Striker Alvaro Morata urged Juventus to carry their continental form back to Serie A after he equalled club great Alessandro Del Piero’s record of scoring five goals in five consecutive Champions League matches, while PSG maintained their unbeaten start to the season and Benfica ended Atletico Madrid’s impressive home record.
Morata opened the scoring on 41 minutes when he leapt above Marco Andreolli and Timothee Kolodziejczak to head a superb cross from stand-in right-back Andrea Barzagli past the helpless Sergio Rico.
In finding the net Morata, who scored the winner against Manchester City in Juventus’ Champions League opener, equalled Del Piero’s record, which was set in the 1995-96 season.
“We are happy but now I have to work hard to score in Serie A,” Morata said.
Juventus’ fine form in the Champions League comes in contrast to their struggles in the Italian top flight, where they have managed only one victory in their opening six fixtures.
However, there were indications against Sevilla that new signings such as Paulo Dybala and Simone Zaza are beginning to find their feet in Massimiliano Allegri’s new-look side.
“It was very important for the team to win, to send a good signal,” said Zaza, who scored Juventus’ second goal after coming on as a substitute.
Morata, who along with strike partner Dybala had a series of chances to add to Juventus’ tally, added: “We are happy for the victory in a difficult time for the team.
“My understanding with [Paulo] Dybala? It has to improve, it’s normal. We haven’t played together for long, but we have a great friendship.
“We are friends, we go out to dinner together with our families and this is evident on the field. We have to keep working to do better in the league.
“The important thing is winning.”
Beyond Zaza and Dybala, new addition Sami Khedira was an influential presence in the heart of the midfield after making his first competitive appearance for Juventus since moving from Real Madrid during the recent transfer window.
Cruise for PSG
Paris Saint-Germain cruised past Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk 3-0 in Group A to go Level with Real Madrid.
Laurent Blanc has overseen an almost perfect start to the French champions’ campaign, and first-half goals from Ivory Coast full-back Serge Aurier and Brazilian defender David Luiz put last season’s quarter-finalists in control.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic helped make the result certain on a counter-attack in the 90th minute after a pass from substitute Javier Pastore released the Sweden captain to run through on goal, the decisive final touch coming off Shakhtar captain Darijo Srna.
PSG midfielder Blaise Matuidi turned in another strong performance and said the match was won during a great opening 45 minutes for Blanc’s men.
“We turned in a really strong first half and took control but Shakhtar are a good team especially at home,” said the French international.
“We worked extremely hard and had chances to kill off the game in the second half but it was a good overall performance against a difficult opponent.
“We showed tonight that Paris Saint-Germain are a big team but we won the match with a big peformance in the first half against a good Shakhtar team.
“We’re starting to string results together and now that’s two wins from two in the Champions League which is just what we needed,” added Matuidi.
Tempers flare in Madrid
Meanwhile, Benfica inflicted Atletico Madrid’s first home defeat in the Champions League since 2009 as they came from behind to move top of Group C with a 2-1 win.
However, the Portuguese champions’ victory was overshadowed by the behaviour of some of their travelling fans, who threw flares at Atletico supporters after Nicolas Gaitan’s equalising goal at the Vicente Calderon.
Angel Correa had fired the hosts into a deserved lead midway through the first half.
However, Atletico were made to pay for a series of missed chances as Gaitan levelled and Benfica snatched all three points with a brilliantly executed counter-attack finished off by Goncalo Guedes just after the break.
Benfica now lead Atletico by three points, although the Spaniards remain two points clear of Champions League newcomers Astana and Galatasaray, who drew 2-2 in Kazakhstan.
“The flares are a social problem that other people have to resolve,” said Atletico coach Diego Simeone.
“On the pitch Benfica played a competitive game and deserved the victory for their effectiveness in front of goal.
“The team looked to create throughout the game, but football is about the chances you take, not how many you create.”
Benfica boss Rui Vitoria hailed his side’s defending, but dismissed suggestions they already have one foot in the last-16.
“It is a sweet victory against a very hard team that were in the Champions League final two years ago,” he said.
“The team knew how to ride out the difficult moments.
“It is not the moment to get over-confident. Six points is a very good start, but nothing has been achieved yet.”
Home comforts in United group
In Manchester United’s group leaders CSKA Moscow bounced back from their opening Group B defeat when they defeated 10-man Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven 3-2 at home.
A strike from Nigerian forward Ahmed Musa and a brace by Ivory Coast sharp-shooter Seydou Doumbia set CSKA on their way to a narrow victory that put them equal on three points with the other three teams in their group.
All four games in the group have been home wins.
Belgian Maxime Lestienne was twice on target for PSV but it wasn’t enough for the visitors.
“We played well in the first half. Maybe we earned the lead a little too easy,” said CSKA coach Leonid Slutsky.
“But in the second half everything went a bit astray and we had a nervous ending due to our own slackness.
“Of course I’m happy with the result but there’s also a certain displeasure because of our poor performance in the second period.”