BATE, Barcelona, United perfect, Celtic smile

After beating FC Bayern München 3-1, FC BATE Borisov have six points like FC Barcelona and Manchester United FC, while Celtic FC ended their 21-game wait for a group stage away win.

FC Barcelona and Manchester United FC both picked up second UEFA Champions League group stage wins on Tuesday – as did FC BATE Borisov.

Having won 3-1 at LOSC Lille a fortnight ago to secure their first group victory in 13 attempts, BATE brilliantly followed up by defeating FC Bayern München 3-1 in Minsk. That leaves them three points clear in Group F of both Bayern and BATE’s next opponents Valencia CF, who overcame LOSC 2-0.

United also hold an early three-point lead in Group H but had to come from behind to prevail 2-1 at CFR 1907 Cluj courtesy of two Robin van Persie goals. Joining CFR on three points are SC Braga, who prevailed 2-0 at Galatasaray AŞ in the first UEFA Champions League game at the Turkish side’s new stadium.

Also welcoming this competition for the first time was the Juventus Stadium, and the away side also acquitted themselves well there, with FC Shakhtar Donetsk drawing 1-1. Level on four points with Shakhtar at the Group E summit are holders Chelsea FC, comfortable 4-0 victors at FC Nordsjælland in Copenhagen, the debutants’ second group defeat.

Barcelona may have had Sergio Busquets sent off and Carles Puyol injured yet they still triumphed 2-0 at SL Benfica and have maximum Group G points. Two behind them in second place are Celtic FC, who ended their 21-game wait for a group stage away victory with a dramatic 3-2 success at ten-man FC Spartak Moskva, thanks to Giorgos Samaras’s 90th-minute header. Unusually, there were five away wins in tonight’s eight fixtures.