Barca triumph without Messi
▶ Dortmund pummel Atletico 4-0 in Champions League
Barcelona overcame the absence of an injured Lionel Messi to defeat Inter Milan 2-0 in the Champions League on Wednesday, while Borussia Dortmund signaled their intent with a 4-0 demolition of Atletico Madrid.
Mohamed Salah scored twice as Liverpool strolled past Red Star Belgrade, but Paris Saint-Germain needed a superb stoppage-time equalizer from Angel di Maria to rescue a point at home to Napoli.
Barca collected a third win from three Group B outings as Rafinha, filling in for Messi after the Argentine star fractured his arm at the weekend, volleyed in the opener on 32 minutes at Camp Nou.
Philippe Coutinho rattled the crossbar in the second half before Jordi Alba sealed the points seven minutes from time to leave Barca on the brink of a spot in the last 16.
Bundesliga leaders Dortmund, who were missing inform striker Paco Alcacer, delivered the performance of the evening as they handed last season’s Europa League winners Atletico their heaviest defeat under Diego Simeone.
Axel Witsel fired Dortmund ahead shortly before halftime at Signal Iduna Park, with substitute Raphael Guerreiro netting twice in the final quarter hour either side of a goal by teenage England international Jadon Sancho.
Dortmund top Group A with a maximum nine points, although Atletico still remain favorites to progress alongside them after Thierry Henry’s Monaco and Club Brugge drew 1-1 in the other game.
At Anfield, Liverpool’s front three of Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane were all on target as Jurgen Klopp’s team swept Serbian champions Red Star aside 4-0.
Firmino broke the deadlock on 20 minutes and Salah struck right before the interval.
The Egyptian then converted a penalty just after the break to become the fastest Liverpool player to 50 goals, achieving the feat in just 65 games.
He missed out on the chance for a hat trick as he was substituted before Mane missed a second spot kick, although the Senegalese forward redeemed himself when he stabbed home a Daniel Sturridge cross.
Liverpool top Group C by two points from Napoli, who looked on course for an impressive win in France before Di Maria’s late heroics in a 2-2 draw at the Parc des Princes.
Carlo Ancelotti’s visitors twice led through efforts from Lorenzo Insigne and Dries Mertens, but having leveled once through an own goal by Mario Rui, Paris salvaged a point with Di Maria’s marvellous curling 18-meter strike.
Tottenham’s knockout phase hopes look bleak after conceding a costly late equalizer in a 2-2 draw at PSV Eindhoven.