UCL MATCH DAY ONE: Wednesday’s Round-up

A total of 54 goals were scored in match day one of the UEFA Champions League, with 26 of them coming in the second day, on Wednesday.

Defending champions, Real Madrid account for three of those goals, as they got their title defense off to a winning start. There were also wins for Tottenham, Man City and Turkish side, Besiktas.

Group E

Liverpool 2-2 Sevilla

Liverpool’s return to the Champions League after a three year absence ended in a disappointing draw at Anfield to Spanish side, Sevilla.

The Reds started on a very positive note, but found themselves behind as early as the 5th minute, when Ben Yedder gave the visitors a 1-0 lead.

Liverpool responded brilliantly and were back on level terms through a Roberto Firmino goal in the 21th minute, before their Mohamed Salah put them 2-1 up minutes after the half hour mark.

However, three minutes before the break, the home side were given a chance to put the game beyond their visitors when the referee awarded a penalty, but Firmino failed to convert, as his spot kick came off the woodwork.

Midway through the second half, Liverpool were made to rue their misses, as Joaquin Correa equalized for Sevilla, who held on to leave Anfield with a share of the spoils.

Joe Gomez was sent off in added time, as Muriel almost gave Sevilla all three points with a late effort.

The group’s other match also ended in a draw, as a late Bohar strike earned Maribor a 1-1 draw against Spartak Moskva, who took the lead in the 59th minute through Samedov.

Group F

Feyenoord 0-4 Manchester City

Feyenoord’s return to the Champions League for the first time in 15 years ended in a very heavy defeat, as they were ran over by a rampaging Man City side, inspired by defender, John Stones.

Stones scored a brace, while further goals from Sergio Aguero and strike partner, Gabriel Jesus, handed the Citizens a convincing 4-0 win to kick start their campaign in solid fashion.

Meanwhile, in Ukraine, it wasn’t a second time lucky for Italian side, SS Napoli, as their second trip to Ukraine to kick off their Champions League campaign ended a 2-1 defeat to Shakhtar Donetsk, thanks to goals from Taison, and Ferreyra for the home side, who grabbed their seventh competitive win in all competitions this season.

Napoli’s consolation goal was scored by Milik, who converted a 72nd minute penalty for the Italians.

Group G

RB Leipzig 1-1 Monaco

Emil Forsberg scored RB Leipzig’s first ever goal in the UEFA Champions League, but his joy was short-lived, as Youri Tielemans’ first goal for Monaco, a minute later, ensured that both sides shared the points in Germany.

While in Portugal, Porto’s impressive record against Turkish teams came to an end when goals from Talisca, Cenk Tosun and Ryan Babel’s record breaking late goal gave Besiktas an excellent 3-1 away win.

Group H

Real Madrid 3-0 Apoel

Real Madrid’s title defense got off to a brilliant start, after they defeated Apoel Nicosia 3-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium.

A Cristiano Ronaldo brace, and a beautiful acrobatic third from Sergio Ramos handed Los Blancos all three points, as their incredible record of never losing at home in eight years continues.

At Wembley, it finally felt like home as Tottenham brushed aside their visitors, Borussia Dortmund 3-1 to get their Champions League season off to a winning start.

Heung-Min Son’s 4th minute opener for Spurs was canceled out seven minutes later when Yarmolenko scored a beauty for Dortmund.

However, Harry Kane restored the home side’s lead four minutes after Yarmolenko’s equalizer, before adding a third on the hour mark, his fourth goal in four Champions League appearances, to seal the win and a deserved breather for Spurs.