Madrid, Man U take openers in C League
LONDON – Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice on his Champions League debut for Real Madrid to lead his new team to a 5-2 win at FC Zurich, while the Manchester United side he left after last season’s final won its opening match, 1-0, at Besiktas.
World player of the year Ronaldo scored a pair of free kicks for the record nine-time European champion, although the second was punched into the net by Johnny Leoni as the goalkeeper tried to clear it.
Former European champions AC Milan and Bayern Munich also won their first group matches, while Chelsea beat visiting FC Porto, 1-0, and Juventus stuttered to a 1-1 draw with Bordeaux.
Milan won, 2-1, at Marseille, Bayern Munich won, 3-0, at Maccabi Haifa and Atletico Madrid was held to a 0-0 draw by debut-making Cypriot side APOEL Nicosia.
Without a European title since 2003, Madrid was 3-0 ahead at halftime in Switzerland and sealed its win with another two goals in the closing moments.
Ronaldo opened the scoring in the 27th minute with a trademark free kick past Leoni, and Raul Gonzalez made it 2-0 seven minute slater with a close-range tap in.
Gonzalo Higuain scored from a pass by Raul in first-half injury time to seemingly put the match beyond Zurich. (AP)
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