Kessie opens his FC Barcelona account

Franck Kessie not only played his first Champions League game for FC Barcelona on Wednesday night, but also got to score his first goal for his new side.

His fine header after 13 minutes was the first of five Barça goals against Viktoria Pilsen as their bid to win the trophy for the sixth time got off to the perfect start. 

Kounde and Dembélé, assist masters

He may be a defender, but Jules Kounde also knows how to set up goals. He did so twice at Sevilla on Saturday, and tonight he did it once again, meeting Dembélé’s corner and nudging the ball to Kessié to score. And the aforesaid Dembélé has always been a handy man to have in the team for delivering assists too, and tonight he added two more to his Champions League collection.

Pablo Torre, official debut

This was also a special night for Pablo Torre. Wearing number 32, the summer signing from Racing Santander, officially in the Barça B squad but part of the first team ‘dynamic’, came on for Kessie after 82 minutes to make his official debut in the Barça midfield.