Champions League: Barcelona, Atletico Madrid struggle

Athens: Barcelona failed to score in a Champions League group stage game for the first time in five years as Olympiacos held them to a goalless draw here yesterday.

Olympiacos players celebrate around Barcelona's Lionel Messi after their goalless draw in Piraeus near Athens last night. Pic/ AFP

Victory in Greece would have booked Barca's passage to the knock-out phase but the three points proved elusive on a night when Luis Suarez hitting the top of the crossbar was as close as the visitors came.

Back in 2012
The last time they could not find the net in a group-stage fixture was against Benfica in December 2012, when their qualification had already been assured, but Juventus' draw with Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday night means Barca at least remain three points clear at the top of Group D.

This was Barca boss Ernesto Valverde's return to a club he led to three league titles and two domestic cups during two spells, and the Olympiacos fans showed their appreciation pre-match with a banner near the halfway line that read, 'Ernesto, thanks for
everything'.

Atletico Madrid were left staring an embarrassing early Champions League exit in the face after being held 1-1 at home by 10-man Azerbaijani champions Qarabag.

Atletico in trouble
The 2014 and 2016 finalists now need to beat Roma and Chelsea in their last two Group C games and hope other results go in their favour after a paltry return of three points from their opening four games.

Once again Diego
Simeone's men were made to pay for their profligacy in front of goal after Michel headed the visitors into the lead five minutes before half-time.

Thomas Partey's stunning drive from outside the box levelled 11 minutes into the second period and Qarabag had to survive for half an hour a man down after Pedro Henrique saw red.

But Diego Godin, Filipe Luis and Nicolas Gaitan fluffed their lines with big chances to leave Atletico on the edge of the European abyss.