Swiss treat gone sour!

Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea were stunned in the shock result of the night as FC Basel left Stamford Bridge with a 2-1 victory in Group E. The hosts had seemed to be heading to a routine home victory when Brazilian Oscar put them ahead after quick, slick passes from David Luiz and Frank Lampard. Oscar almost doubled the Londoners’ advantage with a splendid second half strike that crashed back off the bar.

But then Mohamed Salah bent the ball around Ahsley Cole and inside the post on 71 minutes before Marco Streller headed home the unexpected winner. Lionel Messi hit a hat-trick as Barcelona began their Champions League campaign with a 4-0 win over Ajax on Wednesday but Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea suffered a shock home defeat.

Messi took his tally to 62 Champions League goals and became the first player to score more than four Champions League hat-tricks, whilst also netting his 24th such treble for Barca. A day after Cristiano Ronaldo hit three in Real Madrid’s 6-1 thumping of Galatasaray, Messi reminded everyone who is still the four-time reigning Ballon d’Or winner. 

In the group’s other game, AC Milan left it late before avoiding an embarrassing slip-up at the San Siro as Emilio Izaguirre’s own goal broke Celtic’s hearts, with Sulley Muntari adding a second to secure the Rossoneri a 2-0 success. Schalke 04 took command of the group with three goals in the final quarter to beat Steaua Bucharest 3-0. Japan’s Atsuto Uchida, Ghana midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng and German international Julien Draxler bagged the goals.

Last season’s runners-up Borussia Dortmund had a disastrous start to their campaign as they went down 2-1 at Napoli in Group F. It was a sorry night for the Germans, who thumped Hamburg 6-2 at the weekend, as coach Jurgen Klopp and goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller were both given their marching orders after Gonzalo Higuain had given the Italians the lead.

Lorenzo Insigne doubled Napoli’s advantage before an own goal from Camilo Zuniga late on gave Borussia scant consolation. Arsenal joined Napoli at the top of the group with a 2-1 win over Marseille at the Stade Velodrome. Theo Walcott opened the scoring with a flashing volley before Aaron Ramsey continued his brilliant start to the season with another goal.

Atletico Madrid made it a night to remember for the Spanish with a 3-1 win over visitors Zenit St Petersburg. Miranda put them in front before powerful Brazil forward Hulk equalised. But goals from Arda Turan and Leo sent Atletico to the top of Group G, ahead of Porto, who won 1-0 against Wein.