Champions League: Luis Suarez at the double to rescue Barcelona

That’s all from us on another thrilling night of Champions League football.

Just when you thought Tuesday’s action – sorry Tottenham fans – couldn’t be topped, up step Liverpool and Red Bull Salzburg to provide another epic European clash.

We really have been spoilt over the past two nights, both with the quality and quantity of goals.

Unfortunately, there is now a three-week break until the next round of fixtures, with matchday three taking place on the 22/23 October.

We’ll see you then!

From 3-0 up to 3-3 … perhaps playing at Anfield should come with a health warning for Liverpool fans.

In the end, Mo Salah dug Jurgen Klopp’s side out of a hole of its own making.

You can read James Masters’ match report on another bonkers European night at Anfield here.

Here is what Jurgen Klopp said, speaking to BT Sport.

Despite the defeat, Salzburg fans can still take great pride in the way their team performed against Liverpool.

Not many teams have the temerity to come from three goals down at Anfield and the Austrians will be frustrated their fightback was, ultimately, in vain.

However, their fans certainly didn’t let it dampen their spirits. Here they are, long after the full-time whistle has blown.

He may have started the match on the bench but teenager Erling Braut Håland still found time to once again write his name in the Champions League record books.

For all his undoubted quality, Luis Suarez has rarely found the net in the Champions League over the last two seasons.

However, when his side needed him most, the Uruguayan got a crucial brace to kick-start Barcelona’s campaign in Europe.

After Ajax’s fairytale run to last season’s Champions League semifinal, it was inevitable that the Dutch side would lose some of its main talent to Europe’s biggest clubs.

However, despite the likes of Frenkie de Jong and Matthijs de Ligt departing for pastures new, the Amsterdam side has picked up where it left off last season.

The latest victim of Erik ten Hag’s swashbuckling side was Valencia, which was on the end of a heavy 3-0 home defeat.

However, the outcome could in fact have been very different. Valencia twice hit the post and captain Dani Parejo blasted an abysmal penalty effort high over the crossbar with his side only 1-0 down.

Hakim Ziyech, who many thought would also leave, scored the goal of the night – a stunning long-range effort into the top corner.

After 35 minutes of Liverpool’s clash against Red Bull Salzburg, the home side was cruising at 3-0 up.

However, some of Liverpool’s old defensive demons came back to haunt it as Salzburg replied with three goals of its own in 20 minutes either side of half time.

But just as it looked like the game was finally turning in the Austrian side’s favor, up popped Mo Salah to score Liverpool’s winning goal. It was Salah’s second goal of the night.

That is a huge result for Jurgen Klopp’s side following the opening round defeat away to Napoli.

Barcelona has turned this game on its head and has Luis Suarez to thank for securing all three points.

The Uruguayan was at his scintillating best in the second half, scoring one stunning volley and a second sublime effort to give his side victory.

At half-time, it has to be said, Inter deserved to be leading and will be frustrated to have come away with nothing.

That’s now five defeats in five visits to the Camp Nou for the Italians.

And it’s that man again, Luis Suarez.

So much of the credit for that goal has to go to Lionel Messi, however, as the Argentine wriggles his way through the Inter defense to set up Suarez.

Take nothing away from the Uruguayan though, his first touch to set up the killer second was absolutely sublime.

A Chilean’s cross met by a Uruguayan’s volley.

Arturo Vidal has been instrumental to Barcelona’s play since coming off the bench, setting up Luis Suarez for the equalizer.

Can the Catalan side find a winner with just 13 minutes remaining?

That goal has completely changed the complexion of this match.

Ever since’s Suarez’s strike, it’s been all Barcelona and Antoine Griezmann has just had the best chance of the evening to give his side the lead.

The Frenchman has the freedom of the Inter penalty area but stutters and sends a poor effort into the side-netting.

There was an element of offside but Inter it’s another warning for Inter, which is beginning to sit deeper and deeper.

Wow …

Luis Suarez has scored a STUNNING equalizer.

Just when his team needed him most, the Uruguayan hits a volley – as he’s falling over – from the edge of the area into the bottom corner.

It’s Barcelona 1-1 Inter with 30 minutes left to play, this could get interesting.

Antoine Griezmann and Diego Godin spent five successful seasons together at Atletico Madrid and struck up a close friendship in that time.

The Frenchman is known for his love of South America, including the bitter mate tea, and has even been pictured wearing a Uruguayan shirt.

The pair are so close that Griezmann asked Godin to be the godfather to his daughter.

Let’s hope there are no family feuds after tonight …

Luis Suarez paints an accurate picture of Barcelona’s night so far.

Nobody can deny that Inter Milan deserves its lead and perhaps it could have been more.

Alexis Sanchez had a great chance at the far post but his header skimmed wide, while Ter Stegen did brilliantly to deny Lautaro Martinez his second goal.

In truth, Barcelona has rarely troubled a very well-organized Inter Milan side.

Marc-André ter Stegen might have just kept Barcelona in this one.

The German gets down brilliantly to his left to keep out Lautaro Martinez’s bullet header … that was far too easy for the striker.

Antonio Candreva has the ball in the back of the net after a wonderful touch and first-time finish – but the linesman’s flag is up.

In truth, that is probably one of the easiest calls the assistant will have to make this evening.

We’ve not even played 25 minutes but already signs of frustration are creeping into Barcelona’s play.

Gerard Pique is the second home player to be shown a yellow card after a lunging tackle, which prompts a furious response from Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, who is given a stern talking to by the referee.

So far, Lionel Messi’s international teammate Lautaro Martinez has stolen the limelight at the Camp Nou with his brilliant strike.

The Argentine has another brilliant chance to extend Inter’s lead, but his touch around Ter Stegen is heavy and the angle quickly becomes too tight.

There have been a couple of tasty tackles already in this match and we have two yellow cards inside 10 minutes.

Nicolo Barella goes into the book for Inter (somewhat harshly), before Antoine Griezmann is deservedly shown a yellow for a lunge to prevent a counterattack.

An Argentine has scored the opening goal at the Camp Nou … but it’s not Lionel Messi.

Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez holds off Barcelona defender Clement Lenglet and fires a stunning low shot across Marc-André ter Stegen into the far corner.

That is the first goal Inter has EVER scored away to Barcelona.

Borussia Dortmund gets its first victory in this year’s Champions League group stage but it was made to work hard for it.

Slavia Prague will feel it could have taken at least a point from this contest but for some wonderful goalkeeping from Roman Burki in the Borussia Dortmund goal.

In the end, Dortmund was just too clinical on the counter with Achraf Hakimi scoring a goal in each half to seal the victory.

Hakimi’s goals came after classic counterattacks from the German side and gives it four points from its two games so far.

Dortmund travels to Italy next to face Inter Milan on October 23.

It doesn’t get any easier for Slavia Prague – Barcelona is coming to town.

Mr Ancelotti is not impressed …

That is Genk’s first ever point in the Champions League, although perhaps it will be ruing a missed opportunity to secure all three.

Napoli certainly had plenty of its own chances to win the match, all of them badly wasted, but Genk grew into the match and could have won it late through Ianis Hagi.

However, Ancelotti’s decision to leave out both Dries Mertens and Lorenzo Insigne will rightly be questioned.

Genk continues a great week for Belgian teams in the Champions League, after Club Brugge’s draw against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu.

It’s that man Achraf Hakimi again.

With Slavia pushing forward in search of an equalizer, Hakimi takes advantage of the acres of space in behind and fires home to extend Dortmund’s lead.

As he did in the first half, Hakimi accelerated into the space, running into the Slavia penalty area before coolly firing across the goalkeeper into the far corner.

A great finish, but that is so, so harsh on Slavia. The Czech champion has been excellent tonight – this defeat will hurt.

Slavia Prague 0-2 Borussia Dortmund

Less than five minutes remaining at the Eden Arena and Slavia Prague is not giving this one up.

The home side has been relentless in its pursuit of an equalizer but can’t find a way past Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Burki.

Tomáš Souček is the latest to go close, his far post header forcing Burki into a sharp save.

Remember, Slavia is unbeaten in its past 24 games …

It’s not for Napoli … but Genk – and you can’t say they wouldn’t have deserved it!

With just seven minutes left on the clock, Allan slips as a low ball is played into the box.

The stadium holds its collective breath as Ianis Hagi – son of the famous Gheorghe Hagi – lines up a shot … but he can only curl his effort high and wide under a desperate lunge from Kalidou Koulibaly.

Ever wanted to name you child after your sports team? Or perhaps your sporting hero?

Well, it looks like Barcelona fans are certainly doing their part to honor the great Leo Messi.

According to the Statistical Institute of Catalonia, which is responsible for overseeing census data on a population of over 7.6 million people, the name ‘Leo’ was the sixth most popular name given to newborn boys in 2018 – that’s up from 12th in 2017.

Given Messi’s penchant for the perfection, it shouldn’t be too much of a surprise that when you include all newborns in 2018 and both boys and girls are taken into account, the name “Leo” was ranked, yes, you guessed it, at No.10.

In Catalonia last year, 459 boys of the 32,408 boys born were named Leo – that’s 1.4% of all newborn boys names.

In the city of Barcelona itself, that percentage is predictably far greater with 5.7% of newborn boys born in 2018 named “Leo”.

You can read all about it here on Barcelona’s official website

Liverpool may be the overwhelming favorite against Red Bull Salzburg but the Austrian side will fancy springing a surprise with one of Europe’s most coveted strikers in its armory.

He may only be 19 but Erling Braut Håland is already making waves in this season’s Champions League. The forward scored a hat-trick in the opening group game as Belgian side Genk was put to the sword 6-2.

The son of former Manchester City and Leeds midfielder Alf-Inge Haaland, the teenager had social media in meltdown after his performance a fortnight ago.

With four hat-tricks to his name already this season and 17 goals in his past nine appearances, it’s little wonder RB Salzburg coach Jesse Marsch is so excited about the forward, who starts on the bench after overcoming illness.

Here’s what Marsch told reporters on Wednesday.

Slavia Prague is giving it everything but can’t seem to find a way past the black and yellow wall that is Dortmund’s defense.

Peter Olayinka, the man who scored against Inter, is looking dangerous but the visiting side is coping well with the constant pressure.

You do fear that as the game goes on and Slavia moves further up the field, it could be undone on the counter with Dortmund possessing real pace in attack.

Just over 20 minutes remaining in this one … the Dortmund fans looks like they’re enjoying it, don’t they?

Just in case you were wondering about the size of the task facing Salzburg….

Oh, and Liverpool has won all seven of its Premier League games so far this season and scoring 18 goals in the process.

Champions League football returns to Anfield for the first time since that astonishing night against Barcelona.

If you’ve somehow forgotten or been living in a cave for the past five months, Liverpool produced one of the greatest comebacks of all time in May, winning 4-0 in the semifinal second leg after losing the first game 3-0.

Of course, Liverpool went on to win the competition in Madrid – but coach Jurgen Klopp wants his players to look forward rather than back.

On Wednesday, Klopp’s side welcomes Red Bull Salzburg to Anfield and with the Premier League side having lost its opening group game against Napoli last time out, Klopp wants his players to focus on what lies ahead rather than what has already been.

Here’s what Klopp has to say in his official program notes ahead of the game with Salzburg.

As Napoli misses another chance, this time through Jose Callejon, Carlo Ancelotti decides enough is enough and opts to bring on Dries Mertens for Elif Elmas.

Usually so deadly in front of goal, can Mertens find the breakthrough?

Questions will be asked of the Italian coach as to why he wasn’t playing from the start.

Jadon Sancho won’t want to see this one again.

The Dortmund star has been in irrepressible form so far this season but he will want to forget this one in a hurry.

The England forward does all the hard work, picking up possession on the halfway line before accelerating clear of the Slavia defense.

It looks like he’s simply going to roll the ball past the goalkeeper but his final touch is horrible, allowing the Slavia stopper to make a fairly comfortable save.

That should have been game over.

Napoli forward Arkadiusz Milik can’t seem to do anything right this evening.

The Polish forward has had three great headed chances to give Napoli the lead against Genk but has got all of them completely wrong.

A little surprised he didn’t miss his head with hands, here.

It’s the news all Barcelona fans wanted to hear – and the news that will make Inter Milan’s defenders a little more anxious.

Lionel Messi starts for Barcelona alongside Luis Suarez and Antoine Griezmann at the Camp Nou.

Messi, whose season has been punctuated by injuries, limped off during his side’s 2-1 win over Villarreal last week after suffering an adductor injury but has recovered in time to face Inter.

Inter is without Romelu Lukaku who misses out through injury.

“Romelu didn’t travel with us because he’s got a slight problem with his quadriceps,” Inter coach Conte told a news conference on Tuesday.

“It’s a problem he’s had for about 10 days now and one that he kept on mentioning, but tests have revealed that it’s nothing serious.”

A decent first half with both teams creating chances – but only one being able to take advantage.

Step forward Achraf Hakimi, whose 35th minute goal gives Dortmund a 1-0 lead at the interval.

Slavia will feel hard done by with Roman Burki in the Dortmund goal producing two fine saves to deny the Czech champion.

Slavia’s 24-match unbeaten run is on the line here – can it find a way back? 

Well, well, well …

After looking comfortable for much of the first half, Napoli finishes it well and truly on the back foot.

With the bit between its teeth in the closing five minutes, Genk has troubled the visitor’s backline and forced goalkeeper Alex Meret into a couple of really good saves.

It certainly hasn’t been easy for Napoli, and Genk will be increasingly confident of snatching a first ever Champions League win.

This game has finally started to come to life as we enter the final five minutes of the first half.

Kalidou Koulibaly almost came back to haunt his old club but has his header cleared off the line, before Arkadiusz Milik heads the rebound over the crossbar.

Seeing as there isn’t much happening on the pitch, here’s Dries Mertens on the bench after his surprise exclusion from the Napoli starting XI.

We’ll have to wait and hear Carlo Ancelotti’s reasoning, especially considering how impressive the Belgian was in the win against Liverpool.

Dortmund has taken the lead in Prague – and what a way to do it.

Achraf Hakimi is the man with the goal, and if I was him I’d be watching this over and over again.

The Dortmund man broke down the right at lightning speed, racing towards goal before turning away from his marker and finishing with his left foot.

Slavia Prague 0-1 Borussia Dortmund.

Take a bow, Roman Burki. That is some save.

The Dortmund stopper has just kept his side level with a fine block to deny Lukáš Masopust after the Slavia man was put through on goal.

That was a big chance for the home side … will it be one it regrets missing? It remains goalless.

After a relatively slow start to this match, Napoli has come alive in the last few minutes.

Eljif Elmas has been a threat down the left and his whipped cross causes a goalmouth scramble as Napoli hits the woodwork not once, but twice!

Just over a minute gone in Prague and Borussia Dortmund is almost ahead.

Jadon Sancho weaves his way through the Slavia defense but his effort rolls agonizingly wide of the far post.

That would have been the perfect start for the Germans.

Genk get us underway at the Luminus Arena, as it goes in search of a first ever win in the Champions League.

Here’s how the two teams are lining up at Eden Stadium in Prague.

Two very surprise exclusions from the Napoli starting XI, as Dries Mertens – scorer of the crucial penalty against Liverpool – and captain Lorenzo Insigne miss out.

There’s a place on the bench for Mertens, but Insigne doesn’t even make the squad.

Hmm…

And here is your Genk starting XI.

Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly is returning to Genk for the first time since leaving the Belgian club in 2014.

The Senegalese star enjoyed two successful years at the Luminus Arena, honing his considerable talents and winning the Belgian Cup in 2013.

Since swapping Genk for Naples, Koulibaly has gone on to become one of the best defenders in world football and is reportedly on the wishlist of several major European clubs.

Napoli got its Champions League campaign off to the best possible start in the first round of fixtures, impressively dispatching defending champion Liverpool.

For Genk, however, it was quite the opposite. Its return to the Champions League after a seven-season absence was a 6-2 hammering at the hands of RB Salzburg.

Slavia Prague raised a few eyebrows with its 1-1 draw at Inter Milan in the opening round of fixtures in Group F – but perhaps we should have known better.

The Czech champion, which was only denied victory at the San Siro by a 92nd minute equalizer, goes into the clash with Borussia Dortmund on the back of a 24-match unbeaten run.

Dortmund coach Lucien Favre was impressed with Slavia’s showing in Italy and reckons his team will face a real test in Prague.

“They had more chances than Inter. And Inter are top in Italy,” he told reporters Tuesday.

He described Slavia as a “very athletic team. They pressed a lot. They run a lot – and they make the right runs.”

A quick read though the Slavia Prague website, which is excellent pre-match reading by the way, gives you a few little bits of trivia to get your teeth stuck into such as why the team’s nickname is “The Stitched.”

Well, according to the club’s website “The Stitched or “sešívaní” in Czech, comes from the team’s shirt which has historically been made of two parts that have been sewn together.

It looks pretty good to us.

Yes, this is a Champions League blog so you’ll have to forgive us for mentioning Manchester United but it’s more bad news out of Old Trafford.

Paul Pogba has been ruled out of Thursday’s Europa League game against Dutch side AZ Alkmaar following a consultation with a specialist, the club said Wednesday.

The France World Cup winner, who has been battling an ongoing foot problem, played the entire 90 minutes of Monday’s Premier League draw with Arsenal but won’t be risked against AZ.

On its website, United said: “Following a specialist’s opinion, Paul Pogba requires a period of further rest and conservative treatment for the foot injury he sustained during the game against Southampton in August. Updates will follow in due course.”

The blow comes with United having suffered a miserable start to the season with the team already well off the pace in the Premier League.