Juventus defeat Malmo in Champions League group stage; Zenit top Benfica

Juventus defeat Malmo in Champions League group stage; Zenit top Benfica

Published Sep. 16, 2014 4:36 p.m. ET

TURIN, Italy (AP) Carlos Tevez broke his Champions League duck as he scored twice to lead Juventus to a hard-fought 2-0 victory at home to Malmo in their opening Group A fixture on Tuesday.

Juventus struggled at times before Tevez broke the deadlock in the 59th, following good interplay with Kwadwo Asamoah.

It was the Argentina forward's first goal in Europe's elite club competition in more than five years ago.

Tevez then sealed the result in stoppage time with a well-placed free kick that sailed into the top corner.

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The Bianconeri dominated possession against the Swedish minnows, but failed to create many clear cut opportunities, and it was Malmo which almost took the lead in the first half.

In the other group match, Olympiakos surprisingly beat last year's runner-up Atletico Madrid, 3-2.

Monaco 1, Bayer Leverkusen 0

Joao Moutinho scored against the run of the play as Monaco recovered from a terrible start to beat Bayer Leverkusen 1-0 in their Champions League Group C opener on Tuesday.

Moutinho broke the deadlock in the 61st minute from former Leverkusen striker Dimitar Berbatov's assist as the Bundesliga leaders were made to pay for their profligacy.

Roger Schmidt's side was in complete control and created the best chances but Monaco's defense remained resolute, before Moutinho ended the visitors' unbeaten run in all competitions this season with his first shot on target.

The win gave some respite to Monaco, which lost Radamel Falcao, James Rodriguez and former France international Eric Abidal over the summer, and has also endured a miserable start in the French league.

Galatasaray 1, Anderlecht 1

Galatasaray striker Burak Yilmaz netted a stoppage-time equalizer to deny Anderlecht a first away Champions League win for nine years in a 1-1 Group D draw in Istanbul.

Anderlecht - who have finished bottom in all seven group stage campaigns since they reached the last 16 in 2000/01 - looked to be on course for a hard-earned victory after taking the lead early in the second half through Dennis Praet.

Aleksandar Mitrovic missed a great chance to make it 2-0 moments later, which ultimately proved costly.

Galatasaray - now under the guidance of former Italy coach Cesare Prandelli - grew stronger during the closing stages and were eventually rewarded when Yilmaz crashed home following a powerful run by Aurelien Chedjou to earn the hosts a share of the points.

Benfica 0, Zenit 2

Zenit St Petersburg made the ideal start to their Champions League campaign as two first-half goals set them on their way to a comfortable victory at 10-man Benfica.

Hulk opened the scoring as early as the fifth minute and the home side's hopes of getting back into the contest appeared remote when goalkeeper Artur was dismissed for a professional foul.

Former Benfica midfielder Axel Witsel then doubled Zenit's lead midway through the half and although the Russian side could not add further misery to their opponents, they ensured they began Group C with an important away victory.

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