Messi takes Man City apart in Champions League
Lionel Messi scored his second hat-trick in as many Champions League games to give Barcelona a 4-0 win over Manchester City as Pep Guardiola and Claudio Bravo endured harrowing returns to the Nou Camp this morning, Australian time.
A slip by Fernandinho allowed Messi to round former team mate Bravo and open the scoring in the 17th minute and the keeper completed a miserable night by getting sent off in the second half for handling outside the area after losing the ball.
The magical Messi hammered in his second from the edge of the area after turning two City defenders and pounced on a Luis Suarez lay-off to complete his treble in the 69th minute.
Barca substitute Jeremy Mathieu was then dismissed for two bookable offences. Neymar had a late penalty saved by substitute Willy Caballero but the Brazilian made amends by scoring the fourth goal in the 89th minute.
Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar celebrate Barcelona’s fourth goal. Photo: Francisco Seco / AP
In other Champions League games overnight, Mesut Ozil bagged a second-half hat-trick as Arsenal turned on the style to thrash Ludogorets 6-0 and move to the verge of the knockout rounds.
The Londoners had far too much firepower for the Bulgarian champions with Alexis Sanchez and Theo Walcott both scoring stunners before the break and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Mesut Ozil completing the demolition after it.
Arsenal survived a few defensive lapses in the first half but could have scored more as they cantered to a seventh successive win in all competitions.
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Arsene Wenger’s rampant side top Group A on goal difference from Paris St Germain, who also have seven points after beating Basel. Ludogorets and Basel have one point.
Vincent Aboubakar headed a late goal to give Besiktas a shock 3-2 win away at Napoli after the Serie A team had twice come from behind and missed a penalty along the way.
Bayern Munich dispelled any doubts about its commitment by ending a three-match winless run with a comfortable 4-1 victory over PSV Eindhoven, while Borussia Moenchengladbach capitalized on two defensive errors by Kolo Toure to beat Celtic 2-0.
-Reuters
