Naples (Italy) (AFP) – Dries Mertens and Fernando Llorente scored late goals as Napoli defeated holders Liverpool 2-0 in Tuesday's opening round of Champions League group stage matches. Mertens converted a penalty on 82 minutes and Llorente added a second in stoppage time as Napoli gained a measure of revenge for last season's 1-0 loss […]

Dortmund (Germany) (AFP) – Lionel Messi returned from injury to make an innocuous first appearance of the season as Barcelona escaped with a 0-0 draw at Borussia Dortmund in their Champions League opener on Tuesday. Messi, who has missed the start of the season with a calf injury, came off the bench in a game […]

Salzburg (Austria) (AFP) – Salzburg striker Erling Braut Haaland became the third-youngest player to score a Champions League hat-trick as the Austrian champions romped to a stunning 6-2 win over Genk on Tuesday. The 19-year-old took his incredible tally to 17 goals in nine appearances for Salzburg this season. Only Real Madrid great Raul (18 […]

Amsterdam (AFP) – Ajax began their Champions League campaign with a thumping 3-0 win over Lille on Tuesday to spark hopes of another deep run in the competition after their thrilling charge to the semi-finals last season. Goals from Quincy Promes, Edson Alvarez and Nicolas Tagliafico saw off a spirited Lille side, who came into […]

London (AFP) – Valencia put a week of turmoil behind them to beat Chelsea 1-0 at Stamford Bridge in Frank Lampard's first Champions League game in charge of the Blues on Tuesday. Chelsea dominated possession, but were toothless in attack after losing promising midfielder Mason Mount to an early injury and were punished 16 minutes […]

Dortmund (Germany) (AFP) – Lionel Messi returned from injury to make an innocuous first appearance of the season as Barcelona were held to a 0-0 draw away at Borussia Dortmund in their Champions League opener on Tuesday. Messi, who has missed the start of the season with a calf injury, came off the bench in […]

The Hague (AFP) – Over 300 unruly Lille fans were arrested ahead of the French club's Champions League game against Ajax for public order offences, Dutch police said on Tuesday. "After public order disturbances this afternoon at Strandvliet metro station, 303 arrests have been made so far, with these French supporters detained throughout the city," […]

Madrid (AFP) – Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone on Tuesday hailed Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo as a "beast in front of goal" ahead of the two sides' Champions League group-stage meeting. The 34-year-old Ronaldo scored a memorable hat-trick to help the Italian giants overturn a two-goal first-leg deficit against Atletico in last season's Champions League […]

Paris (AFP) – Substitute Nicolo Barella scored in added time to rescue a 1-1 draw for a disappointing Inter Milan in their Champions League opener against rank outsiders Slavia Prague on Tuesday. It looked as though the Czech side would leave San Siro with all three points in the Group F clash after Nigerian forward […]

Dortmund (Germany) (AFP) – Teenage star Ansu Fati became Barcelona's youngest ever Champions League debutant after being named in the starting line-up for the Catalan giants' campaign opener away to Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday. The 16-year-old, who became the club's youngest ever scorer with his maiden strike against Osasuna last month, gets the nod ahead […]

Paris (AFP) – Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane believes Eden Hazard will make a huge difference for his side as the Belgian prepares to start for the first time this season in Wednesday's Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain. Hazard was signed for 100 million euros ($110 million) from Chelsea in the summer as the […]

Milan (AFP) – Cagliari have escaped punishment for the racist chanting their fans aimed at Inter Milan striker Romelu Lukaku in a Serie A match earlier this month, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) announced Tuesday. Belgian Lukaku, 26, was targeted by monkey chants before scoring the winning penalty that earned Inter Milan a 2-1 triumph in […]

Munich (Germany) (AFP) – Manuel Neuer on Tuesday set Bayern Munich the target of reaching the last four of the Champions League ahead of the Bundesliga giants' opening group game against Red Star Belgrade. Bayern, who kick off their Group B fixtures against the Serbian champions in Munich on Wednesday, were knocked out by eventual winners […]

London (AFP) – Manchester City's problems at the heart of their defence got even worse on Tuesday with the news John Stones is set to miss up to six weeks with a muscular injury. The Premier League champions now have just one fit senior central defender available in Nicolas Otamendi with Aymeric Laporte ruled out […]

Saitama (Japan) (AFP) – Captain fantastic Shinzo Koroki's powerful first-half header via crossbar and goalkeeper proved enough to squeeze Urawa Red Diamonds into the semi-finals of the AFC Champions League at the expense of Shanghai SIPG on the away goals rule Tuesday. Wang Shenchao equalised for the visitors with a cool volley on the hour, […]