The hosts got off the worst possible start following Jose Gaya’s superb strike from long range with just four minutes on the clock.

But Ansu Fati hit back for Barcelona nine minutes later before Memphis Depay scored from the spot with the first half drawing to a close.

Former Liverpool forward Philippe Coutinho then made sure of the victory with five minutes remaining.

Sergio Aguero also came on as a late substitute to make his first appearance for Koeman’s side since leaving Manchester City.

The win moves Barca up to seventh, five points behind leaders Real Sociedad.

Rafa Mir’s second-half strike secured a 1-0 win for Sevilla at Celta Vigo, while Rayo Vallecano saw off Elche 2-1.

Ezequiel Avila scored with four minutes left as Osasuna won 2-1 at Villarreal.

In Germany, Bayern Munich scored five times in 37 scintillating first-half minutes to thrash Bayer Leverkusen and take top spot in the Bundesliga.

Robert Lewandowski opened the scoring with a cute backheel after just three minutes before adding his second on the half-hour mark.

Moments later, Thomas Muller secured his side’s third with Serge Gnabry netting goals four and five after 35 and 37 minutes.

Patrick Schick pulled one back for the shell-shocked hosts in the second half.

In the day’s other fixture, Augsburg and Arminia Bielefeld shared the spoils with a 1-1 draw.

Victor Osimhen scored a late header as Napoli retained their 100% start to Serie A.

The Nigeria striker netted with just nine minutes remaining to see off a spirited Torino and move two points clear of AC Milan.

Moise Kean’s header was enough for Juventus to secure a 1-0 win over Jose Mourinho’s Roma.

The on-loan Everton forward inadvertently deflected in Rodrigo Bentancur’s header after 16 minutes to earn the Old Lady a fourth consecutive league win.

Jordan Veretout missed a chance to draw Roma level when his penalty – after Tammy Abraham was fouled before subsequently scoring after the referee had blown his whistle – was saved by Wojciech Szczesny.

Roma are nine points behind Napoli in fourth, while Juventus move up to seventh.

Elsewhere, Josip Ilicic scored twice as Atalanta won 4-1 at Empoli, while 10-man Udinese fought back from behind to draw 1-1 with Bologna.

In Ligue 1, former Arsenal youth striker Stephy Mavididi scored the winner as second-placed Lens suffered a 1-0 defeat by Montpellier.

Mavididi found the back of the net two minutes into the second half as Lens were cast nine points adrift of leaders Paris Saint-Germain.

Troyes’ Mama Balde condemned Nice to a 1-0 defeat to leave them in third, while Marseille ran out 3-1 winners in the evening fixture against Lorient.

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Maxi Gomez prodded in to snatch a draw for Valencia, condemning Barcelona to their seventh match without a win in just 13 league encounters this term.

Mouctar Diakhaby had headed Valencia into the lead, before Messi equalised – heading home almost immediately after missing a penalty.

Ronald Araujo’s acrobatic scissor-kick had Barca eyeing victory just ahead of the hour.

The moment history was made 👑 #Messi pic.twitter.com/oMSX9jk9Rn

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) December 19, 2020

But Ronald Koeman’s side could not hold out, slipping to another dispiriting result made all the more frustrating off the back of consecutive victories.

Barcelona are languishing fifth in the top-flight table but could yet be overhauled by sixth-placed Sevilla who have two games in hand on the Catalan giants.

Messi has now matched Pele’s 643-goal tally that the Brazil star racked up across 19 seasons for Santos.

Argentina forward Messi’s stunning career haul for Barcelona was overshadowed by the club’s draw however, with boss Koeman still under intense pressure in the role.

Diakhaby capitalised on awful Barcelona defending to head in a corner that put Valencia into an early lead.

👑 𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒 🤴
Leo #Messi equals @Pele as the all time top goalscorer for one club WITH 643 goals! 🐐

🎨: @damiendraws pic.twitter.com/dNrlmwdfC7

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) December 19, 2020

The hosts could not force their way back into the contest during a frustrating first-half, only to be handed the golden chance to level with a penalty.

Messi missing the penalty was the last thing on anyone’s mind, especially with Pele’s record in his sights.

But though the Argentina stalwart fluffed his lines he was still able to ride out that blow, quickly converting converting Jordi Alba’s deflected cross as the ball stayed alive after his missed spot-kick.

Barcelona thought they were on course for victory when Araujo’s acrobatics seized a 2-1 advantage with little more than half an hour to play.

But then up popped Gomez to seal the draw, heaping yet more misery on Barcelona and Koeman – and taking the shine off Messi’s latest landmark day.

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Zinedine Zidane lamented his Real Madrid side after they ‘fell apart’ to suffer a 4-1 loss at Valencia in LaLiga on Sunday.

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After Karim Benzema had put Real ahead in the 23rd minute, Soler’s first spot kick and a bizarre Raphael Varane own goal had the hosts 2-1 up at the interval.

Soler subsequently added another penalty nine minutes into the second half, and then his third just after the after the hour mark following a handball by Sergio Ramos.

It leaves Zinedine Zidane’s defending champions fourth on the LaLiga table, four points behind leaders Real Sociedad, who won 2-0 at home against a depleted Granada whose request to have the game postponed had been rejected.

Nacho Monreal and Mikel Oyarzabal, with a penalty, scored in the first half before Willian Jose had a spot kick saved by Granada’s Angel Jimenez.

Sociedad’s Robin Le Normand was sent off in the closing stages and the table-toppers then kept out a penalty themselves as Alex Remiro denied Darwin Machis.

Villarreal are second, two points behind Sociedad, after a 3-1 win at Getafe.

Paco Alcacer’s early opener for the visitors was swiftly cancelled out by Mauro Arambarri, only for Manu Trigueros to restore Villarreal’s lead moments later. Gerard Moreno added their third after the break.

Real Valladolid registered their first win of the season as they beat Athletic Bilbao 2-1 at home, with Fabian Orellana (penalty) and Marcos De Sousa netting before Inaki Williams’ late reply from the spot.

Levante and Alaves drew 1-1 at Ciutat de Valencia. Jose Luis Morales equalised for Levante after Alaves scored early through Lucas Perez, then had Edgar Mendez sent off.

In Serie A, AC Milan are two points clear at the top after a stoppage-time Zlatan Ibrahimovic goal salvaged a 2-2 home draw with Hellas Verona.

Milan were 2-0 down in the opening 20 minutes thanks to goals from Antonin Barak and Mattia Zaccagni, whose effort took a huge deflection off Davide Calabria, before Giangiacomo Magnani netted past his own keeper to reduce the deficit.

Ibrahimovic then missed a penalty midway through the second half before heading home in the final few moments.

There was also a last-gasp leveller at Lazio, where Felipe Caicedo’s goal denied Juventus a win that would have put them in second place.

The champions had led from the 15th minute via Cristiano Ronaldo, but could not see out the win and sit four points off the top in fifth spot.

A point better off are Napoli, who won 1-0 at Bologna courtesy of a Victor Osimhen goal, and Roma after winning 3-1 at Genoa with a Henrikh Mkhitaryan hat-trick.

Atalanta and Inter Milan drew 1-1 at Gewiss Stadium, Lautaro Martinez’s goal cancelled out by Aleksei Miranchuk.

Torino drew 0-0 with Crotone, who had Sebastiano Luperto sent off.

In Ligue 1, second-placed Lille were beaten 3-2 at Brest, who scored all their goals in the first half.

Ronael Pierre-Gabriel, Romain Perraud and Irvin Cardona netted for the hosts before Burak Yilmaz replied with a penalty and another goal around the hour.

Yilmaz almost equalised late on but hit the woodwork and Lille suffered their first loss of the season to sit five points behind leaders Paris St Germain.

Lyon are fifth after Tino Kadewere’s brace had them come from behind to win 2-1 at home against St Etienne, while Monaco are sixth having won by the same score at Nice, with Axel Disasi and Sofiane Diop getting their goals.

There was a remarkable game at the Stade Felix Bollaert-Delelis as Lens and Reims battled out a 4-4 draw, and Sunday’s other results were Angers winning 5-1 at Nimes, Nantes winning 2-0 at Lorient and Metz and Dijon drawing 1-1.

In the Bundesliga, Bayer Leverkusen rose to fourth with a 4-3 home win over Borussia Monchengladbach and Wolfsburg were 2-1 winners at home against Hoffenheim.

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The 20-year-old has signed a five-year contract at the Etihad Stadium and will join up with Pep Guardiola’s squad for the 2020-21 season.

Valencia could receive a further £11m ($14m) in add-ons for the Spain U21 international, who was in the final 12 months of his contract.

City beat a host of top European clubs to the signing of Torres, with Manchester United, Juventus, Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid all expressing an interest.

But the highly-rated forward was keen to work with Guardiola, and, as Goal reported on 27 July, he agreed personal terms after the City boss spoke to him personally to convince him to make the switch to Manchester.

Due to UK travel restrictions surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic, Torres completed his medical in Spain but will be available for the new Premier League season.

‘I am so happy to be joining City,’ Torres told City’s official website. ‘Every player wants to be involved in attacking teams and Manchester City are one of the most attacking in world football.

‘Pep encourages a really open, aggressive style, which I love, and he is a manager with a proven track record of improving players. To have him overseeing my development is a dream.

‘City have won plenty of trophies in the last 10 years and I hope I can play a role in continuing that success.’

The deal is seen as a bargain for one of Spain’s emerging talents, with Valencia needing to improve their finances after failing to qualify for Europe.

City’s director of football Txiki Begiristain added: ‘We have followed Ferran’s progress closely and have been very impressed.

‘He is young and still developing, but his technical qualities are exactly what we are looking for in a winger. He is quick, direct, can create space with one movement and is capable of producing match-winning moments.

‘I feel this is the perfect place for him to develop and with Pep in charge he can take his game to the next level.’

City have moved quickly to find a replacement for Leroy Sane after the Germany international moved to Bayern Munich in a deal worth an initial €49m (£45m/$58m) earlier in the summer.

Guardiola is expected to follow up the signing of Torres with the addition of Bournemouth defender Nathan Ake in the coming days in a deal worth £40m ($52m), with a potential further £1m in add-ons.

Torres becomes City’s first major signing of the summer following deals for Juventus forward Pablo Moreno, Brazilian full back Yan Couto from Coritiba and Burkina Faso defender Issa Kabore from Mechelen.

City are expecting a busy summer as they try to close the gap on Premier League champions Liverpool and are likely to add another central defender and forward before the transfer window closes.

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Torres, 20, came through the ranks at the Mestalla and is seen by City as a replacement for Leroy Sane – who joined Bayern Munich earlier in the month.

It is understood that nothing has yet been agreed with Valencia but City boss Pep Guardiola will be keen to land his man, the PA news agency understands.

A Spain U21 international, Torres hit four goals in 34 La Liga appearances during the last season and Valencia finished ninth on the table.

Premier League runners-up City are expected to add to their ranks before the new campaign kicks off on 12 September.

Central defence has long been reported as the area of the pitch where Guardiola is looking to improve, with the likes of Nathan Ake, Kalidou Koulibaly and Milan Skriniar all linked with moves to the Etihad Stadium.

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La Liga and all other levels of the Spanish game have been halted since March due to the coronavirus pandemic, which has caused thousands of deaths in the nation.

Recently, though, strict quarantine measures have been relaxed by the government, and there is hope that sport may resume in the near-future as infection rates slow.

The weekend of June 14 has been mentioned as a possible return date; but Gabriel hopes caution will be exercised to prevent further tragedy.

“Professional footballers are privileged people, but we are human first and foremost. We have family, loved ones and feelings,” the former Arsenal man signalled in a letter published on social media.

“We are always asked to set the example and that is the way it should be, many kids and young people look up to us. Let’s set an example to society that we value our lives and health above all. For me, and I am sure for the vast majority of footballers, money is not everything.”

Gabriel continued to explain that, while he is desperate to get back out on the field, Liga authorities must ensure players’ health is guaranteed before the ball starts rolling again.

“I don’t want that, by rushing back or due to economic pressures, which we can understand but never prioritise over more important matters, any family member, friend or work colleague gets sick and dies,” he added. “After this terrible time we are still suffering, nobody should be infected again or die due to this illness.

“I love the sport of football, I love playing, I love my club and we always want to make the fans happy, but also and above all I love and respect the lives of every human being. Let’s play when nobody does so with fear and have full guarantees there is no risk.

“Otherwise, if we are not given full guarantees, let’s follow the example of other countries which have taken stronger measures. First comes life, and then football!”

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Torres has enjoyed a meteoric rise to prominence since graduating to Valencia’s senior squad in 2017.

The 20-year-old has racked up 89 appearances across all competitions for the Spanish outfit over the last three years, scoring nine goals, while establishing himself as a consistent performer in LaLiga.

Valencia’s 2019-20 campaign has been mixed but Torres’ performances have attracted a number of high-profile potential suitors.

As reported by Goal, Liverpool, Manchester United, Juventus, Borussia Dortmund, Ajax, Atletico Madrid and Manchester City have all made enquiries about the availability of the Spain U21 international.

And Gomez is certain that Torres is capable of playing in the Premier League, with him believing that Klopp’s Reds would be ideal for the youngster.

‘Ferran Torres is a great player. He has emerged very young and that is proof of his maturity,’ the ex-Valencia chief told Tribal Football.

‘He’s skilful, he’s great one on one, he’s quick and he even scores goals.

‘He also plays on the inside, takes advantage of spaces and can be part of a team that plays on the counter-attack or a dominant team in terms of possession.

‘He can perform well in any team and in any league. In England too, of course, at Liverpool or any other team.

‘Klopp’s system fits him and he is mentally very strong to cope with pressure and demands.’

Torres has a €100-million (£92m/$107m) release clause in his current contract that runs until 2021, but Los Che may be forced to accept an offer some way below that figure in order to afford seeing a price set by tribunal.

Indeed, the financial repercussions of the Covid-19 crisis could adversely affect this summer’s transfer market, with top clubs across Europe losing millions in match-day revenue with the season still in hiatus.

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The LaLiga club played the second leg of their Champions League tie against Italian side Atalanta last Tuesday, having lost the first leg in Milan on 19 February.

A statement on Valencia’s official website read: ‘Several further tests for the Covid-19 coronavirus amongst Valencia CF coaching staff and players have come back positive.

COMUNICADO OFICIAL

https://t.co/5WeiVEPE8U#QuédateEnCasa #EsteVirusLoParamosUnidos pic.twitter.com/x1ugWy6Ker

— Valencia CF (@valenciacf) March 16, 2020

‘All cases are asymptomatic and those involved are currently isolated at home, receiving medical assessment and carrying out their scheduled training plan.

‘Despite the strict measures adopted by the club after their Uefa Champions League game against Atalanta on February 19 in Milan – an area confirmed as “high risk” by the Italian authorities days afterwards – which included maintaining a distance between the squad and club employees/the general public, these latest results show that the exposure inherent to such matches has caused a positive test rate of around 35 per cent.’

Valencia, seventh in LaLiga, lost their last-16 Champions League tie to Atalanta 8-4 on aggregate.

Atalanta, based in Bergamo, staged the first leg 55km away at the San Siro in Milan because their Gewiss Stadium does not meet Uefa requirements.

The Spanish FA suspended LaLiga on 12 March after a Real Madrid basketball player, who shares training facilities with the club’s footballers, tested positive for the virus.

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Fifa 20 might be about scoring goals and winning games, but that doesn’t mean you can’t look stylish while climbing up the ladder in Division Rivals or racking up wins on FUT Champions.

Fashion matters, and that’s still the same even in your very own virtual world.

Kaizer Chiefs (home)

Kaizer Chiefs’ home kit is a refreshing change from the mundane strips most clubs prefer these days. The Soweto giants have again opted for a vibrant design which brilliantly captures the club’s dominance in African football.

Characterised by multiple tiger stripes, the Chiefs’ home threads are sure to instil fear into their opponents and intimidate them into submission. Er, maybe.

Stevenage (home)

OK, so it’s actually awful in real life but Stevenage’s home kit is one of the most artsy you’ll find in the 2019-20 season. It features a splash of multiple colours, dominated by yellow, green and purple: a bit like somebody vomiting up a rainbow.

The colour combination is the main draw of the kit, but if you fancy lunchtime at Burger King then you might be enticed by the logo placed right at the centre of this shirt.

RB Leipzig (third kit)

After making its debut in Leipzig’s impressive win over Benfica in the Champions League group stage, tons of football fans worldwide expressed their admiration for their third kit and its eye-catching design.

The kit is predominantly dark blue, but it’s also mixed in with shades of red to form what appears to be a rainy contrast. Two bulls going head to head are featured on the centre of the jersey, complementing the kit’s fancy design.

Club Atlas (home kit)

Club Atlas have made a major change to their kit design from last season, opting for a striped gradient as opposed to the half-and-half design they utilised in the 2018-19 campaign.

The new design looks amazing too, with its beautiful mixture of red and black – two of the Liga MX side’s primary colours.

Sporting CP (away kit)

Sporting CP’s 2018-19 away shirt was amazing; a futuristic effort which proved incredibly popular among Fifa 19 players. Luckily they’ve produced another masterpiece for the 2019-20 season, maintaining their status as the best-dressed team in Portugal.

The jersey features a half-and-half design with horizontal stripe gradient, complete with the famous ‘NOS’ logo right in the middle. It’s a classy kit that looks great in-game, and sure to make your team stand out amid a plethora of teams donning boring kits.

Roma (away kit)

Lit up by a fiery lightning bolt across the jersey in their famous city’s colours, Roma’s away kit for Fifa 20 is easily the best in Serie A – and among the finest in the world.

Roma gave the unique lightning bolt life with their trademark palette, producing one of their coolest kits in recent memory while maintaining a proud club’s identity.

Leicester City (away kit)

Leicester’s away effort – an eye-catching pink shirt with black shorts – is a little unusual but stylish nonetheless. The top, styled on Germany’s 2018 World Cup kit, earned high praise on social media after the Foxes’ kit reveal … and rightly so, we say.

Valencia (away kit)

Valencia’s away kit features a unique design inspired by the fallas: a traditional celebration held in the city popularly referred to as the festival of fire.

The kit is predominantly black, but features a fiery design in its upper half referencing the Night of the Burning – a key facet of the festivities.

Arsenal (away kit)

Arsenal’s away kit is a modern remake of their most iconic kit design: the ‘bruised banana’ worn between 1991 and 1993, back when the Gunners partnered with adidas last time around.

The north Londoners boast arguably the best strip in the Premier League, and this top banana is sure to earn you some respect as a true connoisseur when you step onto the virtual pitch.

Barcelona (third kit)

Complete with iconic Nike futura logo, Barcelona’s third kit is a masterpiece. It features a predominantly light blue design, complemented by the club’s main colours paying homage to their roots in a proud city.

You probably won’t become a tiki-taka specialist by using the kit, but your team is sure to look far better than most you’ll come up against.

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