Cristiano Ronaldo missed Juventus' Champions League clash against Lionel Messi's Barcelona, two weeks after testing positive for coronavirus, with the Italian giants losing 2-0 at home on Wednesday in his absence. Messi, 33, set up Ousmane Dembele to put Barca in front after quarter of an hour in Turin, adding a second himself from the penalty spot in stoppage time. Alvaro Morata had three goals ruled out for offside for Juve who played the final five minutes a man down after Merih Demiral was sent off for a second yellow card. Barcelona are top of Group G with six points after two games with Juventus on three. The reverse fixture takes place at the Camp Nou on December 8.

"This was our best game all season," said Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman. "This is a big win against an important European side and we were able to play the football we're trying to impose. "I'm very happy with the game and the character displayed by the team, it is a great victory." It was a first defeat for new Juventus coach Andrea Pirlo whose last game as a player for the Turin giants was a loss to Barcelona in the 2015 Champions League final. "We knew it would be a difficult game, they are further along the path, they have players more experienced in these games, while we are under construction," said Pirlo.