Turan upstages Messi as Barca crush Gladbach

Things looked promising for the Argentina maestro when he played a one-two with Turan and fired the ball into the corner of the net in the 16th minute. Messi spurned two chances to make it 2-0 before the break and, in the end, had to be content with 10 goals in Group C. The second half belonged to Turan who was playing instead of the suspended Neymar. The Turkish striker doubled Barca’s lead in the 50th minute, arriving at the far post to nod in Denis Suarez’s deflected cross, and netted again in the 53rd as he produced a crisp finish after a cut-back from the lively Aleix Vidal. Turan completed his first treble for Barca by turning in Paco Alcacer’s cross from close range, squeezing the ball past goalkeeper Yann Sommer’s near post in the 67th minute. 

Arsenal’s Spanish striker Lucas Perez seized his chance to shine with a Champions League treble as they outclassed Basel 4-1 away to steal the Group A top spot from Paris St Germain on Tuesday. The Gunners enter the last 16 as group winners for the first time since 2011 and at least know they cannot face Barcelona, who won their group.