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| Cristiano Ronaldo misses a chance against Villareal [GALLO/GETTY] |
Cristiano Ronaldo came off the bench but could not inspire Champions League holders Manchester United to victory at home to Villarreal, making do with a point in a 0-0 draw.
Aalborg had the wrong man sent off away at Celtic, while Lyon came from two down to draw with Fiorentina and Bayern Munich won away in Romania.
Stuttering
Manchester United were held to a 0-0 draw at home by Villarreal as last season's Champions League winners made a stuttering start to their title defence.
United were left frustrated in their Group E opener despite the return from injury of Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo, who came on as a 62nd minute substitute in his first appearance since recovering from ankle surgery.
Ronaldo was given a standing ovation by United fans, who appear to have forgiven the winger for wanting a move to Real Madrid in the close season.
Defender Jonny Evans went closest when he headed against a post from a Ronaldo cross but Spain's Villarreal also hit the woodwork as they held out on Wednesday to deny United a 13th successive home win in the competition.
The last time the two clubs met in the group stages of the competition in 2005/06 they also failed to score a goal between them as two goalless draws helped knock United out and propel the Spanish club to the semi-finals.
It was a pass from Santi Cazorla which opened up United's defence in the 60th-minute in a match which United had dominated, as Sebastian Eguren flicked a cross from Angel Lopez against the inside of the post with Edwin van der Sar beaten.
Ronaldo should have scored himself but headed wide from a Nani cross and United's night of frustration was capped when Jonny Evans struck the woodwork seven minutes from the end.
Benzema salvage job
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| Frederic Piquionne scores Lyon's first [GALLO/GETTY] |
A goal from Karim Benzema four minutes from time enabled Olympique Lyon to salvage a 2-2 draw with Fiorentina in their opening Group F match.
Striker Alberto Gilardino put the visitors in front against the run of play on 12 minutes, heading home a Luciano Zauri cross, and doubled their advantage shortly before the break with another header, this time from a cross by Felipe Melo.
Seven-times French champions Lyon, who have never advanced past the quarter-finals of European club soccer's premier event, scored on 73 minutes when substitute striker Frederic Piquionne tapped in from a Benzema pass.
France striker Benzema then saved Lyon from defeat with an angled effort from inside the box after a Juninho free kick.
The Fiorentina players protested after Lyon's first goal because Zauri, who had been hurt in a clash with Sidney Govou, was lying on the ground in the box when it was scored.
Relying on counter-attacks, Fiorentina made the most of their rare opportunities and of the scoring instinct of newcomer Gilardino, who joined them from AC Milan, but it was not enough to win.
Ref gets wrong man
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| Michael Beachamp mistakenly gets his marching orders [GALLO/GETTY] |
Celtic's Barry Robson squandered a first half penalty while Aalborg had the wrong player sent off in a Group E match in Glasgow.
Italian referee Matteo Trefoloni showed Australian defender Michael Beauchamp the red card with 11 minutes remaining for denying Celtic's Greek striker Georgios Samaras a scoring opportunity.
Television replays showed it was Michael Jakobsen who committed the tripping offence rather than the Australian, who protested his innocence for several minutes.
Celtic's missed their chance to take the lead on 29 minutes. Robson rammed his penalty straight down the middle and against the legs of Moroccan keeper Karim Zaza after Shaun Maloney was brought down by Dutch defender Steve Olfers.
Celtic surged forward after the break and Scott Brown scooped the ball over the top from just eight metres with only 34 seconds on the clock.
Samaras also came close when he turned swiftly in the penalty area, swerving a 15 metre shot past Zaza and just wide in the 50th minute.
Van Buyten wins it in Romania
An early goal from Daniel Van Buyten helped Bayern Munich to a 1-0 win at Steaua Bucharest in their Champions League Group F match.
Van Buyten headed home the winner in the 15th minute following a free-kick from Bastian Schweinsteiger.
Steaua's Colombian playmaker Dayro Moreno angled in a powerful 30-metre shot during the first half but visiting keeper Michael Rensing deflected the ball with his right-foot.
In the second half, Steaua's Brazilian striker Arthur Bernhardt also hit the post.
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