THE 2021/2022 UEFA Champions League opening matchday was concluded on Wednesday night with some interesting results and lots of goals.
In Group A, hosts Manchester City defeated RB Leipzig 6-3 in the highest-scoring game of the round.
Nathan Ake headed City into the lead and Nordi Mukiele’s own goal made it 2-0, but Christopher Nkunku grabbed a hat-trick for the visitors.
Riyad Mahrez, £100m signing Jack Grealish, João Cancelo and Gabriel Jesus scored City’s other goals as their former player Angelino was sent off late.
Nkunku became the fourth player to score a UEFA Champions League hat-trick in a defeat, after Brazilian Ronaldo (Manchester United 4-3 Real Madrid, 2002/2003), Gareth Bale (Tottenham 3-4 Inter, 2010/2011) and İrfan Can Kahveci (İstanbul Başakşehir 3-4 Leipzig, 2020/2021).
In the other Group A clash on the night, Lionel Messi had an underwhelming Champions League debut for Paris Saint-Germain as they were held to a 1-1 draw by hosts Club Brugge.
Messi’s first start for PSG ended in disappointment despite Ander Herrera’s fourth goal in six games that took the visitors in front on 15 minutes.
Hans Vanaken’s equaliser earned the Belgian champions a deserved draw in front of a boisterous crowd. There was another setback for Paris as Kylian Mbappe went off injured shortly after half-time.
Messi’s first outing in a PSG starting XI was also his 150th game in the Champions League, and he becomes just the fourth man to reach that mark after Iker Casillas, Cristiano Ronaldo (both 177) and Xavi Hernández (151).
In Group B, Atletico Madrid and FC Porto played out a 0-0 draw in a tight contest in Madrid.
There were chances for Atletico’s Luis Suárez and Porto’s Otávio before Chancel Mbemba received a straight red card towards the end.
Atletico have lost only one of their last 30 European games in their own stadium (won 22, drew seven, lost one).
In the group’s other game, Liverpool came from behind to beat AC Milan 3-2 at Anfield.
Jordan Henderson hit the winner with a brilliant half-volley after goals from Mohamed Salah and an own goal by Fikayo Tomori.
AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan saved Salah’s penalty, while Ante Rebić and Brahim Díaz scored for the Italians.
The clash was just the third time the two teams had met in European competition; the other two were Champions League finals (2005 and 2007).
In Group C, Borussia Dortmund defeated their hosts Besiktas 2-1 with Jude Bellingham and Erling Haaland scoring.
Francisco Montero’s added-time header gave Beşiktaş hope, but it came too late.
England midfielder Bellingham has become the youngest player to score in successive UEFA Champions League games, at 18 years and 78 days – bettering Mbappe’s previous mark of 18 years and 85 days from March 2017.
In the other Group C contest on the night, Sebastien Haller scored four times as Ajax cruised to a 5-1 victory over their hosts Sporting Lisbon.
The Cote d’Ivoire striker scored twice in each half to give the Dutch side victory, with Steven Berghuis adding the other goal.
Paulinho scored Sporting’s only goal and had another one disallowed.
Haller became only the second man to score four goals on his UEFA Champions League debut, following Marco van Basten for Milan against Goteborg in 1992.
In Group D, Moldova’s Sheriff Tiraspol had a dream UEFA Champions League group phase debut with a 2-0 home win over Shakhtar Donetsk.
Adama Traore volleyed in Cristiano’s cross to hand Sheriff the lead and the newcomers sealed the famous victory as Cristiano set up substitute Momo Yansane to head in.
Sheriff have kept seven clean sheets in their nine UEFA Champions League games this term, including qualifiers.
In the group’s other fixture, Real Madrid defeated Inter Milan in Italy with an 89th-minute goal from Rodrygo.
Inter were on a run of 10 home wins in all competitions before the defeat to Real Madrid.
