European Champions League

Barcelona 3 – Juventus 0

Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Semedo, Piqué, Umtiti, Jordi Alba; Rakitic (Paulinho 77’), Busquets, Iniesta (André Gomes 83’); Messi, Luis Suárez, Dembélé (Sergi Roberto 71‘). 4-3-3.
Juventus: Buffon; De Sciglio (Sturaro 41’), Benatia, Barzagli, Alex Sandro; Matuidi, Pjanic; Bentancur (Bernadeschi 63’), Dybala, Douglas Costa; Higuaín (Caligara 87’). 4-2-3-1.

Goals:
1-0. 45. Messi. Picked up return Luis Suárez pass and struck shot wide of Buffon.
2-0. 56. Rakitic. Fired shot back past keeper after Sturaro blocked shot from Messi.
3-0. 69. Messi. Collected Iniesta pass on breakaway and ran on to beat keeper.

Yellow cards: Betancur 26‘, Semedo 35‘, Messi 54’, Barzagli 61’, Pjanic 74’, Caligara 88’.

A good start for Barcelona in their opening game of the Champions League, a 3-0 victory over Juventus taking them to the top of their group. The Catalans were knocked out of the competition by the Italian champions last season without scoring a single goal over the two legs, but Messi combined with Luis Suárez to give them the lead on the stroke of half time. Ter Stegen had to save from Di Sciglio and Pjanic, and Dybala fired a shot over the top, but Messi rattled the upright shortly after the restart, and a few minutes later Rakitic made it two after Sturaro could only clear Messi’s cross to him. With twenty minutes to go Messi got his second of the night on a quick breakaway, and Luis Suárez tested Buffon a couple of times before the final whistle.