TheCable

Liverpool defeated Genk 4-1 in Belgium to claim a second victory in this season’s competition, while Lionel Messi’s Barcelona defeated Slavia Prague in Czech with star player joining an elite goalscoring club.

A brace from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and further goals from Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah gave the UCL defending champions victory in an encounter they controlled.

Genk had not won a Champions League match in their history and a meeting against the defending champions would certainly worsen the statistic, Oxlade-Chamberlain’s second-minute goal a bad omen.

The Englishman, back from a long-term injury, drilled into the bottom corner from 25 yards with the goalkeeper rooted to the spot.

Super Eagles of Nigeria striker, Paul Onuachu should have levelled for his Belgian club after getting behind the Liverpool defence. The lanky striker was however denied by a good save from Alison Becker.

Jurgen Klopp’s side continued to boss the game but against the run of play, the home side thought they’d equalized on 26 minutes.

Ally Mbwana Samatta’s thumping header found the back of the net but the Tanzanian striker’s goal was chalked off for offside in the buildup to the cross.

The Anfield club doubled their lead on 57 minutes with Chamberlain’s second goal. The former Southampton player’s outside-of-the-boot lobbed shot hit the bar on its way in for 2-0.

Two soon became three as Sadio Mane, the Senegalese forward, completed a move involving both Firmino and Salah.

Salah completed the rout on 87 minutes with a typical individual effort, evading two defenders and finding the bottom corner.

Stephen Odey responded with Genk’s consolation goal 60 seconds later, the Nigerian striker prodding home on the turn to end the game 4-1 against his team.

Lionel Messi sets new record — joins Ronaldo, Raul

Lionel Messi scored the first goal in Barcelona’s 2-1 win over Slavia Prague in the Czech Republic.

The six-time Balon D’Or winner’s goal means he has scored against the 33rd different opposition in the UCL, joining both Cristiano Ronaldo and Raul on the list.

The goal also means Messi became the only player to have scored in 15 consecutive UCL seasons.

Prague equalized early in the second half but Barcelona regained the lead via an own goal by Nigeria’s Peter Olayinka.

In other games, Mitchy Batshuayi’s late goal gave Chelsea a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Ajax in Holland. Inter Milan continued their renaissance under Antoni Conte with a 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund.

Lautaro Martinez scored and missed a penalty for the Italian side, Antonio Candreva scoring the second.

In France, Victor Osimhen’s Lille needed a 95th-minute goal to draw 1-1 against Valencia. The Super Eagles striker played all 90 minutes.

Results

RB Salzburg 2-3 Napoli
Ajax 0-1 Chelsea
RB Leipzig 2-1 Zenit St. Petersburg
Slavia Prague 1-2 Barcelona
Inter Milan 2-0 Borussia Dortmund
Lille 1-1 Valencia
Benfica 2-1 Olympic Lyon
Genk 1-4 Liverpool