Camp Nou turns on toothless Barca after draw

BARCELONA:BARCELONA were booed off the pitch by their supporters as their patchy form continued with a 0-0 draw at home to Slavia Prague in their Champions League Group F game on Tuesday.

Ernesto Valverde’s side had fallen to a 3-1 defeat at Levante in La Liga on the weekend and could not give the rousing response they craved, failing to break down a diligent and bold Slavia side.

With Luis Suarez injured, Barca lacked a cutting edge and visiting goalkeeper Ondrej Kolar produced an admirable display to shut out the Catalans, thwarting Lionel Messi and Sergi Roberto from close range in the second half.

Messi also struck the top of the post in the first period following a thrilling solo charge from his own half and then teed up Arturo Vidal for a tap-in late in the game but the effort was ruled out for offside against the Argentine.

“Playing like this it’s difficult to see us winning the Champions League,” said Barca defender Gerard Pique.

Barca lead the group on eight points after four games, while Slavia are bottom with two.

The Czechs, who were unfortunate to lose 2-1 at home to Barcelona two weeks ago, made a bright start and nearly took an early lead with a heavily-deflected shot which was repelled by the Catalans’ goalkeeper Marc-andre ter Stegen.

HAKIMI SHINES AS DORTMUND BEAT MILAN

DORTMUND: Borussia Dortmund defender Achraf Hakimi produced a blistering individual performance as he scored twice to help his side overhaul a twogoal deficit and beat Inter Milan 3-2 at home in their Champions League Group F clash on Tuesday.

Lautaro Martinez and Matias Vecino fired Inter into a 2-0 firsthalf lead before Dortmund came storming back with Hakimi scoring either side of a Julian Brandt effort.

JAVELIN ANOTHER STRONGHOLD

Apart from high jump, men’s javelin is another event which is ruled by Indians. Devendra Jhajharia won gold (F-46 category) during the 2016 Rio Paralympics and in the previous edition of World Championship, Gujar clinched the gold.

Also, there are three Indians in the top-five of world rankings