By Our Correspondent
Drama, upset and experience played out on the opening match day of this season's European Champions league club competition.
Playing at the magnificent Stadio Olympico in Rome, SS Lazio through their talismanic goalkeeper, Provedel, who scored an unusual goal to help the Italian club snatch an all important draw against Atletico Madrid of Spain who were targeting an away victory in the Italian capital on Tuesday, thereby jolting the aspirations of the Spanish club. Vincent Enyeama was the first goalkeeper to score as outfield player in the history of the European Champions league competition.
In England, defending champions Manchester City came from behind to beat the resilient Red Star Belgrade at the Etihad stadium with a brace from Argentina World Cup winner, Alvarez in the three one win.
At the Camp Nou, Barcelona thrashed the visiting Antwerp football club of Belgium by five unreplied goals. It was not a rosy night for the Rosseneri boys at the San Siro stadium as seven times champions, AC Milan were forced to a barren draw by the visiting Newcastle United, who are returning to the competition for the first time in twenty years.
Without the involvement of Lionel Messi and Neymar Jr, PSG beat Borussia Dortmund by two goals to nothing with Kyllian Mbappe scoring one of the goals.
Shakhtar Doneskt of Ukraine, playing away from home were humbled by the 1987 champions FC Porto by three goals to one.
The last game of the evening saw Swiss club, Young Boys losing to RB Leipzig of Germany by three goals to one.
In all, twenty three goals were scored on the opening night with more being expected when eight more games are played tonight at different centres.
In Turkey, Galatasaray will battle FC Copenhagen, Bayern Munich welcome Manchester United at the Allianz Arena in Munich.
In London, returnee Arsenal with loaded guns will confront PSV EINDHOVEN of Holland.
Serial champions of Europa league, Sevilla host RC Lens of France
Fourteen time winners Real Madrid will meet debutants, Union Berlin of Germany at the estadio Santiago Bernabeu in the Spanish capital.
FC Braga of Portugal hosts Napoli, FC Salzburg travel to Portugal to face Benfica who last won the cup back to back in 1961 and 1962 but has lost all European club competitions finals since 1966.
Spanish side, Real Sociedad will take on Inter Milan, the beaten finalists of the last season.
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