Paris Saint-Germain were among the Champions League big guns who opened their group-stage accounts with three points. They were joined by Atletico Madrid and neighbours Real Madrid. It was also a night when Premier League duo Manchester City and Manchester United both tasted defeat.
Memphis Depay scored but couldn't prevent United from losing to his old club, PSV Eindhoven. Meanwhile, City were pegged back by Juventus at home.
Here are the results from Tuesday night's fixtures:
Here's how those scores have affected the group tables:
A Tough Night for Manchester Clubs
United found their trip to Holland eventful for the wrong reasons. They lost left-back Luke Shaw to a gruesome leg injury after he'd collided with PSV centre-back Hector Moreno, according to the club's official Twitter feed:
To add insult to injury, it was Moreno who equalised for PSV after old boy Depay had put United in front. Winger Luciano Narsingh put the home side ahead just before the hour mark.
It was Narsingh's fellow winger, Maxime Lestienne, who proved the real thorn in United's side:
It was a disappointing result for a United squad still seeking a ruthless streak up front.
Neighbours City hardly had that against Juventus. Yet the Citizens didn't need it thanks to Giorgio Chiellini's own goal.
But Juve didn't capitulate. Instead, Paul Pogba crossed for Croatian bulldozer striker Mario Mandzukic to turn in a deserved leveller.
The goal continued Mandzukic's excellent consistency in this competition, per WhoScored.com:
His strike partner, Alvaro Morata, then struck to break City hearts. The goal maintained the Spaniard's habit of taking taking down some of Europe's biggest clubs, per Squawka:
Things were supposed to be better this year, but City's struggles in the group stages continue.
Di Maria's Revival Continues
Former Red Devils flop Angel Di Maria sent PSG on their way to beating Swedish outfit Malmo. Di Maria has certainly been enjoying life since swapping Old Trafford for the French capital.
After he'd opened the scoring, Squawka mockingly noted the contrast in his fortunes since the summer:
Di Maria struggled for form at United. But he's taken to life with PSG and revived his game. The 27-year-old has rediscovered his creative verve and proved he's not lost his touch for goal.
Edinson Cavani added to PSG's tally to cap an impressive night's work from the Ligue 1 giant.
Antoine Griezmann the Main Man for Atletico
Brilliant French forward Antoine Griezmann remains the man to fear for Atletico. The French forward whose movement is the best in Europe tormented Galatasaray in Turkey.
Griezmann helped himself to two goals after spending most of the first half putting himself in dangerous positions.
Atleti boss Diego Simeone invested heavily in bolstering his forward line this summer. He bought both Jackson Martinez and Luciano Vietto. But Simeone is learning his most lethal attacker is the subtle and quick Frenchman already on his books.
The opening group fixtures provided little in the way of surprises. Europe's best and most expensively assembled squads were always going to hold sway.
The major disappointment belongs to the Premier League, though. Both City and United were below par and deserved to be on the losing end.
They hardly offered a great advert for the quality of England's top flight.
via http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2566974-champions-league-results-2015-group-stage-scores-updated-tables-after-tuesday
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