(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) Borussia Dortmund clinched a crucial home win over Arsenal, with defending champions Real Madrid, Liverpool and Juventus all following suit in their respective UEFA Champions League openers on Tuesday.
Eight matches were played over four groups out of eight on the first day of the European elite football club competition, with the remaining scheduled a day later The toughest match of the evening saw German Bundesliga runners-up climb to the top of Group D with three points after a 2-0 win over North Londoners, Arsenal.
Strikers Ciro Immobile and Pierre Emerick Aubameyang were on point as they put two away in the space of three minutes at the final original minute of the first half, sending Arsenal to the bottom of the group as the remaining fixture witnessed a draw.
In the same group, Turkish international Aydin Yilmaz scored in the final minute of the fixture, saving Galatasaray from a home defeat in a 1-1 draw to Belgium's Anderlecht, after Dennis Praet scored earlier in the 52nd minute.
Elsewhere in Madrid, nine-time holders Real thrashed Swiss outfit Basel, 5-1, sending a strong message of intent that they were aiming to defend their title as they climbed to the top of Group B, which includes five-time holders Liverpool.
The ultimate European strikeforce of Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema all struck home with new recruit James Rodriguez completing the rout, while Paraguayan U-20s international, Derlis Gonzalez scored the consolation for the visitors At Anfield, a goal scored on the penalty spot by captain Steven Gerrard in the last minutes of added time saw Liverpool clinch a last gasp win over Bulgarian newcomers FC Ludogorets, only seconds after Dani Abalo cancelled out Mario Balotelli's lead.
Last season's runners-up and Spanish Liga champions, Atletico Madrid were downed, 3-2, in Greece by an adamant Olympiacos side as Italian giants Juventus climbed to the top of Group A with a comfortable 2-0 home win over Malmo of Sweden.
In Group C, Benfica were defeated at home by Russian side, Zenit St. Petersburg, who climbed to the top of the group as AS Monaco beat Germany's Bayer Leverkusen, 1-0.
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