SUPER Eagles midfielder Raphael Onyedika opened his UEFA Champions League goals account tonight for Club Brugge in their stunning 4-1 home victory over AS Monaco.
The Nigeria international struck in the 39th minute, seven minutes after Nicolo Tresoldi opened the scoring for the Belgian side.
Hans Hans Vanaken netted three minutes before half-time as Brugge ended the first round of matches in third place in the 36-team table.
In England, Marcus Rashford made a spectacular Champions League debut for Barcelona, scoring twice in a 2-1 victory over Newcastle United’s at St James’ Park.
Rashford, on loan from Manchester United, became Newcastle’s tormentor when he broke open a tight encounter with two swift second-half goals.
In front of England head coach Thomas Tuchel, Rashford flashed a fine header beyond Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope from Jules Kounde’s cross after 58 minutes to silence a typically feverish Tyneside atmosphere.
Rashford produced an even better moment nine minutes later when he hammered home a stunning 20-yard drive in off the crossbar past the helpless Pope.
These were his first Champions League goals in almost four years.
It capped a highly impressive night for Rashford, who figured in the Champions League on loan at Aston Villa last season, playing a full part in Barcelona’s vast array of attacking talent, even without brilliant injured teenager Lamine Yamal.
The England striker was given a deserved standing ovation from Barcelona’s supporters when he was substituted with 10 minutes left.
Newcastle were given hope of a comeback when Anthony Gordon slid home a finish at the start of seven minutes of added time, but Barcelona held out.
Also in England, Erling Haaland broke another record by becoming the quickest player to score 50 Champions League goals as Manchester City were made to work hard in their opening 2-0 victory over Napoli.
Haaland took only 49 games to reach the milestone, lofting home a header in the second half to set City on their way to three points, as Kevin de Bruyne’s much-anticipated return to Etihad Stadium lasted a disappointing 26 minutes.
De Bruyne left City in the summer after a distinguished decade at the club and was given a warm welcome back by home supporters, but the joy of returning to a place he calls “home” was short lived.
The Belgium international was sacrificed in the first half by boss Antonio Conte following captain Giovanni di Lorenzo’s dismissal for bringing down Haaland as last man.
City took control of the game as expected but Pep Guardiola will have been left wondering how his side did not go in ahead at half-time after peppering the Napoli goal but finding keeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic in inspired form.
The Serbian made a string of superb saves, keeping out Tijjani Reijnders’ drive, smothering Phil Foden’s low shot, and pushing away Rodri’s well-struck volley.
Milinkovic-Savic also clawed away headers from Nico O’Reilly and Ruben Dias and somehow grabbed Reijnders’ shot on the goalline after it took a deflection off Matteo Politano – all in the first 45 minutes.
But 11 minutes into the second period City made the expected breakthrough as Haaland latched on to Foden’s dinked pass and nodded in to finally breach Milinkovic-Savic’s goal.
Jeremy Doku showed quick feet to add a second and seal victory, as returns to Manchester for former United players Scott McTominay and Rasmus Hojlund ended in dismay.
In Germany, Galatasaray were without the injured Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen as they were hammered 5-1 by Eintracht Frankfurt.
RESULTS
Club Brugge 4-1 Monaco
Copenhagen 2-2 Bayer Leverkusen
Eintracht Frankfurt 5-1 Galatasaray
Manchester City 2-0 Napoli
Newcastle United 1-2 Barcelona
Sporting CP 4-1 Kairat Almaty