Silva leaves it late to rescue Milan in the Nou Camp

Thiago Silva powered home a header in the second minute of stoppage time to snatch a 2-2 draw for AC Milan at holders Barcelona in the heavyweight pair’s Group H opener.

A sultry Nou Camp was stunned into near-silence after only 24 seconds when Alexandre Pato left the Barca defence for dead and beat goalkeeper Victor Valdes, the fifth-fastest goal in Europe’s elite club competition.

However, World Player of the Year Lionel Messi, Champions League top scorer for the past three seasons, created an equaliser for Pedro in the 36th minute with a brilliant weaving run and cross and David Villa netted a superb long-range free kick five minutes after the break.

A dominant Barca were apparently cruising towards victory when Brazil defender Silva leaped above the home defence and crashed a 92nd-minute header past Valdes.

Elsewhere, Belgium’s Racing Genk held out for a 0-0 draw against Valencia in their opening Group E match.

The Spanish side, who have won their first two La Liga matches, had the bulk of possession and pressure and hit the bar midway through the second half, although it was far from purely one-way traffic.

Valencia’s Daniel Parejo in the centre, and Ronaldo Soldado, often on the right, caused Genk’s defence some difficulties, notably when the former forced Genk keeper Laszlo Koteles into a reflex save from Soldado’s cross in the 59th minute.

Valencia’s Adil Rami also hit the bar in the 72nd minute with an overhead kick.

Genk, whose coach Mario Been arrived at the club just two weeks ago, threatened more in the second half, and Jeroen Simaeys forced a good save from Valencia keeper Diego Alves six minutes from time.