Winners in 2010, Inter Milan were shocked at home by Trabzonspor, but there was better news for fellow former champions Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.
Bayern Munich and Real Madrid opened their Champions League group stage campaigns with away victories, but 2010 winners Inter MIlan suffered a shock home defeat by Trabzonspor AŞ in the second set of matchday one games.
Undoubtedly the most eye-catching of Wednesday’s results came at San Siro. Trabzonspor enjoyed a night to remember on their Champions League debut as Ondřej Čelůstka struck with 14 minutes remaining to give them a famous win against Inter.
Goals in either half from Toni Kroos and Rafinha gave Bayern a solid opening win at Villarreal in Group A. However, it was less of a straightforward night for nine-time European champions Madrid, who squeezed past Dinamo Zagreb 1-0 and had to hold on after Marcelo’s second-half red card.
Runners-up last year, Manchester United came from behind to earn a point at Benfica, Ryan Giggs cancelling out Óscar Cardozo’s effort. FC Basel have the early lead in Group C after they defeated Oţelul Galaţi 2-1 in a game which finished with both teams down to ten men.
Champions League new boys Manchester City learnt that the Champions League is a little tougher than the Premier League as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Napoli. Napoli took the lead through Edinson Cavani midway through the second half. Their lead lasted just five minutes, however, as Aleksandar Kolarov’s sweetly struck free-kick earned Roberto Mancini’s team a point.
