Spanish clubs make impressive starts

Spanish clubs gave another demonstration of their efficiency in Europe when Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Sevilla began their Champions League campaigns without conceding a goal in convincing victories on Tuesday.

Real, the record 10-time winners and 2014 champions, crushed 10-man Shakhtar Donetsk 4-0 at the Bernabeu, Atletico won 2-0 at Galatasaray and Europa League holders Sevilla thumped Borussia Moenchengladbach 3-0 at the Sanchez Pizjuan.

The success of Spanish clubs marked a sharp contrast with their rivals from the English Premier League, with Manchester United and Manchester City both surrendering their lead in 2-1 defeats at PSV Eindhoven and at home to Juventus.

Real forward Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to reach 80 Champions League goals when he netted a Group A hat-trick against Shakhtar, who had midfielder Taras Stepanenko sent off five minutes into the second half.

Portugal captain Ronaldo, who hit five past Espanyol in La Liga on Saturday, moved three clear of Barca forward Lionel Messi on the all-time scoring chart.

Afterwards, the 30-year-old hit back at critics who had suggested he might be past it after he failed to score in Real’s opening two La Liga games of the campaign.

“Before I was bad and now I am good because I scored eight goals,” Ronaldo told Spanish television.

Antoine Griezmann struck twice for Atletico, the 2014 runners-up, as Diego Simeone’s side made light of what can be a intimidating trip to Galatasaray’s stadium in Istanbul.

The France forward said the Group C victory would help the team put Saturday’s 2-1 La Liga defeat at home to Barca behind them.

Sevilla coach Unai Emery said his side’s Group D performance against Gladbach, when they missed one penalty but scored from two others, would help boost confidence as the Andalusians try to get their stuttering La Liga campaign going following a defeat and two draws in their opening three matches.

“Today we found the identity we are looking for this season,” Emery told a news conference. “It gives us confidence to help turn around our results in La Liga.”

Draxler fires Wolfsburg to win

Julian Draxler’s first goal for Wolfsburg was enough for the Bundesliga runner-up to begin their second Champions League campaign with a 1-0 win over CSKA Moscow on Tuesday.

Draxler, brought in from league rival Schalke to replace the departed Kevin de Bruyne, broke the deadlock in the Group B game five minutes before the break. The Germany midfielder stabbed home the rebound from close range after Igor Akinfeev saved his initial headed effort from Ricardo Rodriguez’ cross.

Wolfsburg dominated the match but failed to take a number of chances to put the result beyond doubt.

“If you look at the chances and counter attacks we had, should have made it 2-0 fairly quickly. Then we would have been a little more at ease,” Wolfsburg winger Andre Schuerrle said.

Schuerrle should have scored early on after being played through by Draxler only to be thwarted by Akinfeev’s foot, and Daniel Caligiuri beat the offside trap, but hesitated and allowed Georgy Shchennikov to make a crucial block.

“We have to be more decisive in front of goal,” Caligiuri said.

The Russian visitors improved somewhat in the second half, Pontus Wernbloom forcing Diego Benaglio into action before Zoran Tosic’s shot was easily dealt with by the Wolfsburg ‘keeper.

The German side’s first Champions League campaign also began with a win over CSKA, 3-1 on September 15, 2009 thanks to Brazilian striker Grafite’s hat trick.

Newcomer Astana beaten

Nicolas Gaitan and Kostas Mitroglou scored in the second half to give Benfica a 2-0 win over plucky Champions League newcomer Astana in their Group C opener Tuesday.

Gaitan got the breakthrough in the 51st minute, breaking into the area from the left flank and firing a low drive into the far corner. Mitroglou extended the Portuguese club’s lead 11 minutes later when he tapped in Eliseu’s cross from the left.

The goals came after a frustrating first half in which Benfica dominated the run of play, but lacked the speed and imagination to pierce Astana’s packed defence.

Astana, the first team from Kazakhstan to reach the competition’s group phase, produced a competent performance and looked poised to upset Benfica when substitute Aleksei Schetkin hit the post in the 46th minute.

Benfica mostly dictated the game but in the first half lacked the speed and imagination to pierce Astana’s packed defence.

Junior Kabananga and Georgi Zhukov threatened for Astana but the visitors didn’t have the sophistication needed to make any real headway.

Benfica are making their sixth consecutive Champions League appearance and has lost just one of their last 15 European games at the Stadium of Light.

Di Maria inspires PSG

Di Maria brought his delicate touch to Paris St Germain’s game as the French champions started their Champions League campaign with a routine 2-0 home win against Malmo on Tuesday.

Di Maria scored after four minutes of their Group A match o and Edinson Cavani made it 2-0 in the 61st minute in a one-way encounter at the Parc des Princes.

Playing against the club where he started his career, PSG forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic looked a bit rusty, having played only one league game in an injury-plagued start to his season. He was replaced by Javier Pastore 15 minutes from time.

Malmo thought their moment had come in the 26th minute but Markus Rosenberg’s goal was disallowed after the forward had fouled Thiago Silva.