Champions League, day 1

A great start for Spanish sides on the first day of the Champions League, Real Madrid and Valencia both winning their opening matches against German teams Werder Bremen and Schalke respectively. On Wednesday Barcelona also produced a convincing 3-0 win over Olympique Lyon, but Sevilla lost their first ever Champions League match by the same score at Arsenal. (19.09.07)

Barcelona 3 - Olympique Lyon 0

A good win for Barcelona in their first match against Olympique Lyon, a result which was a relief for beleaguered coach Frank Rijkaard. The French side had plagued Real Madrid in their opening games in two previous editions, but Barça dominated from the start, and they took the lead midway through the first half when Clerc turned Messi's cross past his own keeper. Messi went close a couple of times either side of half time, and Henry and Deco both had shots saved before Messi latched on to Iniesta's square pass to beat Vercoutre. Rijkaard gave a first Champions League appearance to youngsters Giovani and Bojan, and Henry made it three in injury time after the keeper could only push out Giovani's shot. (19.09.07)

Arsenal 3 - Sevilla 0

Sevilla were brought down to Earth on their first ever game in the Champions League, the Andalusians losing 3-0 to an Arsenal side inspired by Cesc Fábregas. The Spanish international opened the scoring with a long shot which took a deflection off Escudé, and had a big part in the other two goals. Kanouté tried his luck a couple of times before the break, but the Premier League side went two up when Van Persie finished off after Sagna had headed on Cesc's free kick soon after the restart. Martí and Kanouté both went close again, but with the game already in injury time Fazio gave the ball away, and Hleb and Cesc combined to set up Eduardo for the third. (19.09.07)

Real Madrid 2 - Werder Bremen 1

For the first time in four years Real Madrid won their opening game in the Champions League. Team captain Raúl was the man to start things off, heading home Van Nistelrooy's cross with just over a quarter of an hour gone. But Werder Bremen only took a minute or so to equalise, Sanogo getting a toe to Tosic's long cross to turn the ball in to the net. Casillas had to save from Rosenberg before half time, but Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Raúl both had chances before Guti and Raúl combined to set up Van Nistelrooy for the winner midway through the second half. (18.09.07)

Schalke '04 0 - Valencia 1

A second half goal from David Villa was enough to give Valencia an away win at Schalke '04. Kuranyi went close a couple of times for the German side early on, but Villa brought a good save out of Neuer and Marchena fired a long shot just over the bar before the break. And twenty minutes in to the second half Villa controlled a long ball from Miguel and forced his way past the keeper to turn the ball in to the net. Westerman and Lovenkrans both went close late on, but the Spaniards held on for an important victory which takes some pressure off coach Quique Flores. (18.09.07)