Barcelona came through a difficult evening at Camp Nou with all three points. Behind after just 120 seconds to a Lautaro Martinez goal, Ernesto Valverde’s side turned the match around to beat Inter Milan with two special strikes from Luis Suarez in the second half.

It was the Catalans’ first Champions League match at home this season and after a goalless draw away to Borussia Dortmund last month, only a win would prove satisfactory for a team with aspirations of winning the continental competition.

That was in doubt for much of the evening and particularly in the first half when Antonio Conte won the tactical battle and Inter exposed Barca’s backline with a number of dangerous counter-attacks which yielded several chances and brought jeers from the home fans as their team toiled.

But everything changed in the second half as Suarez struck twice and the Catalans secured a win which takes them level on points with Borussia Dortmund in Group F after two matches.

Messi makes everything easier – even when he’s not fully fit

Lionel Messi missed the start of the season with a calf injury and had been sidelined again with an adductor problem ahead of Wednesday’s game. In normal circumstances, he would not have started, but the Argentine really wanted to be back for the Champions League.

Even on his return from injury and with no pre-season behind him, Messi was Barca’s standout player. The captain had 96 touches, created six chances and completed 10 of 11 dribbles. But he saved the best to last with a remarkable run down the right and assist for Suarez which ultimately won the game right at the end.

“I’m trying to get going,” the 32-year-old said in the mixed zone after the game.

“These are the first 90 minutes I have been able to complete. I’m happy to finish well. I’m tired and out of rhythm, but I’ll be better as the matches go by. I feel at my best when I’m playing and I have the rhythm from matches.”

So too Barcelona. Messi makes everything easier for the Blaugrana, even when he is clearly some way from full fitness. Like a cheat code in a video game, the Argentine can conjure up wins out of nothing and after a complicated start to the campaign, Barca will be relieved to have him back.

Luis Suarez remains a world-class finisher

Luis Suarez stole the headlines on the night and won this match with two spectacular strikes in the second half, yet many Barcelona fans still believe the Uruguayan should not be in the team.

The former Liverpool forward netted the equaliser with a stunning volley from outside the area just short of the hour and sealed victory as he brilliantly beat Diego Godin with one touch from a Messi pass and then slotted the ball under goalkeeper Samir Handanovic with his second.

In the first half, Suarez was whistled by some of the home fans following a weak effort from outside the box and it looked like it might be another disappointing night for the South American, who had been off the pace in the 2-1 win over Villarreal in his last appearance at Camp Nou.

“As a striker, you always try to help the team with goals and assists,” he said afterwards.

“This is the best team in the world and everything is under a spotlight.” Goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen said Suarez had “shut a few mouths”, but the debate over his contribution and lack of mobility will continue. One thing is for certain, though: he remains one of the world’s finest finishers.

Valverde’s substitutions changed the game

Ernesto Valverde does not receive much praise from his club’s fans and it could be argued that he got his tactics wrong in this match as Conte’s Inter had the better of the first half, but the Barca boss made the right substitutions in the second half and those swung the game in his side’s favour.

Arturo Vidal came on first, the Chilean midfielder replacing Sergio Busquets early in the second half and revolutionising the game with his high energy. The 32-year-old ran around, flew into tackles, popped up all over the pitch and allowed Frenkie de Jong to move into an advanced role.

The Chilean assisted Suarez for the equaliser and later, he played the ball to Messi in the move which brought the game’s winning goal. By that time, Valverde had also sent on Ousmane Dembele and the French forward also helped Barca to stretch Inter and dominate in the latter stages.

“You try and see the things that aren’t working so well, but in the end, the ones on the pitch are the players,” Valverde said.

“We took a step forward in the second half.”

The 55-year-old, uncharacteristically, also celebrated the winning goal with plenty of passion as he punched the air in delight. Clearly, after a difficult few weeks, this win meant a lot.

Ter Stegen saves the day again, but Barca miss peak Umtiti

Barcelona won a point away to Borussia Dortmund in their first Champions League match last month largely thanks to the performance of goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who made a number of superb saves at the Signal Iduna Park including one stop to keep out a penalty from Marco Reus.

The German was beaten early on against Inter, but once again his safe hands helped Barca out of a difficult situation and his wonderful one-handed save from a Lautaro Martinez header when the Catalans were 1-0 down was crucial.

Ter Stegen’s form is a huge plus, but it cannot hide the fact that Barcelona still have problems in defence. The Catalans are conceding more goals this term and Clement Lenglet was done for pace as Inter took the lead, after Gerard Pique had been caught further forward in midfield.

Barca miss the 2017-18 version of Samuel Umtiti. The French defender was a beast at the back for Barca that season, his pace and physique making him the ideal partner for Pique. But he has been plagued by a troublesome knee problem since helping France win the World Cup and is currently out with a foot injury. Against Sevilla at the weekend, Jean-Clair Todibo should get a chance as Lenglet is suspended. He too could be an option to bring some much-needed pace to a slow backline.

A message of unity from the players

Much of the talk ahead of this match was about the divisions between the Barcelona board and the players after Gerard Pique claimed senior figures at the Catalan club had been behind critical articles in the local media.

But the players put on a united front after the game.

Goalkeeper Ter Stegen said:

“Everything is in order between the team and the board. I’m happy to be here and to play football. This a club where we have to be together.”

And in his rare mixed zone appearance, Messi also played down the reported rift.

“We’re fine,” he said when asked if there was a problem.

“The important thing is to talk about the win, about Getafe, and we have Sevilla left to finish well before the [international] break. When there’s no football, a lot of stuff is created.”

Messi and Pique had given a talk to their team-mates in the tunnel before the players came out for the second half and the defender also met with president Josep Maria Bartomeu following his remarks at the weekend. For now, at least, calm has been restored.

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