CHAMPIONS LEAGUE ROUND UP

BARCELONA continued to show there is life after Neymar as Lionel Messi’s double inspired a 3-0 win over Juventus last night. Ousmane Dembele, signed this summer to replace Neymar, started the move for the first, bringing the ball down under pressure and laying it off to Messi, who played a one-two with Luis Suarez before scoring past Gianluigi Buffon for the first time in his career. Messi was crucial to the second, too, his cross falling to Ivan Rakitic for a tap-in, before the Argentine wrapped it up with a fine finish from the edge of the area. It was Barca’s fourth straight win and Rakitic said afterwards: ‘We have had a great few weeks and this win gives us confidence.’ The win also sent an ominous message to their Champions League rivals, but Bayern Munich will be content after their 3-0 win over Anderlecht. Goals from Thiago Alcantara and Joshua Kimmich followed Robert Lewandowski’s penalty, which came after Sven Kums was sent off for dragging down the Poland striker. Elsewhere, Atletico Madrid were held to a 0-0 draw at Roma, with Kostas Manolas’s excellent clearance denying Koke and Saul blazing over late on for Atletico’s best chances.