Champions League group stages review: Erling Braut Haland scores hat-trick for Salzburg, Ajax cruise to victory

Champions League results

• Inter Milan 1-1 Slavia Prague
• Lyon 1-1 Zenit
• Ajax 3-0 Lille
• Benfica 1-2 RB Leipzig
• Chelsea 0-1 Valencia
• Borussia Dortmund 0-0 Barcelona
• Napoli 2-0 Liverpool
• Salzburg 6-2 Genk

Report, videos and stats: Liverpool beaten in Naples

Report, videos and stats: Lampard beaten on UCL bow

Haland the hero

Liverpool's Group E rivals Red Bull Salzburg turned in the performance of the night as they thumped Belgian champions Genk 6-2.

Striker Erling Haland plundered a first-half hat-trick with efforts from Hwang Hee-chan and Dominik Szoboszlai making it 5-1 at the break after John Lucumi had pulled one back.

Mbwana Samatta further reduced the deficit after the break, but Andreas Ulmer completed the rout.

Ter Stegen denies Dortmund

Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen's double save from a penalty helped earn a 0-0 draw in their Champions League opener at Borussia Dortmund.

Just before the hour mark, the German produced a stunning stop at full stretch to deny countryman Marco Reus and then got up to calmly collect the bouncing rebound.

Replays, though, showed Ter Stegen had been off his line when the spot-kick was taken, but there was no video assistant referee review.

Barcelona brought Lionel Messi on for the closing stages, to replace 16-year-old Ansu Fati, for a first appearance of the new season.

However, the Argentina playmaker was not able to help conjure a goal, seeing a stoppage-time effort blocked.

Dortmund had earlier hit the crossbar through substitute Julian Brandt and but for some wayward finishing, as well as the heroics of Ter Stegen, could count themselves unfortunate to have to share the points from the Group F fixture.

Elsewhere...

It finished 1-1 in the other game in Group F after substitute Nicolo Barella came to Inter Milan's rescue with an injury-time equaliser to deny Slavia Prague victory.

The Serie A leaders were trailing to Peter Olayinka's 63rd-minute strike when, seconds after Stefano Sensi had rattled the bar with a free-kick, Barella levelled to snatch a draw.

Last season's semi-finalists Ajax cruised to a 3-0 Group H victory over Lille after Quincy Promes had headed them into an early lead.

Second-half goals from Edson Alvarez and Nicolas Tagliafico completed the job as the Eredivisie leaders eased past their Ligue 1 rivals.

In Group G, Timo Werner's late double proved enough for RB Leipzig to get their campaign up and running with a 2-1 victory at Benfica.

Werner struck twice inside nine second-half minutes to put the visitors in the driving seat, although they had to see out a tense conclusion after Haris Seferovic reduced the deficit with six minutes remaining.

Memphis Depay's penalty ensured Lyon emerged from their opening Group G fixture against Zenit St Petersburg with a 1-1 draw.

Sardar Azmoun had put the visitors ahead four minutes before the break, but Depay ensured it finished all square when he converted from the spot with 51 minutes gone after he had been fouled by substitute Magomed Ozdoev, who failed to redeem himself when he missed with a close-range 70th-minute header.

Wednesday's Champions League tips

The Champions League continues on Wednesday with two heavyweight clashes at the top of the billing. Tom Carnduff looks at the betting. Take a look by clicking the image below...

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