Nothing going right for Manchester United
Even as Real Madrid and Bayern Munich returned to winning ways, Manchester United’s troubles only deepened.
After again failing to arrive on time by bus for a Champions League game — except for Jose Mourinho, who walked from his hotel — United seemed stuck in a lower gear than Juventus in a 1-0 loss as Cristiano Ronaldo made a winning return to Old Trafford.
That leaves United with just one win from its last seven games as Mourinho’s men struggle to make much headway on the roads or on the field.
Another embattled coach earned an unconvincing win as Julen Lopetegui’s Real Madrid finally registered its first win since Sept. 22, though it was only 2-1 against Viktoria Plzen and there’s a “clasico” against Barcelona coming up on Sunday. Bayern continued to steady the ship after ending a four-game winless run last week, beating a gritty AEK Athens team 2-0.
ALL EYES ON RONALDO
He didn’t score — though it needed a spectacular save from David de Gea to stop him — but Ronaldo was the focus of attention for Juventus against United.
Ronaldo was approached by three fans who got onto the field in two separate incidents, and took a selfie with two of them.
Paulo Dybala’s goal and some tough defending helped Juventus become the only team in the Champions League so far to win all its opening three games, and potentially a contender to win the trophy for the first time in 22 years. United almost had a way back when Paul Pogba hit the post with a curling shot.
The other two teams in Group H, Valencia and Young Boys, looked very much like they’re playing for third place in a 1-1 draw which saw Guillaume Hoarau score the first-ever group-stage goal for Swiss champion Young Boys.
MISFIRING MADRID
It’s not often that Real Madrid fans have to wait a month for a win, but that’s what it took.
Still, beating Plzen 2-1 wasn’t enough to stop the home fans from booing.
The Czech team forced its way back into the game from 2-0 down thanks to Patrik Hrosovsky’s 79th-minute goal, leaving Madrid to cling on for the three points.
Karim Benzema and Marcelo had earlier scored for Madrid, whose win shores up its position in Group G, level with leader Roma on six points.
Roma won 3-0 against its Russian visitors. Edin Dzeko scored twice for the hosts as CSKA failed to replicate the incisive attacks which gave it a win over Madrid in its last European fixture.
CITY IN CHARGE
Manchester City has bounced back in style after losing to Lyon in its opening Champions League fixture.
Tuesday’s 3-0 win over Shakhtar Donetsk made it seven games unbeaten since the Lyon match, six of them victories for Pep Guardiola and his team.