The first eight group stage matches are in the books around Europe, with Barcelona, Napoli, and Bayern Munich making statements of intent.
[ MORE: Man City, Gladbach postponed ]
One giant, Manchester City, wasn’t allowed that chance after a lightning storm forced the postponement of the Premier League side’s match with Borussia Monchengladbach at the Etihad Stadium.
Barcelona 7-0 Celtic
- WATCH: Neymar’s free kick goal
Neymar teed up Lionel Messi for a pair of first half goals, as Barcelona bounced back from its 2-1 loss to Alaves this weekend.
Messi scored again in the second half to complete his hat trick, while Luis Suarez nabbed a brace. Andres Iniesta and Neymar also scored.
The Blaugranas rarely need help to disassemble a team’s hopes, but Mousa Dembele’s earned and missed penalty didn’t exactly buoy the Bhoys spirits on Tuesday.
Neymar buried a free kick just after halftime, and this one was in cruise control.
19 - There were 19 passes leading up to Lionel Messi's second goal versus Celtic. Metronomic. pic.twitter.com/nSQ1T6CpaC
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) September 13, 2016
PSG 1-1 Arsenal -- RECAP
Edinson Cavani scored in the first minute and could’ve had a hat trick in the frame. Those misses combined with an outstanding second half from Arsenal backstop David Ospina stopped this one from being a blowout at the Parc des Princes. Alexis Sanchez nabbed a 78th minute rebound goal to give the Gunners a point.
Arsenal next hosts Basel two weeks from Wednesday, while PSG is off to Bulgaria to face Ludogorets on the same day.
Bayern Munich 5-0 Rostov
Thomas Muller scored in first half stoppage time to buttress the lead provided by Robert Lewandowski’s 28th minute penalty kick. Joshua Kimmich added a pair of second half goals, and Juan Bernat also netted as the Bavarians cruised to victory.
PSV 0-1 Atletico
Saul Niguez scored another fantastic UCL goal to give the returning finalists a lead, and PSV’s Mexican veteran Andres Guardado missed a penalty before halftime. There’s a bit of perceived karma there, as the call was controversial at best.
He scored the goal of the #UCL last season, and Saul Niguez is at it again for Atletico Madrid. #UCLonFOX https://t.co/wRRjTwVYnd
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) September 13, 2016
Benfica 1-1 Besiktas
Ex-Benfica man Talisca broke his former supporters’ hearts with a stoppage time goal to give the Turkish powers a point from Portugal. For the hosts, Argentine attacker Franco Cervi netted his first goal since arriving from Rosario Central.
Dynamo Kiev 1-2 Napoli
Arkadiusz Milik’s move from Ajax to Napoli is off to a fantastic start, as the Polish striker buried a pair of goals after Dynamo went ahead through Denys Garmash.
Basel 1-1 Ludogorets Razgrad
Cafu -- no, not that Cafu -- scored in the 45th minute to give the Bulgarian visitors a 1-0 lead at the break. Renato Steffen gave the Swiss hosts their point with a second-half equalizer.