Real Madrid began their title defence with a 5-1 thrashing of Basel, while city rivals, Atletico, slipped to a 2-3 defeat at Olympiakos in the first group matches of football’s Champions League.
Mario Balotelli struck his first goal for Liverpool and Steven Gerrard converted a last-gasp penalty in a dramatic late goal flurry in a 2-1 defeat of newcomers, Ludogorets.
Elsewhere, Argentinian striker, Carlos Tevez, bagged both goals for Juventus in a 2-0 defeat of Malmo, while Monaco, Zenit St Petersburg also began their campaigns with victories.
Galatasaray rescued a point with a late goal in a 1-1 draw with Anderlecht.
An own goal by Marek Suchy in the 14th minute began a first-half goal rush by Real Madrid against Swiss champions, Basel, in Group B.
Gareth Bale ran onto a Luka Modric pass to lift the ball over Basel’s keeper, Tomas Vaclik, on the half hour and then set up Cristiano Ronaldo for a third a minute later.
James Rodriguez made it four in the 37th minute before Derlis Gonzalez pulled one back a minute later.
Real completed the rout with a Karim Benzema strike 11 minutes from time.
Arthur Masuaku and Ibrahim Afellay put Olympiakos ahead against Atletico in a Group A game in Piraeus before last season’s losing finalists replied through Mario Mandzukic on his Champions League debut for the Spanish champions.
Kostas Mitroglou hit a third for the home side in the 73rd minute, while Antoine Griezmann’s late goal came was no more than a consolation for Atletico.
In the same group, Tevez was on target in the 59th minute and notched a second with a last-minute free-kick for Italian champions, Juventus, against Swedish side, Malmo.
Benfica’s 51-match unbeaten home record in all competitions came to an end against visiting Zenit St Petersburg in Group C.
Brazil striker, Hulk, put the Russian side ahead and former home favourite, Axel Witsel, headed a second soon after Benfica keeper, Artur, was sent off.
Monaco also got off to a winning start in the group with a 1-0 defeat of Germany’s Bayer Leverkusen, thanks to a 61st-minute goal by Joao Moutinho
Liverpool, back in the Champions League after a five-year break, toiled against group-stage debutants, Ludogorets, before Italian striker Ballotelli broke the deadlock with eight minutes remaining in their Group D encounter at Anfield.
Dani Abolo levelled in the final minute for the Bulgarians but Gerrard then stepped up to score from the spot after keeper Milan Borjan tripped Javi Manquillo.
The group stage matches continue on Wednesday with eight matches in Groups E, F, G and H.
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