Skip to content

Champions League round-up: Neymar brace helps Barcelona breeze past BATE Borisov

Celebrations for Neymar and Barcelona
Image: Barcelona are on the verge of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League's last 16 after beating BATE 3-0 at the Nou Camp

Barcelona are on the verge of qualifying for the last 16 of the Champions League after beating BATE Borisov 3-0 at the Nou Camp on Wednesday night.

The holders had few problems seeing off the challenge of the Belarusian champions, with Neymar scoring either side of half-time, including opening the scoring with a penalty after half an hour.

Fellow forward Luis Suarez doubled the Catalans' lead with a well-taken goal on the hour-mark after a neat one-two with Neymar, before then repaying the favour by creating the Brazilian's second seven minutes from time.

However, Barca are still not mathematically guaranteed of a place in the knockout phase of Europe's premier club competition after Roma overcame Bayer Leverkusen 3-2 in the other Group E game at the Stadio Olimpico.

Group E
Image: Champions League Group E

The Serie A side led 2-0 after half an hour in the Italian capital following goals from on-loan players Mohamed Salah - after just 100 seconds - and Edin Dzeko.

Leverkusen drew level thanks to quick-fire strikes after half-time from Admir Mehmedi and former Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez, only for the home side to claim all three points when Bosnia midfielder Miralem Pjanic scored from the penalty spot with nine minutes left to play in an incident that also saw Leverkusen's Omer Toprak sent off.

Elsewhere, Olympiakos came from behind to beat Dinamo Zagreb 2-1 at home to remain level on points with Bayern Munich at the top of Group F.

Also See:

Arsenal are bottom of the Group F table after four games
Image: Champions League Group F

The visitors had led thanks to Armin Hodzic's 21st-minute strike, only for the Greek champions to respond courtesy of two goals after half-time from Colombia winger Felipe Pardo, a result that means Olympiakos now need just a point to progress to the next phase of the competition.

Meanwhile, Porto won 3-1 at Maccabi Tel-Aviv to keep hold of top spot in Group G, with the Portuguese side taking the lead after 19 minutes through on-loan Barcelona forward Cristian Tello.

Chelsea are second in Group G after four matches
Image: Champions League Group G

Further strikes either side of the break from Andre Andre and Miguel Layun sealed the points for Julen Lopetegui's team and although there was a consolation penalty from Eran Zahavi, Porto now need just a point to qualify for the knockout phase.

One team through is Zenit St Petersburg, who progressed from Group H after beating Lyon 2-0 at the Stade Gerland, their fourth straight victory in this season's competition.

Artem Dzyuba gave the Russians the lead midway through the first half after being set up by Hulk, and the striker then doubled the visitors' advantage, after another Hulk assist, 12 minutes after half-time.

Group H
Image: Champions League Group H

The match ended with a flashpoint that saw Lyon's Maxime Gonalons and Zenit's Aleksandr Anyukov dismissed.

In the group's other game, Gent overcame Valencia 1-0 thanks to a penalty from captain Sven Kums just after the break - victory moves the Belgian champions to within two points of their opponents.

Around Sky