Champions League 2025-26 Matchday 1 Review: PSG Sail Away Effortlessly, Haaland Shatters Record, Qarabag Astonish Benfica
Champions League Roundup: Dramatic Wins and Surprise Results Galore
The UEFA Champions League 2025-26 league phase has kicked off with a bang, as 18 matches took place over the weekend. Here's a roundup of the most exciting moments from the opening fixtures.
Manchester City's Dominance
Manchester City started their campaign with a 2-0 victory over Napoli, thanks to goals from Erling Haaland (his 50th Champions League goal) and Jeremy Doku. The English champions are currently leading Group A with three points.
Inter Milan's Solitary Rule
In Milan, Inter Miami beat Ajax 2-0, with Marcus Thuram scoring a brace. This victory means that Inter Miami will be the sole occupants of San Siro this season's European football, as their city rivals, AC Milan, failed to qualify for any of the UEFA tournaments.
Liverpool's Edgy Victory
Liverpool edged Atletico Madrid 3-2 at Anfield, with Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk scoring for the Reds. The Spanish side put up a strong fight, but Liverpool held on to secure the win.
Surprise Wins and Draws
There were several surprise results in the opening matches. Qarabag came from two goals down to beat Benfica, 3-2, in Lisbon. Pafos held Olympiacos to a goalless draw in their Champions League debut. Slavia Prague drew 2-2 with Bodo/Glimt, while Union Saint-Gilloise stunned PSV Eindhoven, 3-1, in their Champions League debut.
Other Notable Results
Paris Saint-Germain started their Champions League title defense with a 4-0 win over Atalanta, with Marquinhos, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and Gonçalo Ramos scoring for the French champions. Real Madrid edged Marseille 2-1, with Kylian Mbappe scoring both penalties for the win. Eintracht Frankfurt delivered a 5-1 win against Galatasaray.
Tottenham's Strong Start
Tottenham, Bayern Munich, Arsenal, and Barcelona also opened their campaigns with wins, ensuring a strong start for these four teams. Bayern Munich defeated Chelsea 3-1, with Harry Kane scoring twice for the German giants. Arsenal won their match against Athletic Bilbao, 2-0, with Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard scoring for the Gunners.
The Race for the Top
After the first round of matches, PSG, Frankfurt, Sporting Lisbon, Club Brugge, Union SG, Bayern, Arsenal, Inter, Manchester City, Qarabag, Liverpool, Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Tottenham all sit at the top of their groups with three points each. The race for the top is on, and it promises to be an exciting season.
The league phase of the Champions League 2025-26 resumes with Matchday 2 on September 30 and October 1. Don't miss the action!
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