Cristiano Ronaldo blasted in the third goal in the 89th minute to extend his record to 127 strikes in the competition to add to Gonzalo Higuain and Federico Bernardeschi's earlier efforts.

European football's governing body UEFA considers it a political symbol and fined Barcelona 40,000 euros after the flags were flown during a Champions League group game against Bayer Leverkusen last September

Bayern Munich expect defender Serdar Tasci to be out for the next two or three days and it is unclear whether he will be fit for the Bundesliga leaders' next match against Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday.

Lionel Messi gave Barcelona an early lead which was cancelled out by Bayer Leverkusen's Javier Hernandez. The Spanish giants entered the UEFA Champions League last 16 for the 12th year after the draw

Bayer Leverkusen lost 2-1 at the Camp Nou in October, despite taking a shock lead, and want to avoid a repeat of the 6-1 pounding Barcelona dished out to Roma a fortnight ago when Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi ran riot in the home match.

Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday showed no mercy with Paderborn as the hosts and eight-time German football champions bounced back to trounce the visitors 7-1.

Lionel Messi-powered FC Barcelona open their title defence in Rome's Stadio Olimpico as they bid to become the first team since AC Milan in 1989 and 1990 to win back-to-back titles.

Thomas Mueller netted a brace while Arjen Robben converted a penalty to help Bayern Munich top Bundesliga table.

Jonathan Tah, who played on loan at second division outfit Dusseldorf last season, received jersey number four. He made overall 16 appearances for the Hamburg since his arrival in 2013.

Roger Schmidt extended his contract one year ahead of schedule by putting pen-to-paper on a new deal on Thursday.

Joao Moutinho broke the deadlock in the 61st minute from former Leverkusen striker Dimitar Berbatov's assist as the Bundesliga leaders were made to pay for their profligacy.

Karim Bellarabi's lighning strike against Borussia Dortmund was two seconds quicker than the previous record held by Bayern Munich's Giovanni Elber.

Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey was sent off with 10 minutes left in the first leg match against Besiktas in Istanbul after being shown a second yellow card for tugging Oguzhan Ozyakup's shirt.

Manchester United routed Bayer Leverkusen 5-0 -- their biggest European away win for 56 years.

England's Rooney proved he can create as well as finish as he had a hand in the first four goals in an outstanding performance.

The 24-year-old Bender's existing deal had been due to expire in June 2017 and the club backed by pharmaceutical giant Bayer opted to extend his contract to ward off potential suitors such as Bayern Munich, who made an approach last summer.

Stefan Kiessling scored with his side's first real chance in the 22nd minute, when he rose above his marker to meet Giulio Donati's deep cross. He then claimed his second in the 72nd minute.

Leverkusen striker Stefan Kiessling looked to have headed wide in the 70th minute and even thrust his arms into the air in frustration at his miss. But the ball then crept through a small hole in the side netting of the Hoffenheim goal.