Middlesbrough draws Stoke in return to Premier League

Middlesbrough started their first Premier League campaign in seven years with a 1-1 draw against a lacklustre Stoke City side at the Riverside.

The home side opened the scoring on 11 minutes when Gaston Ramirez nodded the ball back to Boro debutant Alvaro Negredo, who sent the ball home from close range.

It was a nightmare start for fellow Boro debutant Marten De Roon, however, as he went off on 20 minutes after picking up an injury.

Ramirez was on form for the home side and nearly made it 2-0, but his turn and low shot came back off the post. The former Southampton man then saved his side at the other end when he cleared a corner off the line to keep Aitor Karanka's side in the lead at halftime.

Both sides struggled to get going in the second half with a serious lack of shots on target. However, the visitors managed to get on level terms on 66 minutes when Xherdan Shaqiri curled a free-kick into the back of the net to make it 1-1.

Joe Allen came on to make his debut for the Potters in the latter stages of the match, but he couldn't make the difference to seal the comeback.

Overall, it's a decent point for both sides. Boro will welcome a point on their return to the top flight while Mark Hughes will be thankful to pick up a draw after his side struggled to find their shooting boots all afternoon.