Messi starts late in goalless draw

Lionel Messi started late as Barcelona qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League despite their second successive 0-0 draw in the team stage.

October’s goalless video game in Olympiakos was the first time in five years Barcelona had failed to score in a group stage match and they were once more irritated in Turin.

Ernesto Valverde’s side developed the game’s better possibilities as well as were significantly a lot more in control of the suit than on their last journey to Juventus, when they lost 3-0 in last season’s Champions League quarter-final initial leg.

Barca have 11 points as well as will complete top of Team D as they have a far better head-to-head record than Juventus, who currently have eight.

But in the last round of group matches Juve – that went close to a late winner when Paulo Dybala’s drive required a fine save from Germany keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen – have to currently defeat Olympiakos in Athens to be sure of progressing.

Sporting Lisbon, that deal with Barca at the Nou Camp on 5 December, kept their own opportunities of reaching the knock-out phase alive by defeating the bottom-placed Greek side 3-0.

In the Allianz Stadium in Turin, Barcelona’s Croatia midfielder Ivan Rakitic saw his long-range free kick hit the article in the initial half while France left-back Lucas Digne decided to pass to Uruguay forward Luis Suarez when he was better placed to rack up on 69 minutes.

Dybala, 24, who has actually been linked with a transfer to Barca, stood out for in 2014’s Champions League finalists as the Argentina demonstrator had one of the most shots (four) as well as developed the most openings for the hosts.

Messi, who replaced former Everton winger Gerard Deulofeu on 56 minutes after being rested before Sunday’s crunch La Liga game with second-placed Valencia, also went close with a free kick that splashed the roofing of Gianluigi Buffon’s web.