Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge
Manchester United’s return to the Champions League turned sour after Luke Shaw suffered a horror injury, as Louis van Gaal’s men failed to protect their one-goal lead against Dutch side PSV Eindhoven. Cristiano Ronaldo scored yet another hattrick, moving three clear of Lionel Messi at pole position in the Champions League scoring charts, as Real Madrid outclassed their Ukrainian counterparts at the Bernabeu. Last season’s runners-up Juventus’ campaign got off to a positive start, as the Italians came from a goal behind to bag all three points against perpetual strugglers Manchester City.
Reuters/Michael Kooren
Luke Shaw’s gruesome injury was the talk of the town on the opening matchday, as PSV recorded a win against their superior rivals. Shaw, who has had an impressive start to the season, burst into the box, evading two challenges on his way before he was brought down by Hector Moreno and from the Mexican defender’s reaction, something serious was evident as Shaw lay on the pitch writhing in agony and reports later showed that the young Englishman broke his right leg in two places and faces more than 6 months out. After a 10 minute delay, Manchester United picked up where they left off and Memphis Depay, opened the scoring on his return to former club, when he created space from himself in the box with a clever piece of skill and slotted the ball past the onrushing ‘keeper.
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Moreno, who escaped punishment following the challenge on Shaw, equalised in first-half stoppage time with a powerful header, which took a deflection on its way into the back of the net. Although United dominated proceedings for long periods, van Gaal’s men were incredibly profligate in front of goal and shaky in the back, and paid the price when the unmarked Luciano Narsingh sent his header into the ground, past David De Gea to take the lead for the first time in the match.
Magi Haroun /REX
Real Madrid made the perfect start to their campaign for the Undecima, albeit under controversial circumstances, as Rafa Benitez’s men scored 4 goals unanswered goals against Shakhtar Donetsk. Karim Benzema opened the scoring by passing the ball into an empty net, after ‘keeper Andriy Pyatov fluffed Isco’s cross right into the path of the unmarked Frenchman. Ronaldo stepped up to take the first of his two spot-kicks, when the referee penalized Darijo Srna for handling the ball following Ronaldo’s shot, although replays showed it clearly hit the defender’s back. Ronaldo, who ended his goal-scoring drought over the weekend, smashed his penalty just out of the reach of Pyatov to make it 2-0. Real were awarded another penalty a few minutes later, after Marcio Azevedo handled the ball in the 18-yard box and Ronaldo send Pyatov the wrong way to squash any hopes of a comeback. The Portuguese winger completed his treble, heading the ball into an empty net after Marcelo’s stinging shot had been parried, scoring his eighth goal in two games. Although Benitez will be pleased after a comprehensive victory, his main cause for concern is Gareth Bale, who suffered a calf injury in the 31st minute, while Sergio Ramos dislocated his shoulder.
Reuters/Phil Noble
Manchester City who have never won their opening home game in the group stage, were on course break the jinx, after Giorgio Chiellini headed into his own net under pressure from Vincent Kompany during a corner routine in the 59th minute, although replays showed the City defender clearly pushed the Italian to the ground. Mario Mandzukic scored the equaliser, when he tapped home Paul Pogba’s exquisite ball over Eliaquim Mangala. Alvaro Morata completed his side’s comeback, when he wriggled past his man before curling a beautiful left-footed shot past the outstretched arms of Joe Hart.
Other results:
Group A
Paris Saint-Germain 2-0 Malmo
Group B
VfL Wolfsburg 1-0 CSKA Moscow
Group C
Galatasaray 0-2 Atletico Madrid
Benfica 2-0 FC Astana
Group D
Sevilla 3-0 Borussia Monchengladbach
Tags: Cristiano Ronaldo Real Madrid van Gaal
