Iniesta strikes first for Barça

FC Barcelona midfielder Andrés Iniesta had the honour of scoring the first goal of the 2006/07 UEFA Champions League group stage.

Drilled finish
The 22-year-old put the holders ahead in the seventh minute at Camp Nou against group-stage debutants PFC Levski Sofia, scoring with a fine low shot from just outside the area after clever interplay from Samuel Eto'o and Ronaldinho. Liverpool FC forward Florent Sinama-Pongolle struck the opening goal of last season's group stage, finding the net 90 seconds into the visit to Real Betis Balompié, meaning Iniesta's effort is the second successive season the holders have opened the scoring in the competition proper.

Holders again
Valencia CF winger Vicente Rodríguez registered the opening goal in 2004/05 in a home game against RSC Anderlecht, while Mikaël Silvestre did likewise the previous year as Manchester United FC got off to a flying start against Panathinaikos FC. In 2002, the honour went to Zlatan Ibrahimović, then of AFC Ajax but now at FC Internazionale Milano, with a superb eleventh-minute strike which paved the way for a 2-1 victory against Olympique Lyonnais.