Paris (AFP)

Ajax, a semi-finalist last season, showed no mercy for Lille outclassed 3-0 in Amsterdam, while Lyon stammered his football against Zenit St. Petersburg (1-1) and the defending champion Liverpool dropped to Naples 2-0 on Tuesday during the first day of the Champions League.

Borussia Dortmund and FC Barcelona were neutralized (0-0) in the other match at the top of the evening, which saw the return to the fields of star Lionel Messi, entered in the game instead of the prodigy Ansu Fati , holder at the kickoff and who became at 16 years the youngest ever player in the European Cup in the history of the Catalan club.

For his return to the Champions League after seven years of absence, Lille has suffered a heavy defeat against Ajax.

Quincy Promes opened the scoring on the far post in the 18th minute, Edson Alvarez of Mexico worsened the scoring after a sensational pass from Brazilian David Neres (50) and Nicolas Tagliafico finally knocked out Lillois an angry header on a corner from the left by Hakim Ziyech (62).

A very bitter reunion with the C1 for the Losc in a very strong group H, where Valencia has created a nice surprise by winning 1-0 on the field of Chelsea. England's Ross Barkley missed a penalty 8 minutes into the game (88). The goal of the match was scored by Rodrigo in the 74th minute, with a left-wing recovery in full heat on a free kick by Daniel Parejo.

In Lyon, the players of Sylvinho did not reassure themselves against the champions of Russia who obtained a logical draw (1-1). Zenit had cooled the mood four minutes before the break (41st) by opening the score by the Iranian Sardar Azmoun, at the start and at the conclusion of a beautiful one-two with Artem Dzyuba.

- Lyon loose two points -

OL, however, managed to equalize, thanks to a penalty converted by Memphis Depay (51) and whistled for a foul on himself. The Dutch striker scored his fifth goal of the season after the four successes in Ligue 1.

OL loose two valuable points in the race to the round of 16 in Group G where Benfica was surprised at home by Leipzig (1-2).

In Naples, defending champion Liverpool was trapped by an enterprising and uncomplicated Italian formation. Carlo Ancelotti's team scored both goals late in the game by Belgian international Dries Mertens on a penalty (82) and then by Spanish striker Fernando Llorente, timely to take advantage of a misunderstanding of the English defense and fool Adrian, the Reds (90 + 2) goalkeeper.

In Dortmund, Barça resisted the German assault, well helped by his goalkeeper ... German Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who notably stopped a penalty shot by Marco Reus (57th).

The other match of this group F also ended in a draw between Inter Milan and Slavia Prague (1-1). A happy share for the current Serie A leader, who equalized in extra time by Nicolo Barella and almost even won a few seconds from the end on a Romelu Lukaku header saved by Czech goalkeeper Ondrej Kolar.

Finally, the day's score came from Salzburg who outclassed Genk 6-2 with a hat-trick of Erling Braut Haland.

The second part of the first day continues on Wednesday with PSG-Real Madrid, which will be played without Neymar (suspended) and Mbappé and Cavani (wounded) on the Paris side.

© 2019 AFP