GLASGOW: Paris Saint-Germain’s newly-acquired fire power paid off dramatically in the first matchday of the Champions League group stage as they thrashed Celtic 5-0 at Parkhead.

The world’s most expensive frontline did the majority of the damage in the first-half as Brazilian star Neymar opened the scoring in the 19th minute before 18-year-old French sensation Kylian Mbappe added a second in the 34th minute, with Edinson Cavani scoring from the penalty spot before the break.

Cavani added to his tally late on after a Mikael Lustig own goal had compounded matters for Brendan Rodgers’s men.

Manchester United enjoyed a 3-0 triumph over Basel at Old Trafford to get their Group A campaign off to a flying start while Lionel Messi was in devastating form for Barcelona, scoring twice in their 3-0 vctory over last season’s runners-up Juventus.

Robert Lewandowski converted 12th minute penalty to lead Bayern Munich to a 3-0 win over Anderlecht while Premier League champions Chelsea inflicted a 6-0 demolition on Azerbaijan’s Qarabag at Stamford Bridge.

Pedro, Davide Zappacosta, Cesar Azpilicueta, Tiemoue Bakayoko and Michy Batshuayi were on the mark before a combination of Batshuayi and visiting defender Maksim Medvedev resulted in Chelsea netting a sixth.

That result gave Antonio Conte’s side the early advantage in a tough-looking Group C, since Roma and Atletico Madrid drew 0-0.

Elsewhere in Man United’s group, CSKA Moscow were 2-1 victors over Benfica in Portugal. Haris Seferovic put the hosts ahead but Vitinho’s spot-kick drew CSKA level before substitute Timur Zhamaletdinov netted a 71st-minute winner.

Sporting Lisbon held off a late fightback to beat Olympiacos 3-2 in Greece. First-half goals from Seydou Doumbia, Gelson Martins and Bruno Fernandes put Sporting in control and Felipe Pardo’s brace right at the end was not enough to save Olympiacos.

Results:

Gp A: Benfica 1, CSKA Moscow 2; Manchester United 3, Basel 0. Gp B: Bayern Munich 3, Anderlecht 0; Celtic 0, Paris Saint-Germain 5. Gp C: Chelsea 6, Qarabag 0; Roma 0, Atletico Madrid 0. Gp D: Barcelona 3, Juventus 0; Olympiacos 2, Sporting 3.

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