Champions League review:(Wed 19th Sept)

[bennythedip2]

Champions League review: Man City in shock defeat, Paul Pogba helps Man United to victory (September 19)

A look back at a busy night in the first match of the group stages in the 2018/19 Champions League...

Champions League results

Ajax 3-0 AEK Athens
Shakhtar Donetsk 2-2 Hoffenheim
Benfica 0-2 Bayern Munich
Manchester City 1-2 Lyon
Plzen 2-2 CSKA Moscow
Real Madrid 3-0 AS Roma
Valencia 0-2 Juventus
Young Boys 0-3 Manchester United


Champions League favourites Manchester City made a losing start to their Group F campaign as they suffered a shock 2-1 defeat at home to Ligue 1 side Lyon.

Maxwel Cornet gave the visitors the lead on 26 minutes, capitalising on a mistake from Fabian Delph, with former Liverpool target Nabil Fekir making it two shortly before half-time.

With Pep Guardiola watching from the stands due to a touchline ban and Mikel Arteta on the touchline, City lacked dynamism but pulled one back through Bernardo Silva on 67 minutes but they could not find an all-important equaliser.

Young Boys 0-3 Manchester United

Paul Pogba scored twice as Manchester United started their Group H campaign with a 3-0 win over Young Boys.

The Frenchman opened the scoring with a stunning left-footed strike (watch it, below) on 35 minutes, doubling their lead from the penalty spot nine minutes later.

Anthony Martial made it three with just over 20 minutes remaining as Jose Mourinho's side got off to the best possible start.

With tough assignments against Valencia and Juventus to come, United knew just how important it would be to get three points in their Group H opener on the Stade de Suisse's synthetic surface.

They were not at their best in Bern but it was a comprehensive start to their Champions League campaign - and all the more satisfying as Mourinho's players appeared to avoid injury on the Swiss champions' controversial surface.

Elsewhere...

Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off on his Champions League debut for Juventus as a pair of penalties from Miralem Pjanic gave the Italian champions a 2-0 win in Valencia.

Ronaldo, the Champions League's all-time leading scorer with 120 goals, was dismissed after just 28 minutes following an off-the-ball incident.

The forward appeared to put his hand on the head of Valencia defender Jeison Murillo, who fell to the ground. Referee Felix Brych gave Ronaldo a straight red card after discussing the incident with his assistant behind the goal.

The Portugal captain looked baffled and kept protesting his innocence, briefly laying on the ground to express his disbelief. He was clearly distraught as he left the pitch, still shaking his head.

It was his first red card in 154 Champions League games and it means he is set to miss a return to Old Trafford when Juventus play his former club Manchester United next month.

Despite their numerical disadvantage, Juventus scored both of their goals without their star man with Pjanic tucking away his spot kicks in the minutes either side of half-time.

There was a third penalty in the match deep into injury time but Dani Parejo saw his effort saved by Wojciech Szczesny as Valencia were denied a consolation goal.

Man City's group rivals Shakhtar Donetsk twice came from behind to draw 2-2 with Hoffenheim, who scored goals through Florian Grillitsch and Havard Nordtveit.

Ismaily dos Santos first brought the Ukranian champions level before substitute Barberan Maycon rescued the hosts a point with nine minutes left.

The other early kick-off saw Ajax win 3-0 at home against AEK Athens. Nicolas Tagliafico was on target either side of Donny van de Beek's strike for the Dutch side.

Later in Group E, goals from Robert Lewandowski and Renato Sanches saw Bayern Munich win 2-0 at Benfica.

Holders Real Madrid made a winning start in Group G as goals from Isco, Gareth Bale and Diaz Mariano gave them a 3-0 victory against Roma at the Bernabeu while Viktoria Plzen squandered a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with CSKA Moscow.

Michal Krmencik scored twice to put Plzen in control but Fedor Chalov pulled one back before an injury-time penalty from Nikola Vlasic rescued a point for the Russians.

[Part-Timer]

The Portugal captain looked baffled and kept protesting his innocence, briefly laying on the ground to express his disbelief. He was clearly distraught as he left the pitch, still shaking his head.

And how many players have been sent off due to his play acting, Karma's a bitch