Good wins for Wolfsburg, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich

HAMBURG - There were good victories in the first matches in the group phase of the Champions League for VfL Wolfsburg, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.

Bundesliga champions Wolfsburg got their first-ever Champions League campaign off to a flying start as they beat former UEFA Cup winners CSKA Moscow 3-1, while Real Madrid won 5-2 in Zurich and Bayern Munich beat Maccabi Haifa 3-0 in Israel, Tuesday.

In Wolfsburg, Brazilian Grafite was the hero on the night as he scored a hat-trick. The striker found the net in the 36th and 41st minute and then put the game beyond doubt three minutes from the end with a well-taken goal.

In between Alan Dzagoev pulled one back midway through the first half in the Group B game.

Wolfsburg striker Edin Dzeko said that they were very pleased with the result. “It was a perfect evening,” he said.

Germany defender Marcel Schaefer added: “We have not had it easy since losing some of our opening Bundesliga matches this season. But we managed to find the positives in that. Manchester United is clear favourite in the group, but we have a chance to challenge for second place.”

United, who last year lost in the final against Barcelona, needed a goal in the 77th minute to see off stiff opposition from Turkish club Besiktas.

The home side’s goalkeeper Hakan Arikan did well to save a shot from Nani from 14 metres, but could do nothing as Paul Scholes headed in from Arikan’s save.

In Group A Bayern Munich had anything but an easy victory at Maccabi Haifa, even through the 3-0 result would suggest they did.

The Israeli club managed to hold out until the 64th minute when Daniel van Buyten managed to score from close range. Maccabi then had several opportunities to level matters before youngster Thomas Mueller, who was making a rare start for the German side, scored two late goals to give Bayern a perfect start.

Van Buyten said it had been very important for his side to come away with a victory. “The first goal was the most difficult. Now we have three points and can look ahead.”

The other game in the group saw Juventus take a 1-0 lead against Bordeaux in the 64th minute through Vicenzo Iaquinta, but Czech international Jaroslav Plasil equalized in the 75th minute to make the final score 1-1.

New signing Cristiano Ronaldo did not waste any time to get his Champions League scoring underway for his new club Real Madrid in Group C as he scored twice at Zurich, opening proceedings in the 27th minute with a free-kick and then scoring his side’s fourth in the 89th with another free-kick.

Raul, Gonzalo Higuain and Guti three minutes into injury time gave Real Madrid their 5-2 victory. For Zurich Xavier Margairaz and Silvan Aegerter scored twice within a minute to give the home fans some hope before Ronaldo and Guti put matters beyond doubt.

Also in Group C Filippo Inzaghi scored twice for AC Milan in Marseille as the former Champions League winners put their mediocre domestic form aside to get their first Champions League victory of the season.

Argentine defender Gabriel Heinze scored for the home side.

In London Chelsea won their Group D game against Porto through a Nicolas Anelka goal two minutes after the restart. Porto had midfielder Raul Meireles sent off in second half injury time.

The final game saw APOEL Nicosia stun Atletico Madrid in Spain with a goalless draw in their Group D match.