The UEFA Champions League amazes from Day 1. So does Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ronaldo scored a hat trick for Real Madrid in its 4-0 win over Shakhtar Donetsk. Ronaldo’s feat is unsurprising, given his status as the competition’s all-time leading goal scorer. Ronaldo now has scored a record 80 Champions League goals. His eternal rival Lionel Messi trails him by three. Their race will continue throughout the season, but Messi failed to keep pace this week.
Here are some other things we learned:
Manchester United’s broken defense
PSV overturned Manchester United’s lead after Luke Shaw suffered a broken leg in the first half. Louis van Gaal reshuffled his defense, and the hosts promptly scored in the first and second halves to win 2-1.
Shaw’s injury affected Manchester United’s balance negatively. Van Gaal must restore it.
Manchester City vulnerable
Manchester City is flying high in England, but the truest test of its mettle lies in Europe. The Premier League leader flopped at the first Champions League hurdle falling to Juventus 2-1.
Manchester City played well but wasn’t clinical enough to hold off a weakened Juventus (compared to last season) side. Sevilla’s win over Borussia Monchengladbach puts immediate pressure on Manchester City. Another group-stage setback could cost the Citizens dearly.
City’s European growing pains continue. Manager Manuel Pellegrini hopes they don’t seep into his team’s domestic form.
There goes the group
Arsenal’s shock 2-1 loss to Dinamo Zagreb dents the Gunners’ hopes of winning the group and avoiding a heavyweight in the Round of 16. We expected something like this from Arsenal but not right out of the gate.
Bayern Munich should win Group H in a cakewalk.
Champions League is amazing
Alessandro Florenzi’s goal for Roma against Barcelona must live in Champions League lore. He shot from 65 yards out and buried it in the top corner. Sure, Barcelona’s goalkeeper was off his line. We don’t care.
Check it out. Now.
Thumbnail photo via Francisco Seco/The Associated Press
