Ronaldo could miss Old Trafford return after Juve red card
Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off on his first Champions League appearance for Juventus as a couple of penalties from Miralem Pjanic gave the Italian side a 2-0 win in Valencia.
Ronaldo, the Champions League’s all-time leading scorer with 120 goals, was dismissed after just 28 minutes following an off-the-ball incident. The forward appeared to put his hand on the head of Valencia defender Jeison Murillo, who fell to the ground. Referee Felix Brych gave Ronaldo a straight red card after discussing the incident with his assistant behind the goal.
The Portuguese star kept protesting his innocence, briefly laying on the ground to express his disbelief. He was clearly distraught as he left the pitch, still shaking his head.
It was his first red card in 154 Champions League games and means he stands to miss Juventus’ next match at home to Young Boys on 2 October.
However, if Uefa decides to increase the suspension, which is typical for an offence of violent conduct, he will have to sit out one or both of the matches against former club Manchester United.
Jose Mourinho’s side host Juve on the third match day on 23 October before heading to Turin two weeks later.
Isco stepped into the void left by Ronaldo at Real Madrid as the holders began their quest for a fourth consecutive Champions League crown with a 3-0 win over Roma. Isco curled home a magnificent free-kick on the stroke of half-time at the Bernabeu before second-half goals from Gareth Bale and substitute Mariano gave the Spanish side a winning start. LAST NIGHT
Uefa Champions League Group E: Ajax 3 AEK Athens 0, Benfica 0 Bayern Munich 2
Group F: Man City 1 Lyon 2, Shakhtar Donetsk 2 Hoffenheim 2
Group G: Plzen 2 CSKA Moscow 2, Real Madrid 3 Roma 0
Group H: Valencia 0 Juventus 2, Young Boys 0 Man Utd 3
Sky Bet Championship: Middlesbrough 2 Bolton 0, Nottm Forest 2 Sheff Wed 1, QPR 2 Millwall 0, Reading 1 Norwich 2, Sheff Utd 0 Birmingham 0
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Uefa Europa League
Group A: AEK Larnaca v Zurich, Ludogorets v Bayer Leverkusen Group B: Celtic v Rosenborg, RB Leipzig v Red Bull Salzburg
Group C: FC Copenhagen v Zenit St Petersburg, Slavia Prague v Bordeaux
Group D: Dinamo Zagreb v Fenerbahce, FC Spartak Trnava v Anderlecht
Group E: Arsenal v Vorskla, Sporting v FK Karabakh
Group F: F91 Dudelange v AC Milan, Olympiacos v Real Betis
Group G: Rapid Vienna v Spartak Moscow (5:55), Villarreal v Rangers (5:55)
Group H: Lazio v Apollon Limassol (5:55) Marseille v Eintracht Frankfurt (5:55)
Group I: Besiktas v Sarpsborg 08 (5:55) Genk v Malmo FF (5:55)
Group J: Akhisarspor vkrasnodar (5:55), Sevilla v Standard Liege (5:55)