Matchday two in the Champions League saw Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain all put in eye-catching displays while Juventus were held 2-2 at home by Galatasaray and Manchester United drew away at Shakhtar Donetsk.
The performance of the night took place at the Etihad stadium in Manchester as City were humbled 3-1 by a brilliant Bayern side that looks even better than the one that won the Champions League last season.
Goals from Franck Ribery, Thomas Mueller and Arjen Robben, Alvaro Negredo got a late consolation for City, sent Bayern firmly in command of Group D. City lie second on three points with CSKA Moscow, 3-2 winners over Viktoria Plzen, in third on goal difference. Man City and CSKA meet in the upcoming double header and City will need to take four points from the two games if they are to progress to the knockout stages for the first time.
Paris Saint-Germain are sitting pretty on six points after their 3-0 win over shell-shocked Benfica at the Parc des Princes. PSG showed that they are a legitimate Champions League contender with a stunning first-half display thanks to superbly-worked goals by Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who grabbed a brace, and Marquinhos.
Benfica tread water on three points, ahead only on goal difference from Olympiacos who defeated Anderlecht by an identical scoreline.
Juventus is in real trouble of not reaching the knockout stages after drawing 2-2 at home with Galatasaray in Roberto Mancini’s debut. Didier Drogba gave Mancini the perfect start, putting the Italian’s new Turkish club into the lead, but Juventus hit back with a late double from Arturo Vidal’s penalty and Fabio Quagliarella before substitute Umut Bulut bagged the equaliser two minutes from time.
Galatasaray have FC Copenhagen in the upcoming double header while Juve will play Real Madrid. After being held by Copenhagen on matchday one, the Italian giants will have to win in either Madrid or Istanbul if they are to progress in the competition.
David Moyes’ Manchester United, who are off to their worst start to a domestic campaign in 24 years, managed a 1-1 draw with Shakhtar Donetsk in the Ukraine. The stalemate, after Danny Welbeck’s early opener was cancelled out by Taison 14 minutes from time, left United level with Shakhtar at the top of Group A, after Bayer Leverkusen beat Real Sociedad 2-1.
United’s veteran Welsh international Ryan Giggs came on to create history in the second half to overtake previous record holder Raul with his 145th appearance in Europe’s top club competition.
