The first matchday of UEFA Champions League action took place on Tuesday as Groups A-D slugged it out.
Premier League duo Liverpool and Arsenal enjoyed contrasting fortunes, while Real Madrid ran out convincing winners.
[RELATED: Latest Champions League news]
There were plenty of the shocks across the eight games in Europe’s elite club competition.
Here’s the word on what happened as the UCL is back, baby!
Group A
Juventus 2-0 Malmo
Carlos Tevez scored twice in Turin as Swedish side Malmo held their own against the Italian champions. The Argentine striker slotted home and curled in an absolite beauty of a free kick to set Massimiliano Allegri’s side on their way.
Olympiakos 3-2 Atletico Madrid
The Greeks raced into a 2-0 lead at home, as Masuaku and Afellay were both on the scoresheet. Mario Mandzukic handed Atletico a lifeline just before half time as last seasons runners up were slow starters. However, Fulham loanee Kostas Mitroglou then scored to put Olympiakos 3-1 up before a late Antoine Griezmann goal set up a nervy finale.
Group B
RECAP – Liverpool 2-1 Ludogorets
A dramatic finale at Anfield as Mario Balotelli scored his first goal for Liverpool, but Ludogorets then equalized through Ablo Paulos in the 90th minute. Mr. Dependable, Steven Gerrard, then stepped up to score an injury time penalty kick as Liverpool marked their first game back in the UCL with a win. Just.
- ANALYSIS: Should Liverpool’s fans be concerned?
Real Madrid 5-1 Basel
Suchy scored an own goal to give Real the lead in the first half and they never looked back. Goals from Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo and James Rodriguez tore Basel apart in a six-minute spell, as Basel pulled one back before half time through Gonzalez. Karim Benzema then added some gloss to the scoreline late in the game, as a flowing move saw the Frenchman hammer home.
Group C
Benfica 0-2 Zenit St Petersburg
Hulk clipped home a cool finish to open the scoring, then Alex Witsel doubled the Russian sides lead after 22 minutes with a header. Andre Villas-Boas’ men are off to a flier in Group C.
Monaco 1-0 Bayer Leverkusen
Leverkusen have had all the play in the first half but Monaco were the victors in their own principality. Portuguese international Joao Moutinho got the winner as the French side triumphed on their return to the Champions League.
Group D
RECAP – Borussia Dortmund 2-0 Arsenal
BVB outshot the Gunners 21-4 as Ciro Immobile and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored to hand the Germans a perfect start to group play. Immobile ran 60-yards and smashed the ball into the bottom corner for the opener then Aubameyang also caught Arsenal on the counter in a night to forget for Premier League side.
- ANALYSIS: Arteta slams Gunners after poor display
Galatasaray 1-1 Anderlecht
The Belgians went ahead as youngster Dennis Praet scored but Galatasaray equalized in the final minute through Yilmaz to earn a point. American midfielder Sacha Kljestan came off the bench in Istanbul but couldn’t help his side hang on to the win.
