Real Madrid began their title defence with a 5-1 thrashing of Basel, while city rivals Atletico slipped to a 3-2 defeat at Olympiacos in the first group matches of football’s Champions League on Tuesday.
Strikers Ciro Immobile and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored either side of the break for Germany’s Borussia Dortmund in a 2-0 defeat of Arsenal.
Mario Balotelli struck his first goal for Liverpool since joining from AC Milan and Steven Gerrard converted a last-gasp penalty in a dramatic late goal flurry in a 2-1 defeat of newcomers Ludogorets.
Elsewhere, Argentinian striker Carlos Tevez bagged both goals for Juventus in a 2-0 defeat of Malmo, while Monaco and Zenit St Petersburg also began their campaigns with victories.
Galatasaray rescued a point with a late goal in a 1-1 draw with Anderlecht.
Bale, Ronaldo on song
An own goal by Marek Suchy in the 14th minute began a first-half goal rush by Real Madrid against Swiss champions Basel in Group B.
Gareth Bale ran onto a Luka Modric pass to lift the ball over Basel keeper Tomas Vaclik on the half hour and then set up Cristiano Ronaldo for a third a minute later.
James Rodriguez made it four in the 37th minute before Derlis Gonzalez pulled one back a minute later. Real completed the rout with a Karim Benzema strike 11 minutes from time.
You have to give Mario Balotelli credit, it didn’t go his way for long periods but the sign of a good goal scorer is to keep going and get a chance. What’s more important is his work rate.
Dani Abolo levelled in the final minute for the Bulgarians but Gerrard then stepped up to score from the spot after keeper Milan Borjan tripped Javi Manquillo.
“We did OK but it wasn’t better than OK,” Gerrard said.
“There’s a lot to learn, we were caused problems on the counter-attack. You have to give Mario Balotelli credit, it didn’t go his way for long periods but the sign of a good goal scorer is to keep going and get a chance. What’s more important is his work rate.
“If we win in Basel now it puts us in a good position but we must do better.”
Immobile on target
Fellow Premier League side Arsenal were outplayed at Dortmund who were rewarded for their dominance. Immobile, a summer signing from Torino, raced from his own half to finish just before the break for his first competitive goal for the Bundesliga side.
Aubamayang then punished a ragged display by Arsene Wenger’s side with a second shortly after the interval.
“We wanted a pressing machine on the field and we did this to near perfection,” Dortmund coach Juergen Klopp told Sky TV.
Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta said, “We faced a top side in one of the most difficult stadiums to play in in Europe. After you go 1-0 down here it is very difficult. We didn’t perform well enough tonight.”
Arthur Masuaku and Ibrahim Afellay put Olympiacos ahead against Atletico in a Group A game in Piraeus before last season’s losing finalists replied through Mario Mandzukic on his Champions League debut for the Spanish champions.
Kostas Mitroglou hit a third for the home side in the 73rd minute, while Antoine Griezmann’s late goal came was no more than a consolation for Atletico.
In the same group, Tevez was on target in the 59th minute and notched a second with a last-minute free-kick for Italian champions Juventus against Swedish side Malmo.
Benfica’s 51-match unbeaten home record in all competitions came to an end against visiting Zenit St Petersburg in Group C.
Brazil striker Hulk put the Russian side ahead and former home favourite Axel Witsel headed a second soon after Benfica keeper Artur was sent off for a foul as last man.
Monaco also got off to a winning start in the group with a 1-0 defeat of Germany’s Bayer Leverkusen thanks to a 61st-minute goal by Joao Moutinho.
The group stage continues Wednesday with eight matches in Groups E, F, G and H.