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Barcelona rally to beat Borussia Monchengladbach with Turan, Pique goals

premier league live - arsenal's offer for di mariaGerard Pique claimed the winner as Barcelona came from behind to beat Borussia Monchengladbach and claim a second successive victory in Group C of the Champions League.


The Spain international defender seized on a mistake by Gladbach goalkeeper Yann Sommer 16 minutes from time to scramble home from close range and give the La Liga champions a 2-1 win at Borussia-Park.

Thorgan Hazard's close-range finish following an incisive breakaway had put the hosts ahead at half-time, but Barca levelled 20 minutes into the second period through substitute Arda Turan's emphatic half-volley.

The Germans were thrashed by Manchester City in the opening round of the competition but they showed no signs of being rolled over by Luis Enrique's men.

They could have had a penalty with three minutes on the clock when Hazard's centre from the right brushed the arm of Pique inside the penalty area.

The appeals were waved away by referee Damir Skomina and Neymar then wasted the first clear opportunity of the game at the other end, side-footing straight at goalkeeper Sommer after being picked out by Jordi Alba's ball from the left.

Luis Suarez was the next to threaten but, after being played through on goal on the right side of the area by Neymar, he attempted an unsuccessful square pass to Paco Alcacer instead of going for goal.

The visitors were dominating possession but they were made to pay for not taking their chances when the hosts edged in front 11 minutes prior to the break.

Syrian-born midfielder Mahmoud Dahoud dispossessed Sergio Busquets just inside the Bundesliga side's half before receiving the ball back from Raffael and teeing up Belgium international Hazard to stroke the ball into the bottom right corner past former Gladbach keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen from 10 yards out.

Barca were playing their second game without injured star man Lionel Messi and, despite missing his attacking threat, they could have gone in level at the break had Suarez's right-footed volley from level with the penalty spot not been beaten away by Sommer following Ivan Rakitic's ball into the box.

Luis Enrique introduced Turan just before the hour mark and he wasted little time in making his mark.

Neymar picked up the ball 25 yards from goal before lifting a delightful ball over the Gladbach back line for the Turkey international to smash into the roof of the net.

The home side offered little attacking threat in the final third of the game and what would have been a precious point eventually slipped through their fingers.

A training-ground corner routine saw Neymar cut the ball back to Suarez and although the Uruguayan's effort lacked power, Sommer failed to hang on to the shot, allowing Pique to poke in and continue Barca's 100 percent start.