Barcelona thrash Bayern in Champions League as Liverpool beat Leipzig

A Raphinha hat-trick handed Barcelona a 4-1 win against Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday night, while Liverpool stayed perfect with a 1-0 win at RB Leipzig.

Erling Haaland also scored a brace as Manchester City thrashed Sparta Prague 5-0.

In a clash that pitted five-time winners Barcelona against six-time champions Bayern, it was the home side that stole the show thanks to a triple from Brazilian attacker Raphinha and a goal from in-form veteran Robert Lewandowski.

Harry Kane levelled after Barcelona’s first-minute opener for his fifth goal of the campaign but was helpless as his team collapsed to their second defeat in three Champions League outings.

“In my opinion this game could have been a (Champions League) final, to be able to win it in this way, so well, in front of our fans, is quite special and I leave here happy,” Raphinha said after the game.

The result leaves Bayern in the bottom half of the table, while Barcelona have two wins and are 10th.

Leipzig’s Lois Openda was twice denied by the assistant’s flag as Liverpool fought to a narrow win in Germany.

Darwin Nunez’s 27th-minute tap-in from Mohamed Salah’s cushioned knockdown was enough to give Liverpool their third win in three matches as they moved to second in the standings.

They and table-toppers Aston Villa are the only teams with a 100 per cent record in the new 36-team format.

Liverpool defeat Chelsea to reclaim Premier League top spot

Haaland scored a brace as Manchester City thrashed Sparta Prague 5-0 at home, including a spectacular backheel at shoulder height.

It was an effort reminiscent of his strike against old club Borussia Dortmund two years ago that won the Champions League goal of the season.

The Czechs had contained the hosts to a one-goal lead at half-time after Phil Foden’s early strike.

But the floodgates opened in the second period with Haaland, John Stones and Matheus Nunes netting.

Lille continued to enjoy life against teams from the Spanish capital, following up their surprise win at home to Real Madrid last time out by beating Atletico Madrid 3-1.

The home side took an early lead through Julian Alvarez, before Edon Zhegrova and a Jonathan David brace turned the game on its head in the final 30 minutes.

Bayer Leverkusen were held to an entertaining 1-1 draw at Brest, as the French club maintained their unbeaten start to life in Europe’s top club competition.

Young Boys looked to have kept Inter Milan at bay in Bern, with Marko Arnautovic failing to convert a second-half penalty.

But Marcus Thuram struck three minutes into stoppage time to hand the Italian champions a 1-0 win.

Feyenoord also defeated Benfica 3-1 away thanks to Ayase Ueda and an Antoni Milambo double.

Atalanta were held to a frustrating goalless stalemate at home to Celtic, while Dinamo Zagreb beat 10-man RB Salzburg 2-0.

The Star