Messi-less Barcelona beat Inter to take control of Group B

Despite missing the injured Lionel Messi, Barcelona still dispensed a lesson to Inter, who had no answer to the quality of their passing and movement and could easily have lost by more. They now lead Group B with three wins from three games, with Inter three points behind them; in all likelihood, both teams will qualify.

It took Barca a while to settle, but the tireless running and prompting of Luis Suarez and Philippe Coutinho, added to the brilliant passing of Sergio Busquets and Arthur, always looked too much for Inter, and on 32 minutes, Suarez made the opening goal for Rafinha.

Thanks to some sketchy finishing and excellent goalkeeping, Barca did not make the game officially safe until seven minutes from time, when Jordi Alba crowned a fine move with a fine finish, but the reality is that Inter simply could find a way to trouble their hosts.

Though Barca have been far from vintage in domestic football so far this season, they have been faultless in this competition - and it will take a serious side and serious effort to stop them regaining a competition they have not won since 2011