Champions League: Ronaldo scores hat-trick as big spenders flop

Cristiano Ronaldo hit a hat-trick in Real Madrid's 4-1 Champions League win at Ajax Amsterdam on Wednesday but big spending trio Zenit St Petersburg, Paris St Germain and Manchester City failed to win.

Ronaldo's treble, his second in four days following a three-goal blast in La Liga at the weekend, was complemented by a brilliant Karim Benzema bicycle kick as Real went top of Group D with six points from their two opening games.

Ambitious Zenit lost 3-2 at home to AC Milan who spent most of the summer selling their players, Tomas Hubocan putting through his own goal in the 75th minute after the Russians had recovered from two goals behind to pull level.

Paris St Germain lost 1-0 at Porto, who have become a stepping stone for South Americans hoping to move to big European clubs, after Colombian James Rodriguez struck a late winner.

Manchester City needed a late penalty converted by Mario Balotelli to draw 1-1 at home to Borussia Dortmund in a meeting of the Premier League and Bundesliga champions and claim their first point in Real's group.

There was also late drama at Schalke 04 where Souleymane Camara scored a 90th minute equaliser for debutants Montpellier in a 2-2 draw, their first point in the competition.

Champions League debutants Malaga, who appeared set for a rough ride after selling top players in the close season amid restructuring by their Qatari owners, instead notched their second straight 3-0 win in Group C, this time at Anderlecht.

Two goals from Eliseu and a Joaquin penalty completed a perfect week for Spain's four representatives following wins for Valencia and Barcelona on Tuesday.

Dynamo Kiev beat Dinamo Zagreb 2-0 on coach Oleg Blokhin's European debut and Arsenal beat Olympiakos 3-1 in the evening's other matches.

ITALY WIN

Ajax, sloppy and toothless, were a shadow of the side which has won four European titles and went behind when Ronaldo pounced on a loose ball to score from close range in the 42nd minute.

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