Two-goal Ronaldo pulls level with Raul as Real Madrid’s record marksman
STOCKHOLM: Cristiano Ronaldo equalled Raul’s club record of 323 goals as Real Madrid claimed a 2-0 victory over Malmo in Sweden in the Champions League.
Ronaldo fired the visitors ahead with the 500th strike of his career with 29 minutes gone and after the Swedes had seen defender Yoshimar Yotun dismissed for a second bookable offence, cemented the win in the final minute.
The Spaniards remain top of Group A on goal difference from Paris Saint-Germain, who they face in Paris and then Madrid in their next two Champions League fixtures.
PSG maintained their perfect start with a 3-0 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk in Lviv.
Serge Aurier and David Luiz had given the visitors a commanding half-time lead, and Darijo Srna was credited with a 90th-minute own goal after deflecting Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s shot into the net. Had the goal been given to Ibrahimovic, it would have seen him equal Pauleta’s club record of 108 goals.
In Group B, Manchester United needed a first goal of the season from defender Chris Smalling to beat Wolfsburg 2-1 at Old Trafford and open their account in the competition this season.
Daniel Caligiuri had given the Germans a fourth-minute lead, but Juan Mata equalised from the penalty spot before setting up Smalling to win it with a 53rd-minute strike.
PSV Eindhoven, who condemned United to a 2-1 defeat in Holland earlier this month, got a taste of their own medicine in Russia despite launching a concerted fightback.
The Dutchmen trailed 3-0 at half-time to CSKA Moscow, for whom Seydou Doumbia scored twice and missed a penalty, but Maxime Lestienne’s brace dragged the visitors right back into it before Santiago Arias’ dismissal 10 minutes from time.
There was late drama in Germany asManchester City striker Sergio Aguero converted a last-gasp penalty to snatch a 2-1 Group D victory over Borussia Monchengladbach.
Keeper Joe Hart saved Raffael’s first-half spot-kick before being beaten by Lars Stindl but defender Nicolas Otamendi levelled with 65 minutes gone and Aguero kept his cool after being tripped to win the game and leave Borussia pointless.
There were no such difficulties for Serie A strugglers Juventus as they followed up their opening day victory at City with a 2-0 home win over Sevilla courtesy of goals from Alavaro Morata and substitute Simone Zaza.
In Group C, there was also an impressive comeback, this time from Benfica atAtletico Madrid, as Nico Gaitan and Goncalo Guedes struck to cancel out Angel Correa’s opener and see off Atletico 2-1.
Astana became the first team from Kazakhstan to claim a Champions League point when Roger Canas’ 89th-minute secured a 2-2 draw with Galatasaray, who led twice.
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