Real Madrid and Arsenal lost their perfect starts while Manchester City’s Champions League dreams lie in shatters after a shocking display defeat in Amsterdam.
Group D is called the Group of Death as it contains the champions of four leagues, and the group is living up to its moniker. Real Madrid’s 100% record ended in Germany as they lost 2-1 to an inspired Borussia Dortmund team.
Ajax went into tonight with no points but put that right beating a very poor Manchester City side 3-1. City actually led this game 1-0, but Roberto Mancini appeared to panic in the second half, changing City’s formation three times. City will have to win their remaining three Champions League matches and hope for a collapse from either Real Madrid or Dortmund if they are to make it to the knockout stages.
While Real struggle tonight, that was not the case for La Liga’s other entrant as Malga made it three wins from three games as they beat AC Milan 1-0, Joaquín getting the winner after earlier missing a penalty. Also in Group C, Zenit St Petersburg beat Anderlecht for their first win of this Champions League campaign.
In North London, Arsenal picked up where they left off against Norwich at the weekend, with another uninspired performance as they lost 2-0 at home to Schalke. It was the Gunners’ first Champions League loss in 17 home games. In the same group, Olympiacos came from one down to beat Montpellier thanks to a goal in added time.
Porto are in charge of Group A after their third successive win, while Paris Saint-Germain got back on track following their matchday two loss at the Estádio do Dragão, as PSG beat Dinamo Zagreb 2-0.
Group A
FC Porto 3-2 FC Dynamo Kyiv
GNK Dinamo Zagreb 0-2 Paris Saint-Germain FC
Group B
Arsenal FC 0-2 FC Schalke 04
Montpellier Hérault SC 1-2 Olympiacos FC
Group C
FC Zenit St Petersburg 1-0 RSC Anderlecht
Málaga CF 1-0 AC Milan
Group D
AFC Ajax 3-1 Manchester City FC
Borussia Dortmund 2-1 Real Madrid CF
