Slavia Prague 1-2 Barcelona: 4 Talking Points as Catalan giants register nervy victory away from home | UEFA Champions League 2019/2020

Slavia Praha v FC Barcelona: Group F - UEFA Champions League
Slavia Praha v FC Barcelona: Group F - UEFA Champions League

#3 Luis Suarez' wait for a Champions League away goal continues

Suarez has not scored an away goal in the Champions League in over four years
Suarez has not scored an away goal in the Champions League in over four years

While it is unarguable that Luis Suarez is one of the greatest centre-forwards in the history of the game, his output in recent years has been a cause of major concern.

This is particularly true on the continent where the 32-year-old has massively struggled in front of goal, while his all-round gameplay has also appeared laborious on occasions.

The Uruguayan international went over eight games and 838 minutes without a goal in the Champions League before netting in the 3-0 victory over Liverpool in the semifinal last season and also scored a brace in the 2-1 win against Inter Milan last time out.

However, both those matches were at home and having failed to find the back of the net against Slavia Prague, it means that Suarez has continued a woeful personal record in the Champions League.

It might be hard to believe, but the former Liverpool man is without an away goal in the Champions League since scoring against AS Roma in September 2015. This is a run encompassing 15 matches in over four years, while he has also attempted 59 shots to no avail.

Against Slavia, he spurned numerous chances to break his jinx, chief of which was when he inexplicably drew wide after being played in by Lionel Messi midway through the second half.

Although he did put the ball into the back of the net in the 57th minute, replays showed that his shot had gone in off a deflection from Nigerian international Peter Olayinka and the strike was adjudged to be an own-goal.

Suarez will have to wait for at least another month to break his goalscoring duck away from home in Europe, as Barcelona travel to Germany to take on Borussia Dortmund in November.

The Catalans are desperate to get their hands on the Champions League and if they are to do so, Suarez would have to find a cure to his away-day blues in Europe.

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