..::Football IV::..

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UEFA Champions League Group Stage Fixtures 2017.09.26

UEFA Champions League Group Stage Fixtures 2017.09.26

APOEL Vs Tottenham

Besiktas Vs Leipzig

Dortmund Vs Real Madrid

Manchester City Vs Shakhtar

Monaco Vs Porto

Napoli Vs Feyenoord

Sevilla Vs Maribor

Spartak Vs Liverpool

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Monaco 0 Porto 3: Aboubakar double sets Portuguese on way to impressive win



A brace from Vincent Aboubakar helped Porto get their Champions League campaign back on track with a 3-0 win over Monaco at the Stade Louis II.

Aboubakar's double and a late goal from Miguel Layun secured all three points for Sergio Conceicao's side, who move up to second in Group G and consign their opening day defeat to Beskitas to history. Radamel Falcao had the best chance for Monaco, but saw his improvised volley crash back off the crossbar midway through the second period.

Porto held the hosts at arm's length for most of the match and the comfortable nature of the win will fill them with confidence ahead the trip to RB Leipzig in their third group game.

Monaco are still without a win and will need to arrest that run when they host Besiktas next time out if they are to have any chance of advancing in the competition.


It took five minutes for the first opening of the game to arrive, and it was little surprise that it fell to the potent Falcao. The Colombian collected Rachid Ghezzal's pass inside the area, but his effort lacked pace or direction and was comfortably gathered by Iker Casillas.

Ghezzal was the provider again just few minutes later as he whipped a teasing cross towards Adama Diakhaby. The young striker opted to use his arm to divert the ball towards goal, though, and was duly booked by the referee. The visitors failed to create a chance of note inside the opening half-hour, but edged ahead with their first clear sight of goal in the 31st minute.

Monaco goalkeeper Diego Benaglio kept out Danilo Pereira's initial effort and then produced an astonishing reaction save to thwart Aboubakar's follow-up shot. His luck ran out there, though, as the ball dropped to the Cameroonian again and he thrashed home into the roof of the net from close range. Porto should then have scored a second just before the break but Yacine Brahimi was unable to keep his effort on target from Ricardo Pereira's low cross.

The second half started in low-key fashion with the first chance not coming until just before the hour. It fell to Moussa Marega, but after breaking through a static Monaco backline he could only manage to scuff his shot into the midriff of Benaglio.

Marega then turned provider in the 69th minute as Porto scored their second.Brahimi's incisive ball fed Marega down Monaco's right and his cool pass across goal was slotted home by the rampaging Aboubakar.

The goal sparked the hosts into life and they came agonisingly close to pulling a goal back shortly after, but Falcao's volley with the outside of his foot cannoned back off the crossbar.

It was only fitting that a dominant Porto had the final say, though, as Layun thumped home in the 89th minute after an almighty goalmouth scramble.

 

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Spartak Moskva 1 Vs 1 Liverpoolhilippe Coutinho saves the day for Jurgen Klopp's misfiring Reds

Jurgen Klopp and Jordan Henderson urged Liverpool to find a ruthless streak after their dispiriting 1-1 UEFA Champions League draw at Spartak Moscow.

Klopp's side dominated throughout Tuesday's Group E contest at the Otkrytiye Arena, but settled for a second successive point to begin their campaign.That clearly was not part of the script for the German boss, who selected an XI featuring Sadio Mane, Philippe Coutinho, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firminho.

Coutinho grabbed his second goal in as many games, yet only after Fernando's free-kick had put the home side in front.Liverpool subsequently spurned numerous good chances to take the spoils, much to the dismay of their boss.

He told BT Sport: "We created lots of chances and could have created more. We tried with all we have and the effort was great."We have to be more clinical, but that's the way it is. We have to keep doing what we are doing; there were enough chances.


"It's crazy to have that many chances and not win the game."Klopp's sentiments were echoed by skipper Henderson.He added: "It's disappointing. We controlled from start to finish, should have won comfortably and will be disappointed going home.



"The chances we created, we have to win the game comfortably. We have got to make sure we don't give goals away"In the worst-case scenario, it should be 1-0. On another day, it could have been three or four.

"The performance was decent but not enough to win the game. We have to finish teams off and be more ruthless."

 

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Manchester City 2 Shakhtar Donetsk 0: De Bruyne scores stunner as Aguero misfires

Kevin De Bruyne scored a spectacular goal to open his account for the season and help Manchester City earn a hard-fought 2-0 win over Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League, while Sergio Aguero missed a penalty.

The star midfielder has been a creative force during City's terrific start to the campaign and he showed his eye for goal has not left him when he rattled the ball into the top-right corner of the net early in the second half following a tricky first 45 minutes for his side.

Shakhtar arrived at the Etihad Stadium unbeaten in nine competitive games and their contingent of Brazilian players made life difficult for City, with Taison, Marlos and Bernard depriving the hosts of the possession they have become accustomed to enjoying this season.

City tightened their grip on the game in the latter stages and Aguero missed the chance to equal Eric Brook's record of 177 goals for the club when he had a penalty saved by Andriy Pyatov in the 72nd minute, but substitute Raheem Sterling made it 2-0 when he applied a neat finish to a sweeping attacking move.

The result extended City's winning streak to seven games in all competitions and they are unbeaten in 10 Champions League home fixtures, this latest triumph moving them three points clear at the top of Group F.


Shakhtar resisted City's early pressure and showed their quality going forward when Brazilian playmaker Taison played in compatriot Fred for a one-on-one with Ederson after 10 minutes, but the striker lost his footing and the chance went begging.

Belgium international De Bruyne threaded two exquisitely weighted passes in behind Shakhtar's defence midway through the first half, but first Aguero and then Gabriel Jesus were caught offside as they gave chase.

De Bruyne then missed a great chance when Jesus played him in as he made a diagonal run into the box, but the Belgian snatched at his shot and dragged it wide of the near post.Shakhtar countered and found plenty of space in the final third, allowing Marlos to curl a shot from the edge of the box that Ederson saved at full stretch, diving to his right.

Marlos turned provider five minutes before the break when he curled a free-kick onto the head of Facundo Ferreyra, who aimed a shot narrowly wide before Sane flashed a shot across the face of goal at the other end.

The second half was just three minutes old when a sloppy pass by Marlos allowed De Bruyne to launch the ball forward to David Silva, who reached the edge of the box before squaring it back to De Bruyne, who unleashed an emphatic shot that flew into the net before Pyatov could get across his goal.

Aguero was given the chance to score his landmark goal when Silva chipped a wonderful pass into the box for him to volley, but Pyatov was equal to the shot, parrying it to safety, and Silva had a claim for a penalty waved away after 65 minutes when Ivan Ordets dispossessed him with a heavy challenge.

Kyle Walker released De Bruyne down the right flank three minutes later and his cross presented Sterling with what looked like a straightforward finish, but the England winger put the ball wide as he slid in at close range.Ordets collided with Leroy Sane after 70 minutes and the referee pointed to the penalty spot, but Aguero's penalty lacked power and accuracy, leaving Pyatov to palm the ball away from danger.

Fabian Delph, who had an outstanding game at left-back for City, fired an audacious shot just wide before Sterling had a late spot-kick claim turned down, but he got his name on the score-sheet when he side-footed Bernardo Silva's cross high into the net to seal the victory in the 90th minute.

 

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APOEL 0 Tottenham 3: Kane hits hat-trick in Cyprus stroll

Harry Kane continued his red-hot form in front of goal with a hat-trick as an understrength Tottenham recorded a 3-0 win away at APOEL on Tuesday.

The in-form England international's treble - his ninth for the club overall and sixth in 2017 - took his tally to 11 for club and country in September, an astonishing run after struggling through a dry August.Kane predictably provided the finish after being set through by Toby Alderweireld in the 39th minute to break the deadlock in the Group H fixture in Cyprus.

Moussa Sissoko assisted the second after the break, although the striker still had plenty to do when receiving a cut-back pass on the edge of the area, before a Kieran Trippier cross allowed Kane to head home another in the 67th minute.

Despite being without suspended duo Dele Alli and Jan Vertonghen, as well as Christian Eriksen - left at home due to illness - and the injured Mousa Dembele, the Premier League club found a way to record just a third away win in their last 12 European outings.


Mauricio Pochettino's patched-up XI dominated possession but found their hosts a tough nut to crack until the ever-reliable Kane scored in the 39th minute.

APOEL came close on three occasions to breaking the deadlock in the first half, starting with Igor de Camargo rattling the bar with a firm, left-footed drive that left Hugo Lloris rooted to the spot.

Centre-back Carlao was then guilty of sending a free header from a corner wide of the right post, while Lloris narrowly escaped the embarrassment of seeing his attempted clearance hit team-mate Davinson Sanchez and roll into an unguarded net after he'd ventured out of his area to deal with the danger.The reprieve at one end was quickly followed by Tottenham's opening goal at the other.

After the visitors had endlessly knocked the ball around without penetrating, Alderweireld produced a flat pass into the right channel to release Kane. Having breached a broken offside trap and, with just goalkeeper Boy Waterman to beat, he coolly slotted the chance home with his left foot.

His second arrived after an extended spell of APOEL pressure; Sissoko cleverly picked out his team-mate with a pass from the right and, despite being pressurised by defenders, Kane controlled the ball instantly before striking a right-footed shot into the bottom corner.

The frontman completed the perfect hat-trick when timing his run into the penalty area to meet Trippier's teasing centre, the resulting header giving Waterman no chance.

Pochettino was able to take Tottenham's goalscoring hero off with 15 minutes to play, safe in the knowledge they would make it two wins from two in the Champions League ahead of back-to-back meetings with Real Madrid.

 

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Borussia Dortmund 1 Real Madrid 3: Ronaldo double seals win on 400th appearance

Cristiano Ronaldo marked his 400th Real Madrid appearance with two goals as the holders beat Borussia Dortmund 3-1 in their second Champions League group game.

The 32-year-old netted his 410th and 411th efforts for the club in his 150th UEFA club match after Gareth Bale's sensational opener had put Madrid in front in what proved to be a thrilling encounter at Signal Iduna Park.

Madrid came into the match having never won away from home against BVB, but Bale's spectacular volley put them on course for the victory after only 18 minutes.
It was an end-to-end clash that featured chances for either side before Ronaldo celebrated his latest milestone with a composed finish from Bale's cross.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang gave Dortmund hope of a recovery but Zinedine Zidane's men made certain of two wins from two in the defence of their trophy as Ronaldo blasted home in the closing stages.


Despite Peter Bosz's call for caution in Monday's pre-game news conference, Dortmund pressed Madrid high up the pitch from the kick-off and twice could have fallen behind from early counter-attacks.

First, Dani Carvajal raced into the box down the right only to shoot straight at Roman Burki, before Lukasz Piszczek just denied Bale a tap-in after Ronaldo had surged clear down the same flank.

Madrid were perhaps fortunate to escape a penalty in the 14th minute, though, with Keylor Navas deflecting the ball onto the raised hand of Sergio Ramos after Maximilian Philipp had turned the ball goalwards.

But with 18 minutes played, Dortmund's wayward defence was punished in sumptuous style by Bale. Carvajal found space 30 yards from goal and clipped a fine pass into the path of the Wales star, who sent a sublime volley into the top-right corner, leaving Burki stranded.Madrid should have doubled their lead before the break, Ronaldo twice firing wide and captain Ramos missing a free header from six yards out, but it needed a vital interception from Raphael Varane to deny Aubameyang an open goal moments after half-time.

But Dortmund's slack defending was punished in ruthless fashion four minutes after the restart. Toni Kroos split the back four with a fine throughball to Bale, and his low cross from the left was steered home left-footed by Ronaldo from 12 yards out.

BVB were in need of a lifeline and it did not take them long to respond, as Aubameyang prodded past Navas after Varane had failed to reach Gonzalo Castro's cross.Aubameyang poked another chance inches wide from Mario Gotze's delivery as BVB began to push hard for an equaliser, although they were lucky not to concede a penalty when Bale was brought down by Sokratis Papastathopoulos.

But the more they pushed forward, the more suspect they looked on the break, and Ronaldo sealed the win 11 minutes from time as he raced onto Luka Modric's pass before thumping past Burki at the near post.

 

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Diego Costa completes £58 million transfer to Atletico Madrid from Chelsea

Diego Costa has completed his £58 million move from Chelsea to Atletico Madrid on the eve of the Champions League match between the two clubs at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium.

Atletico agreed a fee with Chelsea last week to re-sign Costa, who has now completed a medical and agreed personal terms to return to the Spanish capital three years after leaving for Stamford Bridge.

However, Atletico's six-month transfer ban means Costa will be unavailable to play for Diego Simeone's side until January and will have to watch Wednesday's meeting between the two clubs from the stands.

Antonio Conte has insisted that he holds no grudge against the 28-year-old, despite the pair falling out after the Chelsea manager texted Costa in the summer to remind his striker that he was no longer needed.

"Yes, as I said before, I have no problem with Diego Costa," Conte said when asked whether he will be happy to see Costa, who could be presented to Atletico fans at the game. "I said that we wish, for him, the best for the future. We want to thank him for the last season. But, I repeat, I have no problem with him.”

The deal will end months of dispute between the player and the club, with all parties thought to be relieved to have resolved the situation.Atletico chose an initial loan move to spread the costs over two seasons and Costa will ultimately become their record signing.

Costa's Chelsea career ends with him having won two Premier League titles and the League Cup after he moved to the Premier League in 2014 for £32 million.

 

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I will never forget it – Costa thanks Chelsea


Diego Costa thanked Chelsea for three "remarkable" and unforgettable years as he bid farewell to the Premier League champions.Costa, 28, will return to Atletico Madrid in January after his move from Chelsea was finalised on Tuesday.

The Spain striker leaves Chelsea in a deal worth a reported €60 million after three campaigns, two of which ended with the league title.

Costa thanked the club on Instagram after his move to Atletico was finalised, saying he would never forget his time at Stamford Bridge."Some cycles begin while others end," he wrote.

"My cycle at Chelsea began three years ago – three remarkable years in all aspects – and I will never forget it. Two championship titles, a Community Shield, 120 matches, 59 goals and 24 assists later this cycle has ended."Not the way I would have wanted – far from it – but the best way possible.

"The wonderful fans of such equally admirable club and all team-mates, as well as all clinical, administrative and logistics staff will remain forever in my mind and in my heart.

" will bring them with me with the certainty that I will always be by their side as well, and I'm sure they will understand the reason why this cycle of mine has now ended – because I could not lose faith in myself. Thank you Chelsea for everything!"

Costa netted 20 league goals in 2014-15 and 2016-17 to lead Chelsea to title success, but he fell out with head coach Antonio Conte this past off-season.

 

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Bale is back in form – Zidane lauds Madrid attacker


Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane lauded Gareth Bale for his display against Borussia Dortmund, saying he was delighted for the attacker after a difficult period.

Bale scored a stunning volley before Cristiano Ronaldo struck a brace to see Madrid to a 3-1 victory in the Champions League on Tuesday.Wales international Bale has been whistled at and booed by his own fans this season, but has started to find form.

Zidane was thrilled for the 28-year-old, while he played down any concerns over Bale's calf injury."I hope that there are more turning points like tonight's, but Gareth is now on really good form. His calf has swelled up but it's nothing major," the Frenchman said.

"He hasn't had it easy and I'm delighted for him. Getting a goal like that is fantastic for him."This game will have done wonders for him and if you give him the space he's lethal, he's just so good."

The win was Madrid's second straight since their shock 1-0 La Liga loss to Real Betis and eased the pressure on Zidane's men, who are seven points behind rivals and leaders Barcelona domestically. Zidane was glad to see his team come away with another three points in Group H.

"The important thing is that we perform well and score goals. I'm delighted for Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo. They read the game really well," he said."Ultimately we come away with a very good result at what's a tough place to come to.

"We had never won here before and this is a significant result. We put in a really good performance from start to finish."

 

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UEFA Champions League Group Stage Fixtures 2017.09.27

UEFA Champions League Group Stage Fixtures 2017.09.27

Qarabag Vs Roma

Anderlecht Vs Celtic

Atletico Madrid Vs Chelsea

Basel Vs Benfica

CSKA Vs Manchester United

Juventus Vs Olympiakos

PSG Vs Bayern

Sporting Lisbon Vs Barcelona

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CSKA godak tough match 1kak wei.Good Luck Manchester United!
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Half Time

CSKA 0 Vs 3 Manchester United

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Full Time

CSKA 1 Vs 4 Manchester United

CSKA Goal(s)

K.Kuchaev 90'

&

Manchester United Goal(s)

R.Lukaku 04',26'
A.Martial 18(PEN)'
H.Mkhitaryan 57'

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[Wolverine GTR]

Congratulations Manchester United!

Well played everyone!Especially Martial & Mkhitaryan godak hodata play kala

BTW 90th minute concede karapu goal 1kanam aparade

Good luck for the next match Manchester United!
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[unicornx]

PSG though -_-

 

[sahanhj]

ATLETICO MADRID 1 CHELSEA 2: BATSHUAYI CLINCHES IT AS COSTA LOOKS ON

Chelsea tore Atletico apart like no team before - Gerrard

 

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Juventus 2 Olympiacos 0: Higuain back on form as Bianconeri return to winning ways

Gonzalo Higuain returned to form in timely fashion as he scored one goal and played a key role in another to help Juventus claim a hard-fought 2-0 victory against Olympiacos in Champions League Group D.

The Argentina forward had netted just twice this campaign prior to Wednesday's clash at the Allianz Stadium and was benched for the second game running, with Mario Mandzukic preferred up top.

However, with Juve - shorn of Miralem Pjanic, who was injured in the warm-up - struggling to break Olympiacos' stubborn rearguard, Massimiliano Allegri called on the former Real Madrid man just short of the hour.Higuain duly made his mark, thumping in from close range with 69 minutes played, giving the excellent Silvio Proto no chance.

Allegri's tactical switch paid dividends again with 10 minutes remaining - Higuain teeing up Paulo Dybala, whose deflected effort was headed home by Mandzukic to wrap up the points.

Having been comprehensively beaten by Barcelona on matchday one, the victory represents a vital return to winning ways for last season's beaten finalists, who move second in Group D.


Missing Pjanic's guile in the middle, Juve were fortunate not to be behind inside 15 minutes, with Seba firing over after latching on to Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe's pass.

Proto did well to keep out headers from Mandzukic and Stefano Sturaro as the hosts began to click, though Emmanuel Emenike should have done better after he raced clear of Juve's defence only to seek a team-mate rather than go for goal when one-on-one with Gianluigi Buffon.Going direct seemed Juve's best option, Mandzukic testing Proto with a towering header before Dybala drew another fine save from the stand-in goalkeeper.

Proto was beaten moments later though, relying on the post to preserve his clean sheet when Bjorn Engels deflected goalwards.Juve stepped up the pressure again after the restart and Dybala's glancing header flashed across the face of goal.

Douglas Costa was the next to try his luck, his rasping free-kick whistling wide of the woodwork, with Higuain introduced soon after.It was Higuain's strike partner Mandzukic who could have finally put Juve ahead on the hour, but Proto was more than equal to the Croatian's tame header.

Proto could do little to prevent Higuain's first goal in four games, though, as the 29-year-old hammered in Alex Sandro's cross at the second attempt.And Higuain proved his worth once more in the closing stages as he set-up Dybala at the culmination of a fine run.



Dybala's chip was cleared off the line, but Mandzukic was on hand to head in from a yard out and add gloss to a difficult victory.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Atletico Madrid 1 Chelsea 2: Batshuayi clinches it as Costa looks on

Michy Batshuayi snatched a stunning 2-1 win for Chelsea with the last kick of the game at Atletico Madrid in Champions League Group C, as Diego Costa looked on from the Wanda Metropolitano stands.

Antonio Conte's Premier League champions were unfortunate to be behind when Antoine Griezmann scored Atleti's first European goal at their new home from the penalty spot.

The opener from the man Costa will join in a dream forward line from January onwards, having finalised his Atletico return from Chelsea on Tuesday, arrived five minutes before half-time but Alvaro Morata gave another indication that Conte's side will cope perfectly well without their old talisman.

Morata nodded in a 59th-minute cross from the exceptional Eden Hazard to move on to seven goals in all competitions this season and worse was to follow for Diego Simeone's men.

Instead of launching a free-kick into the area as the allotted period of injury time expired, Chelsea calmly worked possession around, with Marcos Alonso picking out substitute Batshuayi for a simple finish that left the watching Costa ashen faced.

Chelsea are top of the standings after back-to-back wins, two points clear of Roma, while Atleti have ground to make up in their pending double-header against Qarabag.Conte handed a start to the fit-again Hazard and Chelsea's influential playmaker began brightly.


Hazard embarked upon a driving run in the fifth minute, sliding through a pass for Morata to drag wide, before cleverly cutting in from the left to fire into the side netting.

Morata was off target once more from a similar position to the right of goal inside the Atletico penalty area, provoking an animated response from Conte on the touchline.

Chelsea's 3-5-2 was causing Atleti persistent problems and the jewel in the formation, Hazard, engineered space 25 yards out in the 13th minute to unleash a vicious swerving drive against the post, with home goalkeeper Jan Oblak rooted to the spot.

Oblak was a necessarily more active participant after the first half ticked past midway and Morata's header from David Luiz's raking pass forced him to tip over.
Atletico belatedly steadied themselves and took the lead having been on the back foot.

Luiz needlessly grabbed Lucas Hernandez's shirt as the defender looked to attack a near-post corner and Griezmann outfoxed Thibaut Courtois by sending his spot kick down the middle.

It was almost 2-0 on the stroke of half-time when Courtois parried Koke's low drive dangerously into the path of Saul Niguez, who sidefooted narrowly wide.

Saul got above Tiemoue Bakayoko to head past the post from a Koke set-piece early in the second half, while a wicked cross from Cesar Azpilicueta flashed agonisingly between Morata and the face of goal at the other end. It was no surprise when Hazard served as the architect of the away side's equaliser, curling in a sumptuous ball from the left and obliging Morata to nod home.

Uncharacteristic panic suddenly gripped the Atleti defence and after a clutch of red-and-white shirts scurried towards Hazard in vain, an unmarked but stumbling Cesc Fabregas was unable to turn in the cutback from close range.

Morata's outing should really have proved more profitable than it was.


The Spain striker streaked away from Lucas in the 75th minute only to misjudge a tame effort, but Batshuayi - on for Morata - clinched the points with a close-range finish deep in injury time.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Sporting CP 0 Barcelona 1: Coates own goal puts Catalans in command of Group D

Barcelona extended their winning run to eight games in all competitions on Wednesday as they edged past Sporting CP 1-0 in their Champions League clash at the Estadio Jose Alvalade.

Ernesto Valverde's side rarely had to get out of second gear to secure a win that puts them in a commanding position at the summit of Group D.The only goal of the game came just four minutes into the second half, and despite Luis Suarez wheeling away to celebrate, replays showed that the decisive final touch came from Sporting defender Sebastian Coates.

Bruno Fernandes had a wonderful opportunity to claim a share of the spoils for Sporting in the second half but was thwarted by Marc-Andre ter Stegen, as Barcelona held on for a deserved three points.The Spanish giants will be confident of extending their lead at the top of the group when they host Olympiacos in three weeks. Sporting, meanwhile, face a daunting test against Juventus in Turin.


The game started at a pedestrian pace with Barcelona's potent attackers easily kept at arm's length by a well drilled Sporting backline. They did get a clear sight of goal in the 15th minute, however, as Suarez whipped a shot over the crossbar when well positioned on the edge of the area.

Cristiano Piccini then saw his fizzing long-range drive tipped over by Ter Stegen before Suarez missed a golden opportunity to break the deadlock. Played in by a typically incisive pass by Lionel Messi, the Uruguayan could only hit his left-foot strike straight at Rui Patricio.

The roles were reversed shortly after as Messi got himself on the end of a Suarez cross, only to head straight at the Sporting goalkeeper.Messi was then denied a likely opener just before the break when Fabio Coentrao threw himself in front of the Argentine's goal-bound effort.

Barcelona's influential playmaker was instrumental in the opening goal just three minutes into the second period. His teasing free-kick from the right caused chaos in the Sporting box and after bouncing off Suarez's head the ball ended up in the net via the unfortunate Coates.

Suarez did come close to getting his name on the scoresheet but his drilled shot from the edge of the area was straight down the throat of Patricio. Ter Stegen then produced a great stop to deny Fernandes an equaliser as Barcelona held on for maximum points.

 

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Paris Saint-Germain 3 Bayern Munich 0: Miserable return to Paris for Ancelotti

Edinson Cavani and Neymar renewed their strike partnership in emphatic style with a goal apiece as Paris Saint-Germain brushed Bayern Munich aside in a 3-0 Champions League victory at the Parc des Princes.

The pair had sparked suggestions of disharmony after their on-pitch spat over who took a penalty in their 2-0 win over Lyon in Ligue 1, but they combined intuitively as Unai Emery's side demolished the German champions' defence in a one-sided Group B encounter.

Bayern coach Carlo Ancelotti, returning to his old club for the first time since guiding PSG to the title in 2012-13, saw his side punished for a slow start when Dani Alves opened the scoring in the second minute.

Cavani made it 2-0 after half an hour with his 10th goal in as many games and the result was put beyond doubt with just over an hour played when Neymar scored from close range.

Emery will have been delighted to see his side bounce back from a disappointing draw at Montpellier four days earlier and put on a display of sumptuous attacking football against one of Europe's best sides, having won their opening Champions League clash 5-0 against Celtic.


Ancelotti, meanwhile, has seen his side take just three wins from their last six games and Sunday's trip to Hertha Berlin in the Bundesliga is now a vital one. PSG started in some style and Bayern had barely touched the ball when Neymar's mazy dribble took him across the top of the penalty area where he squared to Alves, whose low shot squirmed between the legs of Sven Ulreich and into the net.

Rattled, Bayern sprung to life and Thomas Muller might have levelled after 12 minutes when Joshua Kimmich's corner found him on his own five yards out, but his first-time shot flew wide.

Javi Martinez bent a fierce shot towards goal from the edge of the box with the outside of his right foot, drawing an acrobatic one-handed save from Alphonse Areola as the visitors began to attack with their trademark intensity.

Neymar could have doubled PSG's lead had his deft first touch not deserted him in a one-on-one with Ulreich after 21 minutes, and soon after his strike partner Cavani took the limelight when Kylian Mbappe darted into the box, turned and teed the Uruguayan striker up to fire a shot high into the net.

The game was almost put beyond Bayern when Mbappe crossed to Neymar and the Brazilian played an audacious back-heel to Cavani, but his low drive was saved by Ulreich, who kept the contest alive with an outstretched foot.

Neymar exchanged passes with Mbappe four minutes into the second half, but then blazed his shot high and wide when he had a clear sight of goal just 10 yards out, and he missed the target again after a strong solo run to the edge of the box four minutes later.The introduction of Kingsley Coman energised Bayern's attack and fellow substitute Sebastian Rudy curled a shot towards goal after 56 minutes that required a smart save from Areola to keep it out.

Seven minutes later Alves surged forward and threaded a pass to Mbappe, who pulled off a sublime piece of footwork to send David Alaba the wrong way before his shot rebounded off Martinez into the path of Neymar, with the former Barcelona man rifling it high into the net.

Arturo Vidal had a goal ruled out for offside after he was put through by the unusually quiet Robert Lewandowski, whose did strike the upright with a free-kick late on.Both Cavani and Adrien Rabiot tried their luck from distance as PSG looked to send a message to the rest of Europe by adding a fourth, but the home crowd were not complaining at the end.