The Champions League group stage debut of Socceroo Awer Mabil did not go to plan as his Danish side Midtjylland were thumped at home but the shock of the night came in Spain with Real Madrid going down to Shakhtar Donetsk.
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In a group stage debut for Mabil and Midtjylland attended by only 132 fans due to COVID-19 restrictions, last season's quarter-finalists Atalanta won 4-0 in driving rain at the MCH Arena in Herning.
Winger Mabil, 25, was substituted in the 75th minute with Midtjylland already three goals down - with Duvan Zapata, Alejandro Gomez, Luis Muriel scoring - before Aleksey Miranchuk completed the Group D rout.
"It was a tough game and a tough experience for us," Midtjylland coach Brian Priske said.
Real Madrid's losing streak in the European competition was extended to three matches - their worst run in 34 years - after Ukraine's COVID-19 depleted Shakhtar Donetsk stunned them 3-2.
We were lacking a bit of everything today but worst of all we were lacking confidence," Real coach Zinedine Zidane said.
"It's my job to find solutions because these kind of games can't happen."
European champions Bayern Munich delivered the most impressive performance with a 4-0 win over Atletico Madrid while English champions Liverpool edged out hosts Ajax 1-0 and Manchester City fought back to beat Porto 3-1.
Elsewhere on Wednesday night, Romelu Lukaku's 90th-minute equaliser salvaged Inter Milan a 2-2 draw with visitors Borussia Moenchengladbach, Red Bull Salzburg and Lokomotiv Moscow also shared four goals while Olympiacos defeated Marseille 1-0.
Shakhtar stunned 13-time European champions Real and led 3-0 with goals from Tete and Manor Solomon either side of an own goal by Madrid defender Raphael Varane in a 13-minute spell before halftime.
Madrid hit back through goals from Luka Modric' and substitute Vinicius Junior but could not prevent defeat at their empty training ground - which is being used while the Santiago Bernabeu is being renovated.
Bayern carried on from their dominant European form of last season by dismantling Atletico with Kingsley Coman netting a double and singles from Leon Goretzka and Corentin Tolisso
"Our game was just good tonight," Bayern coach Hans Flick told reporters.
"It was a tough task but we mastered it."
Liverpool's victory at Ajax was decided by Sadio Mane's shot in the 35th forcing an own goal from defender Nicolas Tagliafico.
The Reds handled the absence of injured Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk - with midfielder Fabinho dropped into central defence alongside Joe Gomez.
"It was a good performance but there is a lot to improve... and we'd like it to carry on," Liverpool boss Juergen Klopp said.
Manchester City kicked off their Group C campaign with a home win but it came at a cost with Fernandinho suffering a muscle strain in his leg and ruled out for up to six weeks.
City trailed early when Luis Diaz gave Porto the advantage but Pep Guardiola's men levelled via Sergio Aguero's penalty before Ilkay Gundogan and Ferran Torres secured the win with second-half goals.
Australian Associated Press
