Late own goal rescues Leverkusen in 2-2 draw at Copenhagen

Bayer Leverkusen snatched a 2-2 draw at FC Copenhagen in their Champions League opener on Thursday, rescued by a Pantelis Hatzidiakos own goal in stoppage time, Reuters reported.

The Danish hosts got the perfect start after nine minutes when Jordan Larsson met Elias Achouri's cross to score and light up the Parken Stadium.

Leverkusen offered little in the first half, struggling to break down Copenhagen’s defence, while the home side created several chances, with only some fine goalkeeping from Mark Flekken preventing them doubling the lead, according to Reuters.

Haaland nets landmark goal as City beat 10-man Napoli in Champions League

Manchester City's prolific striker Erling Haaland bagged a record-breaking goal as Pep Guardiola's side kicked off their Champions League campaign with a dominant 2-0 victory over 10-man Napoli on Thursday, Reuters reported.

Haaland became the quickest player in Champions League history to hit 50 goals in what was his 49th appearance in Europe's elite competition when he cleverly headed home Phil Foden's perfectly-placed flick in the 56th minute.

Jeremy Doku doubled City's lead in the 65th when he turned quickly and darted past two defenders before slotting the ball through the legs of goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic from a tight angle, according to Reuters.

Sporting hit Kairat with three-goal blitz in 4-1 Champions League win

Sporting cruised to a 4-1 home win over Kairat Almaty in their Champions League opener on Thursday, sealing the result with three goals in a four-minute second-half burst, Reuters reported.

The visitors from the city of Almaty in south-eastern Kazakhstan undertook the longest journey ever recorded between two clubs in Champions League history, and they struggled to find their rhythm in the first half as Sporting quickly took control.

Sporting were handed a penalty after 21 minutes when Aleksandr Mrynskiy brought down Luis Suarez, but Morten Hjulmand’s strike was kept out by 18-year-old Kairat goalkeeper Sherhan Kalmurza, saving with his legs, according to Reuters.

Frankfurt crush Galatasaray 5-1 on Champions League return

Hosts Eintracht Frankfurt scored four times in 29 minutes to bounce back from a goal down and hammer Galatasaray 5-1 in their Champions League opener on Thursday, Reuters reported ​​​​​.

The Turks had hit Frankfurt on the break with Yunus Akgun completing the move from a Leroy Sane assist in the eighth minute. Germany international Sane, who joined from Bayern Munich this season, became the only player in Champions League history to play for four or more clubs and score or assist on his debut for each of them.

Frankfurt, competing for only the second time in the Champions League main round, struggled to break through Galatasaray's defence until a defensive error from Akgun in the 37th. Ritsu Doan pounced, charged into the box and Davinson Sanchez deflected the Japanese winger's shot in for an own goal, according to Reuters.