Sebastian Coates scored an unfortunate second-half own goal to gift Barcelona a 1-0 victory away to Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League on Wednesday night. The Uruguayan centre-back unwittingly deflected a Lionel Messi free-kick into his own net on 49 minutes to hand the Spaniards a second successive win to start Group D.
The five-time European champions head the section with a maximum six points, ahead of both Sporting and Juventus on three, with Olympiakos yet to pick up a point. Ernesto Valverde’s Barca have proved unstoppable in La Liga so far, winning their opening six matches to pull seven points clear of defending champions Real Madrid while vanquishing Juve in their first group game in Europe.
Messi drew level with former long-serving Barca captain Carles Puyol by making his 593rd appearance for the club — trailing only Andres Iniesta (638) and Xavi (767). But the Argentine, one goal away from 100 in European competition, was largely subdued during a quiet first half in the Portuguese capital, with Cristiano Piccini flashing narrowly over for Sporting on 15 minutes.
“Let people say whatever they want. I do not get bored if we win,” Valverde told reporters before defending Suarez who has yet to scale the heights of his previous three seasons at the Nou Camp. “We want Luis Suarez to play always, he's our striker. I would worry if he did not go through on goal, but he's always there.”
Sergi Roberto slipped in Luis Suarez as Barca finally threatened just before the half hour, but the Uruguayan was denied by Rui Patricio with the Portugal goalkeeper then holding well from a Messi header.
Sporting’s Marco Acuna tested Marc-Andre ter Stegen with a low drive, but Messi gradually grew in influence as the interval approached. He weaved his way through the home defence on 43 minutes only to find an old foe, ex-Real Madrid full-back Fabio Coentrao, slide across superbly to block his goal-bound effort.
Sporting lost striker Seydou Doumbia to injury prior to the break, the Ivorian seemingly hurting himself following a theatrical fall on the edge of the Barca penalty area that earned him a yellow card. Dutch international Bas Dost, who scored a league-best 34 goals last campaign, replace Doumbia, but Barca broke the deadlock early into the second half as a Messi set-piece ricocheted about the Sporting six-yard box before trickling beyond Patricio.
The Argentine’s curling delivery in from the right brushed two Sporting heads with Suarez then nodding the ball against Coates who could only watch in horror as it dribbled over the line.
Suarez unleashed a snapshot straight at Patricio as Barca searched for a second, but the visitors were grateful to Ter Stegen as the Germany international thwarted Bruno Fernandes’ attempt for an equaliser.
Former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Paulinho went close to notching his third goal in four games late on when Patricio repelled the Brazilian, but Barca stretched their unbeaten run against Portuguese clubs to 15 matches dating back to 1987.

Holders Barcelona draw Murcia in Copa del Rey
Barcelona will begin their defence of the Spanish Copa del Rey with a tie against third-tier Murcia after yesterday’s draw for the last 32. Barca, who have won the trophy in each of the last three seasons, will go to Murcia’s Nueva Condomina stadium for the first leg during the last week in October with the return at the Camp Nou in late November.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid can look forward to a local derby against Fuenlabrada, a club from the suburbs of the Spanish capital who compete in the third tier. Fuenlabrada is the hometown of Fernando Torres and their stadium, where they will host Madrid in the first leg next month, is named after the Atletico Madrid legend. Atletico have been drawn against Elche of the third tier while Sevilla face Cartagena.

Copa del Rey round of 32 draw
Cartagena v Sevilla; Elche v Atletico Madrid; Murcia v Barcelona; Fuenlabrada v Real Madrid; Formentera v Athletic Bilbao; Lleida v Real Sociedad; Ponferradina v Villarreal; Real Zaragoza v Valencia; Numancia v Malaga; Valladolid v Leganes; Cadiz v Betis; Tenerife v Espanyol; Getafe v Alaves; Deportivo de La Coruna v Las Palmas; Girona v Levante; Eibar v Celta Vigo
First legs October 24-26, second legs November 28-30