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M'gladbach vs Barcelona. UEFA Champions League Group C.

BORUSSIA-PARKAttendance46,283.

M'gladbach 1

  • T Hazard (34th minute)

Barcelona 2

  • A Turan (65th minute)
  • G Piqué (73rd minute)

Borussia Monchengladbach 1-2 Barcelona: Barca come from behind to claim win

Neymar in action against Borussia Monchengladbach
Image: Neymar (R) in action against Borussia Monchengladbach

Barcelona came from behind to beat Borussia Monchengladbach 2-1 in their Champions League Group C clash at Borussia-Park on Wednesday night.

The home side led at half-time thanks to Thorgan Hazard's well-taken strike - his seventh goal of the season - after a brilliant counter-attack.

However, the La Liga champions - still without injured Lionel Messi - responded after the break through strikes from Arda Turan, before centre-back Gerard Pique took advantage of a mistake from Yann Sommer to break Gladbach hearts.

As a result, Barca are still top of the group ahead of back-to-back meetings with second-placed Man City, while Monchengladbach remain pointless after two games.

Barcelona boss Luis Enrique recalled Ivan Rakitic, Andres Iniesta, Jordi Alba and Javier Mascherano after resting the key quartet for the weekend win at Sporting Gijon.

Monchengladbach welcomed back Raffael after a thigh injury, while the much talked-about Mahmoud Dahoud was also available after making it through his comeback game against Ingolstadt.

It was the visitors, though, who had the first opening of the match and not surprisingly it fell to Luis Suarez, who had directly been involved in 24 goals in 20 Champions League appearances for the club heading into this contest (17 goals and seven assists).

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Suarez battled for a high ball in the area and when it dropped nicely at his feet, the Uruguay forward thrashed an effort inches past Sommer's far post.

However, apart from a half chance for Neymar - who shot tamely at Sommer when well positioned - and Suarez opting to find Paco Alcacer rather than test the Monchengladbach goalkeeper, Barca rarely threatened in the first half.

In contrast, the Bundesliga side - who had won their previous 11 games at home - were happy to allow their opponents most of the ball in their own half, while trying to catch them on the break, a policy that led to the opening goal.

Monchengladbach midfielder Thorgan Hazard vies for the ball with Barcelona's Gerard Pique
Image: Monchengladbach midfielder Thorgan Hazard vies for the ball with Barcelona's Gerard Pique

Sergio Busquets was caught napping on the ball by Dahoud, who quickly released Raffael, with the Brazilian driving forward deep into Barcelona's half before refinding the Germany U21 international.

Dahoud then did brilliantly to pick out the unmarked Hazard, who with just Marc-Andre ter Stegen to beat, side-footed Gladbach in front with 11 minutes to go until half-time.

Gladbach suffered a blow right at the start of the second period when the influential Raffael limped off with a hamstring injury, a switch that appeared to reduce their attacking ambitions.

Luis Enrique did not wait long after the interval before making substitutions of his own, with both Rafinha and Turan introduced to the fray before the hour-mark, the former in place of the ineffective Alcacer.

That double change breathed new life into the Catalans, who were soon on level terms after Neymar's clever through ball found Turan clear in the area.

And from the acutest of angles towards the right-hand channel of the box, the Turkey international blasted the ball high into the roof of the net past a helpless Sommer to bring Barca level after 65 minutes with his third goal of the season.

Thereafter there was only ever going to be one winner as Barcelona stepped up the pace, although the Monchengladbach No 1 will be disappointed with his part in the winner.

Neymar caught the home defence out by drilling a right-wing corner to the unmarked Suarez on the edge of the area, although there appeared little danger when the Uruguayan volleyed the ball goalwards.

Sommer, though, failed to hold the forward's shot, allowing the ball to squirm free of his grasp, with Pique reacting quickest to stab home from virtually on the goal line.

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