Champions League Mid-Week Round Up
The Champions League group stages returned this week with Europe's elite spoiling football fans with a mid-week schedule featuring new boots, new kits, upsets and last minute wonder goals! SoccerBible brings you a round-up of the best action from the prestigious tournament...
Manchester City kicked off their Champions League campaign with a 1-1 draw at home to Napoli. A stunning Kolarov free-kick rescued a point for the hosts after the Italians took the lead midway through the second half courtesy of Cavani's goal. Sergio Aguero played his first match as an official Puma player and rattled the crossbar as City pushed for an equaliser. The Argentine striker ended his boot saga by signing for the brand this week and wore his Green/Navy/White Puma v1.11 boots!
Real Madrid held on for 1-0 win away at Dinamo Zagreb thanks to Angel Di Maria's second half winner. Los Blancos turned to Los Rojos as they debuted their new red adidas 3rd shirt! Fellow Spanish giants Barcelona could only manage a 2-2 draw at home to AC Milan after Alexandre Pato got Milan off to the perfect start by scoring in the first minute! Barca looked to have claimed all three points until Thiago Silva equalised in the last minute.
Manchester United were another European heavyweight who had to settle for a 1-1 draw after falling behind in Benfica. Ryan Giggs was the hero after the veteran winger scored from range to peg back the Portuguese outfit after Oscar Cardozo showed great technique to open the scoring.
Robin van Persie was the first player to score a UEFA Champions League goal in the new UCL edition adiPower Predator football boots as Arsenal were devastated by a last minute wonder volley from Borussia Dortmund's Ivan Perisic to share the points at Signul Iduna Park.
Turkish side Trabzonspor were the surprise team of the fixtures after recording a famous 1-0 win at the San Siro against Inter Milan. A poor start for the 2010 winners against a committed and determined Trabzonspor, who sit proudly at the top of Group B.
Let us know what you think about the first set of Champions League group stage games by having your say and sharing your thoughts with the SoccerBible community online.
