BARCELONA made it two wins from two in the Champions League but made hard work for themselves in Portugal.
The Spanish giants had ex-Liverpool man Sebastian Coates to thank after he unfortunately put the ball into his own net in the second half. Barcelona are renowned for scoring wonderful team goals but this strike was as scrappy as you like.
Nelson Semedo won his side a free-kick deep inside Sporting's half as Lionel Messi lined up his delivery.
The in-swinger was flicked on by Luis Suarez before hitting Coates and rolling into the back of the net.
Suarez will breath a sigh of relief after missing an absolute sitter in the first half.
Messi orchestrated the move by playing a wonderful through ball into the path of the onrushing Jordi Alba.
He squared the ball to Suarez and all he had to do was slot it into the net but put it harmlessly wide. Sporting's Seydou Doumbia thought he had won his side a penalty when he took a tumble as he sprinted past Gerard Pique.
But the striker was correctly booked for diving and was forced off the field with an injury following his fall in the incident.
The home side rarely troubled Barca but had a wonderful opportunity to equalise when Bruno Fernandes' shot was well saved by Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Paulinho, who has made an instant impact since his shock move to Barca, should have settled the clash in the final minutes when he was through on goal but his strike was saved.
From The Sun
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