PARIS — A late goal by Cristiano Ronaldo gave Real Madrid a crucial 3-2 win over Manchester City in their opening Champions League clash while big-spending Paris Saint Germain annihilated Dynamo Kiev 4-1.
Ronaldo's goal not only restored a big grin to the face of the player who has spent the first few weeks of the season saying he is sad but had Real coach Jose Mourinho celebrating as if it was the winning goal in the final itself.
It was also a good night for Mourinho's fellow former Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti as his expensively-assembled French outfit PSG enjoyed an easy home win over Dynamo Kiev on what was the Parisian side's return to the competition after an eight year hiatus.
There was to be no fairytale debut, though, for the team that pipped PSG to the title last season, Montpellier, as despite taking an early 1-0 lead they lost 2-1 at home to Arsenal.
Real deserved their win after dominating the match but still had to twice come from behind before Ronaldo's shot somehow beat England goalkeeper Joe Hart to send the home crowd wild after a disappointing start to the league season had seen them already eight points adrift of bitter rivals Barcelona.
"I am really proud of my team tonight," beamed Mourinho, who had assumed the blame for their poor start to La Liga.
"I said to the players there is no shame in losing games like tonight's when you battle like animals for 90 minutes.
"However, we won and what added to the pleasure was that when we scored the winner I saw the press in the stands pressing the delete button to recommence their match reports."
PSG had their game wrapped up by halftime with goals by Zlatan Ibrahimovic - making him the first player to score for six different sides in the competition - Alex and Thiago Silva on his debut for the club.
Although Miguel Veloso got a goal back in the second-half PSG's Argentinian marksman Javier Pastore restored the three goal lead shortly before the final whistle.
In another match Arsenal came from behind to win 2-1 against debutants Montpellier on Tuesday, as Arsene Wenger's side made a winning start to their Group B campaign.