Robin van Persie and Nani draw blank for Fenerbahce

Fenerbahce’s Dutch forward Robin van Persie reacts during the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round first leg football match against Shakhtar Donetsk.The Guardian/LondonRobin van Persie and Nani endured frustrating debuts for Fenerbahce in a goalless first leg of their new club’s Champions League third qualifying round tie against Shakhtar Donetsk. The two former Manchester United players had chances at opposite ends of the game, but failed to make the decisive touch as the Turkish side were held to a draw against the nine-times Ukrainian champions.Nani’s best chance came in the sixth minute when the Portuguese forward struck a low show that was saved by the Shakhtar goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov. Van Persie, who was on as a 68th minute substitute, had a great chance to give his side the aggregate lead two minutes from time, but the Dutchman was unable to find the telling connection with a volley.Elsewhere in Europe, CSKA Moscow twice took the lead but on both occasions were quickly pegged back as they were held to a 2-2 draw at home to Sparta Prague. Alan Dzagoev gave CSKA a 14th minute lead but just a minute later the Nigerian striker Kehinde Fatai equalised.Early in the second half Zoran Tosic calmly finished to regain the lead but four minutes later Ladislav Krejci scored to provide the Czech side with a valuable second away goal.Monaco on topMonaco, who finished third in Ligue 1 last season, have a healthy advantage after three second-half goals gave them a 3-1 win away at Young Boys. Mario Pasalic, the 20-year-old Croatia midfielder on loan from Chelsea, rounded off the scoring after Layvin Kurzawa and Guido Carrillo had put their side 2-0 up.Panathinaikos were the only home side to win on the night, a 65th-minute penalty from Nikos Karelis completing a 2-1 comeback win after Club Brugge had taken an early lead.FC Midtjylland, who won the Danish Superliga for the first time last season thanks to investment  from the Brentford owner Matthew Benham, face an uphill struggle to make the next qualifying round after they went down 2-1 at home to Apoel Nicosia. Tomas De Vincenti scored both goals for the Cypriot side but Jakob Poulsen scored three minutes from time to keep the home side’s hopes alive.The Brazilian defender Vinícius scored in the 89th minute as Videoton held the Belarusian side Bate to a 1-1 draw in Hungary, while Dinamo Zagreb were held to the same scoreline at home to Norway’s Molde.Maccabi Tel-Aviv went down 2-1 to Plzen in Israel, after the Czech side took a two-goal lead in the first 21 minutes through Aidin Mahmutovic and Milan Tetrzela.Finally, the Moldovan champions Milsami were undone at home by the Albanian Superliga title Skenderbeu. The visitors take a 2-0 advantage into the second leg after two goals from the Albania international forward Hamdi Salihi, his second coming from the spot in the 73rd minute.Now to see what happens next.

ScoresChampions League third qualifying round, first leg CSKA Moscow 2-2 Sparta PragueDinamo Zagreb 1-1 MoldeFenerbahce 0-0 Shakhtar DonetskMaccabi Tel-Aviv 1-2 PlzenFC Midtjylland 1-2 Apoel NicosiaMilsami 0-2 SkenderbeuPanathinaikos 2-1 Club BruggeVideoton 1-1 BateYoung Boys 1-3 Monaco