Neymar and Messi regain form, PSG and Barca win big in Champions League

Neymar scored a hat-trick, PSG won big in Champions League

The 26-year-old star shone as the Parisian club defeated Red Star Belgrade 6-1 on October 3. The former Barca star's ability to disrupt, create and finish was clearly demonstrated at the Parc des Princes. He also made history by becoming the Brazilian player with the most goals in the Champions League, equaling Kaka's record (30 goals).

After 49 matches in the Champions League, Neymar has 30 goals and 19 assists. Photo:AP.

He opened the scoring with a beautiful free kick in the 20th minute, then tapped in Mbappe's cross to double the lead just two minutes later. After Cavani turned and finished neatly in the 37th minute, it was Di Maria's turn to make it 4-0 from Thomas Meunier's cross.

In the second half, PSG's fifth goal was scored after some difficult dribbling by Neymar. He passed the ball to Juan Bernat to cross for Mbappe to score. Neymar's hat-trick was also achieved from a free kick with a similar shooting angle as the opening goal, but this time he finished at the near post. The away team only had an honorary goal thanks to Marko Marin.

Messi scored twice, Barca won big right at Tottenham's field

Barca defeated hosts Tottenham 4-2 in the second round of the Champions League group stage. Philippe Coutinho put Barca ahead with a precise shot into an empty net, after goalkeeper Hugo Lloris rushed out and missed a chance in a face-off with Jordi Alba.

After opening the scoring, Coutinho shone again with a pass back from the touchline, where midfielder Ivan Rakitic was waiting to volley the ball to make it 2-0. 2018 World Cup winner Lloris could only watch as the ball hit the post and flew into the goal.

Tottenham had to wait until the beginning of the second half for a more optimistic signal. The person who played the role of restoring honor for the home team was Harry Kane. The captain reduced the score to 1-2 with a right-footed curler in the 52nd minute.

Messi has five goals in his first two Champions League games.

Unlike many previous matches, Messi started the match in England with a more creative role. The move in the 56th minute was a testament to Barca's teamwork as well as Messi's. After passing to the left wing for Alba to rush down, M10 quietly moved into the penalty area to receive the cross. Then, from two consecutive lifts of Coutinho and Suarez, Messi received the ball in a one-on-one situation with Lloris and finished to increase the score to 3-1.

The 4-2 winner in the 90th minute was also a masterpiece of the Suarez-Messi pair's art of deceiving their opponents. From another pass from Alba, Suarez pretended to receive the ball and let it drift towards Messi, who continued to successfully take advantage of the opportunity in the middle of the penalty area to complete his double.

Between Messi's two goals, Tottenham got another goal back. Midfielder Erik Lamela scored with his left foot, the ball deflected off Clement Lenglet and flew into the goal.

Inter keep winning streak in Champions League group stage

Icardi scored two goals in the first two matches of the Champions League group stage. Photo:EPA.

In the away match at PSV on the evening of October 3, with the same comeback score, Inter had six points like Barca after two matches.

The winner for the blue and black team was still captain Mauro Icardi. Against PSV, he skillfully shielded the ball, while being closely monitored by both the defender and the goalkeeper, before gently slotting the ball into the empty net.

Inter made no secret of their attacking intentions and pushed their defence high up the pitch immediately after the opening whistle. However, just as Inter had their first good chance, with Matias Vecino swooping in close range, they conceded. PSV's goal was settled simply. Hirving Lozano passed the ball back to Pablo Rosario, who charged from the second line and fired a powerful shot, leaving goalkeeper Handanovic rooted to the spot.

Minutes after Icardi was denied a chance, Nainggolan restored the balance with a precise long-range shot. The Inter new signing was in the right place, after the ball bounced off the home defender's feet. The Belgian midfielder's low, powerful shot gave Jeroen Zoet no chance to block.

Nainggolan's equalizer at the end of the first half gave Inter more confidence in the second half. 15 minutes after the break, Icardi continued to play the hero role when he took advantage of a lack of decisiveness from goalkeeper Zoet to score the decisive goal.

Dortmund plunges Monaco into deeper crisis

The German team took advantage of their home field to defeat their opponent 3-0 on the evening of October 3, pushing the French representative to the brink of elimination.

Reus (left) shares joy with his teammates after sealing the 3-0 win for Dortmund. Photo:AP.

All three goals were scored in the second half. Jacob Bruun Larsen broke Borussia Dortmund's deficit early in the half, with a run off the ball, beating the offside trap and finishing from inside the box. On-loan Barca striker Paco Alcacer doubled the lead 20 minutes later, beating the Monaco goalkeeper before slotting the ball into an empty net.

The score could have been bigger if Alcacer had converted a penalty a few minutes before scoring. However, Marco Reus replaced his teammate to score the third goal in injury time. He moved freely, received a cross from the left, calmly controlled the ball and finished low into the far corner.

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