Team: Olympiacos FC
Olympiacos may only just have missed out on the quarter-finals last season but they still had some task in starting Group A against Club Atlético de Madrid, runners-up just a few months ago and fresh from beating Real Madrid CF. No problem: they were two up inside 31 minutes through Arthur Masuaku and Ibrahim Afellay and although Mario Mandžukić pulled one back, Kostas Mitroglou claimed his first goal in a ten-month period which included a transfer to Fulham FC and the FIFA World Cup.
Antoine Griezmann added a second for the visitors, but it was not enough as Olympiacos won 3-2. "We forced Atlético out of their comfort zone, which is what they usually do to their opponents," said coach Míchel.
VAMOOOS!!! Best way to start the CL!!! Unbelievable feeling!!!! @olympiacos_org #ChampionsLeague @PajtimKasami pic.twitter.com/yzL7l2fTjZ
— Omar Elabdellaoui (@OmarEla14) September 16, 2014
Player: Yacine Brahimi (FC Porto)
It was not a bad UEFA Champions League debut on the whole for Brahimi, newly signed from Granada CF. The playmaker, who scored from a free-kick in the play-off defeat of LOSC Lille, became only the seventh man to plunder a hat-trick on his bow in the competition proper against FC BATE Borisov, burying an early opportunist strike, a fizzing second and another curling set piece for his treble in a 6-0 win.
"I'm very happy to have scored the three goals as it's the first hat-trick of my career and it gives me the desire to work even harder," said Brahimi, who would have been in your Fantasy Football team if you had listened to tipster Paolo Menicucci and Porto correspondent Nuno Tavares last week...
Portuguese football guru @UEFAcomNunoT just told me that Brahimi is a 'can't miss' when I had already finished my team #rethink #FantasyTips
— Paolo Menicucci (@UEFAcomPaoloM) September 11, 2014
Group: G
It's fair to say there is still all to play for in this section after two 1-1 draws, but that masks some incredible drama. First, at Stamford Bridge, in-form Chelsea FC took on injury-depleted FC Schalke 04 and went ahead through Cesc Fàbregas only to miss a number of chances before being pegged back by Klaas-Jan Huntelaar. "We had more than a couple of fantastic chances to win the game," said José Mourinho.
Over in Slovenia, Sporting Clube de Portugal were leading 1-0 at NK Maribor deep in added time when the home side equalised through Guimaraes-born 18-year Luka Zahovič, the son of former SL Benfica and Porto player Zlatko. "I think it was a great performance, apart from the mistake we made in the last minute," was Sporting scorer Nani's summary.
Quote: "Tévez is a fantastic player, world class. In some situations he really is unstoppable"
Defender Filip Helander sums up the difference between his Malmö FF side and two-time champions Juventus after the Swedish debutants' 2-0 loss in Turin.
Moment: Liverpool FC v PFC Ludogorets Razgrad, added time
Liverpool's return to the group stage after five years away was as keenly anticipated as Ludogorets' debut, but for 82 minutes it was goalless until Mario Balotelli hit what seemed the winner. However, the Bulgarian champions had already shown their nerve in their incredible play-off success against FC Steaua Bucureşti, and in the 91st minute Dani Abalo levelled for what would surely be a memorable draw.
Except... When Liverpool are in trouble, Steven Gerrard usually comes to the rescue and he did so again, converting a penalty for a 2-1 win after Milan Borjan, the Canadian goalkeeper deputising for the suspended Vladislav Stoyanov, brought down Javi Manquillo. "I don't have words for Steve. He's a great footballer, he's a special person, not just here but at a world level," said man of the match Alberto Moreno.
Number: 1,000
.@Benzema scored @realmadrid's 1000th goal in European competition. RT to congratulate Karim! #UCL pic.twitter.com/QL79CLpQ8d
— Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) September 17, 2014
Photo: Jérôme Boateng (FC Bayern München)
Goal: YOUR CHOICE!
Tévez, Hulk, Benzema, Brahimi or Nani: you can choose in our new Goal of the Week poll.
Source: UEFA
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