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      Barcelona vs Ferencvaros: Live stream FREE, TV channel, team news and kick-off time for TONIGHT’S Champions League game

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      BARCELONA kick-off their Champions League group stage campaign with a home game against Hungarian side Ferencvaros.
      Lionel Messi and Co will be hoping for a convincing win over the visitors as they look to banish memories of their embarrassing 8-2 quarter-final defeat to Bayern Munich in August.

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      Messi drew a blank as Barcelona crashed to a 1-0 defeat against Getafe last time outCredit: AFP OR LICENSORS

      The visitors meanwhile were unbeaten in the qualifying stages and are appearing at this stage of the tournament for the first time since 1995/96.
      When is Barcelona vs Ferencvaros?
      This Champions League group stage clash will be held on Tuesday, October 20.
      Kick-off at the Nou Camp is at 8pm BST.
      Sadly no fans will be in attendance.
      What TV channel is Barcelona vs Ferencvaros on and can I live stream it?
      You can catch this game live on BT Sport ESPN.
      Coverage begins at 7.30pm.
      If you’re a BT Sport customer, download the BT Sport app to stream wherever you are.
      EE phone subscribers can also get a FREE three-month trial to BT Sport mobile, allowing them to watch all of the group stages without paying a penny.
      Simply text SPORT to 150 – you can cancel at any time.

      What is the team news?
      Both Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Jordi Alba are out for the hosts as they look to get back to winning ways.
      Samuel Umtiti has an ongoing knee issue and is a huge doubt, while Ansu Fati and Philippe Coutinho could come back into the starting XI.
      Despite El Clasico later in the week, Ronald Koeman is expected to field a strong side including Messi.

      Former Liverpool goalkeeper Adam Bogdan looks set to be in the visitors squad, but Denes Dibusz will likely get the nod between the sticks.
      Match odds
      Barcelona to win – 1/14
      Draw – 10/1
      Ferencvaros victory – 40/1
      Both teams to score – 6/4
      *All odds from Ladbrokes and correct at time of publication. More

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      Lionel Messi ‘could be playing better’, says Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman following captain’s failed transfer request

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      RONALD KOEMAN reckons Lionel Messi needs to step up his performances following his failure to seal an exit from Barcelona in the summer. 
      However, the Nou Camp boss insists his skipper is ‘happy’ in the team despite his highly publicised attempts to leave, according to BBC Sport.

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      Ronald Koeman thinks Lionel Messi needs to improve his performances for Barcelona Credit: EPA

      Koeman, 57, who has been charged with the task of reclaiming Barca’s place as champions of Spain, believes his skipper’s form could be much better. 
      The Argentinian, who was on target 31 times last term and matched Thierry Henry’s record of 20 goals and 20 assists in a single season, has so far netted just one LaLiga goal this term for Barcelona. 
      Ahead of Barca’s Champions League group game against Ferencvaros tonight, Koeman told BBC Sport: “I don’t have any complaints or doubts about his effort.

      “Right now his performances could be better. 
      “On a day-to-day basis, he’s happy and wants to play and be the team’s captain.”
      Messi, 33, was at the centre of a dramatic transfer saga that dominated headlines ahead of the deadline day window.  
      The Argentina playmaker had become exasperated by his club’s failure to retain their LaLiga crown and angered by Barca’s disastrous semi-final exit from last season’s Champions League 

      And the six-time Ballon d’Or winner was rumoured to be in line for a sensational reunion with his ex-Barca mentor and boss Guardiola, amid talk of a Manchester City move. 

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      Messi, 33, has scored once in four LaLiga appearancesCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      However, the move never transpired and Messi, who is reportedly a free transfer target for City next year, publicly declared his intent to stay. 
      Messi, who is in the final year of his current contract with Barcelona, will go up against Real Madrid with his team-mates on Saturday. 
      And the El Classico fixture will be followed by a tantalising Champions League group game clash against Juventus next Wednesday where the Argentinian will face-off against old rival Cristiano Ronaldo.

      And with the Serie A title-holders likely to prove stiff competition Koeman reckons Barcelona will face a battle to win Europe’s most prestigious club trophy. 
      The former Netherlands coach added: “When you’re at Barcelona you always want to be there fighting for trophies, be it in La Liga or Europe.
      “We aren’t the favourites, but we can go far.”

      Lionel Messi trains with the Barcelona squad More

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      Eto’o blasts ‘disrespectful’ France Football for listing him in 10 top best right-wingers ever with Messi and Beckham

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      SAMUEL ETO’O has hit out at ‘disrespectful’ France Football for naming him in their top ten right-wingers of all time.
      The legendary Cameroonian striker played the majority of his iconic career up-front and he is not happy being labelled a right-winger alongside David Beckham and Lionel Messi.

      Samuel Eto’o was fuming over his inclusion as a right winger in France Football’s nominees for greatest footballers of all time

      France Football run the historic Ballon d’Or award but bizarrely cancelled it this year because of coronavirus.
      And in its place they are attempting to collate the best XI players of all time.
      The formation is a 3-4-3 with a pool of iconic final nominees for the panel of 170 international journalists to choose from.

      But having whittled each position down to a list of ten, France Football’s editorial staff have come in for some flack from ex-Barcelona, Chelsea and Inter Milan star Eto’o.
      Having seen himself included as a right-winger, Eto’o tweeted: “Thank you but I played one or two seasons on the right yet I have 25 years of career as a centre-forward.
      “The lack of respect @FranceFootball.
      “WHATEVER!”

      Eto’o was joined on the list by nine other iconic superstars of the ages.

      Beckham and Messi lined up next to Manchester United legend George Best, Liverpool hero Kevin Keegan and Brazilian icons from the 50s, 60s and 70s Garrincha and Jairzinho.
      Stanley Matthews completed the list of historic names with his career that spanned from 1932-1965.
      Before more modern stars from the early 90s and beyond were included.
      Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Holland magician Arjen Robben and Portuguese poster boy Luis Figo completed the list.
      Bayern striker Robert Lewandowski was in line to scoop this year’s Ballon d’Or after leading his team to an incredible Bundesliga and Champions League double.

      Patrice Evra eats cooked chicken in bizarre ‘upgrade’ to infamous video of Man Utd legend licking raw meat More

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      Watch Bruno Fernandes shout at Alex Telles for not passing quickly enough as Man Utd fans hail him as ‘captain material’

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      BRUNO FERNANDES has been hailed as ‘captain material’ after footage emerged of him shouting at Alex Telles for not passing quickly enough.
      The playmaker, 26, transformed United’s midfield after signing from Sporting Lisbon last January and is set to skipper Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side for the first time against Paris Saint-Germain this week.

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      Bruno Fernandes has been hailed as ‘captain material’ after footage emerged of him shouting at Alex Telles for not passing quick enoughCredit: Manchester United FC

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      Fernandes appeared frustrated with Telles in training Credit: Manchester United FC

      And fans reckon he is the perfect man for the job after a clip showed Fernandes criticising new left-back Telles, 27, in training.
      It came after Telles – who arrived from Porto this summer – was intercepted in a passing drill, which Fernandes took exception to.
      The pair were former league rivals in Portugal.
      But United fans were full of praise for Fernandes as he took leadership on the training ground.

      One said: “Bruno Fernandes is 100% captain material. Losing his cool with Alex Telles for not moving the ball on quickly enough.
      “These are the levels we need!”
      Another said: “Doesn’t matter if he gets the armband. Guys influence is visible.
      “He has a winner mentality and anyone that fails to get on the level will just be dropped.”

      Tbh, you actually need players like this in the team. Especially if the players are good enough to hold others to higher standards. https://t.co/ic5buMVUJs
      — wolf in cheap clothing (@wxlfpvp) October 19, 2020

      He was a brilliant captain for Sporting..
      — scott laird (@kisscheeks) October 19, 2020

      He is a winner and on a different level to anybody at the club and is apart from Cavani, enjoy him while we can can’t see him being at club long far too good for us.
      — Andrew J. Naismith (@Gonk83) October 19, 2020

      Doesnt matter if he gets the armband. Guys influence is visible. He has a winner mentality and anyone that fails to get on the level will just be dropped. Love ir
      — theARTofBokkaBoom (@BokkaBoom) October 19, 2020

      The team-mates were training ahead of United’s opening Champions League group stage qualifier.
      But they will face French champions PSG without new striker Cavani and regular captain Harry Maguire.
      Cavani has only just become available to play following his two-week self-isolation period after travelling to England and has been left behind to work on his fitness.
      Solskjaer started Maguire for the game at Newcastle – with the England defender even getting on the scoresheet.
      But with the ex-Leicester ace clearly desperate for a breather, he has been left at home for the PSG game.

      Edinson Cavani joins Man Utd in training for the first time More

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      Champions League could be extended to 36 teams and restructured into single table with 10 matches for each side

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      THE CHAMPIONS League could be extended to 36 teams in the group phase.
      The idea is one of a number of options set to be considered by Uefa chiefs who are under pressure to agree a format ensuring more guaranteed games for clubs.

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      The Champions League may be extended to 36 teams in the group stageCredit: EPA

      Euro chiefs have to find a way of appeasing the demands of the influential European Club Association which is pushing for more income when the three Uefa club competitions are restructured from the 2024-25 season.
      In addition to a plan for the current 32 team group stage to be split into four groups of eight, rather than the current eight groups of four, there are two potential 36-team models as well.
      Under one plan, there would be six groups of six in the initial phase, with the top two teams in each group and best four third-placed teams going through to the last 16.

      That proposal guarantees each side 10 matches, four more than under the current format.
      The other, more complicated plan, would see the adoption of the so-called “Swiss-system tournament”, by which the teams would be assigned 10 opponents of varying strengths by a computer programme.
      Under this system – first designed for a chess tournament held in Zurich in 1895 – all the teams would compete in the same league table format, based on the 10 games played – five home, five away.
      The biggest issue with this format would be fans struggling to understand how the games are allotted with suspicions that certain clubs have been favoured with an easier fixture list to get them into the last 16.

      Last week’s Project Big Picture proposals for the Premier League, drafted by Liverpool and Manchester United, sought to create room in the calendar for extra matches by reducing the English top flight to 18 clubs, scrapping the Carabao Cup and abandoning all FA Cup replays.
      But the biggest push for more games comes from outside England, with Juventus president Andrea Agnelli, the head of the ECA, determined to extend the number of matches played in the Champions League.
      The 36-team plans, though, could also find favour with Europe’s mid-sized nations who struggled to get teams into the current competition where England, Spain, Germany and Italy have 16 of the 32 group stage slots automatically and France are also handed three slots.

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      Providing room for another four clubs would benefit the likes of Holland, Belgium, Portugal,  Switzerland and Denmark.
      Claus Thomsem, chief executive of the Danish Superliga and who helped draft the proposed “Copenhagen Model” which was discussed by the ECA last year, said: “More teams from non-top five leagues need to have access to the Champions League and the Europa League.”
      Agnelli – who along with PSG President Nasser Al-Khelaifi is a member of Uefa’s ruling executive committee – and the ECA are pushing for a final decision “by the spring of 2022”.

      Sergio Romero, Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo AXED from Man Utd’s Champions League squad More

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      PSG star Kylian Mbappe praises Marcus Rashford for fight against child poverty ahead of Man Utd clash

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      KYLIAN MBAPPE has heaped praise on Marcus Rashford for his fight against child poverty.
      The Paris Saint-Germain star and his team-mates will go head-to-head with the Manchester United forward in the Champions League group stages tonight.

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      Kylian Mbappe has heaped praise on Marcus Rashford ahead of PSG’s clash with Man UtdCredit: Reuters

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      Rashford has been awarded an MBE for his efforts in preventing child poverty

      Rashford famously kept his cool the last time the two sides met in the competition to score a last-ditch penalty to seal a memorable 3-1 win and a place in the quarter-finals.
      Since then, the English hotshot has continued to blossom on the pitch but has also won wide-spread praise for his work away from the field.
      He forced a Government U-turn on the provision of free school meals to vulnerable children, with his campaign going on to earn him an MBE.

      Mbappe is no stranger to helping those less fortunate than him either, running his own charity in France to help underprivileged kids.

      And he admits he has been blown away by Rashford’s efforts over recent months.
      Speaking to the Daily Mirror, he said: “To tackle an issue as important as child poverty is one of the most important things that somebody can do.
      “So I have full respect that he’s been doing that and trying to make a real change.
      “I do think there is a requirement for players to use their position to make a difference in the world.

      “We’ve been given so much and it’s important that we give back.”

      Meanwhile, looking back to that heartbreaking 3-1 loss in March 2019, the 22-year-old Mbappe is adamant it will have no significance when the action starts later on.
      And after coming so close to winning the trophy this summer only to be defeated in the final by Bayern Munich, he insists PSG’s No1 target this campaign is to go one better.
      He added: “What happened in previous seasons is not important anymore.
      “This club has a clear ambition to win the Champions League.”

      Hero Marcus Rashford gets MBE after winning historic free school meals fight More

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      PSG vs Man Utd FREE: Live stream, TV channel, kick-off time and team news for Champions League match

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      MANCHESTER UNITED visit beaten Champions League finalists Paris Saint-Germain in a fixture full to the brim with subplots.
      The Parisians will be out for revenge after a controversial last minute Marcus Rashford penalty saw United beat them on away goals in the 2018/19 competition.

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      Marcus Rashford will have happy memories of the Parc des Princes after his winning penalty there in 2019Credit: AFP

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      Edinson Cavani will not make his debut after not travelling with the squadCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      New Red Devils signing Edinson Cavani will not have a fairytale return to the French capital after the Uruguayan was ruled out by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
      In the blue corner Man Utd flop Angel Di Maria, who reportedly hates the club so much he turns the TV off whenever they are playing, is fit to start for Paris Saint-Germain.
      18 months ago the Argentine wildly celebrated PSG’s two goals at Old Trafford and taunted the home fans during their 2-0 first leg Champions League win.
      Man Utd will also meet 2017 Player of the Year Ander Herrera, who is likely to receive a much warmer reception from his former team-mates and coaches.

      What time does PSG vs Man Utd kick off?
      PSG vs Man Utd takes place on Tuesday, October 20.
      The match kicks off at 8pm UK time – 9pm in Paris.
      It will be held at the Parc des Princes, Paris.
      While PSG matches have been held with fans this season, the French capital is now under a 9pm curfew and this match will therefore be played behind closed doors.
      What TV channel is PSG vs Man Utd on and can I live stream it?
      PSG vs Man Utd will be live on BT Sport 2.
      Coverage commences at 7pm – one hour before kick-off.
      To stream the game live, head to the BT Sport website or app.
      How do I watch PSG vs Man Utd for free?
      Can I listen on talkSPORT?
      Team news

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      Mason Greenwood is a doubt after being left out of the squad to face Newcastle with an unspecified fitness issue, making it all the more likely Cavani will make an appearance.
      Alex Telles could be in line for a European debut after joining from Porto on deadline day while Solskjaer will need to decide whether to stick with first choice David De Gea or give Dean Henderson European experience.
      PSG have a somewhat lengthy injury list with Mauro Icardi, Juan Bernat, and Thilo Kehrer all out and Marquinhos, Marco Verratti, Julian Draxler and Danilo Pereira serious doubts.
      Latest odds
      PSG 3/5

      Draw 16/5
      Man Utd 21/5
      *Odds from Ladbrokes correct as of Monday, October 19. More

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      Man Utd can ‘totally rely’ on Edinson Cavani says former boss at PSG Tuchel as striker misses out on facing old club

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      MANCHESTER UNITED can “totally rely” on Edinson Cavani – according to his former boss at PSG Thomas Tuchel.
      The striker will miss out on making his Red Devils debut against his former side after revealing to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer that he didn’t feel ready to play.

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      Tuchel enjoyed multiple seasons of Cavani’s goalscoring prowess while PSG bossCredit: AP:Associated Press

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      Cavani will continue to train and gain fitness while his team-mates head to ParisCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      But Tuchel did not know that when he spoke highly of his former hitman, who left the club in the summer after seven successful years.
      The Uruguayan joined United on deadline day but was unable to make his debut against Newcastle as he was quarantining for 14 days under coronavirus guidelines.
      And due to a lack of readiness, he will also not feature against Paris Saint-Germain either.
      Nonetheless, Tuchel rates the 33-year-old highly and believes he will bring tenacity and dependability to the Manchester side.

      He said in a pre-match press conference: “He is a polite person. Hard, hard worker. He will be there for every training [session], first minute until last minute.
      “Every game, first second until last second. You can totally rely on him.
      “If you played for so long in a club like ours and if you have such a connection with the fans, it’s clear that you have character and deserve all this appreciation.

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      Cavani was pictured joking around with Paul Pogba and other United players during his first first-team training sessionCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      “Hopefully he will show – not tomorrow, but from Wednesday on – he can convince all of you, I have nothing against that.

      “But tomorrow it is not necessary to prove me right.”
      Tuchel will no longer need to fear Cavani’s presence with the player not travelling with the rest of the United squad.
      Boss Solskjaer told RMC Sport: “We wanted him to be there too, but he went without playing for a long time.
      “We thought it was better for him to continue training. To better prepare.
      “Edi knows what he wants and what he needs. He didn’t feel ready enough.”
      Captain Harry Maguire, Mason Greenwood, Jesse Lingard and Eric Bailly will also not feature against PSG.
      French fans will miss an opportunity to welcome a club icon back to the Parc des Princes.

      In his long spell there, he notched up a tremendous scoring record which endeared him to supporters.
      In 200 appearances, he netted 138 goals.
      This includes an extraordinary 35 goals in 36 Ligue 1 appearances in the 16/17 season, and then 28 in 32 in the following campaign.

      Edinson Cavani joins Man Utd in training for the first time More