The seemingly telepathic connection between Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez was on full display Wednesday at Wembley.

The Argentine magician scored twice in Barcelona’s breathless 4-2 victory over Tottenham Hotspur, with a pair of deft dummies from his Uruguayan teammate playing a vital role in each strike.

The 31-year-old, who also hit the post twice in quick succession in the second half, was at his unstoppable best for much of the contest, picking up the ball deep, darting past defenders, and causing havoc every time he was in flight.

Vintage Messi, if you will.

Despite some sloppiness in defense, Barca – who came into the match winless in three games – now sit atop Group B, ahead of Inter Milan on goal difference after a pair of wins. Spurs, meanwhile, are still looking for their first point after also dropping their opening Champions League encounter against the aforementioned Italian side.

Mauricio Pochettino’s men received tallies from Harry Kane and Erik Lamela – the latter coming courtesy of a big deflection – but they were undone by the combination of Suarez’s selflessness and Messi’s ruthlessness.

A horrific error from Hugo Lloris, which allowed Philippe Coutinho to open the scoring early, along with a stunning volley from Ivan Rakitic, didn’t exactly help Tottenham’s predicament, either.

Despite all that, it was Messi who really made the difference. He now has five goals in two Champions League matches this season.

When he was named Blaugrana captain ahead of the season, taking the armband from the departed Andres Iniesta, Messi, speaking of the big-eared Champions League trophy, vowed to “bring this beautiful cup back home to the Camp Nou.”

If the first two matchdays are any indication, he means it.

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — Wide receivers Brandin Cooks and Cooper Kupp are expected to clear the concussion protocol before the Los Angeles Rams play the Denver Broncos on Sunday at Broncos Stadium at Mile High.

“We’re right on track,” Rams coach Sean McVay said after practice Friday, adding that doctors could give a final clearance as soon as Saturday. “Looking positive in that direction.”

• 

  The Broncos are the latest to get a crack at slowing down the Rams’ offense. Evaluators provide a blueprint.

• 

  Winners and projections for every matchup. Fantasy nuggets to get you through the weekend. Catch up on Week 6 here.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. walked off the field and into the locker room before the final play of the first half of a 34-13 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday night. He did not return to the sideline until after the opening kickoff of the second half.

There were two seconds remaining in the first half and the Giants were trailing 24-6 when Beckham strutted into the tunnel. The Giants ran one final play before halftime with their offense on the field.

Beckham was nowhere to be seen when Sterling Shepard caught a desperation 20-yard pass on the final play of the half. Two weeks ago, Beckham left early in a loss to the New Orleans Saints to get an IV. He returned in that game for the start of the second half.

It all seems to be spiraling out of control once again for Beckham and the Giants, who at 1-5 own the worst record in the NFL. According to a report by Fox Sports, the star receiver was fined for comments he made in an interview last week with ESPN’s Josina Anderson.

Beckham had two catches on four targets for 12 yards in the first half on Thursday night, as the Giants’ offense was a discombobulated mess. Quarterback Eli Manning was 10-of-23 passing for 163 yards with an interception as the Giants managed just two field goals in the opening 30 minutes.

But Manning was just 1-of-10 on passes of 3 or more air yards in the first half, according to ESPN Stats & Information. He had at least five passes that came close to being intercepted before halftime.

The Giants were clearly frustrated, from their quarterback to their receivers to their coach. Manning at one point showed a rare display of emotion when he yelled at running back Wayne Gallman after a miscommunication between the two on a second-quarter play.

play

Odell Beckham Jr. continues to express his frustrations on the sidelines as he head-butts a cooling fan.

Coach Pat Shurmur was even caught on camera in the second quarter appearing to say, “Throw the ball!” after Manning dumped a second-and-long pass to Cody Latimer in the flat. Manning then dumped a third-and-long pass well short of the first-down marker before the Giants punted.

The frustration spilled into the second half, when Beckham banged his head and threw light jabs at a fan on the sideline. He needed to be calmed by rookie running back Saquon Barkley, who had just run for a 50-yard touchdown to make it 31-13 in favor of the Eagles.

Barkley, who finished with 130 yards rushing and 99 receiving, was the Giants’ lone positive from the disappointing effort. He had two 40-plus-yard runs in the contest and 229 total yards. The Giants had just two 40-plus runs from 2015 to ’17.

Beckham had six catches on 10 targets for 44 yards.

There was optimism with the Giants’ offense heading into Thursday night’s game. It had scored 30 points for the first time since the final week of the 2015 season Sunday against the Carolina Panthers.