The Champions League served up a feast of attacking Football last night, as many of the major sides went on the offensive to signal their intent in the competition. The result was an amazing 40 goals being scored in just eight group games, as Bayern Munich scored seven, Shakhtar Donetsk matched them and Chelsea clocked up half a dozen. Group G took the aggregate 'honours' with a total of thirteen goals, but Group E was not far behind on a combined goal tally of twelve.

Many of the goals were scored in a breathless period leading up to half- time as the sports' broadcasters went into overdrive in an attempt to keep up with the latest action, barely able to comprehend what they were seeing before their very eyes.

Shakhtar had the first half of the tournament so far away to the Belarusian's BATE Borisov. Leading 6-0 before half-time, they added another goal after the break without reply to round off their perfect evening, as striker Luiz Adriano equalled Lionel Messi's record of five goals in a Champions League game.Their Group H rivals FC Porto enjoyed a more modest 2-1 victory over Athletic Bilbao, which keeps them ahead of Shaktar at the top of the group.

Group G saw Schalke overcame Sporting Lisbon 4-3 with an injury time penalty winner, in a match that had been going the Portuguese team's way after an early goal from Nani. The sending off of Sporting's Dos Santos Nascimento in the 33rd minute changed the balance of the game, as the German side roared into a 3-1 lead by the hour mark, only for a brace of goals by Adrien Perruchet Silva to peg them back.

There was still time for a winner though as Cameroonian Eric Choupo-Moting scored from the penalty spot, three minutes into injury time. Chelsea had a far more comfortable ride against NK Maribor with three goals in each half providing a symmetrical 6-0 victory, as Eden Hazard enjoyed a productive evening with assists and two goals of his own on the night, and Didier Drogba scored a penalty.

Chelsea and Schalke now look likely to be the qualifiers from the group.

Bayern Munich were runaway victors against Roma in Italy. Already five goals ahead from the first half including two for Dutchman Arjen Robben, they added another two in the second as Roma's only reward came from Gervinho in the 66th minute in a 7-1 thrashing.

The result gave some relief on a disappointing night for Manchester City in the same group, as they could only draw 2-2 on the road against CSKA Moscow after leading by two goals midway through the second half. Naive defending and a contentious penalty awarded to their opponents late on, proving their undoing. Roma's defeat leaves City with a fighting chance of overtaking them for second place in the group, as Bayern look strong favourites to win the group after taking maximum points from the three games they have played so far.

Barcelona were convincing 3-1 winners at home to Ajax in Group F. They led by two goals to nil at half time through strikes from Brazilian star Neymar and the incomparable Lionel Messi. The second half saw Ajax get a goal back from Anwar El Ghazi two minutes from time, but the two goal advantage was restored in injury time by Sandro Ramirez for Barca. One wonders just where "bad boy" Luis Suarez will fit into their front line, but it's a frightening prospect to add his firepower to an already potent set up. Paris Saint-Germain were narrow winners away to Apoel Nicosia, a goal three minutes from time by Uruguayan international Edinson Cavani proving decisive and keeping the French side a point above Barca at the top of the group.