Liverpool taught a Real lesson

Ronaldo, Benzema star for defending champions Real Madrid; Olympiakos shock Juventus; Atletico Madrid hammer Malmo.

Ronaldo's first-half strike was his 70th Champions League goal [Getty Images]

Real Madrid earned their first-ever win over Liverpool with a wondrous Cristiano Ronaldo goal spearheading a 3-0 Champions League victory at Anfield which appeared as classy as it was dominant.

Ronaldo’s glorious 23rd minute strike and a double from Karim Benzema sealed the champions’ triumph before halftime, leaving Real’s Portuguese icon insisting his side were in the mood to become the first team in the Champions League era to successfully defend the title.

“We know it’ll be very tough but we know it’s possible if we play like that,” said Ronaldo, after scoring his 70th Champions League goal, which puts him within one of equalling Raul’s all-time record.

Elsewhere, Olympiakos keeper Roberto produced an inspired display as the Greek champions claimed another impressive scalp on home soil with a 1-0 win over Juventus in Group A.

Pajtim Kasami’s clinical strike set Olympiakos on their way but it was the performance of their Spanish keeper that proved the difference, as he pulled off a string of fine second-half saves to frustrate Massimiliano Allegri’s Juve.

Results: 

Atletico Madrid 5 – 0 Malmo
Olympiakos Piraeus 1 – 0 Juventus
Ludogorets 1 – 0 Basel
Liverpool 0 – 3 Real Madrid
Bayer Leverkusen 2 – 0 Zenit St Petersburg
Monaco 0 – 0 Benfica
Anderlecht 1 – 2 Arsenal 2
Galatasaray 0 – 4 Borussia Dortmund 

Source: Reuters