The UEFA Champions League returned on Wednesday with Matchday 3 actions from Groups A-D.
Sergio Aguero grabbed a brace from the fixture involving CSKA Moscow and Manchester City to help Manuel Pellegrini’s side mount pressure on defending champions Bayern Munich.
Cristiano Ronaldo also scored twice as Real Madrid downed Antonio Conte’s Juventus at the Santiago Bernebeu, while Swede striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who would face the Portuguese winger in a World Cup playoff next month, headlined for scoring some stunning four goals at Anderletch.
Group A
Coming on the back of their former manager’s book release, Sir Alex Ferguson was in the stands to watch his old side edge Real Sociedad in another tension-packed display. On the same night, United gave trial to Old Trafford singing section and it didn’t end in disappointment for the home fans.
Inigo Martinez’s second-minute own goal, after a superb Wayne Rooney shot rebounded off the post helped the Premier League champions maintain a three-game winning streak in Europe.
Bayern Leverkusen leapfrogged Shakhtar Donetsk into second place following their 4-0 win in Ukraine. Last weekend scorer of a ‘Phantom Goal’ against Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga, Stefan Kiessling scored twice as Simon Rolfes and Sidney Sam, who was also on target over the weekend completed scoring for coach Sami Hypia’s side.
United maintained the top of the group log on 7 points, Leverkusen on 6, Donetsk on 4, but Sociedad are yet to earn a point.
Group B
Ronaldo scored twice to help the Los Blancos remain top of the table against a resilient Juve.
The Portuguese opened scoring with a dinked effort but Fernando Llorente pulled the goal back from close range before Ronaldo completed his brace from the penalty spot. Ronaldo has now scored seven goals in three Champions League matches.
Defender Giorgio Chiellini was sent off in the closing half-hour of the encounter before Gareth Bale was introduced.
Galatasaray climbed above Juventus in the group standing thanks to a 3-1 win over FC Copenhagen. Felipe Melo, Wesley Sneijder and Didier Drogba scored for the Turkish champions, while Claudemir grabbed Copenhagen’s consolation.
Group C
Ibrahimovic produced a superb four-goal display against Anderletch to help PSG maintain their unbeaten run. The Swede had already grabbed a hat-trick of goals within 36 minutes of play, opening scoring when he was left with an empty net and added a second with a sublime flicked back-heel.
He fired in a ferocious one-time shot from 25-yards to complete his hat-trick before Edinson Cavani made it 4-0 after the interval.
Ibrahimovich later added his fourth to help the Parisians sit at the top of the log on 9 points while Olympiakos, who drew 1-1 with Benfica in Portugal, remain second with four points.
Anderletch are yet to earn a point and they trail the Portuguese, who have also recorded four points from three matches.
Alejandro Dominigues gave the Greek side the lead but Oscar Cardozo leveled with seven minutes left.
Group D
Bayern Munich maintained their 100% start to their title defence with a 5-0 hammering of Viktoria Plzen, who are yet to record a point.
Franck Ribery scored a brace while David Alaba, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Mario Gotze added the other goals as the Bundesliga champions raced to a comfortable win.
City secured a 2-1 victory against CSKA in Russia thanks to Aguero’s brace. City, who were runners-ups in last season’s Premier League, were down by a goal in the 32nd minute scored by Zoran Tosic.
Yaya Toure complained after the game he had been subjected to racist chanting, however; the Manchester outfit went three points clear of the Russians, who are third on three points.
