Champions League: Lionel Messi steals the show on historic night for Barcelona

By James Masters and Matias Grez, CNN

Updated 5:26 PM ET, Wed November 27, 2019

What we're covering here

We're back! Caught your breath yet after last night? Well, hopefully you've had a chance to recharge ahead of Wednesday's action with a couple of absolute monster clashes on the menu.

Who's playing? Liverpool can seal top spot in Group E with victory over Napoli at Anfield, though the visiting side can leapfrog the defending champion should it triumph. Barcelona can win Group F by defeating Borussia Dortmund, while Inter must overcome Slavia Prague to stand any chance of qualifying for the last 16.

Full time scores

Group E: Genk 1-4 Red Bull Salzburg, Liverpool 1-1 Napoli

Group F: Barcelona 3-1 Borussia Dortmund, Slavia Prague 1-3 Inter Milan

Group G: RB Leipzig 2-2 Benfica, Zenit St. Petersburg 2-0 Lyon

Group H: Lille 0-2 Ajax, Valencia 2-2 Chelsea

6:21 p.m. ET, November 27, 2019

That's all folks!

What a night for Lionel Messi.

On his 700th appearance for Barcelona the little magician scored his 613th goal for the club to inspire a 3-1 win over Borussia Dortmund.

You can read all about Messi's magic right here courtesy of Dominic Rech who enjoyed his evening watching the Argentine superstar.

We'll be back in two weeks for the final round of group games so until then, it's goodbye.

5:53 p.m. ET, November 27, 2019

How the back pages look

The back pages of Thursday's UK national newspapers are out. Here's what they made of Liverpool's 1-1 draw with Napoli.

5:46 p.m. ET, November 27, 2019

Klopp: "It will be tough"

James Masters

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp knows his team will face a stern test when it travels to face Red Bull Salzburg in a winner takes all clash in Group E on December 10.

Victory for Liverpool will secure top spot while a draw, though enough to qualify for the last 16, could allow Napoli to progress as group winner should it overcome Genk.

Salzburg ran Liverpool close at Anfield, coming back from 3-0 down to level at 3-3 before succumbing 4-3 in a thrilling encounter and will qualify if it beats the defending champion.

Jurgen Klopp cut a frustrated figure on the touchline Oli Scarff/Getty Images

Here's what Klopp told BT Sport after his side's 1-1 draw with Napoli.

In [the Napoli] dressing room they feel like they are already through and maybe they are. Everybody here thinks, 'Oh my god, it will be tough' and it will be tough, that much is clear.
"The way Napoli set up, it didn't help that they scored, they could follow their plan all the time, we had to increase pressure all the time. We were not brilliant but we put pressure on them. I was not happy with the last 15 minutes of the first half. Second half it was just intense and of course it's not easy, they really defended the goal they had.
"We didn't have the biggest chances, maybe one or two. For tonight it might not be enough but it's still our situation. When we go to Salzburg, if we had done it tonight we would try to win there, so it's still our goal."

5:45 p.m. ET, November 27, 2019

History makers

Matias Grez

RB Leipzig was 2-0 down going into the 90th minute at home to Benfica, with its route into the knockout stages beginning to look complicated.

But up stepped Emil Forsberg to score two goals in stoppage time (91st minute and 96th) to draw his side level in dramatic fashion and book the Germans' place in the last 16.

Just how far can it go?

5:37 p.m. ET, November 27, 2019

Lineker impressed with Håland haul

As endorsements go, this one for Erling Braut Håland is a pretty decent one.

The 19-year-old scored once again as Red Bull Salzburg eased to a 4-1 win at Genk.

That's 23 goals in 19 appearances for the teenager. No wonder some of Europe's biggest clubs are so desperate to sign him.

5:32 p.m. ET, November 27, 2019

Henderson: "Napoli made it difficult for us"

Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson has been giving his reaction after the 1-1 draw with Napoli. This is what he told BT Sport.

Jordan Henderson of Liverpool is put under pressure by Napoli's Kalidou Koulibaly. Michael Regan/Getty Images

We'd have liked to have won tonight to finish the job off. Napoli made it difficult. We're still in a decent position.
"They're a good team with good players. There were times when we played good stuff. We were searching for the second one but couldn't find it.
"In the second half I thought there was only one team who was going to win. There was a question of a foul -- you probably know better than me."

5:26 p.m. ET, November 27, 2019

Messi's milestones

Here's a handy guide to Messi's latest achievement on his 700th appearance for Barcelona.

5:23 p.m. ET, November 27, 2019

Hummels: "Messi is the best footballer I've ever seen -- period"

Borussia Dortmund defender Mats Hummels paid tribute to Lionel Messi after the Barcelona magician ran rings round his opponents.

Messi scored one and set up two others as Barca claimed a 3-1 win to seal top spot in Group F.

Lionel Messi fires home with Mats Hummels diving in desperation. Josep Lago/AFP/Getty Images

Here''s what Hummels told UEFA.com:

We were not good enough to beat Barcelona today. We only created three or four real chances. In top form, Messi is the best footballer I have ever seen -- period."

5:23 p.m. ET, November 27, 2019

800 goals and counting

Matias Grez

As strike partnerships go, you could do a lot worse than Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.

Both players linked up for a goal and and assist each, taking their combined tally for Barcelona to 800 goals.

Granted, Messi has a few more than Suarez but 'El Pistolero' has an impressive record nonetheless.

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