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Donny van de Beek can bring the best out of Bruno Fernandes at Manchester United as he knows exactly what the Portuguese playmaker wants to do on the ball, according to Rio Ferdinand and Paul Scholes.

Van de Beek has endured a slow start to life at Old Trafford since moving from Ajax in the summer for £40 million ($55m), however, he impressed when he played the full 90 minutes of the 4-1 Champions League win over Istanbul Basaksehir on Tuesday night.

The Dutch midfielder dictated play as Fernandes impressed going forwards, scoring twice in the opening 20 minutes to set United on their way before a Marcus Rashford penalty and a late Daniel James strike completed a very satisfactory victory for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men.

Former United defender Ferdinand said Van de Beek had shown why Solskjaer kept patience with him despite the pressure to deliver results, and that his selfless style of play could prove crucial in bringing out the best in those around him, especially Fernandes.

Speaking on BT Sport, Ferdinand said: “We’ve all been waiting to see Van de Beek play, they spent £40m on him, you want to see more than cameos from him here and there. We’ve been impatient, but today he has justified why he has been brought to the club and why he is thought so highly of in European football.

"He is the one player in the squad who is happy playing one-touch, two-touch, keeping it simple. He sacrifices parts of his game for other people to flourish, and in any great team you need players like that, who make other players tick. Bruno benefited today from having him in the team.”

Fellow ex-United player Scholes agreed, saying Van de Beek had demonstrated an awareness of what Fernandes intends to do that could make him a key cog in the starting XI in the future.

Scholes said: “The first 15 minutes were excellent, Van de Beek was instrumental in that with his link-up play with Fernandes. He is very aware of what Fernandes wants to do with the ball. They looked dangerous, they kept creating chances, they looked like they were going to score goals.”

United's win on Tuesday leaves them with nine points from four games in Champions League Group H, needing just one more from their remaining two fixtures to qualify for the last 16.

They host Paris Saint-Germain next week, before travelling to RB Leipzig for their final group-stage game.

Perth Glory will face Ulsan for the second time in the space of just three days on Friday night (AEDT) with their Asian Champions League campaign hanging by a thread. 

Richard Garcia's side are yet to pick up a point from their first three group games but managed to throw three away in their most recent outing against Ulsan. 

Daniel Stynes gave Glory the lead in the 71st minute before their K-League opponents equalised in the 89th minute and then found an injury-time winner via Junior. 

That result leaves Perth bottom of Group F at the halfway stage, while Ulsan have soared to top spot with seven points from three games. 

While Glory currently have nothing to show for their Asian campaign to date, they have shown signs of life in their past two outings. 

Against Shanghai Shenhua, they finished strongly after trailing 2-0 and could well have salvaged a draw in what turned out to be a 2-1 defeat. While against Ulsan, Perth pushed for a winner after losing their late lead and were made to pay by their clinical K-League opponents. 

Garcia has done well to patch a young squad together in Qatar and they have so far held their own - avoiding what could have been embarrassing results against far more experienced sides. 

Glory will be desperate to ensure they put in another respectable performance against Ulsan on Friday night with nothing less than a win needed to ensure they keep their hopes of progression alive. 

Jordi Alba says Sergino Dest can become a Barcelona star after the young defender netted his first goal for the club.

The United States international opened the scoring for the Blaugrana against Dynamo Kiev on Tuesday as Ronald Koeman's side cruised into the last 16 of the Champions League with a comfortable 4-0 Group G win.

Dest defended solidly and also caught the eye going forward with four touches inside the Dynamo penalty area and six crosses – more than any other player.

The 20-year-old right-back's goal also showed fine composure as he rounded off a slick move with a crisp angled finish.

"Dest comes with a lot of desire. With Sergi Roberto's unfortunate injury he will surely have more opportunities," Barcelona left-back Alba told reporters after the emphatic victory.

"I think he has a high level. He has a great future and fits perfectly with the characteristics that a full-back at Barca should have."

Dest, who joined Barca from Ajax in October, added: "We played really well. It's a dream to have contributed with my first goal for the club. I tried hard to hold my position because I'm happy in this team and I want to keep my place."

Martin Braithwaite scored twice and Antoine Griezmann was also on target in Barca's fourth win in as many Champions League games – the first time they have achieved the feat since the 2002-03 campaign.

It is in stark contrast to their La Liga form, which has seen them make their worst start to a season in 29 years to put increased scrutiny on head coach Koeman, who only took the reins at the Camp Nou in August.

Alba says the players are still adjusting to Koeman's approach and a change in fortunes in La Liga is just around the corner.

"We have to improve a lot, it's a team with a lot of new people," added the 31-year-old.

"I've been here for nine years and it's always the same. When you don't win, you talk a lot. It's normal. We have lost points that if the ball went differently we would have taken them.

"I think the work is good, for the team and the coaching staff. There is a high level and any team can beat you if you are not playing well. Until the Christmas break we have games to win and we will try "

Of all the Indian Super League (ISL) teams that have stepped onto the field so far this season, Chennaiyin looked the fittest and readiest to play a high-intensity game of football on Tuesday. 

The Marina Machans, coached by Csaba Laszlo, won their first game of the season 2-1 against Jamshedpur who are managed by former Chennaiyin coach Owen Coyle. 

It wasn't a perfect game from the two-time ISL champions but overall, the energy levels on display were the best by a team in the seventh season of ISL up until Tuesday (with only East Bengal left to play their first match of the season). 

For a change, it was an end-to-end start to the game that neutrals would have thoroughly enjoyed. Anirudh Thapa, who is Chennaiyin's vice-captain this season, sent the ball into the net within seconds from kick-off. 

The midfielder timed his run into the box to perfection as Isma Goncalves drilled a low cross into the box from the right flank. Thapa's right foot met the ball and sent it first-time past TP Rehenesh who stood no chance. 

The scorer and the provider were the two standout players for Laszlo's team. Thapa is making a name for himself as one of the best midfielders India has produced recently and this season will play a part in cementing the tag of India's best midfielder.

Thapa was active in the centre throughout the match and helped keep Chennaiyin ticking whenever the team's tempo threatened to slow down. This was crucial in keeping the Jamshedpur attack, led by former Chennaiyin striker and last season's Golden Boot winner Nerijus Valskis, at bay. 

Isma Goncalves, the striker Laszlo brought in to replace Valskis, was equally impressive. He seemed to really fit in the team's style and the strategy in the attacking third looks tailor-made for the skillset that Isma has. He is tall, strong on the ball, makes intelligent runs in and around the box and is always a nuisance for the opponents.

Goncalves had multiple chances to score on Tuesday, some of them created all by himself, but he will hope to be more efficient in the games to come. 

For Jamshedpur, the damage was done by half-hour mark and they never seemed to really get to grips with the pace of the game in the second half. They also had chances to score which they didn't take - and the Chennaiyin defence did a good job of keeping Valskis isolated and out of the danger zone.

Valskis's header off Jackichand's delightful cross into the box in the 37th minute was Jamshedpur's first shot on target in that half and it turned out to the only clear-cut chances they would have in the game apart from the error from Vishal Kaith which almost gifted Jamshedpur an equaliser. Overall, Jamshedpur could only produce two shots on target, compared to Chennaiyin's six. 

Peter Hartley was forced off the field due to an injury after Chennaiyin went 2-0 up. His replacement, Narendar impressed with his substitute appearance and made multiple crucial interceptions and blocks to keep Chennaiyin in check - a positive for Owen Coyle who will be hoping that his team can turn it around quickly. However, his injury towards the end might be an issue. 

Alvaro Morata can become one of the world's best forwards, according to Juventus head coach Andrea Pirlo.

Morata scored a 92nd-minute winner to see Juventus edge Ferencvaros 2-1 in the Champions League on Tuesday, sealing progression from Group G.

The Spain forward's haul of five goals in four Champions League games this season equals his best tally in a single campaign in the competition, having managed five in 12 for Juve in 2014-15.

Pirlo believes Morata, who has seven goals in 10 games this season, can be among the world's best.

"He's a strong player, he just needed consistency and confidence," he told a news conference.

"If he's well mentally then he can do anything, he can become one of the best strikers around. If he trains well, if he's in good shape and he plays and he scores, he's a fundamental player not just for Juventus but also for his national team.

"We work to put him in the best condition, and then he is good at finalising what he does on the pitch."

Only Borussia Dortmund star Erling Haaland (six) has scored more goals than Morata in the Champions League this season, while Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford has also netted five.

But Morata's big chance conversion – 100 per cent – is better than both Haaland (71.4) and Rashford (80), while his shot conversion rate, excluding blocks, is also better than that duo.

His goal came after Cristiano Ronaldo cancelled out Myrto Uzuni's opener in Turin, the Portuguese star equalling Lionel Messi's record of 70 home goals in the Champions League.

"You don't always have to play well to win, but if you play well usually you win," Pirlo said.

"We had some difficulties, especially in terms of approach to the game. I had asked for a different attitude at the beginning of the game, because we knew the difficulties we would have faced.

"And indeed we had some, if you don't start your games in the best possible way then you are bound to face some trouble. However, the players have been good at reacting and chase the win until the end."

Borussia Dortmund head coach Lucien Favre is confident Jadon Sancho will recapture his best form after scoring in Tuesday's win over Club Brugge.

Sancho became the first Englishman to score a direct free-kick in the Champions League while playing for a non-English side since David Beckham for Real Madrid in 2005.

The forward has been unable to live up to the standards he set last season, when he scored 20 goals and provided 19 assists in 44 games in all competitions.

Sancho's goal against Brugge was his third of the campaign, to go with four assists, in 10 games.

Favre was happy to see the 20-year-old – who was heavily linked with Manchester United during the previous transfer window – on the scoresheet and believes he will get back to his best.

"Of course, I'm really happy that he scored again. A very beautiful goal from a direct free-kick. We have a few players who can do that. He did it really, really well," he told a news conference.

"His goal has relieved us. A two-goal cushion coming one minute from the break was important, that was good for all of us.

"All over, he played really well, ran a lot. But I repeat, it is normal, a player cannot always be in his best shape. Sometimes it's like this, then like that."

Favre added: "I stayed very calm, just like my colleagues. We know what our players are like.

"Sometimes I say that they cannot be in their best form all year. That’s impossible. Last season was special for Jadon. Of course, he should digest that. But he will come back bit by bit."

Erling Haaland scored either side of Sancho's free-kick as Dortmund moved onto nine points, enough to sit top of Group F.

Haaland scored his 15th and 16th Champions League goals in only his 12th appearance, the fewest it has taken for a player to reach 15 goals in the competition.

Dortmund currently sit second on the Bundesliga table - trailing leaders Bayern Munich by one point after eight matches.

Their next league match will see FC Koln visit Signal Iduna Park on Saturday.

Friday's clash between new Indian Super League (ISL) entrants East Bengal and ATK Mohun Bagan at the Tilak Maidan in Vasco, Goa, is set to be the first Kolkata derby in the current top-flight of Indian football.

This is the first time the derby is set to take place in Goa as the league is played in a single venue, behind closed doors and with all teams restricted to their own bio-secure bubbles, owing to the the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic.

Let's take a look at (10) more statistics:

1 - Robin Singh is the only Indian to have scored a brace in the derby in this decade, achieving the feat thrice in the 2010-11 season - I-League, Calcutta Football League (CFL) and Md. Sporting Platinum Jubilee Cup.

2 - Mohun Bagan (now ATK Mohun Bagan) have an inferior head-to-head record against their arch-rivals in most major tournaments. The Scissors Cup and the Bordoloi Trophy are the two notable exceptions.

4 - Highest number of goals scored by a single player, when Edeh Chidi put four goals past East Bengal in an 2009-10 I-League match. The Nigerian is also the first and only foreigner to score a hat-trick in the fixture.

5 - The biggest margin victory of 5-0 is held by East Bengal in the 1975 IFA Shield final, where the scoreline could have been 6-0 if not for Shyam Thapa missing from the spot in the 11th minute.

16 - East Bengal won 16 of the 44 derbies in the I-League. This is excluding the 3-0 win awarded on account of Mohun Bagan's walkover in the match on 9 December 2012. This was after violence erupted at the stadium following a red card to Mohun Bagan's Odafa Okolie at a time the Mariners were trailing by a goal.

17 - Having netted 17 derby goals while donning the green and maroon jersey, Jose Ramirez Barreto holds the record for the most number of goals scored by a player for a single team in the Kolkata derby.

19 - Bhaichung Bhutia scored the most number of goals in this fixture - 13 for East Bengal (also making him the highest Indian goalscorer for a single team) and six in his second stint as a Mohun Bagan player. He is also the only Indian to score a hat-trick, in East Bengal's 4-1 win in the 1997 IFA Shield semi-finals.

23 - Indians have scored 23 of the 54 goals scored in the I-League derbies.

129 - Out of the 371 derbies - 353 of them in competitive matches - East Bengal have won 129 (127 competitive), with Mohun Bagan emerging victorious 120 (111 competitive) times. On 122 (115 competitive) occasions, the fixture ended in a draw.

311 - The number of goals scored by Mohun Bagan in the Kolkata derbies.

319 - The number of goals scored by East Bengal in the Kolkata derbies.

1,31,000 - Although by no means accurate, it's the all-time highest attendance ever recorded at the derby, on 13 July 1997 in the IFA Shield.

The Kolkata derby rivalry is set to be held for the first time in the 2020-21 Indian Super League (ISL) when East Bengal host ATK Mohun Bagan at the Tilak Maidan stadium in Vasco, Goa, on Friday.

ATK Mohun Bagan have already got off to a good start, with a narrow 1-0 win over Kerala Blasters, as Roy Krishna's 67th-minute strike was enough for Antonio Lopez Habas' team to secure three points in the club's first-ever competitive fixture as the new entity. 

Meanwhile, new entrants East Bengal will play their first-ever ISL game against their arch-rivals ATK Mohun Bagan on November 27, with Robbie Fowler in charge of the Red and Golds as their head coach.

The entire tournament will be held behind closed doors in Goa, thanks in no small part to the Covid-19 pandemic which means the teams will have to stay in a bio-bubble for the duration of the tournament.
 

Contents

Kolkata Derby: How to watch, live stream?

The Kolkata derby and the ISL at large may be watched across 82 international territories through five partners across TV and digital platforms. International markets include USA and Australia, Continental Europe, Central Asia, Far East, South East Asia, and Asia Pacific.

The Star Sports Network have the exclusive broadcasting rights of the ISL in India. The games will be telecast with the option of English and/or Hindi commentary besides other languages over their bouquet of channels.

Commentary will also be available in vernacular languages across India.

Matches may streamed online on  Disney+ Hotstar VIP  and JioTV , also allowing supporters to catch the replay of matches. The mobile applicatoions are available on Android, iOS, iPad, Android TV and Apple TV.

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When is the Kolkata derby? Date, Time, Venue?

ISL's first-ever Kolkata derby will be held on Friday, November 27, at the Tilak Maidan in Vasco, Goa. 

The match will kick-off at 7:30PM IST. 

ATK Mohun Bagan - first 10 matches

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East Bengal - first 10 matches

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Related links

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer heaped praise upon summer signings Donny van de Beek and Edinson Cavani after their 4-1 win over Istanbul Basaksehir in the Champions League on Tuesday. 

Both Van de Beek and Cavani played the full 90 minutes at Old Trafford with an early brace from Bruno Fernandes followed up a penalty from Marcus Rashford and a late Daniel James strike. 

Van de Beek was a reliable distrubuter in midfield, while Cavani worked tirelessly in the final third as the Red Devils claimed a third straight victory in all competitions. 

Solskjaer was asked about his two summer signings after the match and stressed his belief that both are making promising progress in their adaption to the side. 

"The two are getting used to how we want them to play - Donny can play in different positions and Edinson is a good old fashioned number nine and we haven't had that for a while and I was happy with how Anthony [Martial] played off the left," Solskjaer told BT Sport. 

"I felt first half we saw the intent straight away, they wanted to play and they enjoyed it. It's a Champions League night at Old Trafford, you'd expect them to enjoy themselves. We scored some very nice goals, I'm pleased. 

"We need one point, but of course we want to be top of the group but we'll take it one game at a time."

Despite being on a hat-trick, Fernandes allowed Rashford to take United's penalty in the 35th minute after the England attacker had won the foul. 

Solskjaer had no issue with Fernandes delegating the spot-kick and is simply thankful to have a number of players willing to step up to the spot. 

"Marcus is a very good penalty taker and Bruno is very confident, if Bruno wants to give it to Marcus then why not?" Solskjaer said. "Anthony Martial took one against Leipzig too - why not share it around?"

The Red Devils win was tainted somewhat by minor injuries picked up by Victor Lindelof and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, though Solskjaer doesn't believe they are anything serious. 

"Hopefully they'll be ready for the weekend - it's ankle for Aaron and back for Victor. There was no point taking anymore risks," he said. 

Manchester United talisman Bruno Fernandes has revealed he passed up the opportunity to score a Champions League hat-trick to help the confidence of team-mate Marcus Rashford.

The Portuguese star scored twice in the Red Devils 4-1 rout of Istanbul Basaksehir at Old Trafford on Tuesday evening - with Rashford's spot kick and Daniel James' late strike putting the finishing touches on a solid performance.

Fernandes' two goals came in the opening 20 minutes as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side got off to a flying start, but when Rashford was felled in the penalty area, the ex-Sporting attacker handed the ball to his team-mate to get on the scoresheet instead of going for the hat-trick himself.

With Fernandes scoring from the spot in United's last match against West Brom, the playmaker revealed he had agreed to give Rashford the next penalty and said it was important the England international maintained his confidence.

"Of course every player wants a hat-trick," Fernandes told BT Sport post-match.

"But after the game in the Premier League I told Rashford that he could take the next one so I remembered that and also he's one of the top scorers in the Champions League so it's important for him to get the confidence.

"It doesn't matter who takes the penalty as long as the team scores."

It took United just seven minutes to begin the scoring, and they did so in style, Fernandes lashing a ferocious half-volley in off the crossbar from just outside the box after Basaksehir partially cleared a corner

The Portugal international was in the right place at the right time 12 minutes later, on hand to tap in from close range when Basaksehir goalkeeper Fehmi Mert Gunok inexplicably spilled a routine cross.

It seemed like Fernandes would step up to the spot to score this hat-trick on 35 minutes after Rashford was fouled by Boli Bolingoli, but instead he gave the ball to the latter, who slotted the penalty into the bottom right corner.

Despite Deniz Turuc pulling a goal back with a brilliant free kick on 75 minutes, James finished the match in stoppage time - finishing off a sweeping counter-attack move by side-footing Mason Greenwood's cross into the back of the net.

"I think we played really well," Fernandes said about performance. 

"We started the game with the right mentality - strong, intense. First half was important to get three points today.

"We're in a good position but can't relax - we have to think of the Premier League now and win the next game on Sunday and after that we don't have much time but we have some time to think of the next Champions League game.

RB Leipzig head coach Julian Nagelsmann has slammed the decision that led to PSG's penalty in his side's 1-0 defeat, saying it was a "joke" while also accusing Angel Di Maria of diving. 

PSG were awarded an early penalty in Tuesday's Champions League clash after a VAR review, with Marcel Sabitzer deemed to have fouled Di Maria just inside the penalty area. 

Neymar stepped up and converted from the spot after 11 minutes and that goal would hold up, as the Ligue 1 champions earned a 1-0 win over Leipzig.

It was a crucial victory for PSG, who moved up to second in Group H, level on points with Leipzig who are third. Both clubs sit three points behind group leaders Manchester United.

Nagelsmann was clearly unhappy with the manner in which the home side earned their penalty on Tuesday, saying the decision was not acceptable. 

"I don't think Paris had a real chance in the game and the penalty was a joke," Nagelsmann fumed to Sky Germany.

"That decision at Champions League level – that's really sad. That was a dive, there was zero contact. VAR was probably watching another game.

"Sometimes nuances make the difference and in the end it would have been deserved if we had rewarded ourselves. Now we are holding worse cards in the group, we have to win our two games and hope that Paris doesn't succeed."

Speaking to RMC Sport after the match, PSG head coach Thomas Tuchel expressed his relief to have come away with three points after he entered the game under intense pressure.

“We needed a win and now we have a win," Tuchel said. "It was a very difficult game."

Tuchel then hit out at suggestions that his side weren't up to standard despite the win, insisting his team's togetherness carried them through the match.

"You haven't seen a very good PSG? Sorry, sorry," Tuchel said. "I retain the heart, the solidarity. We are in a difficult situation but we can always count on our solidarity. We expect more with PSG. We needed a win and we have a win. It was a challenge to win and we won."

Barcelona debutant Oscar Mingueza could not hide his delight after coming through his first experience with flying colours against Dynamo Kyiv on Wednesday. 

Mingueza, 21, started for the Catalans to make his maiden senior appearance in the Champions League as coach Ronald Koeman shuffled his first XI following Saturday's defeat to Atletico Madrid. 

Pedri, Trincao, Sergino Dest, Carles Alena and Junior Firpo also featured in a youthful line-up, while the likes of Jordi Alba and Antoine Griezmann dropped to the bench and Lionel Messi was left out of the matchday squad altogether. 

Koeman's gamble paid off in a straightforward 4-0 win for the visitors, with Martin Braithwaite netting twice following Dest's opener and Griezmann coming off the bench to hit the fourth of the evening. 

Mingueza looked solid in the middle of defence alongside Clement Lenglet and, with Gerard Pique set to miss up to six months after suffering ligament damage, he hopes to step up and feature on a more regular basis in the Blaugrana first team.

"I am really, really happy after so many years and everything that I have suffered to play here. It's a dream to debut in the Champions League for the best club in the world," he beamed to Barca TV. 

"I spent all week wondering if I would play or not and when I found out I was so happy.

"I was a little nervous and I thought of my family, my girlfriend and the people that know what I have suffered and the work behind reaching this point.

"I hope that this is the start of something big. I played well, we didn't give much away, the team was switched on when we lost the ball.

"With the rhythm we played with, they ended up tiring. We played well with and without the ball." 

Mingueza's debut included a fine assist to set up Braithwaite's first goal of the Group G fixture, and he earned high praise from Alba for his contribution to Barca's victory. 

"He's a kid who has been training with us for a long time and today he played a great game and assisted Braithwaite's goal," the full-back, who entered the game off the bench replacing Lenglet, told reporters after the game. 

"Defensively he was very good, it didn't seem like his debut with the first team."

Barcelona defender Sergino Dest was delighted to score his first goal for the club after he netted the opener in a 4-0 win at Dynamo Kiev on Tuesday. 

The Champions League match entered the break scoreless, but the right-back's 52nd-minute strike opened the floodgates in Ukraine. 

Martin Braithwaite would add a brace after Dest's goal before Antoine Griezmann wrapped up a comfortable win that saw the Catalans advance to the last 16. 

Dest's goal meant he became the first American to score in the Champions League for Barcelona, in a match when his USMNT team-mate Konrad de la Fuente also made his senior debut for the Catalans. 

After the game, the 20-year-old couldn't help but express his satisfaction with his and his team's performance on the evening. 

"It's a perfect day, I'm very happy to score my first goal, the team has played very well and I think we have done a great job," Dest said. 

"I am the first American to score in the Champions League with Barca, it is a source of pride and even more so doing so with a club as important as Barca."

Playing as a right-back, Dest got forward every opportunity he could against Dynamo, which he did effectively to take the ball off Braithwaite in the box and finish low into the corner for his goal.

The USMNT defender said that playing on the front foot was part of his side's game plan on the night.

"The game needed to play like this and I have done so, to look for the rival goal," Dest said. "It is an important victory for us, we are in a good position in the Champions League."

With Sergi Roberto facing two months on the sidelines due to a thigh injury, Dest could be set for an extended run in the team. Still, he expressed his disappointment that his team-mate will likely be out until 2021.

"I do not like that Sergi Roberto is injured," Dest said. "I wish him a quick recovery. Now I have the opportunity to play and I will try to do my best."

Ronald Koeman claimed there was nothing sinister behind his decision not to start Antoine Griezmann in Barcelona's 4-0 win over Dynamo Kyiv in the Champions League on Tuesday.

The France international was named among the substitutes and replaced Philippe Coutinho in the 66th minute of the contest, going on to score a goal in injury time.

Griezmann's relationship with Barcelona star Lionel Messi, who was rested for the trip to Ukraine, has been under scrutiny recently, after comments by his former agent and his uncle.

However, Koeman said Griezmann was "happy" at Camp Nou and he was just being cautious with the 29-year-old's workload.

"Griezmann was on the bench solely for a little physical problem we wanted to be careful with," Koeman told a news conference after the game.

"It's vital to give rest to some and playing time to those who work hard in training every day but haven't played a lot.

"I have seen him [Griezmann] work from the beginning. He is a happy player, who always gives his best for the team and the club.

"Too bad he has no luck scoring more goals. The only way to change this is to work harder. He is trying."

Koeman claimed Barca's victory over Dynamo, which secured their place in the Champions League last 16, was the type of performance he wants to see repeated in LaLiga.

The Blaugrana are languishing in 13th place in the table after three wins, three defeats and two draws from their opening eight matches.

It is their worst start to a season at this stage in LaLiga since the 1991-92 campaign.

"This is the image of Barcelona we want to see," added the Barca head coach. "I liked the collective performance. They have worked hard, they pushed.

"They dominated the game sufficiently to be proud of their performance. We perhaps lacked a bit of effectiveness in the first half but overall I'm very happy.

"We have seen a very hungry team. We scored four goals, important players were able to rest and the youngsters have deserved these minutes. They have delivered. I highlight the whole team."

Juventus head coach Andrea Pirlo admitted that Paulo Dybala did not have his best game in his side's 2-1 win over Ferencvaros on Tuesday.

Dybala lasted just 62 minutes in the game and went off with the match level, only for Alvaro Morata to come on in his place and score a stoppage-time winner.

Pirlo's team also looked suspect at the back, and the Juve coach acknowledged it was far from a vintage display.

"We had intended to start with a different attitude, but we know there can be difficulties in games that seem on paper to be simple. We had to chase the game," Pirlo told Sky Italia.

"I expected more from the players, but Ferencvaros clammed up, we had to try to move the ball back and forth more quickly to spread them. We moved it too slowly, which made it easier for them to defend."

Pirlo also singled out Arthur – a recent acquisition from Barca – and Dybala as having put in particularly frustrating displays.

Arthur attempted 98 passes, though Pirlo stated: "He got a bit pig-headed today keeping hold of the ball and trying to find more direct through balls when he should've spread it wide and tried to spread the Ferencvaros defence.

"He should have opened up the game more to create one-on-one situations. If the ball moved too slowly, it allowed them to get back into position."

Dybala, meanwhile, had one good opportunity early on, but was replaced by Morata with just over an hour gone.

"Dybala didn't do that well," said Pirlo. "He was injured and had to take antibiotics for weeks, so it's natural he needs time to get back into shape.

"He does need to go beyond his limits in training to rediscover his form."

Morata scored his fifth Champions League goal of the season with his stoppage-time header – which was flapped at by Denes Dibusz – sealing the win and earning Juve's progression to the last 16 with two Group G games to spare.

 Morata believes he is a "more complete player" since his return to Juventus, as he matched his best goals tally in a Champions League campaign.

The Spain international has been in fine form since his move back to Juve, where he spent two seasons between 2014 and 2016 and tallied 15 Serie A goals and 12 assists.

In 2014-15, the forward scored five goals – his best haul in the competition – as Juve reached the Champions League final, where they were beaten by Barcelona.

After equalling that record with just four games gone, Morata, who also hit the post after coming on as a substitute in Turin, claimed he has become a far better all-round forward.

"Nothing changed in me, I said many times, you learn throughout your career. I am a more complete player now," the former Atletico Madrid, Chelsea and Real Madrid man said. 

"When I was 22, I paid attention only when the ball came near me, but now I remain more focused and every ball can be decisive.

"I had another chance today that hit the upright. I was fortunate on the goal, unlucky on the earlier chance, so it all balances out."

Morata was not the only Juve player to equal a record against Ferencvaros, with Cristiano Ronaldo, who drilled in a 35th-minute equaliser to cancel out Myrto Uzuni's opener, drawing level with Lionel Messi on 70 home goals in the Champions League.

However, Juve were made to work for their victory, and though they managed 19 attempts, only seven were on target, with Dibusz making a string of impressive saves.

Thomas Tuchel praised Paris Saint-Germain's "heart" after their underwhelming 1-0 Champions League win over RB Leipzig and refused to apologise for winning ugly.

Last season's beaten finalists were badly out of sorts against their Bundesliga opponents on Tuesday , with Neymar's decisive 11th-minute penalty just one of three shots on target they mustered.

The result means PSG leapfrog Leipzig into second place in Group H courtesy of a better goal difference with two games remaining. 

Under pressure head coach Tuchel concedes his side were lucky to claim all three points at Parc des Princes, but refused to say sorry for winning by any means necessary. 

"We lacked luck in Leipzig [they lost 2-1 in the reverse fixture three weeks ago] and tonight we had some luck," he told a media conference. "We played with a lot of solidarity and defended with a lot of heart. 

"Always together. That's why we won. I'm not going to apologise for that. The match demanded that we defend deep and we just did what the game demanded of us.

"Tonight it wasn't possible to get out of pressure with the ball and we have to accept that. I accept it.

"We want to attack. We've done that before. But sometimes it's just not possible."

The Ligue 1 champions ended the first half with just 37.2 per cent possession, their lowest total at half-time in a Champions League game since facing Bayern Munich in September 2017.

It did not get much better after the interval, with Leipzig finishing the game having enjoyed 62 per cent possession and taking 15 shots to PSG's eight. 

Tuchel blamed his side's lacklustre performance on injuries and fatigue after a busy start to the season, but he is targeting an improved performance against group leaders Manchester United next week. 

"We've played 11 league games and four Champions League games, and we've had around 100 injuries during that time," he added. "I saw that we average seven injured players per game. 

"We have another game in Manchester next week. I hope we're able to recover but we have another game on Saturday [against Bordeaux in Ligue 1].

"Marco Verratti played today practically without having trained. The same for Neymar. That's the reality. Maybe you think it's always excuses. 

"The most difficult thing was to find 11 players who could make a physical impact. We'll prepare a plan for Manchester. If the players feel better, we'll play a better match. If we have to defend deep again, then we'll do that."

Paris Saint-Germain leapfrogged RB Leipzig into second place in Champions League Group H after Neymar's first-half penalty secured a scarcely deserved 1-0 win over the Bundesliga side on Tuesday. 

Thomas Tuchel's side suffered a 2-1 defeat in Germany three weeks ago but they got their campaign back on track at Parc des Princes despite an underwhelming display. 

Neymar sealed all three points from the spot after 11 minutes, with the Ligue 1 champions then failing to have another shot on target until the closing stages of the match.

The result means the two sides are level on six points after four games, with PSG ahead courtesy of a better goal difference. 

Neymar opened his Champions League account for the season early on, slotting home from 12 yards after Angel Di Maria had been fouled just inside the penalty area by Marcel Sabitzer. 

Leipzig midfielder Sabitzer then saw an effort deflected narrowly wide soon after, with Keylor Navas tipping over Dayot Upamecano's header from the resulting corner. 

Di Maria whipped a free-kick wide of Peter Gulacsi's right-hand post after 30 minutes as the hosts ended the first half with just 37.2 per cent possession, their lowest total at half-time in a Champions League game since facing Bayern Munich in September 2017.

The visitors continued to look bright after the interval, with Emil Forsberg and Sabitzer sending efforts just wide.

Yussuf Poulsen should have done better with a header from a corner with 10 minutes remaining as Leipzig looked the more likely to score.

PSG managed to hold on and claim maximum points, though, condemning Leipzig to a second consecutive away Champions League defeat following their 5-0 thumping by Manchester United in October.

What does it mean? PSG prevail despite insipid display

It will be of grave concern to under pressure head coach Tuchel that his side looked so short of firepower, despite having Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Di Maria in his starting line-up.

Last season's beaten finalists were badly off the pace against a lively Leipzig side, who can consider themselves unlucky to be returning to Germany with nothing after having 15 shots and 62 per cent possession.

Upamecano unlucky to be on losing side

Upamecano proved exactly why so many of Europe's biggest clubs are interested in his services with another imperious display. The Frenchman won nine of his 11 duels, completed more passes (83) than any player on the pitch and gained possession a game-high 14 times.

Mbappe endures a game to forget

Mbappe scored twice against Monaco last Friday to take his tally in Ligue 1 this season to nine goals, but his struggles in the Champions League continued. The 21-year-old did not manage a shot on target in what was his eighth game in the competition this year without a goal.

What's next?

PSG will hope to return to winning ways in Ligue 1 following their 3-2 defeat to Monaco when they host Bordeaux on Saturday, while Leipzig entertain Arminia Bielefeld in the Bundesliga on the same day.