Messi, Neymar combination deadly as Champions League kicks off
Arsenal salvages draw in Paris; Bayern wins 13th in a row at home
Lionel Messi scored a hat trick and Neymar excelled as a playmaker to lead Barcelona to a record-setting 7-0 win over Celtic in their Champions League Group C opener on Tuesday.
Neymar set up Messi to score twice in the first half hour at Camp Nou before the Brazil striker struck from a free kick just after halftime.
Neymar kept pouring it on, crossing for substitute Andres Iniesta to fire in a vicious volley.
Messi took his career tally to 86 goals in Europe's top-tier competition before Luis Suarez rounded off the rout with a pair of goals.
The 7-0 victory surpassed Barcelona's biggest win in the Champions League to date, a 7-1 defeat of Bayer Leverkusen in 2012.
Group C: Thunder strikes away City's opener
The other Group C match-up between Manchester City and Borussia Moenchengladbach was called off 20 minutes before kickoff following heavy rain in Manchester on Tuesday.
"Torrential rainfall across Manchester throughout the evening led to flooding in the areas around the ground, which forced the decision on safety and security grounds," City said in a statement.
Now that was some rain! ☹️ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cityvbmg?src=hash">#cityvbmg</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/mcfc?src=hash">#mcfc</a> <a href="https://t.co/ugoGJEOl3O">pic.twitter.com/ugoGJEOl3O</a>
—@ManCityThere had been heavy rain, thunder and lightning in the hours leading up to the game at Etihad Stadium, and UEFA officials and match officials inspected the sodden playing surface about an hour before the game.
Moenchengladbach fans that had gathered inside the stadium for the game booed and jeered when the announcement was made over the speaker system. The German team came onto the field to applaud the away supporters and performed the "Thunderclap," made famous by Iceland at the European Championship.
Group A: Sanchez salvages Arsenal's night in Paris
Arsenal conceded a goal in the first minute before Alexis Sanchez scored late to salvage a 1-1 draw at Paris Saint-Germain.
The Chile forward converted a rare chance for the unimpressive visitors with 12 minutes left.
After two disappointing outings in the French league, PSG produced its most complete performance of the season. Despite solid defending and inspired attacking moves, the four-time defending French champions were made to pay for their profligacy.
Edinson Cavani scored PSG's opener after just 44 seconds but then missed three clear-cut chances in a one-sided match at the Parc des Princes.
Also in Group A, Basel let its perfect season start slip after being held 1-1 by Ludogorets. Trailing since the 45th minute, Basel leveled in the 79th when Renato Steffen took advantage of a goalkeeping error.
Group D: Bayern gives Rostov rude welcome
Five-time champion Bayern Munich gave Russian debutant Rostov a rude welcome in Group D, winning 5-0 in a record 13th consecutive win at home in the competition.
Goals from Poland striker Robert Lewandowski, Thomas Mueller on his 27th birthday, two from rising star Joshua Kimmich and another from Juan Bernat gave Carlo Ancelotti's team a perfect start.
"The first goal is to win the group. We started well. The next game at Atletico will be tough," said Ancelotti, who has made the best start as a Bayern coach for 18 years.
Bayern has now scored 20 goals and conceded none in five wins from five games across all competitions.
Manchester United had the previous record of 12 consecutive home wins in the Champions League from 2006 to 2008.
Last season's beaten finalist Atletico Madrid won 1-0 at PSV Eindhoven in the other group game.The goal by Saul Niguez came late in the first half.
The match in Eindhoven was a repeat of last year's Champions League round of 16 clash that Atletico won on penalties in Madrid after both legs ended 0-0.
Group B: Late drama for Napoli
Napoli came back from behind to beat Dynamo Kyiv 2-1, even after Denys Garmash put Kyiv in front in the 26th minute.
The Italians managed to turn things around after Dynamo's Serhiy Sydorchuk received a second yellow for diving in the 68th minute.
Arkadiusz Milik then scored two headers as Napoli came from behind to beat Dynamo Kyiv 2-1 on Tuesday.
With the win Napoli has shot to first place in Group B, after former Benfica player Talisca scored from a free kick in injury time to level Besiktas 1-1 in the final game of the day.