The first games of this season's Champions League kicked off today with Arsenal beating débutantes Montpellier while Manchester City took the lead twice against Real Madrid but ended up losing. Here's the round-up:
Group A: Dinamo Zagreb's return to top European action ended in defeat at home to Porto. Lucho Gonzalez gave the Portuguese side the lead four minutes before half-time. The points were sealed when Steven Defour made it 2-0 in injury time.
Big spenders, PSG, started their campaign with a thrashing at home to Dynamo Kyiv. Zlatan Ibrahimovic broke the deadlock after 19-minutes from the spot. Thiago Silva made it 2-0 just before the half hour mark and it was 3-0 on 32-minutes courtesy of Alex. Miguel Veloso did get a consolation for Kyiv four minutes before the end but Javier Pastore had the last word with PSG's fourth in injury time.
Group B: Arsenal had a relatively nervy start to this season's campaign but managed to come from behind to beat Montpellier in France. Younes Belhanda gave the hosts the lead after nine minutes from the spot, with a fantastic chipped effort. Lukas Podolski made it three goals in three games for Arsenal, equalising on 16-minutes with Gervinho scoring his third goal in two games to make it 2-1 two minutes later, courtesy of a Carl Jenkinson cross. Montpellier did hit the bar in the second half but Arsenal managed to hold on to the three points.
2010/2011 semi-finalists, Schalke, returned to the Champions League with a win over Olympiacos. Benedikt Howedes gave the German visitors the lead four minutes before half-time. Djamel Abdoun equalised 13-minutes into the second half but parity only lasted a minute as Klaas Jan Huntelaar gave Schalke the victory.
Group C: Perhaps the shock of the night came from the San Siro where AC Milan hosted Belgian side, Anderlecht. Milan failed the break Anderlecht down and the visitors managed to get themselves a point in a goalless draw.
Malaga's debut in the Champions League began with a convincing victory over Zenit. Isco gave the Spanish hosts the lead after just three minutes before Javier Saviola made it 2-0 ten minutes later. Isco then wrapped the points up with his second goal on 76-minutes.
Group D: The English Champions faced the Spanish Champions in the opening game in the Group of Death/Champions. Despite being second best for large parts of the game, with Joe Hart pulling off some unbelievable saves, City found themselves ahead when substitute Edin Dzeko put them ahead on 69-minutes. They were ahead for eight minutes until Marcelo let off a sublime curling effort that took a slight deflection to force it past Hart. Substitute Aleksandar Kolarov then put City back in front five minutes from time with a dangerous floated free-kick that beat everyone, including Iker Casillas, before the ball nestled into the bottom corner. This time they were ahead for only two minutes before Karim Benzema found a fantastic shot on the turn to beat Hart into the bottom corner. Who else but Cristiano Ronaldo would be able to steal headlines for Madrid. The Portuguese cut inside before unleashing a dipping effort that bounced in front of Hart, who didn't see it till late, and went under the flailing keeper, giving the points to the Spanish giants.
The German Champions needed a late goal to see off the Dutch Champions. Robert Lewandowski stole the three points three minutes from time to give Borussia Dortmund the 1-0 win over Ajax.
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