Champions League - Results
Match-day 1 (Tuesday, 14 September)
Sevilla 1 – 1 RB Salzburg
Young Boys 2 – 1 Manchester United
Lille 0 – 0 Wolfsburg
Villareal 2 – 2 Atalanta
Chelsea 1 – 0 Zenit
Juventus 3 – 0 Malmo
Bayern Munich 3 – 0 Barceolna
Benefica 0 – 0 Dynamo Kyiv
* More accolades to Ronaldo’s already legendary career
Cristiano Ronaldo equalled all-time Champions League records held by Iker Casillas and Lionel Messi during Manchester United’s game against Young Boys. With his start against the Young Boys, Ronaldo matched Casillas with a record 177 appearances in the competition.
It took the Portugal star just 13 minutes to open the scoring in Switzerland to put United 1-0 ahead, sealing in the process a share of another record. That would prove to be the best it got for United on the night, however, as the Swiss side scored twice in the second half to stun the Red Devils 2-1.
Young Boys became the 36th different club he has scored a Champions League goal against, with only Messi matching that mark. Of course, those are far from the only records that Ronaldo has earned in the Champions League. He is the competition’s all-time top goal-scorer with 135 finishes, including 17 in 2013-14, the most in a single campaign. Ronaldo also has more knockout-round goals than any other player, with a total of 67 outside of the group stage.
In addition, the Portuguese star is the only player to score in three Champions League finals, the only player to score in all six games in a Champions League group, and the only player to score in 11 straight Champions League games too.
* Chelsea begin title defence with a win
Thomas Tuchel was full of praise for his side’s 1-0 win over Zenit on Tuesday (14) in their opening group-stage fixture in the Champions League. The decisive goal was scored from their new summer signing Romelu Lukaku in the 69th minute. Lukaku is already off to a strong start to his second stint at Chelsea, having scored four goals in as many games since making the switch from Inter.
The addition of Lukaku has only made Chelsea more dangerous after the Blues won the Champions League last season.
Tuchel speaking to BBC sport said, “It was an excellent header (from Lukaku for the goal), a well-timed cross by (Cesar) Azpilicueta. He was brave enough to step up and we had bodies in the box. That’s why he (Lukaku) is here. He likes to score and he’s decisive for us.”
Lukaku added thus on his goal in an interview with BT Sport: “Me and Cesar agree on certain types of movements on the pitch. I had to get my timing right, but it was a beautiful ball by him. We knew it would be a tough game but we controlled it really well.”
* Barca thumped 3-0 by Bayern Munich
Barcelona suffered a humiliating 3-0 defeat at the hand of Bayern Munich in their group-stage fixture in the Champions League. The loss meant Barcelona have fallen in three straight home games in Europe for the first time in their history. They have been outscored 10-1 in those matches.
Additionally, the team failed to put a shot on target for the first time in a Champions League affair since at least 2003-04.
The Barca fans showed their disappointment when they whistled at Segi Roberto when he was substituted off in the 59th minute.
At the post match press conference, Gerard Pique defended his team-mate saying, “It hurts me a lot personally because I know this person. He’s a spectacular human being and he loves this club more than anybody. I’d like to remind people also that he’s not a full-back… He’s a central player, a midfielder. He’s made a sacrifice to play in this position and he’s done it phenomenally many times. It hurts a lot but the people are free to voice their opinions but if you ask me personally, it hurts a lot.