Cape Town - Juventus kicked off their Champions League campaign with a 2-0 victory at Valencia in a match overshadowed by a controversial red card shown to Cristiano Ronaldo.

READ: Ronaldo controversially sent off on UCL debut

After tangling with Ronaldo, Colombian Murillo tumbled to the ground holding his face, and referee Felix Brych consulted with the assistant official beside the goal before giving the competition's all-time record goalscorer his marching orders.

But Juventus, who had totally dominated until Ronaldo's dismissal, were awarded two penalties within six minutes either side of half-time, and Miralem Pjanic confidently dispatched them both.

Juventus head coach Massimiliano Allegri lamented the lack of a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) to help the officials make the correct decision.

"Going down to 10 men in the Champions League for an incident like that is disappointing."

Have a look at the video footage below:

Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off for Juventus in the Champions League tonight for this... ??

What a joke! pic.twitter.com/7qFD8zwi10

— 433 Formation (@433Formation) September 19, 2018

ICYMI: That moment Cristiano Ronaldo received a straight red in his #UCL debut for Juventus. #VCFJuve #FinoAllaFine #AmuntValencia pic.twitter.com/O2SAGXbwjv

— SBOBET (@SBOBET) September 19, 2018

@Cristiano very harsh to get sent of for this it’s not even a foul!! #UCL #ChampionsLeague pic.twitter.com/wzXi4VJzlF

— Emmet Reilly (@stagman1989) September 19, 2018

English referee Mark Clattenburg gives his analysis on Cristiano Ronaldo's sending off: pic.twitter.com/GR2WZNNjyj

— Tarek Khatib (@ADP1113) September 20, 2018

"It is a soft red card for Cristiano Ronaldo"

Darren Fletcher expects the @juventusfc player to get one match ban.

So the Portuguese would be available to face #MUFC on the 23rd of October.

?? https://t.co/Uk0cil0IsJ #UCL pic.twitter.com/WLx8fZ9CKa

— BBC 5 Live Sport (@5liveSport) September 19, 2018

Re @Cristiano. Can't appeal against red card, so automatic 1 game ban. Disciplinary panel will sit to decide if there should be additional punishment. Ronaldo/Juventus can appeal against additional punishment. Both disciplinary panel + appeal to be dealt with before Matchday 3.

— Simon Stone (@sistoney67) September 19, 2018