Juventus and Barcelona play out tepid affair as Paris Saint-Germain destroy Celtic

Full-time: Juventus 0-0 Barcelona

A drab draw at the Allianz Stadium leads Barcelona to winning Group D with a game to spare.

Neither team really went close in a rather tepid affair that initially promised so much, but Valverde's men will care not. The Blaugrana were not the same beast without Messi, who was ineffective when coming on, but they march onto the last-16.

That's all from IB Times UK. Have a good evening.

Dybala almost wins it at the death for Juve!

His quick snapshot is goalbound but Ter Stegen prevents it from nestling in the bottom left corner.

Juve rally back but Benatia's header doesn't trouble the German.

GOAL! Basel 1-0 Manchester United (Lang)

GOAL! Atletico Madrid 2-0 Roma (Gameiro)

GOAL! PSG 7-1 Celtic (Alves)

A change for Barcelona with 10 minutes to go - Iniesta off, Alba on.

Before that, Suarez cynically trips Dybala and then lectures the Argentine for going down theatrically.

The irony.

GOAL! PSG 6-1 Celtic (Cavani)

GOAL! PSG 5-1 Celtic (Verratti)

GOAL! Anderlecht 1-2 Bayern Munich (Tolisso)

Barcelona win another free-kick in a dangerous area as Sandro is pulled by Semedo.

Messi over it... doesn't beat the first man, cleared easily.

Elsewhere, Sporting are three-up against Olympiakos, while Atletico have taken the lead against Roma. Griezmann, who has been criticised recently, with the strike.

Digne wastes an absolutely glorious chance!

The Frenchman pounces on a error from Cuadrado, who look to have also handled, but his poor pass does not find Suarez. Staggering that he didn't try to shoot.

Messi's first real involvement is a free-kick, which whistles over the bar. Not far away at all. 64 minutes gone, still goalless.

Messi's introduction seems to have given Juventus a second wind, not Barca. His compatriot Higuain backs away from Umtiti before rifling a shot, way, way over the bar.

Messi is being readied. Meanwhile Suarez is moaning at the referee for no good reason, after tussling slightly with Benatia. Silly thing.

Deulofeu off, Messi on.

Suarez almost finds the net with a rasping free-kick that Buffon was struggling to cover, though it did take a deflection.

Pique's header is then blocked for another corner, which Juve eventually clear.

Second half underway, no Messi as of yet. Barca have started the brighter, though the Argentine may be needed to spark this into life.

Players now emerging for the second half.

Half-time: Juventus 0-0 Barcelona

Dreary so far. Rakitic's free-kick hit the post, Ter Stegen was called into action twice, but little else to report.

GOAL! Sporting 2-0 Olympiacos (Bruno Cesar)

Sporting now just one point behind Juve in Group D...

Dybala surges into the penalty area and carves out an opening, but his shot flies well over Ter Stegen's post. The Argentine has been rather quiet so far but came into life there.

Gonzalo Higuain is adjudged to have fouled Iniesta, though there didn't seem an awful lot in it.

Deulofeu then has an attempt on goal, but it's meat and drink for Buffon.

GOAL! Sporting 1-0 Olympiacos (Dost)

GOAL! PSG 4-1 Celtic (Mbappe)

Goalless in the rest of this evening's matches. Not exactly a night to remember so far.

Play now stopped after a clash involving Umtiti and Digne. Both look in some discomfort.

Paulinho cautioned for a ridiculous dive in the Juventus penalty area. The Brazilian looked rather stupid as he tried to win a spot-kick out of Pjanic and was rightly punished by the referee.

GOAL! PSG 3-1 Celtic (Cavani)

GOAL! Paris Saint-Germain 2-1 Celtic (Neymar)

Fun while it lasted for the Bhoys. Neymar has now scored seven goals against Celtic, in seven matches.

Barcelona almost break the deadlock!

Rakitic's low delivery clips the post after evading everyone, including a hapless Buffon. The ball then hits Paulinho, who can't guide it home from close range.

First yellow card of the evening goes to Pjanic, who trips Iniesta. Not malicious, but the clip is enough to receive a caution, according to the referee.

Poor giveaway by Iniesta and the Umtiti allows Dybala to fire, but Ter Stegen saves well again.

Cuadrado's bizarre header gifts Iniesta a chance but even the Spaniard can't work his magic from that angle. 0-0, a lively but error-strewn start.

Juventus break with with Cuadrado, whose cross is picked up by Costa. The Brazilian glides past Semedo, but his delivery is found wanting.

GOAL! PSG 1-1 Celtic (Neymar)

Didn't exactly last long, did it.

Paulinho takes aim but the Brazilian after linking well with Suarez but his effort glides harmlessly wide of Buffon's goal.

Quick out the traps, the Bhoys. But it's not about how you start - it's how you finish.

Costa causing issues, this time popping up on the left side and crossing dangerously, though Barca do clear.

They try to break with Suarez, but Barzagli marshals him supremely well.

Ter-Stegen already called into action, saving well from Costa. Juventus have started brighter, but Iniesta's already finding space.

GOAL! PSG 0-1 Celtic (Dembele)

Moussa Dembele gives the Bhoys the lead against his former club!

Juventus get things under way.

Buffon and Iniesta both very jovial and genial as they meet in the middle. Kick-off seconds away.

Five minutes until kick-off. A final reminder of the teams:

Juventus: Buffon; Barzagli, Rugani, Benatia, Alex Sandro; Pjanic, Khedira; Cuadrado, Dybala, Douglas Costa; Higuain

Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Semedo, Piqué, Umtiti, Digne; Rakitic, Busquets, Iniesta; Deulofeu, Suárez, Paulinho.

Spanish outlet AS now claim that Messi had agreed to be placed on the substitutes' bench with Valverde a few days ago. The Argentine hasn't started a match among the subs for over a year, but Barca boss Valverde wants to keep his talisman fresh ahead of a very big schedule.

Interesting. Will we see Messi's minutes managed more often? As marvellous as he is, he isn't getting any younger.

Lionel Messi's omission from the Barca starting line-up will only fuel flames surrounding his future.

The 30-year-old has been predictably extraordinary this season but has less than a year to run on his current contract at the Camp Nou, though Barca officials are confident he will pen fresh terms.

The longer a proposed contract remains unsigned, the edgier Barca will become, but Messi's former teammate Xavi has publicly urged the Rosario-born wonder to end his career with the Blaugrana.

"We are not sure [if he has signed] as the Barca president said [he has]. But for me, it's done. Leo Messi needs Barca and, especially, Barca need Messi. It would be very good for Barcelona if Messi stayed there for his entire career," Xavi told Goal.com.

"As a member of Barcelona, I would like Messi to remain at Barcelona for his entire career because we have a better chance of winning titles if he stays at Barca. He is the best player in the history of the game," he added.

Less than half an hour until kick-off.

A reminder of tonight's teams:

Juventus: Buffon; Barzagli, Rugani, Benatia, Alex Sandro; Pjanic, Khedira; Cuadrado, Dybala, Douglas Costa; Higuain

Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Semedo, Piqué, Umtiti, Digne; Rakitic, Busquets, Iniesta; Deulofeu, Suárez, Paulinho.

Steely-eyed from Buffon, who will be looking to completely rid himself of his World Cup heartbreak with a strong performance this evening.

The Italian was rested for Juve's surprise defeat by Sampdoria, but takes his rightful place between the sticks tonight.

And they said it wouldn't happen.

Well done Igor, who managed to shut out Benfica earlier this evening.

So no Messi from the start for Barcelona, but no Chiellini at all for Juventus.

The Italian champions confirmed earlier today that the Italian will play no part against the Blaugrana after suffering a thigh injury.

A blow for Allegri, though he will be counting his lucky stars after learning of Messi's introduction to the bench, a place he has rarely dwelled during his illustrious career.

TEAM NEWS

Barcelona: Cillessen, Denis, Messi, Alcácer, J.Alba, Aleix Vidal, Vermaelen.

Messi only makes the bench. Extremely bold from Valverde, if the reason isn't fitness related.

TEAM NEWS

Juventus substitutes: Szczesny, De Sciglio, Asamoah, Marchisio, Matuidi, Bentancur, Mandzukic.

TEAM NEWS

Juventus: Buffon; Barzagli, Rugani, Benatia, Alex Sandro; Pjanic, Khedira; Cuadrado, Dybala, Douglas Costa; Higuain

Where is this man?

Reports claiming that Valverde's decision to bench Messi was a technical decision, and not down to fitness. Extraordinary, really, though the Barca boss may have one eye on the match against Valencia this weekend.

TEAM NEWS

Celtic's opponents PSG line up in formidable fashion.

Plenty of Champions League action taking place away from Turin, of course. Celtic have travelled to the French capital to face Paris Saint-Germain, and they line up as follows.

Paulo Dybala ran riot against Barcelona when they last visited Turin, scoring twice as the Bianconeri secured a colossal 3-0 victory over the beleaguered Blaugrana.

Allegri and co will hope lightning strikes twice, but Barca midfielder Ivan Rakitic believes his side are itching to set the record straight.

"We want to show that we learnt our lesson from the last time that we played here," said Rakitic. "We'll see whether we've improved from last season.

"What I can say is that we're a very united group and determined to do well. What happened in the past belongs to the past and we've only eyes for the future right now."

The stage is set in Turin.

Lionel Messi and co are enjoying a season to remember so far, but they go into the clash against Juventus without a host of stars.

Andre Gomes, Javier Mascherano, Rafinha, Sergi Roberto, Arda Turan and record signing Ousmane Dembele are all injured for the clash in Turin. They have managed to cope without the sextet so far, but will they be missed tonight?

Barcelona have enjoyed a near spotless start to the season.

Ernesto Valverde's side are four points clear at the top of La Liga, - 10 ahead of arch-rivals Real Madrid - and lie top of Group D, three points ahead of tonight's opponents Juve, whose Serie A crown is seriously under threat.

Max Allegri's side are four points league leaders Napoli, and could well slip below Sporting Lisbon this evening if results do not go in their favour. There is much at stake for Barca too; they could ensure qualification and top spot with a win at the Allianz Stadium.

Finely poised, this.

Good evening and welcome to IB Times UK's live coverage of the Champions League, with focus on Juventus vs Barcelona.

The clash involving the Bianconeri and Blaugrana promises to be a scintillating one if recent results are anything to go by. Barcelona ran out 3-0 victors over Juve in September and beat their hosts in the final of Europe's premier club competition in 2015, but Juve did exact revenge last season, knocking the La Liga leaders out of the tournament at the quarter-final stage.

Juve would need to beat Ernesto Valverde's side resoundingly in order to top Group D by close of play this evening, but the former Athletic Club boss has helped improve Barca's mettle after they were embarrassed by Real Madrid in the Super Cup at the start of the campaign.

The match at the Juventus Stadium promises to be the tie of the round, but there are five other clashes kicking off at 7:45pm. Paris Saint-Germain are set to host Celtic, Manchester United are primed to play Basel, Sporting take on Olympiacos in Group D's other fixture, Bayern Munich have travelled to Anderlecht and Atletico Madrid are up against Roma.

Stick with IB Times UK for all the updates and reaction to another packed night of Champions League football.