Ansu Fati, Pedri scores as Barcelona thrash Ferencvaros

 

FC Barcelona got their UEFA Champions League campaign to a flying start against Hungarian side Ferancvaros at the Camp Nou with a 5-1 thrashing.

The Hungarian side is playing in the UEFA Champions League for the first time since 1995, their last appearance.

Lionel Messi scored a 27th-minute penalty to give the La Liga side the lead, and teenager Ansu Fati added another just before half time to go into the break with a comfortable 2-0 lead.

Coutinho made 3-0 immediately after the restart, but the hosts were reduced to ten men as Gerard Pique conceded a penalty and was sent off.

Ukrainian Igor Kharatin scored the resultant penalty to give the away side a consolation goal.

However, substitutes Ousmane Dembele and Pedri scored within the last ten minutes to round off an easy win for Barcelona.

Two 17-year-olds scored in the game, which is a remarkable feat for the Catalan club, who are entering a new era with younger players.

The El Clasico is next for Barcelona at the weekend with Real Madrid taking a visit to the Camp Nou.

A trip to Italy to face Juventus follows next in the UEFA Champions League group stage.

Meanwhile, Juventus, without Cristiano Ronaldo won against Ukrainian side Dynamo Kyiv 2-0.

A brace from Alvaro Morata was enough, and the Old lady will be in a confident mood ahead of their clash with Barcelona next week.

Over at the Stamford Bridge in London, Chelsea and Sevilla played out a goalless draw in their opening group game.

The visitors were the more impressive side of the two, forcing Edouard Mendy to brilliant saves as the Europa League champions dominated.

It is the first goalless draw for Chelsea under Frank Lampard and their first clean sheet in the competition since the 1-0 win against October 2019.

Also Manchester United secured a shock 2-1 away win over Paris Saint-Germain after Marcus Rashford scored a late goal.

Real Madrid will host Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday while Atletico Madrid will be away at Champions Bayern Munich in Germany.

 

Written by: Daniel Ademiju Idowu