Good morning! The Sport360 Team is in place to bring you our top stories on Thursday morning.
TOP STORY
An injured Lionel Messi watched on from the stands as Barcelona were able to secure a convincing 2-0 Champions League group stage win over Inter Milan without their talisman.
Rafinha Alcantara played in place of Messi at Camp Nou and fittingly scored the opening goal in the 32nd minute, one that was beautifully engineered by Luis Suarez’s excellent vision and execution.
The hosts went on to miss a series of chances over the course of the contest, until Jordi Alba finally doubled their advantage from Ivan Rakitic’s through ball in the 83rd minute.
Read our report card and player ratings from the Camp Nou.
FOOTBALL
In the other matches last night, Borussia Dortmund showcased their Champions League credentials and exposed Atletico Madrid’s limitations with an imperious 4-0 thrashing. Read our talking points from the match.
Elsewhere, Liverpool were 4-0 winners over FK Crvena Zvezda, PSG and Napoli played out a 2-2 draw and Tottenham were held to a 2-2 draw at PSV Eindhoven.
CRICKET
Imad Wasim could not have asked for a better return to international cricket as his three wickets saw Pakistan thrash a sorry Australia in the opening match of the T20 series yesterday.
The all-rounder made up for his duck by producing the goods with the ball as he tormented the Australian batsmen from the very first delivery. Defending 155 at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, the Australians finished nowhere near their target as they were all out for 89 in a crushing 66-run defeat.
The UAE has not been kind to the Australians in T20s, as this measly effort was their joint third-lowest total – matching their innings from the 2012 series against Pakistan in Dubai.
FEATURE OF THE DAY
Sport360’s Brendon Netto grades the two sides following Barcelona’s 2-0 Champions League victory over Inter Milan at Camp Nou.
SOCIAL MEDIA ROUND-UP
1⃣ goal and 3⃣ assists in the Champions League this year.
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) October 25, 2018
Not bad for a defender!
👍@JordiAlba 🔵🔴 #ForçaBarça pic.twitter.com/uUNrAIZ1Cy
⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️ pic.twitter.com/YS1Cuq6E0y
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) October 24, 2018
Big win tonight! 🔥
— Jadon Sancho (@Sanchooo10) October 24, 2018
Boys were unbelievable @BVB
My first @championsleague goal also narsayee 🤩 #Blessed🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/OxYvNXN6tg
We came close to a victory. We deserved more, but leave Paris very proud of the work and execution of our players. #ForzaNapoliSempre pic.twitter.com/ClZHwHoqf5
— Carlo Ancelotti (@MrAncelotti) October 24, 2018