PARIS: Lionel Messi, with perfect timing, struck his first goal for Paris Saint-Germain to lead them to a 2-0 Champions League group victory over Manchester City in the Parc des Princes.

Messi, making his fourth appearance for PSG since leaving Barcelona, ran from the halfway line before playing a one-two with Kylian Mbappe and leaving Ederson rooted to the spot with a 20-yard shot.

The roar from the Parc des Princes crowd was deafening as the Argentine, on his return from injury, added one PSG goal to the 672 he managed for Barca.

Idrissa Gueye had given last season’s French runners-up an early lead with an excellent drive into the top corner.

City had plenty of chances to score in between those goals with Raheem Sterling’s header hitting the bar and Bernardo Silva striking the woodwork from the rebound with an empty net in front of him.

They also had seven shots on target but could not beat Champions League debutant Gianluigi Donnarumma in PSG’s goal.

Madrid shock

Sheriff Tiraspol produced a Champions League shock as the competition’s least experienced club upstaged 13-time European champions Real Madrid at the Estadio Bernabeu.

Sebastien Thill snatched victory for the tournament debutants with a stunning final-minute strike. Jasurbek Yakhshiboev’s first-half header had given the visitors the lead.

Karim Benzema equalised from the penalty spot after relentless Real pressure, but Thill had the last word.

Liverpool cruise

Liverpool inflicted another heavy defeat on Porto to remain top of their Champions League group.

Jurgen Klopp’s side were superb throughout as they maintained their 100% start in the competition.

Mohamed Salah’s prodded finish set them on their way at the Estadio do Dragao, which once again proved a happy hunting ground.

With memories of 4-1 and 5-0 victories in recent campaigns fresh in the mind they delivered a performance brimming with pace, precision and energy.

Sadio Mane extended their lead on the stroke of half-time with a back-post tap in and with the Reds wearing black armbands to mourn the death of Roger Hunt, fittingly Salah – their modern-day equivalent – contributed his second with a clinical finish into the bottom right corner.

Mehdi Taremi’s header briefly gave the hosts heart but Roberto Firmino added the fourth for Liverpool with home goalkeeper Diogo Costa stranded after woefully charging up the pitch to attempt to clear.

The Brazilian rounded off a comprehensive victory late on after pouncing on a rebound from a Curtis Jones volley.

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