BEVERLY HILLS, SEPTEMBER 14, (THEWILL) – Argentinian forward, Lionel Messi, scored a hat-trick as Barcelona launched their Champions League campaign in style with a 7-0 thrashing of Celtic on Tuesday in match day 1 of the 2016/2017 UEFA CL at the Camp Nou stadium.
Two goals from Messi gave Barca a comfortable half-time lead while goals from Neymar, Messi again, Andres Iniesta and a Luis Suarez double completed the rout.
However, Barca could face further sanctions from UEFA after thousands of separatist Catalan flags were again flown at the Camp Nou.
The Spanish champions were fined 150,000 euros ($170,000) by UEFA for the presence of the flags during last season’s competition, 50,000 euros of which was suspended for two years.
Meanwhile, Arsenal’s Chilean forward, Alexis Sanchez, struck with 12 minutes left as Arsenal came from behind to earn an unlikely 1-1 draw with Paris Saint-Germain in their Champions League opener on Tuesday.
PSG had led virtually from kick-off, an Edinson Cavani header opening the scoring as the clock ticked onto 42 seconds at the Parc des Princes.
The goal was PSG’s quickest ever in the Champions League, but the French champions, and Cavani in particular, were guilty of failing to convert a succession of golden opportunities.
Chilean forward Sanchez made them pay as he netted the equaliser before both sides ended the game with 10 men after Olivier Giroud and Marco Verratti were each sent off at the death.
Also, goals from Robert Lewandowski, Juan Bernat, Thomas Mueller and a double from Joshua Kimmich gave Bayern Munich a 5-0 thrashing of Russian side, Rostov.
However, the game between Manchester City and Borussia Moenchengladbach was postponed due to heavy rain at City’s Etihad Stadium.
FULL Result Champions League – September 13
Group A
Basel 1 – 1 Ludogorets Razgrad
Paris Saint Germain 1 – 1 Arsenal
Group B
Benfica 1 – 1 Besiktas
Dynamo Kyiv 1 – 2 SSC Napoli
Group C
Barcelona 7 – 0 Celtic
Manchester City – Borussia Moenchengladbach (Postponed)
Group D
Bayern Munich 5 – 0 FC Rostov
PSV Eindhoven 0 – 1 Atletico Madrid
