After their heroic performance against Real Madrid at the Bernebau, it appeared that Sporting Lisbon were still recovering from their last minute defeat as they took on Rio Ave in Vila do Conde.
In a torrid first-half they went a goal down after 29 minutes when former Portimonense player Tarantini found the back of the net.
In the next fifteen minutes further goals from Guedes and Gil Dias - on loan from Monaco - saw the home side establish an unbelievable 3-0 lead at the break.
Despite their sixty percent possession, the Lions were unable to break down a resolute Rio Ave defence; how they could have done with Islam Slimani who was heading home the first two goals, on his Premier League debut, as Leicester beat Burnley 3-0.
Lazar Markovic, on-loan from Liverpool, made an appearance for Sporting towards the end of the game and proceeded to get booked for one of the worst dives you will ever see from a player! Eight minutes from time Bas Dost, making his debut after his €10m transfer from Wolsburg, pulled a goal back for Jorge Jesus’ side.
FC Porto will be disappointed with their goalless draw at lowly Tondela, given that the visitors had two-thirds of the possession. These are the games they must win if they are to have any hope of challenging for the title.
Konstantinos “Kostas” Mitroglou has made his mark with Benfica - he scored 20 goals in 32 games last season on loan from Fulham - after his €7m permanent move in the summer. His first goal this season at the Stadium of Light came after twenty-seven minutes against SC Braga.
Pizzi added number two midway through the second period before Mitroglou added a third four minutes later. Braga had Pedro Pereira sent-off with two minutes to go and in stoppage time the visitors reduced the arrears through Rosic.
Former Sporting boss Leonardo Jardim led Monaco to a historic 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in front of 85,000 fans at Wembley Stadium in the Champions League.
Winning 2-1 in England against Mauricio Pocchetino’s side, who were in the running for the Premier League title until the end of last season and who were the big favourites to win the group, is a notable feat.
After having defeated Arsenal in February of last year with a conclusive 3-1 score- line, Monaco again pulled off a sensational result and will fight for a place in the last sixteen, in a very balanced group that includes Bayer Leverkusen and CSKA Moscow. José Mourinho will be hoping that some of Jardim’s magic will rub off on him as Manchester United suffered their third straight defeat.
This is the first time Mourinho has lost three consecutive games in a season since he was fresh in the door at FC Porto in 2002. And two of those defeats came in the Champions League at the hands of Real Madrid.
It is also the worst league start in the Portuguese manager’s all-conquering career since he first made his bow , at União de Leiria in 2001, and even then his first five matches served up only a solitary defeat.