Champions League Results: Analysis of Man City vs Bayern and the Night's Matches

After the impressive performances that characterised Tuesday's action, Wednesday saw more intriguing Champions League ties for our viewing pleasure.

In Manchester, Manchester City welcomed defending champions Bayern Munich—an early measure of Manuel Pellegrini and his side's ambitions of making an impression in this season's competition. Thousands of miles away, David Moyes was hoping to continue his 100 per cent start to the tournament against Shakhtar Donetsk.

Real Madrid, Juventus and Paris St. Germain were also all in action—so click on for all the results and analysis from the eight games on Wednesday.

(Stats and quotes from UEFA.com, unless otherwise stated.)

Manchester City 1-3 Bayern Munich: Guardiola's Men Dominate Pellegrini Again

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Manchester City were given a reminder that they still have a way to go before they are truly among Europe's elite, as Bayern Munich beat them 3-1 at Etihad Stadium.

Goals from Franck Ribery, Thomas Muller and Arjen Robben were enough for Pep Guardiola's side, who had Jerome Boateng sent off in the closing stages for a scything foul on Yaya Toure.

Prior to that, Alvaro Negredo scored one of the goals of the evening to give City some hope of a dramatic comeback—but that was never really viable, even as they pressed in the closing stages. We knew they were a good side and they showed it Wednesday. That’s why they’re the champions. 

Bayern enjoyed 60 percent of possession and created 20 opportunities to City's nine, evidence of the Bundesliga side's overall superiority.

"We knew they were a good side and they showed it today," City defender Micah Richards told Sky Sports, as per Goal.com. "That’s why they’re the champions. We have to hold our hands up and say we got beaten by the better team."

Joe Hart will perhaps consider that he could have done better with both Ribery and Robben's strikes—which beat him low at his near post—but the Germans had plenty of other chances to extend their advantage.

Bayern captain Phillip Lahm said, as per Soccerway:

"

City has a great team, but we were well organized, started some great attacks and didn't concede many chances.

I think we were very good in the first 70 minutes. But against a quality side like City you can always concede a goal.

It was a bit hectic for us after that, but over 90 minutes we absolutely deserved this victory.

"

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Shakhtar Donetsk 1-1 Manchester United: Taison Leaves Visitors Frustrated

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An emphatic late strike from Taison enabled Shakhtar Donetsk to grab a 1-1 draw against Manchester United in Ukraine on Tuesday.

United, without Wayne Rooney after he picked up a shin injury in training on Monday, took the lead through Danny Welbeck. But they were forced to settle for a point after Taison popped up in the box to rifle a first-time effort past David De Gea and into the roof of the net.

Moyes would perhaps have preferred a victory to ease some of the pressure on him as a result of United's poor league form, but his side nonetheless remain top of Group A with four points from their opening two games.

"It is a good point," Moyes said, as per Reuters. "They have a great record against English teams and the team stood up well to it. We got a good goal early doors, and I thought we were going to stop them scoring."

Shakhtar enjoyed 56 per cent of possession and created seven chances to United's four, but Robin van Persie had a great opening to grab what would have been a winner for the English side.

Marouane Fellaini's form might remain a concern for Utd, however. The Belgian looked out of sorts for much of the match once again, although he did provide the assist for Welbeck's opener.

The game was notable for another reason—Ryan Giggs coming on as a second-half substitute to overtake Raul as the competition's all-time leading appearance maker (145).

Real Madrid 4-0 FC Copenhagen: Di Maria Sends Reminder of His Quality

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Without Gareth Bale due to his ongoing hamstring issue, Angel Di Maria gave a timely reminder of his quality with a stellar display as Real Madrid beat FC Copenhagen, 4-0, in Spain.

Di Maria scored twice and proved Cristiano Ronaldo for the second of his brace, as Real Madrid overcame a relatively uncertain first half to eventually dispatch their demoralised opponents.

Ronaldo scored the game's first two goals—the second coming after a beautiful team move that saw Di Maria provide the cross with a "rabona" delivery.

The Argentine then took the stage himself, scoring two clinical efforts to state his case for continued inclusion in the team, even when Bale returns.

Real were not dominant with the ball—Luka Modric got away with an apparent handball with the score just 1-0—but nevertheless created 22 chances to Copenhagen's six.

"We lost, and the defeat is what people remember," midfielder Rúrik Gíslason said. "You could say that we didn't have the resources tonight, but I think it was more about the fact that we used our resources in the wrong way."

Real head coach Carlo Ancelotti added: "I think tonight we had more balance. We modified the system to use the flanks more and to create more open spaces."

Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 Real Sociedad: Hegeler's Last Minute Stunner Steals Win

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A brilliant 92nd-minute strike from substitute Jens Hegeler gave Bayer Leverkusen a crucial 2-1 win against Real Sociedad to kick-start their Group A campaign.

With both sides looking to bounce back from opening defeats, Simon Rolfes bundled Leverkusen into the lead deep into first-half injury time after reacting fastest when his own powerful header was parried away.

But Carlos Vela matched that feat, turning home after his penalty (one he won himself) was saved to equalise, setting the stage for Hegeler's dramatic late intervention.

Of his goal, Hegeler said, as per Soccerway:

"

I think that was my first free kick goal in a competitive match!

I’ve practised these things in training but you don’t have any pressure in those situations. Scoring a goal like that in the 90th minute is a huge deal for me.

There weren’t many free kick takers left on the pitch and three or four weeks ago I scored a similar free kick in a friendly match so I just thought I could do it again.

"

The win puts Leverkusen firmly in the Group A qualification phases, while Sociedad face an uphill battle with two games against Manchester United to come.

The German side were deserved victors on the night, however, after creating 25 attempts over the match.

Juventus 2-2 Galatasaray: Topsy-Turvy Game Ends in Bulut Equaliser

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A game that swung both ways eventually ended in a draw, with striker Umut Bulut ensuring Galatasaray at least a point after leading for much of the contest.

Didier Drogba—capitalising on some shocking defending—had opened the scoring for Galatasaray, before Arturo Vidal eventually got an equaliser from the penalty spot.

Substitute Fabio Quagliarella then nodded Juve ahead moments later to complete what looked to be a remarkable turnaround, before Bulut stepped up to ensure the spoils would be shared.

Nevertheless, new Galatasaray boss Roberto Mancini sounded happy with his side's display:

"

It’s hard to play away against Juventus.

Didier Drogba had a good game. It’s not an easy thing to play as a lone striker against Juventus. He scored a goal, made an assist and did a good job.

We will be a better team in the future. The team will work harder. Our team consist of some very good players. They just need to reflect more self-confidence on the pitch.

"

Juventus dominated both possession and chances (56 per cent of the former, 24 of the latter to Gala's six), although that was perhaps skewed by the home side's need to find an equaliser for much of the contest.

Nevertheless, the draw does not hurt either side, with Real Madrid (six points) the only side in Group B to have won so far.

Paris St. Germain 3-0 Benfica: Ibrahimovic Gets Early Birthday Present Brace

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Captain Zlatan Ibrahimovic led from the front as Paris St. Germain grabbed a comfortable 3-0 win against Benfica to continue their fast start to this season's Champions League.

Ibrahimovic, on the eve of his 32nd birthday, scored twice to confirm the victory for the French side, with Marquinhos getting his second goal in as many UCL games to confirm victory.

"The biggest players are raring to go for the Champions League," PSG manager Laurent Blanc noted. "He [Zlatan Ibrahimovic] is a guy who never won it. Tonight, he produced a very, very good performance."

PSG enjoyed 65 per cent of possession, but that did not necessarily translate into chances, with Benfica creating just three fewer openings over the 90 minutes.

But the Ligue 1 side's aerial dominance shone through, as they moved clear at the top of Group C and continued their 100 per cent start.

Anderlecht 0-3 Olympiakos: Hat-Trick Hero Mitroglou Punishes Missed Penalty

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Kostas Mitroglou grabbed a hat-trick as Olympiakos defeated Anderlecht, 3-0, to bounce back from an emphatic defeat to Paris St. Germain in Matchday 1.

Mitroglou opened the scoring after just 17 minutes, and then proceeded to punish the home side after Aleksander Mitrovic blew the chance to equalise from the penalty spot.

Anderlecht had 18 shots on goal to Olympiakos' eight, but it always had the feel of being the away side's night.

"It was Mitroglou’s night, but I have to sing the praise of all players," Olympiakos coach Michel said. "Roberto made some fantastic saves tonight and everybody made a huge effort."

CSKA Moscow 3-2 Viktoria Plzen: Visitors Pay Price for Disaster Own Goal

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In the day's early game, CSKA Moscow took all three points thanks to a woeful defensive error from Viktoria Plzen goalkeeper Matus Kozacik.

It went down as an own goal from Radim Reznik, but it was Kozacik's inability to control his defender's pass-back that saw CSKA take a 3-1 lead. An injury time strike from Marek Bakos gave the final 3-2 scoreline.

Prior to that, Zoran Tosic and Keisuke Honda both scored to cancel out Frantisek Rajtoral's surprise fourth-minute opener for Plzen. But it was Kozacik's mistake that ensured the Russian side would claim all three points over the Czechs.