Champions League contenders Arsenal and Real Madrid secure opening victories.
The UEFA Champions League's league phase began with a bang on Tuesday, as several teams made their mark in the tournament. One of the standout performances came from Qarabag, who claimed their first ever victory in the Champions League proper against SL Benfica. This was also a historical moment for Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, who, after winning their first Belgian title in 90 years, secured a 3-1 victory against PSV Eindhoven. Arsenal, eager to make a big impression in the Champions League after losing to Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-finals last season, started off strong with a 2-0 victory against Athletic Bilbao. Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard scored for the Gunners in this impressive performance. Tottenham Hotspur also won on the tournament's opening night, securing a 1-0 victory against Villarreal. Real Madrid, despite losing Trent Alexander-Arnold early on due to an injury, came from behind to beat Marseille at the Santiago Bernabeu. Kylian Mbappé scored two penalties in this 2-1 victory, with the second one awarded due to a handball by Facundo Medina. However, Real Madrid were reduced to 10 men in the second half when Dani Carvajal was sent off following a video-assistant referee check for a headbutt on Marseille goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli. Mbappé, who scored his 50th goal for Real Madrid in this match, mentioned that he needs pressure in crucial situations to perform at his best. The coach under whom Mbappé achieved this milestone is Xabi Alonso. Marseille took the lead against Real Madrid through Timothy Weah midway through the first half. SL Benfica and Qarabag played a thrilling match, with Qarabag coming back from behind to win 3-2. The match between Juventus and Dortmund ended in a 4-4 draw, replicating the 1997 final won by Dortmund. Mbappé expressed satisfaction with his performance, stating he wants to help the team win trophies. These results set the stage for an exciting Champions League season, with many teams vying for the coveted trophy.
