham and the American immediately paid dividends, finding Haaland for a goal that halved the deficit. 

The assist was Reyna's fourth of the season, meaning only Harry Kane (eight) has more assists than the 17-year-old in all competitions in the five major European leagues this season.

But the Reyna-Haaland connection wasn't enough for Dortmund, as Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro scored just five minutes later to seal the points for the Italians.

Speaking to CBS Sports after the game, Reyna said he was instructed to play between Lazio's midfield and defensive lines and give the team more of an attacking option than Bellingham did.

"Just try to stay in between the lines a little bit," Reyna said of his instructions. "Jude came out and was a little more defensive and I had to go in and try to create with Erling and the guys in front. Just try to get between the lines and try to spark a comeback."

"It's Champions League, it's pretty self-explanatory," Reyna added. "Wherever you go and whoever you play, it's going to be a tough game. 

"I think we started a little bit slow. We still had some chances that we could have scored to make it a little more difficult for them. We could have played a little bit better but now we have to refuel and get ready for the weekend. 

"It's Champions League, you can't give any teams chances, you have to take every game serious for 90 minutes plus. It was a tough game but we still have five more games to play and I'm sure we'll bounce back."

Dortmund will return to action on Saturday as they take on local rivals Schalke before they are back in Champions League play next week against Russian side Zenit. 

Manchester United's victory against PSG in the Champions League has seen the club win 10 consecutive away games for the first time in their history.

A late winner from Marcus Rashford saw the Red Devils win 2-1 against the Parisians at the Parc des Princes - the scene of their famous Champions League win versus PSG in 2019.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side have now won their last 10 matches on the road, dating back to the 2-1 extra-time win against Norwich City in the FA Cup on June 27.

Since Harry Maguire's 118th minute to sink the Canaries, United have beaten Brighton (three times), Aston Villa, Crystal Palace, Leicester City, Luton Town, Newcastle United and now PSG.

The victory against PSG was arguably the best performance of the Red Devils' streak, with United having more shots on target than PSG (six to five) despite only having 39 percent possession.

United enjoyed a stroke of fortune to open the scoring, with Bruno Fernandes seeing his penalty saved after Anthony Martial was fouled but converting the retake after VAR correctly ruled PSG goalkeeper Keylor Navas had left his line early to block the first spot kick.

PSG came out all guns blazing the second half and eventually forced a deserved equaliser when Martial headed a corner into his own net 10 minutes after the restart.

But Solskjaer's team continued to dig in and started to create several chances on the break as PSG poured numbers forward looking for a winner.

Rashford provided the decisive moment in the match on 87 minutes, taking Paul Pogba's pass and rifling a low shot in off the post from outside the area.

"Of course it's a nice feeling," Rashford told BT Sport of his winning goal. "More importantly, we won the game.

"We're in a strong position now in the group but it's the first game. The concentration levels we showed today we have to take forward into the next game.

"For me, they were both opportunities to win the game. As a striker, in the game late on, that's the mentality. You might only get one chance. It gets us the three points.

"It's a good performance but also one where we have a lot to build on. I always believe in the team.

"As players it's important to believe in the system that the manager chooses to play. We did that fantastically. It was tough but we kept the intensity high. We had to defend very deep at times."

Chelsea manager Frank Lampard would have no problem in fielding Petr Cech between the posts after the retired goalkeeper made a shock appearance in the Blues' 2020-21 Premier League squad. 

Cech, 38, retired from professional football at the end of the 2018-19 season after 15 years of sterling service in English football for Chelsea and later Arsenal, which included four Premier League title triumphs as well as victory in the 2011-12 Champions League. 

But on Tuesday the Czech legend appeared in Chelsea's 25-man squad for the current campaign, prompting speculation that the Premier League had initially made a mistake in including his name alongside Edouard Mendy, Kepa Arrizabalaga and Willy Caballero as one of the Blues' four goalkeepers. 

Chelsea, though, clarified that Cech had been called up in exceptional circumstances as a non-contract player, and Lampard went on to reveal that the veteran has been active in club training for some time prior to the decision to take him out of retirement.

"Petr has been training with the goalkeepers for a little while now. He has been training a lot of days with them which is valuable for experience [of the other goalkeepers] and that he is passing on that quality to them," the manager explained to reporters following Tuesday's 0-0 Champions League draw with Sevilla at Stamford Bridge.

"We had that space in the squad and we know this year, it looks like no other because of Covid and isolation so it was a very easy one. Pete still does his day job and he is there if we need him.

“He is fit, very fit. He is still relatively young. He finished playing when he possibly could have carried on. He has taken on his role at Chelsea very well and he has been very helpful to me and we work closely together. He trains fairly regularly and he is fit." 

Lampard admitted that he does not expect to have to draw on Cech's services over the course of the season, but that he would have no doubts over fielding him should he need to.

"Whether we will see him much this season, I am not sure. Has I mentioned before, it depends on how the season goes with COVID and isolation. We felt it was a no-brainer to have Pete in the squad for that reason and it helps me training every day," he added.

"When he is in such good form it can only help the goalkeepers we have to see one of the world’s best in the modern era amongst us.

“It is definitely not done for the romance. Pete certainly enjoys the training because that is how he is. I would enjoy training more if my calves didn’t go tight every time I tried to sprint these days. With Pete I wouldn’t expect to happen this year.

"But I do know with the way he is and how fit he is that if we are in crisis times then you couldn’t ask for much better than having Petr Cech around. I don’t expect it, but nobody expected what we have seen in the last six or seven months around the world.”

Chelsea's defensive frailty has been widely highlighted under Lampard, with the Blues conceding nine goals in their opening five Premier League clashes. 

Tuesday marked only their third clean sheet of 2020-21, one of which came against Championship side Barnsley; but Lampard was encouraged with what he saw from new signing Mendy.

“I think the way he has played in the three games since being here, he has played very well. Made a good save today, two clean sheets," he said when asked if the ex-Rennes No. 1 was now his first choice in goal.

"So at the minute, yes. I said when he came in it was good for competition. We knew his qualities and he is showing them already. So as it stands, yes it is. But that always remains something that is up for grabs, so that is why you have competition at clubs. The way he is playing I am very happy.”

Thomas Tuchel has admitted he had a strange feeling in the dressing room before PSG's 2-1 home defeat against Manchester United in the Champions League on Tuesday.

The Red Devils took a first-half lead at Parc des Princes as Bruno Fernandes scored from the spot after his original penalty was saved by Keylor Navas, but was then ordered to be retaken due to the goalkeeper's encroachment.

Anthony Martial's own goal in the second half levelled the match, but Marcus Rashford scored a dramatic winner in the 87th minute to help lift the pressure on manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

In his press conference after the game, PSG manager Tuchel said he felt his side were "a little too calm" ahead of their Group H opener.

"The mood in the locker room was a little too calm before the game," Tuchel said. "I had a weird feeling. Usually we listen to music at a very loud volume. I had the impression that it was too calm.

"As for half-time, it was not the time to be angry. We had to improve, but we clearly said that we lacked intensity and aggressiveness. It was necessary to show another attitude."

Speaking to RMC Sport, Tuchel said that he hardly recognised the team that he saw on Tuesday after winning five straight Ligue 1 matches.

"We missed a lot of things, offensively and defensively. It was not a match at our level, not at all, whether in the offensive or defensive phases, technically, tactically, in our intensity and against pressing," Tuchel said.

"It wasn't us, clearly. Now is not the time to be mad and lose our mind. We have to be very honest with ourselves and be critics as always. It was a very hard start for us."

Tuchel added that he was hoping his side could control the match better at home, but Solskjaer's men made that task too difficult for them.

"We lacked rhythm and intensity," the German said. "We were nevertheless well prepared.

"[Am I] angry? No because these are the same players who have done good things in the last games and months. It was difficult today, I don't know why but that's how it was.

"It wasn't difficult to play a better second half [than first half], but it was too open. We didn't have the capacity to control the game." 

PSG defender Presnel Kimpembe echoed his coach's disappointment that his side weren't in top gear on Tuesday.

“There's no explanation, we just weren't good," Kimpembe said. "We weren't in the duels and were behind on the defensive run-backs.

"We can only blame ourselves. We weren't surprised by their starting XI. It's just that we weren't good. We didn't approach the game well, and did not finish it well. It's a shame to lose points like that, we'll have to chin up."

El Clasico, the most-watched club game in world football, is back, with Barcelona set to host Real Madrid at the Camp Nou on Saturday, October  24th at 16:00. An unpredictable, live-action drama shown all over the world by over 100 La Liga partners and now into its 90th season – a feat unprecedented in the entertainment world. The La Liga El Clasico saga has gifted us a stream of incredible storylines over the years, including the greatness of legends such as Johan Cruyff, Alfredo Di Stefano and more recently Ronaldinho, Sergio Ramos and Lionel Messi, unforgettable moments of both showmanship and sportsmanship, and technological and broadcast landmarks.

The first El Clasico of the Covid-19 era

Enjoying El Clasico, or La Liga football in general, seemed unlikely just months ago, with the world in lockdown in the midst of the global Covid-19 pandemic. But La Liga’s comprehensive #BackToWin strategy – which laid out an extensive multi-phase plan to restart the season with regular Covid-19 testing covering personal behaviour away from training facilities, in homes and daily lives – ensured not only that the 2019/20 La Liga Santander season could be completed in the space of just 39 days without a single positive case but also that the 2020/21 season started on time in early September. 

Over 100 El Clasico-themed actions organised all over the world

Though governmental health restrictions mean fans won’t be in the Camp Nou stands for this first ever El Clasico behind closed doors, La Liga has ensured that fans around the world will still be able to come together for the greatest show in club football.

Over 100 El Clasico-themed actions are being organised across the world, among them a public viewing for up to 700 fans in Shanghai, watch parties in Vietnam, Dubai, South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya and other locations across the African continent. Over in Latin America, meanwhile, fans will be able to enjoy the action from the comfort of their own cars in a series of drive-in cinema locations across Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador and Argentina. LaLiga will also celebrate the ‘premiere’ of its flagship show by lining red carpets at well-known landmarks in the United States, United Kingdom, India, Australia, Senegal, Colombia and Tajikistan to remind fans that ElClasico offers entertainment like no other.

An unrivalled broadcast and digital experience

No matter their location in the world, a potential audience of 650 million fans will be able to watch El Clasico like never before. New match broadcast graphics and statistics powered by cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence and Augmented Reality now provide fans with a more complete viewing experience than ever before, and pioneering virtualised crowd and audio technology complements the on-field action while fans are yet to return to La Liga stadiums. With 14 La Liga Santander stadiums kitted out with aerial cameras and aerial drones now capturing new and exclusive angles, the action never looked so good on a screen. El Clasico will be shown live in Kenya on SuperSport and StarTimes.

La Liga’s 22 international social media channels publishing exciting content in the week leading up match as well livestreaming the all-important pre-match buildup in the two hours before kick-off to over 120 million followers around the world. A special online Fan Zone will be created giving fans a chance to win replica shirts of their favourite clubs, while a brand new mobile game, Score Words La Liga, will be launched in line with the match offering fun challenges and online gameplay. In short, fans’ second screens will also be as busy and engaging as ever.

The stars of El Clasico

As always, the greatest stars in world football will be on show for the millions of viewers around the globe. Superstars such as all-time ElClasico top scorer and six-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi and Ramos, the man with the most El Clasico appearances in history, are back this season, as are established international stars like Luka Modric, Gerard Pique, Karim Benzema, Frenkie de Jong and Thibaut Courtois.

A key talking point of El Clasico Season 90 will also be the plethora of exciting new faces on show. Dutch coach and former Barça legend Ronald Koeman returned to the Camp Nou this summer charged with leading an ambitious wholescale rebuilding project and has made some of the most talked about moves in this summer’s European transfer market, welcoming the likes of Sergino Dest – the first American to ever represent Barcelona in La Liga – Trincao and Miralem Pjanic to the Catalan capital. On the other side of the El Clasico divide, Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane – like Koeman, one of the most iconic players in his club’s history and in the El Clasico story – leads a mostly unchanged squad to that which steamrolled its way to the LaLiga Santander title after the break forced by Covid-19 last season.

Add in the fact that this season’s El Clasico boasts some of the most exciting young talents in world football under the age of 21, among them teenage prodigy Ansu Fati – Barcelona’s youngest-ever goalscorer – the aforementioned Dest, and at Real Madrid Norwegian wonderkid Martin Odegaard and Vinicius Jr, and this El Clasico is shaping up to be one of the most thrilling and intriguing clashes between the two sides in recent memory.

Everything is in place for the return of El Clasico, the best footballers in the world and the best fan experience possible.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hailed his Manchester United heroes after they beat Paris Saint-Germain in their opening Champions League group game.

The United manager joked that Axel Tuanzebe surprised them with his ability, as the centre-back didn’t put a foot wrong in his first appearance for 10 months, and also praised Scott McTominay and Fred for laying the foundations for another impressive win in Paris.

“Axel did fantastic, he’s been out for 10 months so to put in a performance like this against Neymar and Mbappe almost surprised us as well,” Solskjaer said. "We know he’s a good player, but to do it on a night like this is fantastic.

“It’s a better performance this time than last even though last time we won 3-1. I think the performance this time showed we had developed.

"Scott and Fred were outstanding. They are in good form now and played really well against Newcastle and they laid the foundations for the win that game and today as well. Scotty played the first half with only one eye, that was the most impressive thing, because he lost his contact lens.”

Tuanzebe could get another chance to impress at the weekend should Solskjaer deploy a similar three at the back as they welcome Chelsea to Old Trafford.

Harry Maguire missed the game through injury and the United boss confirmed Eric Bailly is expected to be out for a month.

“You might see this system again,” Solskjaer said. “When you win games and perform well you get confidence. We’re going to go into that [Chelsea] game confident.”

After a slow start to the season where questions have been raised about the strength of the squad, Solskjaer believes they made a statement in Paris and it puts them in good stead for the next few weeks.

“I think we have shown today we have a squad that can play different ways and different systems,” he said.

“We played well against Newcastle and Alex (Telles) was very very good in his debut. His delivery was fantastic and we’ve got players back home with Harry (Maguire), Edinson (Cavani), Jesse (Lingard), Eric (Bailly), Mason (Greenwood), so I’m looking forward to the next few months.”

Barcelona have confirmed that Gerard Pique, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Frenkie de Jong and Clement Lenglet have all signed contract extensions with the club.

The Blaugrana announced the deals immediately after their 2020-21 Champions League opener on Tuesday, with Ronald Koeman's men cruising to a 5-1 win over Ferencvaros.

Pique was sent off in the second half against the Hungarian side but following the match, the veteran defender saw his contract extended through 2024. 

The 33-year-old's extension will be subject to playing a certain amount of games in the 2021-22 season. Pique, who is in his 13th season with the club, will have a buy-out clause of €500 million (£457m/$591m).

Barca have been working on an extension for Ter Stegen for months now , with the Germany international's previous deal set to expire in 2022 after he originally joined in 2014 from Borussia Monchengladbach.

The goalkeeper has now signed on through 2025 and will also have a buy-out clause set at €500m. 

Lenglet has impressed since arriving from Sevilla in 2018, with the 25-year-old becoming a starter and making a total of 89 appearances in a Barca shirt. 

The Frenchman has signed on through 2026 and has a buy-out clause of €300 million (£274m/$355m).

De Jong, meanwhile, has yet to hit the heights expected since his arrival from Ajax in 2019. 

But the Dutch international is still just 23 and big things are expected from a player who is still tipped to become one of the world's top central midfielders. 

De Jong has signed an extension through 2026 and has a buy-out clause of €400 million (£366m/$473m).

It is possible that the flurry of renewals will be one of Josep Bartomeu's final acts as Barcelona president as his position comes under further scrutiny. 

A vote of no confidence against Bartomeu is set to go ahead after club members reached the required amount of signatures for the motion to go through.

Rather than go through with the vote, Bartomeu could resign as soon as next week as the pressure builds after a season that saw Barca fail to win any trophies and then suffer through a transfer saga with their most iconic player, Lionel Messi.

Chelsea left-back Ben Chilwell says his side's clean sheet in the stalemate with Sevilla in the Champions League was "important" in the wake of a 3-3 draw with Southampton. 

Frank Lampard's side let leads slip twice against the Saints at the weekend as the Blues' defensive struggles continued. 

In the Premier League this season, Chelsea have kept just one clean sheet from five matches but they added another to their overall tally in Europe on Tuesday night against Sevilla. 

Despite boasting slightly less possession against their La Liga opponents, Edouard Mendy was rarely threatened in the Blues' goal as they held out for a 0-0 draw. 

Though an underwhelming start to their Champions League campaign, Chilwell believes the clean sheet itself was vital and the draw a solid result to build on. 

"The important thing is the clean sheet. We knew people would be looking at us after conceding three goals at the weekend. We were solid defensively against a good team and didn't give them many chances so we'll take a draw and a clean sheet," Chilwell told BT Sport post-match.

"In general as a team it was, I won't say comfortable because we were under pressure at times, but we were organised as a team. I thought defensively we were very good.

"We are a top team and when you're playing for Chelsea you expect clean sheets and if you concede goals you will get criticism. We've been working hard on the training pitch and we've showed that we're a strong outfit defensively.

"It was disappointing to have no fans but as a team the motivation was there regardless of that, especially for people like me who are new to it all."

After conceding an injury-time equaliser against Southampton, Lampard was delighted to see his side maintain their defensive composure across the full 90 minutes. 

"It feels good to get the clean sheet, it's something you always strive for," Lampard told BT Sport. "Thiago Silva was excellent, he has experience and quality. Edouard Mendy had one save to make and he made a good save, he was good with his feet. Against a good team, it was a very organised performance from us.

"Both teams seemed happy with the point I think. We conceded a goal in the last minute the other day so when you have that feeling fresh in your mind it's not nice. So this game will give us confidence but we haven't had the personnel in training regularly and the more we have that the better we will get."

Dusan Tadic believes Ajax would have had a "larger chance" to beat Liverpool than Tottenham did in the 2019 Champions League final.

The Reds claimed a 2-0 win against Spurs at the Wanda Metropolitano in Madrid to lift their sixth European cup, after the Londoners earned the right to compete in the decider after defeating Ajax in the semi-final via Lucas Moura's 96th-minute winner.

Ahead of this season's Champions League opener between his Ajax side and Liverpool in Amsterdam, Tadic says he wishes the two teams had squared off in that European decider - adding that the Eredivisie side would have put up a bigger fight than Tottenham.

"It would have been nice to play against [Liverpool] in the [2019 Champions League] final," Tadic said. "It is difficult to play against them (but) a larger chance than Tottenham for sure.

"I played against Liverpool too often, it was always difficult. They put on a lot of pressure with fast football, they are a big team but it will be a great game to play."

Premier League champions Liverpool have had an inconsistent start to their title defence, enduring a 7-2 thrashing at the hands of Aston Villa and drawing with Merseyside rivals Everton, although they still sit third on the standings.

Reds superstar Virgil van Dijk will be missing after suffering a long-term knee injury in the match against the Toffees, but Ajax boss Erik ten Haag was cautious to reveal confidence at the Netherlands international's absence.

"At the end of the day it is about who is still playing," Ten Haag said. "It’s not going to be a different Liverpool, they always play the same. The quality of Man A can switch to Man B, the whole team won’t change because Virgil Van Dijk isn’t present.

"Of course, they are currently the best team in the world, if you win the Champions League and Premier League within two years you are a strong contender for the Champions League title."

Ajax are currently second in the Eredivisie with a single defeat against Groningen contributing to the one-point gap behind leaders PSV.

Ligue 1 outfit Dijon on Tuesday evening confirmed the arrival of Senegal international forward Moussa Konate from Amiens.

The 27-year-old penned a three-year contract with the Owls for an undisclosed fee as manager Stephane Jobard made a final reinforcement to his team due to their stuttering start to their 2020-21 French elite division campaign.

With this, he becomes the 12th African in the Dijon squad after Ngonda Muzinga (DR Congo), Pape Diop (Senegal), Roger Assale (Cote d’Ivoire), Yassine Benzia (Algeria), Fouad Chafik (Morocco), Bruno Ecuele Manga (Gabon), Didier Ndong (Gabon), Ahmad Ngouyamsa (Cameroon), Wilitty Younoussa (Cameroon), Mama Balde (Guinea Bissau) and Saturnin Allagbe (Benin Republic).

Konate had joined Amiens on a four-year contract from Swiss top-flight side Sion in 2017. There, he scored 22 goals and delivered five assists in 72 French top-flight games over three seasons with the Unicorns, who were demoted to Ligue 2 last season.

According to former France international Peguy Luyindula  - who is Dijon’s strategic advisor - the Teranaga Lions star fits perfectly into the profile sought after by Jobard’s squad.

"Moussa is a striker who knows how to score and who has a good sense of purpose,” he told the club website.

“He has already proved it in Ligue 1 in previous years. He's a player who was on our radar and we're very happy to have him with us today."

Konate, who will be wearing jersey number 11 during his spell, is pleased to make the move while looking forward to commencing "the new project".

"I decided to join DFCO because we have joint projects. Like the DFCO, I am someone who always wants to move forward. I am very excited to start this new project" the ex- Maccabi Tel Aviv, Kuban Krasnodar, Genoa star said.

Barring any issues, he is expected to make his debut against Thomas Tuchel's Paris Saint-Germain in Saturday’s league game.

Dijon are eyeing their first win of the new season after seven games. They sit at the base of the log after garnering just two points so far.

England need to win a major tournament to truly be considered among the world’s best, forward Nikita Parris believes.

The Lionesses reached the semi-finals at the 2017 Euros and the World Cup in 2019 and on Monday, Baroness Sue Campbell, the FA's director of women's football, said it would be a failure if they didn’t win the home Euros in 2022 or the World Cup in 2023.

Parris, who left Manchester City for European champions Lyon last summer, shares that ambition, saying England need a major trophy to be considered among the likes of the USA and Germany – the latter due to take on the Lionesses in a friendly next week.

“I believe England now need to have that pressure of having to win a major tournament,” Parris said. “I think in the past we've said that we'll go into win, but. We're going to win, but. There’s always a but. As Sue clearly stated yesterday, it's about winning a major tournament for England now and nothing less will be good enough.

“I was truly, truly disappointed in the World Cup when we lost against America, because I really thought that was our time, but now we have to build on the momentum of getting to semi-finals and not quite having enough to go to get to the final to win. Now, that's not good enough.

“Now, we have to train and get our mindset right because winning a major tournament is the only way forward for England. Not just the World Cup [either], because we've got an Olympic Games and we've got a home Euros.

“The home Euros will be an unbelievable time to really push women's football in England on.

“The Women’s Super League (WSL) is a great advertisement for clubs worldwide, players worldwide, to really look at look at the league and see where it's going.

“It's a fantastic league, even me being abroad and watching as many games as I can, I think that the league has really pushed on, but in order for England to really reach those heights in the eyes of the those who are at the very top of women's football, we have to win a major tournament.”

Huge progress made by the WSL has only enhanced the reputation of England in the women’s football world off the back of the national team’s success.

Its fully professional status and ability to attract star names is putting it in the conversation for the best league in the world, with it certainly having the potential to be that.

Parris, meanwhile, is plying her trade in France with Lyon, with whom she won the Champions League in the summer. The 26-year-old is hopeful that her experience in winning trophies with the best club in Europe can help England achieve their goals.

“Lyon have a great mindset and winning mentality. They know how to find a way to win, regardless of the situation or circumstances in which we find ourselves in,” she said. “That mindset is relentless it's something that happens each and every day in training. You learn to adapt, then it becomes who you are and that's what I why I moved to Lyon.

“I wanted to understand in those moments what it takes, whether it's just one player, a team effort, a change in formation, what's the change of mindset, that was for me, why I wanted to go out there and really test myself in the big occasions in the big games.”

Lionel Messi and Ansu Fati were on record-setting form as Barcelona opened their Champions League campaign with a thumping 5-1 win over Ferencvaros at Camp Nou on Tuesday, although Gerard Pique was dismissed for the hosts.

Ronald Koeman's side suffered a surprise 1-0 defeat to Getafe in LaLiga at the weekend and looked shaky in the early stages against their Hungarian opponents, who were making their first appearance in the Champions League group stages for 25 years.

Messi's penalty shortly before the half-hour mark settled any nerves, though, while 17-year-oldl Fati doubled their advantage in the 42nd minute.

Philippe Coutinho added a third early in the second half before Ihor Kharatin pulled one back for the visitors from the penalty spot after Pique had been dismissed for bringing down Tokmac Nguen inside the area. Barca had the final say, however, substitute Pedri scoring his first goal for the club eight minutes from time and Ousmane Dembele adding a late fifth.

Ferencvaros were far from overawed in the early stages against their illustrious opponents, twice going close to taking the lead inside the opening 20 minutes.

Nguen had a fine strike ruled out for offside before Isael crashed a powerful drive against Neto's crossbar from 10 yards.

They were left to rue those close calls in the 27th minute when Messi powered home from the spot after he had been tripped in the area by Adnan Kovacevic.

It made the Argentina international the first player in Champions League history to score in 16 consecutive seasons.

Fati was denied by the outstretched leg of Denes Dibusz but then got the better of the Ferencvaros goalkeeper three minutes before the interval, steering a volley inside his left-hand post after a sublime looped pass from Frenkie de Jong.

That saw Fati become the first player to score more than one Champions League goal before turning 18.

Fati turned provider for Barca's third seven minutes after the restart, Coutinho receiving his impudent back-heeled pass before sending a deflected effort past Dibusz.

Kharatin restored some pride for the visitors 20 minutes from time after Pique clumsily hauled down Nguen as he entered the penalty area following a ball over the top.

Any hopes of a dramatic comeback were extinguished, however, as Pedri turned home from 12 yards and Dembele thundered home from Messi's pass in the final 10 minutes to seal a comfortable three points.

What does it mean? Barca in cruise control after tough opening

It could have panned out very differently for Barca had Ferencvaros struck during that impressive early spell. As it was, some Messi magic set the hosts on their way to the kind of win that most people would have expected before kick-off.

Koeman, who became the fifth head coach to take charge of six or more teams in the Champions League, will certainly not be getting carried away and knows his side will face a far sterner test when they travel to Juventus next week.

Fati continues to make history

Fati's stunning ascent does not look like slowing down anytime soon. The youngster produced another fine display - and goal - with all three of his shots on target, and the assist for Coutinho was another mark of his quality.

Pique well off the pace

Pique declared he was willing to be the first to step aside after Barca's humiliating 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in last season's Champions League quarter-final.

He stuck around, though, and was badly caught out by Nguen in the incident which led to his dismissal. If he puts in more displays like this, he can expect people to start asking when he will make way for fresh blood. The post-match announcement that he has signed a new four-year contract was therefore quite a revelation.

Key Opta facts

- Barcelona stretched their unbeaten run at Camp Nou in the Champions League to 37 games (W33 D4). They have not conceded more than once in any of the 37 games in this run.
- Barcelona have won their opening home game in 23 of their 25 Champions League seasons (D2), including each of their last nine in a row since a 2-2 draw with Milan in 2011-12.
- Only Ryan Giggs has scored in as many Champions League campaigns as Messi. The Manchester United great also scored for his club in 16 seasons at the highest level in Europe, but, unlike in Messi’s case, they were not consecutive campaigns.
- Barcelona became the first team ever to have two goalscorers aged 17 or under in a single Champions League match - Ansu Fati and Pedri.

What's next?

Both sides are in domestic action at the weekend, with Barca taking on Real Madrid in the first Clasico of the season and Ferencvaros facing Ujpest.

Chelsea kicked off their Champions League campaign with a Stamford Bridge stalemate as they were held 0-0 by Sevilla.

An even contest between the two favourites for progression from Group E produced plenty of chances, but neither side could apply the finishing touch necessary to claim all three points.

Rennes' draw with FK Krasnodar in France meant that it was honours even across the group following the first matchday.

Chelsea's leaky defence had come in for scrutiny once again following a weekend Premier League outing that saw them held to a 3-3 draw by Southampton.

And head coach Frank Lampard's nerves will not have been helped by Thiago Silva's failure to make a seemingly simple headed clearance during an early passage of play that led to a Lucas Ocampos shot, albeit from a marginally offside position.

Saturday's result had no doubt contributed to a defensive reshuffle that saw Edouard Mendy replace Kepa Arrizabalaga in goal among other changes.

The potential value of that particular switch was shown after 18 minutes when the Blues' recent signing was on hand to claw away a Nemanja Gudelj header that had been diverted goalward by a deflection off Kurt Zouma.

At the other end, Chelsea evidenced their own threat when Timo Werner produced his team's first shot on target following a sweeping move involving the lively Reece James.

Still, they could not entirely limit Sevilla, who came close through a Suso header following brilliant work from Marcos Acuna and an Ocampos shot that needed a Mendy save just prior to the whistle sounding.

Although Lampard opted against making substitutions at the break, a tactical tweak that saw Christian Pulisic move from the right side to the left almost paid immediate dividends.

The American's quick feet earned Chelsea a corner that saw Zouma head on target, and he followed that with another dangerous cross from his preferred flank just seconds later.

With Pulisic benefiting from a direct approach, the Blues called for more thrust on the opposite wing with an hour gone as Hakim Ziyech replaced the ineffectual Mason Mount.

But their opponents were by no means ready to give up their share of the points and went close themselves when Joan Jordan showed great technique in volleying just over the bar from a corner.

What does it mean? Chelsea cure defensive blues

Although a draw at Stamford Bridge is rarely welcome for a team of Chelsea's ambitions, Lampard will take great encouragement from a hard-earned clean sheet for his side.

Europa League holders Sevilla created some chances, of course, but the Blues looked infinitely more defensively solid than they have during a chaotic start to the season.

Mendy offers keeper hope

After Kepa produced another erratic display against Southampton, there was pressure on Chelsea's new goalkeeper to shine on his return to the team.

While the Frenchman wasn't particularly busy, making just two saves, his handling was impressive enough to fill Blues fans with hope that they may have found their new number one.

Havertz quiet in Blues attack

While Werner was a constant threat in behind and Pulisic improved once he moved to the left, it was a quiet night for one man in the Chelsea attack: Kai Havertz.

The German took 67 touches but failed to have a shot or produce a key pass, and he surrendered possession on 15 separate occasions.

Key Opta facts

- Chelsea have drawn five of their last eight Champions League home matches, as many as in their previous 33 games in the competition at Stamford Bridge (W23 L5). This was their first goalless draw in 22 Champions League matches, last playing out a 0-0 in October 2015 (vs Dynamo Kiev).
- Chelsea have won just one of their last 10 Champions League games against Spanish opposition (D6 L3).
- Sevilla have failed to win any of their last five away games in the group stages of this competition (D4 L1) – their joint-longest such run in the competition (also five games between September 2015 and September 2016 – D1 L4).
- Chelsea recorded just six shots, their fewest attempts at goal in a Champions League game since February 2015, when they had just two against Paris Saint-Germain in a 1-1 draw.

What's next?

Chelsea return to Premier League action on Saturday when they travel north for a mouth-watering clash with Manchester United at Old Trafford. Sevilla, meanwhile, face Eibar at home in La Liga.

Giorgio Chiellini will be examined after going off injured in Juventus' win at Dynamo Kiev, according to Andrea Pirlo, who said Paulo Dybala is still not 100 per cent fit.

Captain Chiellini limped off in the 19th minute of Tuesday's Champions League Group G clash, which saw Juve ease to a 2-0 away victory thanks to a second-half double from Alvaro Morata.

Head coach Pirlo described Chiellini's injury as a hip flexor issue that he had been dealing with after the recent round of international fixtures.

"We will evaluate him in the coming days," Pirlo said.

Dybala had previously not played a minute under Pirlo and was reportedly involved in a clash with Juve director Fabio Paratici after being left on the bench for the 1-1 draw with Crotone at the weekend.

Pirlo also admitted that Dybala was "angry" at being left on the bench for the draw at Crotone.

However, Dybala was finally involved in the second half against Dynamo, replacing Dejan Kulusevski 11 minutes into the second half.

Speaking to Sky Sport Italia, Pirlo said of the Argentina forward: "He wasn't 100 per cent. He needs minutes, slowly we will see him in top condition."

Juve have made an uneven start to their first season under the leadership of former midfielder Pirlo.

They are four points adrift of Serie A leaders AC Milan following the slip-up at Crotone, but they were in control throughout against Dynamo as Morata made it three goals for him in two matches.

"One step at a time we find the balance," Pirlo added. "We could make better use of a few chances in the first half and manage the game better.

"It was important to play a solid match compared to Crotone."

Juventus will return to Serie A action on Sunday when they face Hellas Verona at Allianz Stadium before their Champions League showdown with Lionel Messi and Barcelona next week.

Juve star Cristiano Ronaldo is in doubt for the match against Barcelona after he tested positive for Covid-19 while on international duty with Portugal.

The forward has hit back at suggestions he broke protocol when he returned to Italy after testing positive.