UEFA Champions League
Result: FC Barcelona 3-0 Juventus
Date: 12 September 2017
Venue: Camp Nou
Lionel Messi netted a brace as FC Barcelona crushed Serie A champions Juventus 3-0 in their opening UEFA Champions League clash.
Ousmane Demebele was handed his first start by Ernesto Valverde, with Gerrard Deulofeu dropping to the bench.
The Serie A champions went close to taking the lead in the 12th minute through Mirlam Pjanic, but Marc-Andre Ter Stegen produced a fine save to deny the midfielder from distance.
Luis Suarez went close to breaking the deadlock after 20 minutes, but the Uruguayan's volley was kept out by Juventus goalkeeper, Gianluigi Buffon.
After a quiet spell in the half, the hosts eventually broke the deadlock in the 45th minute courtesy of a close range finish from Messi.
Barca doubled their lead 10 minutes into the second hlaf as Ivan Rakitic fired from 12-yards out, after Juventus failed to clear Messi's low cross.
The Catalan giants continued to dominate and they bagged a third goal in the 69th minute as Messi fired into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.
With the hosts comfortably leading, Valverde withdrew Rakitic for Paulinho in the 77th minute before Andre Gomes replaced Iniesta a few minutes later.
The Catalan giants managed to see out the closing stages with relative ease as they begin the campaign with three points.
