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Champions League, day 1

Barcelona emulated Real Madrid on Wednesday evening, Tito Vilanova's side going behind against Spartak Moscow before two late goals from Messi gave them a 3-2 win in the end. Valencia were the only Spanish side to lose though, the Ches beaten 2-1 by last season's runners up Bayern Munich. (19.09.12)

What a night to start us off in this season's Champions League, with Real Madrid coming from behind twice to beat Manchester City 3-2 in the last minute, and Málaga opening their first ever campaign in Europe's top competition with a 3-0 victory over Zenit! (18.09.12)

Barcelona 3 - Spartak Moscow 2

Barcelona emulated Real Madrid on Wednesday evening, Tito Vilanova's side going behind against Spartak Moscow before two late goals from Messi gave them a 3-2 win in the end. With less than a quarter of an hour on the clock Tello opened the scoring for the Catalans with an angled shot from left of the area, but fifteen minutes later Unai Emery's side equalized when Dani Alves could only turn Emenike's cross in to his own net. Barça were clearly dominating, Dykan having to push a Fàbregas header over the bar, and Busquets, Xavi and Alves all going close either side of half time. But seconds after Dykan kept out Messi, McGeady put Romulo through for him to ghost past Adriano and fire a shot across Valdés. With twenty minutes to go however a good run by Tello set up Messi to level the scores once again, and with ten minutes to go Messi got between his markers to head home an Alexis cross, his tenth goal of the season to date. (19.09.12)

Bayern Munich 2 - Valencia 1

Valencia were the only Spanish side to lose on the opening round of games in this season's Champions League, the Ches beaten 2-1 by last season's runners up Bayern Munich. The German side were on top right from the start, Kroos and Ribèry just failing to hit the target early on, and Schweinsteiger, Kroos and Robben all bringing good saves out of Diego Alves. Shortly before half time Schweinsteiger opened the scoring after Robben set him up, his shot hitting Cissokho and deflecting in to the net, and after Kroos and Javi Martínez went close in the second half, Kroos beat Alves for a second time with a shot from outside of the area. Substitute Nelson Valdez did head one back from Jonathan Viera's cross in injury time, but Bayern could have won by a bigger margin had Alves not saved Mandzukic's last minute penalty after Rami was sent off for a foul on Robben. (19.09.12)

Real Madrid 3 - Manchester City 2

Real Madrid answered their critics with an epic fight back against Manchester City, Mourinho's side falling behind twice but coming back at the last gasp to win 3-2. Visiting keeper Joe Hart made some first class saves early on from Cristiano Ronaldo and Higuaín, and Khedira and Higuaín both fired good chances over the top before the interval. Midway through the second half however Dzeko ran on to Touré Yaya's pass to put the visitors ahead, and although Marcelo leveled the scores soon afterwards with a shot from the edge of the area, Kolarov restored the lead four minutes from the end with a wide free kick which went past everyone in to the net. Just a minute later though Benzema picked up an assist from Di María to square the match once again, and in the last minute Ronaldo cut past his marker to fire home the winner. Madrid are back! (18.09.12)

Málaga 3 - Zenit St. Petersburg 0

A best possible start for Málaga in their first Champions League appearance, Pellegrini's side running out 3-0 winners over Russia's Zenit Saint Petersburg. With less than a quarter of an hour on the clock they were two up, Isco combining with Eliseu to cut in from the left wing and curl a shot in off Malafeev's left post, and Saviola connecting with a Jesús Gámez cross to shoot in off the right. The Andalusians could have increased their lead after that, although Hulk had rattled the crossbar in between the two goals, and in the build up to half time Caballero had to pull out a couple of good saves from Kerzakov and Shirakov. Both teams had chances after the restart, but with a quarter of an hour to go Joaquín played the ball across for Isco to fire home his second of the night, and his side's third. Watch out Europe, Málaga are here to stay! (18.09.12)