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Antoine Griezmann was full of praise for Kylian Mbappe after the Paris Saint-Germain star torched Barcelona for a hat-trick on Tuesday, comparing him to icons Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo

Mbappe fired three of PSG's four goals in a 4-1 rout at the Camp Nou, all but ending Barca's Champions League hopes in the round of 16.

With his three goals, Mbappe became only the third player to score a Champions League hat-trick against Barcelona, joining Faustino Asprilla for Newcastle and Andriy Shevchenko for Dynamo Kyiv.

What did Griezmann have to say about Mbappe?

"I am happy for him," Griezmann told RMC Sport of his international team-mate with France. "He has been criticised a lot, but that is what happens when you are someone for a little while.

"As soon as he plays less well, we criticise him. It is quite easy. But I believe that PSG have a future star, one who will be on the level of Leo and Cristiano. He had a truly great match."

What happened to Barcelona?

Barcelona tallied the first goal of the last-16 first leg, with Messi opening the scoring from the penalty spot.

From there, though, it was all Mbappe and PSG, with Barca completely unable to cope with the French star despite the absence of Neymar due to injury.

Mbappe routinely darted past the likes of Gerard Pique, Clement Lenglet and Sergino Dest, who were exposed by the Parisian star time and time again.

As a result, Barca will now face an uphill battle, having suffered another embarrassment in the knockout rounds of the Champions League in the wake of last season's 8-2 defeat at the hands of Bayern Munich.

Greizmann, though disappointed, said Barcelona intends on going for it in the second leg, which will be held at the Parc des Princes on March 10.

"We needed to have a perfect match. We didn't and they did. It’s a big defeat," Griezmann said after the match. 

"We were ready, we wanted to play a big game but they were better than us, there is nothing to say.

"Kylian was having a great night. After this, there is a return match. We'll have to go there to win and turn the situation around. We're not going to go there as tourists."

What's next for PSG and Barcelona?

PSG currently sit second in Ligue 1, one point behind league-leaders Lille through 25 games.

Mbappe, who has scored 21 goals in 29 games this season, will lead PSG into a clash with fourth-place Monaco on Saturday in a match that could help decide the Ligue 1 title.

Barcelona, meanwhile, are also chasing a domestic title, as Messi and Co. are eight points behind Atletico Madrid, who maintain a game in hand, ahead of this weekend's meeting with Cadiz.

Further reading

FC Goa will be looking to do the double over Odisha when the two teams meet in a 2020-21 Indian Super League (ISL) fixture at the Fatorda Stadium in Goa, on Wednesday evening.

TV CHANNELS & LIVE STREAM

The Star Sports Network have the exclusive broadcasting rights of the ISL in India.

Commentary will also be available in vernacular languages across India.

 TEAM NEWS

FC Goa Possible XI:

Injured - None
Doubtful - None
Suspended - Edu Bedia

Key Players - Igor Angulo, Jorge Ortiz

Odisha Possible XI: 

Injured - Paul Ramfangzauva
Doubtful - None
Suspended - Jacob Tratt

Key Players - Diego Mauricio, Manuel Onwu  

Nigeria's Asisat Oshoala will lead Barcelona's attacking line when they slug it out with Fortuna Hjorring in a Uefa Women's Champions League Round of 16 tie, following Tuesday's draw.

The draw ceremony was held in Nyon, and saw Oshoala and the Spanish champions drawn against the Danish giants, who are on the stage as one of the previous finalists in the competition.

Following their maiden final appearance in 2019, the Nigeria striker will be anxious to help her Iberdrola outfit reach the second final in three straight outings but must edge past the Danish side.

Also, Nigeria's Rasheedat Ajibade and Cameroon's Ajara Nchout will be aiming to reach the quarter-final with former Spanish champions Atletico Madrid against English winners Chelsea.

Elsewhere, Zambia internationals Prisca Chilufya and Racheal Kundananji will aim to steer BIIK Kazygurt to the next round when their Kazakhstani side battle German champions Bayern Munchen.

The Copper Queens stars will hope to help the Kazakhstani champions avoid a back-to-back crash at the hands of the Germans at this stage last season to reach the last eight for the first time.

Liberia's Abigail Kim will be in action when Italian giants Fiorentina squares up with English side Manchester City. Kim's side are eyeing their first ever spot in the quarter-final of the competition.

The Round of 16 first legs will be played on March 3-4 and the second legs on March10-11 across eight venues in Europe.

Lionel Messi has tied a Champions League record previously held by Real Madrid legend Raul by scoring in his 17th consecutive year in the competition.

The Barcelona legend scored from the spot in the 27th minute against PSG as the sides met at Camp Nou in the first leg of their last-16 tie on Tuesday.

The goal continued a remarkable run for Messi, who scored his first Champions League goal in 2005. 

Messi ties Raul's record

Raul scored his first Champions League goal in 1995 as a teenager with Real Madrid, and he would go on to score in every calendar year in the competition through 2011, when he was at Schalke. 

With his goal on Tuesday, Messi has now also scored in 17 straight years after he, like Raul, opened his European account as a teenager with a Spanish giant. 

Another incredible feat

Messi's goal against PSG was also his 20th of the season in all competitions, marking the 13th straight season he has reached that mark. 

Messi closes in on another record

With his start on Tuesday, Messi made his 760th career appearance for Barcelona in all competitions.

The 33-year-old is closing in on Barcelona's all-time leader in appearances, Xavi, who took in 767 games during his time at Camp Nou.

Messi made his 505th La Liga appearance for Barca at the weekend against Alaves, tying Xavi's all-time mark in that department. 

Though Messi achieved some personal feats on Tuesday the night belonged to Kylian Mbappe, who scored a hat-trick as PSG steamrolled Barca 4-1. 

Further reading

Mamelodi Sundowns’ bid for a fourth successive Premier Soccer League title continues when they host Baroka FC at Loftus Versfeld on Wednesday.

Four days after dismissing Sudanese giants Al Hilal 2-0 at the same venue in a Caf Champions League Group C match, Masandawana switch focus to their league campaign.

They are currently two points clear of second-placed SupertSport United, having played a game fewer than Matsatsantsa.

Victory will see them open a five-point gap at the summit and boost their chances of a record fourth consecutive league title.

A huge 16 points separate Sundowns and their opponents, who are 10th on the table.

TV Channel, Live Score & How To Watch

Squads & Team News

New signing Rushine De Reuck is in line to make his debut for Masandawana.

After sitting on the bench the entire match against Al Hilal, the former Maritzburg United star is available for selection in what is a boost for the Sundowns coaches, who were recently crying about a severely depleted defence.

Striker Mauricio Affonso has started light training but is still some way from regaining full fitness after surgery on his groin.

No Baroka player is suspended for this match and the club has not issued an injury update at the time of writing.

But the likes of midfielders Joslin Kamatuka and Goodman Mosele were spotted fully participating in Tuesday’s training just before their departure to Tshwane.

Coach Thoka Matsimela would need all his key players to be available for this match in which they face a team eager to cement its PSL supremacy.

Match Preview

This two sides last met in a PSL match on January 9 with Sundowns prevailing 2-0 victors away at Peter Mokaba Stadium.

Lyle Lakay and Themba Zwane scored in the second half to hand Masandawana three points on the road.

But before that match, Baroka had threatened to derail Downs’ title bid last season when they edged the Tshwane giants 1-0 in August 2020 in the PSL bio-bubble.

That was the last time the Tshwane giants lost a league match and they go into Wednesday’s contest enjoying an unbeaten run in the league this season.

In the two teams' last five games, Sundowns have won two, while spoils have been shared twice as well as that bio-bubble result.

The Brazilians face a side that has been struggling with consistency this season.

Baroka have recorded just one win in their last five league games in which they have also recorded two defeats and as many draws.

They arrive in Tshwane fresh from Nedbank cup elimination at the hands of struggling National First Division side Cape Town Spurs.

Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane have been named in Liverpool’s starting XI for Tuesday’s Champions League encounter against RB Leipzig.

The reigning English Premier League kings travel to the Puskas Arena on the back of three consecutive defeats in the English top-flight, versus Brighton and Hove Albion, Manchester City and Leicester City.

Against Julian Nagelsmann’s men, they must be at their best to brighten their chances of progressing the competition’s quarter-final.

With the likes of James Milner, Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Naby Keita, Diogo Jota, Joel Matip, Fabinho, Ben Davies and Caoimhin Kelleher ruled out of this tie due to contrasting reasons, manager Jurgen Klopp would be counting on the Egypt and Senegal internationals to get the job done.

In a 4-3-3 formation, Salah and Mane are joined upfront by Brazil international Roberto Firmino, while the trio of Georginio Wijnaldum, Curtis Jones and Thiago Alcantara will hold sway in the midfield.

At the rear, the quartet of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ozan Kabak, Jordan Henderson and Andrew Robertson would be aiming to thwart the attacking forays of the German elite division side.

For the Red Bulls, Mali international Amadou Haidara has been handed a starter’s role and will combine with Kevin Kampl and captain Marcel Sabitzer in a three-man midfield.

This is the first competitive meeting between RB Leipzig and Liverpool. However, this is the German side's third English opponent in the competition since the start of 2020. 

They eliminated Tottenham Hotspur in last season’s Round of 16, 4-0 on aggregate and finished ahead of Manchester United in this season’s group stage after a 5-0 defeat away and 3-2 win at home.

Police FC saw off BUL FC after picking up a 2-0 win in a Ugandan Premier League tie played at Lugogo to go top of the table on Tuesday.

Johnson Odong scored and assisted Brian Mululi to add the second for the Cops after yet another solid performance that gave them the second straight win after the previous 3-1 over Kyetume FC. 

The Abdalla Mubiru's side would have earned a huge win had they made use of their chances, especially in the first half. Both Odong - who scored in the previous game - and Mululi,  saw their chances go wide as the Cops dominated the proceedings.

At the break, Abdallah Mubiru made two substitutions as both Herman Waasswa and Duncan Sseninde came on for Reuben Kimera and Muwadda Mawejje. The changes revitalised Police who pinned BUL into their own area with the fresh players taking vital roles in pushing the opponents.

Meanwhile, Mbarara City picked up their first win of the season when Solomon Okwalinga struck to condemn the struggling Premier League debutants Kitara FC to a 1-0 win.

Mbarara had drawn in three previous games and had lost three before facing the debutants on Tuesday. Okwalinga scored the only goal of the game after he was put through on goal by Ssemugabi in the fifth minute.

The goal scorer, however, was injured soon after and the Ivorian international Chato Bamba made his debut as he came on.

Kitara - who are yet to win a single game - came close to getting a goal in the 18th minute but Edson Agondeze saw his effort go wide from a good position. The star missed yet another chance just as the first half was about to end.

WIth no further goals scored after the break, the Ankole Lions moved to the 13th position with six points while Kitara remain at the bottom with one point after engaging in seven games.

Finally, Busoga United and Bright Stars shared points after a 1-1 draw. Paul Ssekulima scored for the hosts after just four minutes but the visitors fought and equalised a minute later through Jamil Nvule.

Busoga United will now have to look for their first win in the ongoing campaign when they play Mbarara City while Bright Stars will play debutants UPDF FC.

Oussama Abdeldjelil scored a hat-trick on his debut as US Boulogne swept aside Lambresienne 5-0 in Tuesday’s French Cup Eight Round encounter.

The 27-year-old goal-getter joined the French third division outfit from Algeria Ligue Professionnelle 1 side USM Alger a few weeks ago as manager Laurent Guyot looked to strengthen his attack in their promotion chase.

However, in his maiden appearance for the Stade de la Liberation outfit,  the Algerian showed signs of what the club should expect from him by finding the target on three occasions.

With just five minutes after kick-off, counter, Abdeldjelil handed them the lead after beating goalkeeper Remy Dhelemme from close range.

As the hosts continued to dominate, they raced to a two-goal lead in the 38th minute through Congolese midfielder Herman Moussaki – who is on loan from Caen.

Despite pouring attacks, Boulogne could not add to their goal tally as they went into the half-time break with a comfortable two-goal lead.

Seven minutes into the second-half, Abdeldjelil got his second of the evening after capitalising on some lethargic defending from the non-league side.

In the 63rd minute, another goal followed and again it was the former Algeria U23 striker who got past Dhelemme for his third strike of the day.

Five minutes from full-time, Moroccan forward Said Idazza came off from the bench to complete the rout with the fifth goal.

Thanks to this result, Lambresienne have crashed out of the annual football competition while Boulogne are through to the Round of 32. They will know their foes when the draw is held on February 21.

Alongside Abdeldjelil, Cameroonian defender James Eto'o, Gabon's Anthony Oyono and Morocco's Rayan Frikeche were in action from start to finish.

Unbeaten in their last two fixtures across all competitions, US Boulogne would be hoping to extend their winning streak to three when they take on Bourg-en-Bresse in Saturday's Championnat National encounter.

Having accrued 18 points from 19 games in the 2020-21 campaign, they occupy the 16th spot on the log.

Abdeldjelil has enjoyed a nomadic career - featuring for Frejus, Tarbes, Lyon-Duchere, JS Kablie, Saint-Priest, Tadjenanet, Dijon ll, Cholet, Red Star, Paris FC in a nine-year professional career.

Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer has praised the impressive defensive display from Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi in their stunning 3-1 victory over Liverpool on Saturday.

Shearer also named Ndidi in his Premier League Team of the Week along with Fulham’s Josh Maja and Arsenal centre-forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Ndidi was rock solid for the King Power Stadium outfit against Jurgen Klopp’s men to help his side secure all three points in the encounter.

The Nigeria international made five tackles, three interceptions, five clearances and blocked three shots in his effort to ensure his side extend their unbeaten run to four games.

The victory moved Leicester to the third spot on the Premier League table after gathering 46 points from 24 games.

Shearer has hailed the showings of the midfielder and included him among the best performing players in the week under review.

“He [Ndidi] gave great protection to the defence when Liverpool were on top, and then won the midfield battle when Leicester hit back so impressively,” Shearer told Premier League website.

Maja, meanwhile, opened his goalscoring account for Fulham against Everton, bagging two goals in the encounter to inspire them to winning ways after an eight-game winless run.

The Super Eagles forward has earned the praise of Shearer and has also been included in the star-studded Premier League Team of the Week, along with Arsenal forward Aubameyang, who scored a hat-trick against Leeds United.

“With both goals on his full debut, he [Maja] may have just given Fulham a chance of staying up,” he added.

“He [Aubameyang] was magnificent as he scored his first Premier League hat-trick.”

The African stars were joined on the list along with Emiliano Martinez of Aston Villa, Burnley duo of Matt Lowton and James Tarkowski and West Ham United’s Craig Dawson.

Also included are Manchester City duo of Oleksandr Zinchenko, Ilkay Gundogan, Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Pedro Neto and Leicester’s Harvey Barnes.

Ndidi, Maja and Aubameyang will be expected to continue their impactful contributions for their respective clubs in their next outings.

Ghana opened their 2021 Africa U20 Cup of Nations campaign in style with a comfortable 4-0 victory over Tanzania on Tuesday.

A Precious Boah double, a sublime Abdul Fatawu Issahaku effort and a late Joselpho Barnes strike ensured three points for the Black Satellites in the Group C opener at Stade Municipal de Nouadhibou in Mauritania.

The West Africans have jumped to the top of the table ahead of the group's second game between Gambia and Morocco.

Ghana coach Abdul Karim Zito largely kept faith in the side that won December's Wafu Cup of Nations in Benin, handing starting roles to Asante Kotoko goalkeeper Danlad Ibrahim and striker Boah, who won the top scorer's award at the sub-regional championship.

Schalke 04 winger Barnes and Denmark-based centre-back Frank Assinki, who both did not make it for the Wafu Cup, were also named in the first XI.

Tanzania's line-up included all three foreign-based players in their squad as German-based winger Ben Starkie, Novatus Dismas of Israeli side Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ally Msengi of South African outfit Stellenbosch were called upon.

It did not take long for the scoring to be broken on the day as Boah drove a free-kick into the net in just the third minute of the game to make it 1-0.

After the Dreams striker saw a 20th minute shot flash wide, Issahaku doubled the score with a long-range shot from around the centre circle.

Danlad pulled off double saves in the 70th minute to deny Tanzania a consolation, a minute before Boah registered his second goal of the game and Ghana's third, slotting a shot into the net after receiving a through-ball from Sulemana Mohammed.

In his first-ever appearance for Ghana, German-born Banes made his presence count as he fired into the net from close range to make 4-0 two minutes to full-time.

The two teams return to action on matchday two when Ghana take on Morocco as Tanzania face off against Gambia.

The top two teams at the end of the group stage progress to the quarter-final of the competition. 

Ahead of Wednesday's clash with Uzbekistan, Equatorial Guinea head coach Jean-Paul Mpila is confident his team will be ready in time for their opener in Antalya.

The Nzalang National won the Central African Football Federations' Union Women's Cup a year ago and would aim to be the first African side to win the Turkish Women's Cup.

The two-time African champions arrived in Turkey on Monday and are expected to battle Uzbekistan, Equatorial Guinea, and Nigeria in the 10-day event, which runs from February 15 to 24.

Following their first training at Emir Hotels Sports Complex, the Congolese tactican is unmoved by the worries of flight stress, as he is upbeat about his team's readiness against 

"There were many hours of flight and we cannot afford a rest because we came to compete," Mpila told Federation website. 

"One day after our arrival we did resistance exercises with a march through the roads near the sea to strengthen the muscular and respiratory system.

"As we already started in Malabo, this Monday we worked on the tactical part, concerning the organization of our game system. 

"The idea was for the girls to touch the ball and organize as a team. I feel very happy because I see a good atmosphere and the girls are very good."

A winning start against Uzbekistan on Wednesday evening would put Mpila's team in good stead to challenge for this tournament's crown.

Ugandan Premier League side Ondupaarka FC and head coach Vialli Bainomugisha are set to part ways.

According to Sports Nation, the two parties have seen their relationship strained over a delay in payments and that is likely to push the coach out of the club.

Bainomugisha is said to be in Kampala where he has been for the last week, and is expected to miss the next game against Uganda's People Defence Forced FC. The tactician was also not available during a 1-1 draw against Busoga United on Friday.

According to the publication, Onduparaka partly settled the coach's sign-on fee just before the match against Busoga as Ush2 million were sent to his account, but Bainomugisha never turned up.

Bainomugisha was appointed head coach seven months ago to replace Livingstone Mbabazi, who had left the club in the middle of the 2019/20 season.

When he was appointed, the tactician exuded confidence he was going to build a successful project as he had in his previous club.

“This is the same project I had at Mbarara City FC in 2017, now see how Brian Aheebwa and Ibrahim Orit have progressed,” Bainomugisha said at the time.

“It has been a short time I have been with these players but I am doing my best, it is challenging.”

Although he came at a time the club had experienced a mass exodus of key players, a number were signed in order to replace those who had left.

Moses Okot, Noel Nasasira, Ronald Odokonyero, Emmanuel Oketch, Gabriel Matata, Jerry Jakisa, Bony Musema, Augustine Opoka, and Shaban Wasswa were signed in order to work with Bainomugisha in the new season.

In his absence, assistant coach Abu Mubaraka is expected to oversee the Premier League outfit on an interim basis.

Bainomugisha is among the more experienced Ugandan tacticians having worked with Kigezi Homeboyz, Lweza, Water, Mbarara City, Koboko and Kisugu United.

Onduparaka - who are said to be in contact with another famous Ugandan coach - are fifth having played seven games where they have won three, three have ended in draws and have been beaten just once; the 8-0 defeat to KCCA FC on December 8 in Lugogo.

They will face Kyetume FC, Police FC and Vipers Sports Club in the next three encounters.

Ruvu Shooting have moved to fifth in the Tanzania Mainland League after claiming a 1-0 win over Gwambina FC at Jamhuri Stadium in Morogoro on Tuesday evening.

The administrative side scored their goal through Frank Ikobela.

The hosts started the match hoping to get maximum points to help them move closer to the top 10. They pushed hard for an early goal, but it was not easy against their organized visitors.

Neither of the two teams managed to get a goal in the first half as both of them resorted to cautious play.

After the break, Shooting came back stronger and were rewarded two minutes after the break courtesy of Ikobela.

It happened to be the only goal of the match - the win took the visitors into the top five with 31 points. They have managed to get eight wins from the 20 matches they have played. Shooting have drawn seven games and lost five.

After Tuesday's loss, Gwambina remained in the 15th position with 20 points. They have managed to get four wins, eight draws, and seven losses.

In another top-tier match, Kinondoni Municipal Council (KMC) FC managed to defeat Mwadui 2-1.

It took the Taxmen just 12 minutes to get their opening goal. A defensive blunder led to a foul committed by goalkeeper Mussa Mbisa against Charles Ilanfya and the ref pointed to the penalty spot.

Emmanuel Mvuyekure rose to the occasion, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way for the opening goal.

The hosts scored their second in the 18th minute. This time around, a ball was played to centre-back Joram Mgeveke. He took too long to release it and was eventually dispossessed by Ilanfya, who gave the goalkeeper no chance with an accurate shot.

KMC went to the break with a deserved 2-0 lead and could have even scored more but they failed to take their chances.

Mwadui came back stronger after the break and pushed to get a goal. They managed to halve the deficit in the 70th minute when a defensive lapse allowed Richard Dennis to bundle home from three yards.

The goal turned out to be a mere consolation for the visitors.

Indian Super League (ISL) club Kerala Blasters have decided to part ways with head coach Kibu Vicuna, Goal has learnt. 

The decision was taken after Blasters crashed out of the race for the playoffs this season following a heavy 0-4 defeat against Hyderabad on Tuesday. Individual and collective errors from the defence once against cost the team in the second-half and Hyderabad punished the Yellows' mistakes. 

Blasters had a season to forget and with two games remaining, they remain 10th on the league table. They have won just three matches and have 16 points from 18 games. The manner of Tuesday's defeat meant accelerated the decision to part ways with the coach. 

Poor defending has been the team's major issue throughout the season. They have conceded 33 goals in 18 games, the worst tally in ISL this season.

Heading into the last three fixtures of the league stage, Blasters had to win all their games and depend on other teams to drop points in order to stand a chance to land a playoff spot. The loss to Hyderabad meant Blasters could get to a maximum of 22 points and thus it became mathematically impossible for the team to compete for a spot in the playoffs. 

Kibu Vicuna as appointed after a title-winning season at Mohun Bagan but the recruitment and some of the signings did not succeed as planned. "Our scouting of the players was bad, the plans and expectations for the season were higher than the reality," the former Bagan coach had said in his post-match press conference after the game against Hyderabad. 

Goal tried to contact Kerala Blasters but the club remained unavailable to comment at the time of publication of this story. 

Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the most decorated athletes in world football, having lifted almost every trophy under the sun for both club and country - not to mention breaking several goalscoring milestones.

But how many Champions League titles has the Portugal forward won? Goal takes a look.

How many Champions League titles has Cristiano Ronaldo won?

Ronaldo has won a total of five Champions League titles while playing for Manchester United and Real Madrid.

The striker also became the first ever player to score in two finals for two different winning teams - first when he scored the opening goal for Manchester United against Chelsea in the 2008 final, and then again through a penalty in the 120th minute against Atletico Madrid in 2014.

Ronaldo won three consecutive Champions League titles with Real Madrid from 2015-2018, though he has yet to win the competition as a Juventus player.

The Portugal international, however, has consistently stated that it is his ultimate goal to lift the trophy with the Italian side.

"After winning what I won at Madrid I needed a change and new motivation," Ronaldo told Marca in 2019, a year after arriving in Turin from Real Madrid.

"I still have the strength to keep winning."

And prior to Juventus' round of 16 clash against Porto, Ronaldo wrote on his Instagram: “This is what the Champions League is all about: the knockout rounds. It's almost as if another competition starts from this point on and everybody has to bring their A game, because every detail can make the difference.  

“In the last couple of years we went home sooner than we wanted, but we continue to aim higher every season and this year is no exception."

Juventus have been keen on lifting the prestigious continental trophy for the first time since 1996, winning five runners-up medals since then.

Champions League titles won by Cristiano Ronaldo

Most European Cup/Champions League titles won by a player

Only former Real Madrid forward Francisco 'Paco' Gento has won more European Cup/Champions League titles than Ronaldo (six).

Lionel Messi, in comparison, has won four Champions League titles - all with Barcelona.

*Only showing players who have won five or more Champions League trophies