Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United romped to convincing victories as 30 goals were scored on the opening night of UEFA Champions League group phases.
GROUP A David Moyes secured his first Champions League victory as Manchester United manager
following an easy 4-2 victory against Bayern Levekusen at old Trafford. Wayne Rooney scored his 200th goal for the club in netting either side of the break, with Robin van Persie and Antonio Valencia getting the others. The Germans were briefly on level terms through Simon Rolfes’ stunner, while Ömer Toprak also got a late consolation.
Rooney shines in victoryIn the group’s other match, Real Sociedad missed a number of chances in losing 2-0 away to Shakhtar Donetsk, for who Alex Teixeira netted a second half brace.
GROUP BReal Madrid – and Cristiano Ronaldo in particular– showed they are more than up for the challenge this season after hammering Galatasaray 6-1 in Turkey. The Portuguese international scored a hat-trick, including an amazing third, with Karim Benzema getting a brace and Isco the other. Umut Bulut got the consolation for the hosts.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat-trickIn Denmark, Italian champions Juventus dominated but needed a late equaliser from Fabio Quagliarella to ensure a share of the spoils against Copenhagen. Nicolai Jorgensen had given the Danes the lead on 15 minutes.
GROUP CBig-spending French outfit Paris Saint-Germain cruised to a comprehensive 4-1 win against Olympiakos at the Karaiskakis Stadium. Edinson Cavani got the opener, but Vladimir Weiss
levelled for the home side. However, PSG’s class soon shone through as Thiago Motta netted two headers before a late strike from debutant
Marquinhos.
In the group’s other match, Benfica cruised to a 2-0 win against Anderlecht courtesy of first half goals from Filip Djuricic and Luisao.
GROUP DDefending champions Bayern Munich got their title defence off to a comfortable start with a 3-0 drubbing of CSKA Moscow. David Alaba opened the scoring with a perfect free-kick,
before Mario Mandzukic headed home and Arjen Robben got a late third.
Bayern open with easy victoryManchester City took a while to get going, but eventually romped to a 3-0 victory against Viktoria Plzen. After a goalless first half, Edin Dzeko opened the scoring soon after the break,
before Yaya Toure’s curled in an absolute stunner and Sergio Aguero found a third.
Next match tomorrow
7:45 PM - Chelsea vs FC Basel
7:45 PM - Schalke 04 vs Steaua Bucuresti
7:45 PM - Marseille vs Arsenal
7:45 PM - Napoli vs Borussia Dortmund
7:45 PM - AC Milan vs Celtic
7:45 PM - Barcelona vs Ajax Amsterdam
7:45 PM - Atletico Madrid vs Zenit St Petersburg
7:45 PM - Austria Vienna vs FC Porto