Real Madrid, Bayern, Manchester United and – despite a Cristiano Ronaldo red card – Juventus won while Lyon triumphed at Manchester City.
Real Madrid make winning start; CSKA deny Plzeň
Pogba boosts United; Juve win despite Ronaldo red card
Lyon stun City; Shakhtar hold Hoffenheim
Bayern win at Benfica; Ajax see off AEK
Click on match links to watch highlights
Next games in these groups on 2 October
Group E
Ajax 3-0 AEK Athens
After Nicolás Tagliafico turned in David Neres’s pass moments after half-time, Ajax continued to push and substitute Donny van de Beek made it two from Dušan Tadić’s centre. Tagliafico’s cross floated in near the end for the third.
Benfica 0-2 Bayern München
Robert Lewandowski shot Bayern ahead in the tenth minute and early in the second half Benfica youth product Renato Sanches, given a start against his old side, made it two after starting and finishing a fine move.
Group F
Shakhtar Donetsk 2-2 Hoffenheim
Shakhtar twice came from behind to ensure the points were shared with the group-stage debutants. Florian Grillitsch chipped in early for Hoffenheim and although Ismaily equalised with a fine solo effort, Håvard Nordtveit headed the visitors into a half-time lead. The second equaliser came late when sub Maycon struck from distance.
Manchester City 1-2 Lyon
Maxwel Cornet and Nabil Fekir netted in the first half for Lyon. Bernardo Silva pulled one back with 23 minutes to go but City were beaten.
Group G
Viktoria Plzeň 2-2 CSKA Moskva
The Czech champions looked set for a winning start thanks to two first-half goals from Michael Krmenčík, the second a brilliant flicked finish from an equally fine cross by David Limberský. However, Fedor Chalov pulled one back early and then, deep in added time, Nikola Vlašić converted a penalty after Jan Kovařík fouled Mário Fernandes.
Real Madrid 3-0 Roma
Madrid’s bid for a fourth straight title, but first of the post-Zidane and Ronaldo era, began with victory. Isco curled in a free-kick just before half-time, and close to the hour Gareth Bale ran onto a superb Luka Modrić ball and made no mistake. Near the end, sub Mariano Díaz – Ronaldo’s successor as Madrid No7 – produced an excellent finish for the third.
Group H
Valencia 0-2 Juventus
Cristiano Ronaldo’s European debut for Juve was ended by a 29th-minute red card, his first in the UEFA Champions League, but Miralem Pjanić converted penalties either side of half-time to ensure victory.
Young Boys 0-3 Manchester United
Paul Pogba came to the fore in Berne as he scored twice in the last ten minutes of the first half, the second a penalty, before setting up Anthony Martial for the third.
