Jerome Boateng struck a last-minute goal for five-time European champions Bayern Munich in a 1-0 win over Manchester City while 2012 winners Chelsea were held to a 1-1 draw by Schalke in Anglo-German duels in the Champions League.
Bayern, the 2013 Champions League winners, were up against familiar foes in Manchester City in a tight Group E game in Germany.
Jesus Navas of Manchester City and Jerome Boateng of Bayern Munich. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Boateng, a former City player, made the difference with a strike into the roof of the net in the last minute, after City failed to clear a cross.
In the same group, Roma beat CSKA Moscow 5-1.
In Group G, Chelsea, with Didier Drogba starting and Diego Costa on the bench, were held by Schalke, the team they twice beat 3-0 in last season's group stage.
Diego Costa Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Cesc Fabregas looked to have won the ball with a foul on Max Meyer before combining with Eden Hazard to put Chelsea ahead in the 11th minute.
But the Bundesliga side came away with a point with a goal on the break after Fabregas was dispossessed and Julian Draxler fed Klaas Jan Huntelaar, for the Dutch striker to finish in the 62nd minute.
With Borussia Dortmund beating Arsenal 2-0 on Wednesday, the Bundesliga has the better of the week's three Champions League Anglo-German duels, with two victories and a draw.
Four-time champions Barcelona meanwhile began their campaign with a 1-0 defeat of APOEL Nicosia, and Paris St Germain settled for a 1-1 draw at Ajax.
Maribor and Sporting Lisbon drew 1-1, while Athletic Bilbao and Shakhtar Donetsk finished goalless.
Also in Group G, former Manchester United winger Nani scored 10 minutes from time for Sporting Lisbon at Slovenian outfit Maribor, but the home side snatched a draw with a last-minute Luka Zahovic goal.
Liverpool scored a dramatic 2-1 win over debutants Ludogorets of Bulgaria with all three goals coming in the last 12 minutes of their Champions League Group B match at Anfield.
Mario Balotelli put Liverpool ahead after 82 minutes, Ludogorets equalised as the clock struck 90 minutes before Steven Gerrard won it for Liverpool with a penalty in the fourth minute of stoppage time.
The Italian football player Mario Balotelli scores for Liverpool. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
It was Liverpool's first Champions League match in five years.
Borussia Dortmund comfortably beat Arsenal 2-0 in Group D campaign with a dominant performance that saw them overwhelm their error-prone opponents.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Arsenal were running low on defenders, with the injured Mathieu Debuchy and left back Nacho Monreal staying behind and Calum Chambers on the bench but being treated for tonsilitis, so coach Arsene Wenger drafted in 19-year-old debutant Hector Bellerin to help stem the flow of Dortmund attacks.
Holders Real Madrid chased away some of their early-season blues when Gareth Bale scored the pick of the goals in a 5-1 rout of FC Basel of Switzerland.
The Real Madrid footballer Cristiano Ronaldo became the first athlete to have 100 million Facebook followers. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Cristiano Ronaldo and new signing James Rodriguez also scored as Real became the first club to score 1,000 goals in European competition.
Last season's beaten finalists Atletico Madrid lost 3-2 at Olympiakos.
French side Monaco showed they could still be a force in the Champions League despite losing James Rodriguez and Radamel Falcao with a second-half Joao Moutinho goal securing a 1-0 win against Bayer Leverkusen in Group C.
Carlos Tevez scored twice as Italian champions Juventus beat Malmo of Sweden 2-0 while in other matches Zenit St Petersburg beat Benfica 2-0 and Galatasaray and Anderlecht drew 1-1.
Real Madrid win 2014 Champions League Photo: PHOTOSPORT
