Brilliant Messi inspires Barcelona to start on the right note

BARCELONA // Lionel Messi scored twice as Barcelona rallied from an early goal to beat Panathinaikos 5-1 at Camp Nou in their opening Champions League group match. Sidney Govou struck for the Greek champions in the 20th minute against the run of play but Messi sprung Barcelona back two minutes later. David Villa put the Spanish champions ahead for good in the 33rd minute after scoring from Sergio Busquets' flick-on. Messi notched his second in the 45th after an exquisite build-up through the middle of the field.

Panathinaikos goalkeeper Alexandros Tzorvas denied the Argentina forward a hat-trick in the 54th minute after saving a penalty. Pedro Rodriguez scored in the 78th off a rebound from Messi, who then provided the ammunition for Daniel Alves to head home the last in injury-time. In the other Group D fixture, FC Copenhagen left it late to dispatch the Russian club Rubin Kazan 1-0 on home soil. Dame N'Doye headed in the 87th minute winner from a looping Martin Vingaard free-kick. Rubin had plenty of chances of their own to come away from Demark with three points, but squandered half a dozen chances.

The Champions League holders Inter Milan had a nervy start in their title defence with a 2-2 draw at Dutch champions Twente Enschede. The Italian giants took the lead on 13 minutes through the Netherland international Wesley Sneijder who reacted quickest to a blocked Diego Milito shot. Theo Janssen fired in a free-kick to level and then Milito glanced in an own-goal from a corner. However, Samuel Eto'o levelled matters on 41 minutes with a superb equaliser from outside the box.

In the other Group A game, Tottenham Hotspur were quick to adapt to life in Europe's premier club competition but squandered a two-goal lead away at Werder Bremen. Bremen defender Petri Pasanen gifted the English club a 12-minute lead through an own-goal. Six minutes later Peter Crouch doubled their lead with a header. The Germans fought back and reduced the lead two minutes before half-time through Hugo Almeida. Marko Marin completed the comeback two minutes into the second half.

It was a stalemate in the "Battle of Britain" as the Scottish champions Rangers picked up a valuable point against Manchester United at Old Trafford. United manager Sir Alex Ferguson made 10 changes including the troubled England striker Wayne Rooney, but he and United could not find their way past a congested Rangers defence. Ferguson's woe increased after winger Antonio Valencia went off injured with a serious-looking anke injury.

In the other Group C match, Valencia defeated Champions League newcomers Bursaspor 4-0 in Turkey. The Spanish club dominated throughout after Tino Costa put the visitors ahead on 16 minutes. Artiz Aduriz added a second before half-time. Pablo Hernandez added the third on 68 minutes with substitute Roberto Soldado completing the rout eight minutes later. In Group B, a 21st minute lob by the Brazilian international Michel Bastos earned Lyon a 1-0 win at home to Schalke who had Benedikt Hoewedes sent off for a high tackle on Lyon winger Jimmy Briand.

Schalke, despite the numerical disadvantage, had their chances to salvage something from the match but the French keeper Hugo Lloris was on brilliant form. In the other game, Benfica defeated Hapoel Tel Aviv 2-0 in Lisbon. The defender Lusiao put them ahead on 21 minutes with a timely strike just inside the box. Oscar Cardoza tapped in the second on 68 minutes in a match where the Portuguese champions should have added more on their first appearance in the competition in five years.

* Compiled by Stephen Nelmes with agencies

In numbers: China in Dubai

The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000

Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000

Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000

Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000

Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent

Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.

8. Pillar 2 implementation

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

Brilliant Messi inspires Barcelona to start on the right note

Barca win 5-1 against Panathinaikos in the Champions League while Inter Milan, the defending European champions, are held at Twente.

In numbers: China in Dubai

Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026