Champions League review: Despite sweeping aside all before them in the Premier League so far this season, both Manchester's United and City were forced to come from behind to salvage draws in the opening fixtures of their respective European campaigns.
United will be the happier of the two after Ryan Giggs’s thunderous strike rescued a point away to Benfica, while Roberto Mancini saw his side struggle at times before ALeksandr Kolarov’s free-kick ensured they took something from their home tie with Napoli.
Mancini had hoped his side would benefit from an earlier start to the season than their Serie A counterparts and sure enough they were soon in the groove with Edin Dzeko and Samir Nasri both flashing wide.
The hosts continued to hog possession against deep-sitting opponents but Ezequiel Lavezzi came close to a wonderful breakaway opener when he fashioned space with a clever first touch and curled beyond Joe Hart but against the woodwork.
Yaya Toure almost finished a move he started on the halfway line, side-footing Sergio Aguero's cut-back onto the crossbar but Napoli reminded City of their threat soon after the break when Marek Hamsik's volley needed Vincent Kompany's goalline intervention.
Walter Mazzarri's men grew in confidence and City were finally punished for over-intricate play when Christian Maggio dispossessed Gareth Barry and teed up Edison Cavani after a storming run. But Kolarov curled home a peach of a free-kick in the 74th minute to earn City a point.
Toni Kroos and Rafinha scored as Bayern Munichtook control of Group A by cruising to a 2-0 win at Villarreal.
Franck Ribery set up Kroos to score after seven minutes and the European heavyweights, making their 250th European Cup appearance, dominated for the rest of the match.
Substitute Rafinha sealed the result with a wonderful piece of skill to create and score the second goal in the 76th.
Hosts Benficahad the best of the early exchanges against Unitedwith Nicolas Gaitan firing a shot just wide and Oscar Cardozo testing Anders Lindegaard with a low drive.
And they were rewarded on 24 minutes when Cardozo controlled a pass from Gaitan on his chest and stepped past Jonny Evans before drilling home.
United offered little going forward throughout the first half but levelled the match on 42 minutes when Giggs took a pass from Antonio Valencia in his stride and crashed a drive into the top corner from the edge of the box to score for the Red Devils for an incredible 22nd consecutive season.
The visitors could have gone ahead minutes after the break when Valencia disposed Emerson and got the ball back from Wayne Rooney, but there were no takers for his fizzing delivery across the six-yard box.
Keeper Artur then deflected a shot from Giggs wide with his leg a minute before Pablo Aimar broke to send Gaitan down the right flank and his square ball found Nolito, whose low shot was brilliantly saved by Lindegaard.
And Lindegaard was called into action again to tip a curling shot from Gaitan over the bar before Nolito shot into the side netting from eight yards after working his way into the penalty area.
FC Basellead Group C after forward Alexander Frei scored a late penalty to give the Swiss a 2-1 home win over Romanian debutants Otelul Galati.
Basel took a first-half lead through Fabian Frei before Marius Pena levelled for the Romanians just before the hour.
Trabzonspor's Ondrej Celustka struck 14 minutes from time to stun 2010 winners Inter Milanand clinch a 1-0 away win in their Group B clash.
The Turkish runners-up, only in the competition after Fenerbahce were withdrawn because of match-fixing allegations, looked comfortable throughout and Celustka expertly hooked the ball in on the slide after Halil Altintop struck the bar.
Just before the goal, Inter substitute Diego Milito spurned two gilt-edged chances when his close-range effort was saved and then his header went over but generally the hosts were poor. New coach Gian Piero Gasperini has now lost his first three matches in charge.
In the group's other game, a late double by Seydou Doumbia cost Lilledearly as CSKA Moscowsnatched a 2-2 draw at the home of the French champions.
Striker Doumbia struck in the 72nd and 90th minute to steal a point after Lille had taken a two-goal lead thanks to Moussa Sow and Benoit Pedretti, who scored either way of the interval.
A second-half goal by Angel Di Maria helped Group D giants Real Madridmake a winning start to their campaign with a 1-0 win at Dinamo Zagreb.
Di Maria's fierce left-foot drive from 12 metres finished off a well-worked move across the edge of the Dinamo penalty box in the 53rd minute at the Maksimir stadium.
It was the only time Real, who had banned coach Jose Mourinho watching high up in the stands, could beat inspired goalkeeper Ivan Kelava, who pulled off a string of excellent saves for the home team.
The only blot on the night for the nine-times European champions was the 73rd-minute dismissal of left back Marcelo for a second yellow card.
Bafetimbi Gomis missed two gilt-edged chances for Olympique Lyonas the French team shared a 0-0 draw with Ajaxin Amsterdam.
A cross from Michel Bastos bounced off Gomis's foot and went over the bar and the Lyon striker also missed the target after being set up by Jimmy Briand.
Unmarked winger Miralem Sulejmani came closest to scoring for Ajax eight minutes before the interval, his header going wide when he only had goalkeeper Hugo Lloris to beat.
Lloris denied Ajax in the second half with a breathtaking save thwarting a long-range effort from Danish playmaker Christian Eriksen.
