Have no doubts fans, this will be a Champions League to remember and Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Neymar let everyone know early on it will be a showcase for the ages.
We live in an era of abundance wherein three mega stars are leading three star-studded teams in search of a single continental trophy and this time around Bayern Munich, Juventus, Dortmund, Manchester United, Chelsea, Atletico Madrid, and Manchester City, seem eerily out of pace regardless of their success in match one of the group stage.
Barcelona’s Messi put on a display reminiscent of his early Champions League prowess. He played as if he needed the win personally and produced one of his best games of the year against a hapless Juventus. Real Madrid’s Ronaldo made sure no one forgot about him during his La Liga exile and his brace, albeit against lowly APOEL, simply reaffirmed that the Merengues are a different team with him on the pitch. PSG’s Neymar has been in stellar form and in happy-mood feistiness since moving to Paris, and his team’s 5-0 demolition of Scottish Champions Celtic at Glasgow’s Celtic Park was in no small measure his team’s presentation of its European calling card.
In Group A, Benfica lost 1-2 to visiting CSKA Moscow while hosts Manchester United defeated FC Basel 3-0. In Group B, PSG defeated hosts Celtic 5-0 and seemingly disgruntled hosts Bayern Munich defeated RSC Anderlecht 3-0. In Group C, Chelsea defeated visiting FK Qarabag 6-0 while hosts Roma were held 0-0 by visiting Atletico Madrid. In Group D, Barcelona demolished visiting Juventus 3-0 while hosts Olympiakos fell to Sporting Lisbon 2-3.
In Group E, visiting Sevilla came from behind to score late and rescue a point at Liverpool in a 2-2 draw, while NK Maribor and visiting Spartak Moscow drew 1-1. In Group F, visiting Manchester City defeated Feyenoord 4-0 while Shaktar Donestk beat visiting Napoli 2-1. In Group G, FC Porto lost 1-3 at home to Besiktas while RB Leipzig were held to a 1-1 draw by Monaco. In Group H, Real Madrid defeated visiting Apoel Nicosia 3-0 while Tottenham Hotspur defeated visiting Borussia Dortmnund 3-1.
The next matches of major import will be Tuesday, September 26, when Dortmund taking on visiting Real Madrid and Monaco host FC Porto. On Wednesday, September 27, CSKA Moscow host Manchester United, PSG host Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid host Chelsea. When the dust settles we will know who will be in the driver’s seat and who will be trying to play catch-up.
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