Real Madrid earned their first-ever win over Liverpool with a wondrous Cristiano Ronaldo goal spearheading a 3-0 Champions League victory at Anfield on Wednesday which appeared as classy as it was dominant.
The roar of one of Europe's most vociferous crowds was muted when Ronaldo, combining with James Rodriguez, scored the most brilliant of openers in the 23rd minute, his 70th Champions League goal moving him within one of Raul's all-time record.
Poor Liverpool defending then contributed to Karim Benzema striking twice more for the champions before halftime and left the hosts to try to overturn a three-goal deficit in the Champions League for the first time since the 2005 final.
Carlo Ancelotti, who was in charge of the AC Milan side which threw away that lead in Istanbul, was not about to let history repeat itself in this group B encounter as his men consolidated to win their third consecutive Champions League game and emphatically put an end to Liverpool's three-game, 100 percent winning record over them.
Real's eighth successive win in all competitions
Madrid top the group with nine points, while Liverpool, Basel and Ludogorets are all six points adrift.
Ronaldo, who could easily have equalled the record in the second half only to be thwarted by keeper Simon Mignolet, was taken off with a quarter of an hour left by Ancelotti, who was thinking ahead to Saturday's Clasico against Barcelona. By that point, Real's eighth successive win in all competitions was wrapped up.
The closest Liverpool came to clawing their way back into the game was just before halftime when Philippe Coutinho struck a thunderous 20-metre shot against the post with Madrid keeper Iker Casillas well-beaten.
Liverpool looked a little more threatening after the break, once Mario Balotelli, again a grievous disappointment, had been replaced by Adam Lallana.
As the teams went down the tunnel at halftime, Balotelli swapped shirts with Pepe, a gesture which will doubtless not have been greatly appreciated by the home fans at such a stage in the game.
Arsenal strike late to break Anderlecht hearts
Arsenal struck twice in the last two minutes for a smash and grab 2-1 away victory at Anderlecht in Champions League Group D on Wednesday to earn three vital points.
The Londoners produced a lethargic display and were trailing to Andy Najar's 71st-minute header before Kieran Gibbs equalised after 89 minutes and then Lukas Podolski smashed in a close-range winner.
It was tough luck on Anderlecht who had seemed on course for a first victory in the competition in 11 attempts.
Arsenal remain in second place with six points, three behind Borussia Dortmund who have won all of their games.
Neither side managed a shot on target in a forgettable first half in the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium.
Najar heads one into the net for Anderlecht
Arsenal offered precious little going forward with Alexis Sanchez the only player showing any real desire.
After the tepid first half the second began in more lively fashion with Ibrahima Conte raising the noise levels with a shot deflected wide.
Arsenal responded minutes later when Sanchez found himself unmarked with his back to goal in the six-yard box but he failed to angle his header away from grateful keeper Silvio Proto.
It was the hosts who made the breakthrough though with 19 minutes remaining and it was goal of real quality.
Najar played the ball to Dennis Praet who twisted and turned Arsenal's languid defence before clipping the perfect cross to the far post where Najar dispatched a firm header past Emiliano Martinez, Arsenal's third-choice keeper who was making his Champions League debut.
Gibbs equalised for Arsenal
It almost got better for Anderlecht when Anthony Vanden Borre's miss-hit shot looped against the post with Arsenal's defence in disarray.
Sanchez rustled the side-netting with a free kick but Anderlecht looked the more likely to score as the crowd began chanting 'ole's' with every home pass.
It all went sour for Anderlecht though as first left back Gibbs produced a superb volley from a Calum Chambers cross.
Suddenly revived, Arsenal went for the unlikeliest of victories and with the clock at 90 minutes, Sanchez caused havoc in the area and his low cross fell to Podolski who thrashed the ball high into the net.
Koke shines as Atletico thrash Malmo 5-0
Koke scored one goal and had a hand in three more as Atletico Madrid handed Swedish side Malmo a 5-0 drubbing in Champions League Group A on Wednesday.
Last season's beaten finalists struggled to convert overwhelming dominance into goals in the first period before Koke ran on to Arda Turan's clever dinked pass and fired into the corner three minutes after the break.
Mandzukic made it 2-0 in the 61st minute when he poked Koke’s low cross into the net, and Antoine Griezmann added a third two minutes later when he picked up a Koke pass and unleashed a powerful shot that looped up off Malmo goalkeeper Robin Olsen and into the net.
Diego Godin headed Koke's outswinging corner powerfully into the net three minutes from time and substitute Alessio Cerci completed a comfortable win for the La Liga champions when he lashed a shot into the corner in the third minute of added time.
Atletico, who were beaten 3-2 at Olympiakos Piraeus in their opening match and bounced back to down Juventus 1-0, were far too strong for Malmo, and the victory over the Swedish champions gives them a share of first place in the group, level on six points with Olympiakos.
The Greek side scored a surprise 1-0 home win over Italian champions Juventus, who have three points along with Malmo after three of six matches.
