No Messi, no problem for Barca
Winsome Wilkins (left), chairman of the Usain Bolt Foundation, greets Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert, member of parliament for South Trelawny, following the launch of the Usain Bolt Foundation and the JN Foundation Heroes in Action 4k Run and 8K Run/Walk at the Historic Falmouth Port, recently. Also looking on is Saffrey Brown, general manager of the JN Foundation. The charity run/walk is slated for this upcoming Heroes weekend on October 16 at the Falmouth Port, with proceeds going to the Victim Services Division and the Granville Place of Safety. MOENCHENGLADBACH, Germany (AP): BARCELONA OVERCAME the absence of Lionel Messi to come from behind and beat Borussia Moenchengladbach 21 in the Champions League yesterday.
Gerard Pique stabbed home the winning goal in the 74th minute after a corner from Neymar was volleyed by Luis Suarez. Moenchengladbach goalkeeper Yann Sommer spilled the shot and the Barcelona defender hustled to nod it home.
Neymar created Barcelona’s equaliser with a through ball for substitute Arda Turan, who drilled it into the roof of the net in the 65th, five minutes after coming on for Ivan Rakitic.
Moenchengladbach could not hold on to the lead it got in the 34th. Mahmoud Dahoud and Raffael double-teamed to put Sergio Busquets under pressure and win the ball. Raffael carried it forward and then fed Dahoud on the left. His perfectly timed pass found Hazard open to slot home from close range.
...PSG, Napoli, Arsenal among winners, City held
ATTACK LACKING BITE
Without Messi, Barcelona’s attack lacked bite until the middle of the second half. His replacement, Paco Alcacer, making his Champions League debut, had little impact.
Neymar was closely marked, often by two or three Moenchengladbach players. But the Brazilian got more space in the second half and used it well.
Suarez lacked support, but he Barcelona’s Neymar (centre) challenge for the ball with Moenchengladbach’s Oscar Wendt (left) and Moenchengladbach’s Ibrahima Traore during the Champions League group C match between Borussia Moenchengladbach and FC Barcelona in Moenchengladbach, Germany, yesterday.
was the one who threatened, firing high in the first real chance in the 11th.
Suarez might have done better later in the first half had he shot for himself instead of squaring the ball to Alcacer. Julian Korb made a great sliding tackle to deny the Barcelona forward a shot at goal from close range.
Following an opening 7-0 drubbing of Celtic, Barcelona now have six points in Group C.
Moenchengladbach are at two defeats, having also lost the opener 4-0 to Manchester City.
Manchester City were held 33 at Celtic.
Barcelona goalkeeper MarcAndre ter Stegen got a warm reception from former home fans, having played formerly for Moenchengladbach.
It was Barcelona’s second win in their last seven matches in Germany.
At the Emirates, Arsenal beat Basel 2-0, while PSG got the better of Ludogrets on the road with a 3-1 win.
Napoli out-powered Benfica 4-2 in their first Champions League home game in two years, while Besiktas and Dynamo Kiev drew 1-1 in their contest.
Atlético Madrid tagged Bayern Munich 1-0, with PSV and Rostov ending 2 - 2.