TheCable

Manchester City began the defence of their UEFA Champions League (UCL) title with a 3-1 comeback win over Red Star Belgrade at Etihad Stadium on Tuesday.

Julio Alvarez (brace) and Rodri scored in the second half to cancel Osman Bukari’s opener for Red Star Belgrade.

Peter Olayinka, Super Eagles of Nigeria forward, also came on as a 68th-minute substitute but could not impact the match.

Red Star Belgrade had taken the lead on the stroke of halftime against the run of play but an undeterred City turned up the heat early in the second half to equalise, take the lead and seal the victory as they began the defence of the title they won last season, the first time in the club’s history.

Elsewhere, Super Eagles of Nigeria’s Zaidu Sanusi played the first 45 minutes in Porto’s 3-1 win at Shakhtar Donetsk.

The Nigerian duo of Alhassan Yusuf and George Ilenikhena were second-half substitutes in Royal Atwerp’s 5-0 baptism at Barcelona.

Chijoke Ejuke was an unused substitute in the drubbing. Samuel Chukwueze however played an hour of AC Milan’s goalless draw at home to Newcastle United.
 
RESULTS

• AC Milan 0-0 Newcastle United
• Paris Saint-Germain 2-0 Borussia Dortmund
• Young Boys 1-3 RB Liepzig
• Barcelona 5-0 Royal Antwerp
• Manchester City 3-1 Red Star Belgrade
• Feyenoord 2-0 Celtic
• Lazio 1-1 Atletico Madrid
• Shakhtar Donetsk 1-3 FC Porto