Barcelona, Dortmund perfect in group play
Look at Champions League action Wednesday
GENEVA — Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund impressed again Wednesday to join Juventus as the only teams with three straight wins midway through the Champions League group stage.
In two clashes of teams with perfect records, Barcelona beat Inter Milan 2-0 and Dortmund dismantled Atletico Madrid in a 4-0 rout.
Liverpool went back on top of an eventful Group C, beating Red Star Belgrade 4-0 while Napoli twice led at Paris Saint-Germain until Angel Di Maria’s stoppage-time shot earned a 2-2 draw.
Dortmund delivered the result of the night after defending a one-goal lead from sustained pressure in the second half. The Bundesliga leader added three late goals as Atletico’s tempers and famously resolute defence frayed.
Lionel Messi was missing for Barcelona after fracturing his right arm in a Spanish league game, but his replacement Rafinha opened the scoring in what proved to be a comfortable evening at Camp Nou.
Barcelona’s win at least kept Inter in range for the other Group B teams, PSV Eindhoven and Tottenham, who drew 2-2 in the Netherlands to each earn a first point.
Thierry Henry’s Champions League debut as a coach saw Monaco draw 1-1 at Club Brugge, leaving both teams with one point in Group A which Dortmund leads.
Here’s how Wednesday’s action unfolded:
DORTMUND RISING
Atletico coach Diego Simeone has long fashioned a team in his own tough image, and in eight years had never seen such a heavy defeat.
Dortmund deservedly led at halftime, though Axel Witsel’s 38th-minute shot took a big deflection to beat goalkeeper Jan Oblak.
Witsel was targeted by forward Diego Costa in a running battle through the second half as Atletico failed to turn its chances into goals. Costa was one of five Atletico players booked, triggering a UEFA disciplinary case.
Dortmund’s three late goals came from the bench, with two from Portugal midfielder Raphael Guerreiro and one from new England international Jadon Sancho. Guerreiro’s second and Dortmund’s fourth stemmed from a slack pass in the 89th by Atletico left-back Filipe Luis.
MESSI’S NIGHT OFF
Messi sat with his son Thiago to watch Barcelona ease past Inter Milan and take control of Group B.
The Argentine star had his right arm in a fabric sling knotted at his left shoulder as he watched Rafinha score in the 32nd and defender Jordi Alba seal the game in the 83rd.
Barcelona’s expected path to the round of 16 — which can be sealed in Milan on Nov. 6 — was also eased by the early kickoff draw between PSV and Tottenham.
Tottenham has now conceded four goals after the 85th minute in its three Group B games. Those goals have cost the team five points and leave Tottenham needing to beat PSV Nov. 6.
LIVERPOOL LEADS
The three forwards who each scored 10 Champions League goals for Liverpool last season all netted at Anfield against Red Star.
Roberto Firmino started the rout in the 20th and Mohamed Salah added two more, including one from the penalty spot. Sadio Mane scored Liverpool’s fourth.
The return in Belgrade Nov. 6 promises to be a hostile evening.