Champions League Roundup: Chelsea, PSG Held, Roma Destroy CSKA as Barca and Bayern Pick Narrow Wins

Gervinho celebrates with Roma legend Francesco Totti

Serie A side, As Roma, were the biggest winners on the second matchday of the UEFA Champions League. The Romans hit five past visiting CSKA Moscow in a 5-1 win at the Stadio Olimpico.

Two goals from Gervinho and a goal each from Maicon and Juan Iturbe put the Italians on their way to a comfortable win with CSKA’s woes compounded by an own goal from their 35-year-old defender Sergey Ignashevich. Iturbe opened the floodgates inside 6 minutes before Gervinho netted a goal either side of Maicon’s 20^th minute strike to give Rudi Garcia’s men a commanding 4-0 lead at the break.

Roma started the second half as they did in the first forcing Ingashevich to head into his own goal five minutes after the restart. With the scoreboard reading 5-0 to the Roma, the visiting Russians tried to rally back with Seydou Doumbia coming close with an effort that hit the crossbar. Garcia’s men however settled and reasserted themselves but CSKA wouldn’t be denied a consolation goal which came courtesy of Nigeria international Ahmed Mousa in the 82^nd minute. The 5-1 win was Roma’s biggest in the competition. Jerome Boateng 90^th minute strike helped Bayern Munich overcome Manchester City at the Allianz Arena.

Bayern were thwarted time and again by the form of City keeper Joe Hart who pulled off a string of fine saves before the German centerback hit a volley inside the penalty area to give the hosts the win in the other Group E clash. Roma and Bayern lead the group with the Italians ahead on goal difference.

Klaas Jan Huntelaar ensured Schalke left England with a point after he cancelled out Cesc Fabregas’ opener for the Blues in a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge. Fabregas put Jose Mourinho’s men ahead in the 11^th minute and it looked like they would continue with their winning run at home but Huntelaar and Schalke had other ideas as they stole a point from under noses of their hosts who wasted glorious chances. The story was the same in the other group clash in Slovenia where Maribor held Sporting Lisbon 1-1, Luka Zahovic cancelling out Luis Nani’s opener for Sporting.

Barcelona were unconvincing at the Nou Camp against lowly APOEL Nicosia with Gerard Pique’s header in the 28^th minute the only goal of the night. Luis Enrique’s side however lead the group after Ajax and PSG could only muster a 1-1 draw, Edinson Cavani scoring for the French side with Lasse Schone netting for the Dutch.

Porto crushed BATE Borisov 6-0 with hot Yacine Brahimi grabbing the first hat-trick of this year’s Champions League. Jackson Martinez, Adrian and Vincent Aboubakar were also on target as Porto recorded their biggest win in their history in the competition. Shakhtar Donetsk held Athletic Bilbao to a barren draw in San Mames.

The second matchday of the European elite competition will be held on the days of 30^th September and 1^st October.

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