The Champions League commences with victories for Arsenal, Real Madrid, and Spurs; Juventus and Dortmund engage in an eight-goal spectacle
Champions League Round-Up: Exciting Draws, Debut Wins, and Record-Breaking Performances
In the opening night of the Champions League, several teams showcased their prowess while others faced nail-biting finishes. Here's a summary of some of the most noteworthy matches:
Juventus vs Borussia Dortmund Ends in Thrilling 4-4 Draw
Goals from Karim Adeyemi, Kenan Yildiz, Felix Nmecha, Dusan Vlahovic, Yan Couto, and Ramy Bensebaini ensured a thrilling 4-4 draw between Juventus and Dortmund. Vlahovic scored a late goal for Juventus and then crossed for Lloyd Kelly to head home in the sixth minute of stoppage time, securing a dramatic point for the Italian giants.
Arsenal Secure 2-0 Victory over Athletic Bilbao
Arsenal started their Champions League campaign with a 2-0 win against Athletic Bilbao. Gabriel Martinelli opened the scoring in the 72nd minute, and Leandro Trossard added a second with the aid of a deflection. A late penalty by Kylian Mbappe gave Real Madrid the winning goal against Marseille.
Union Saint-Gilloise and Qarabag Claim First Ever Champions League Wins
Union Saint-Gilloise and Qarabag both claimed their first ever victories in the Champions League proper. Union Saint-Gilloise won 3-1 away against PSV Eindhoven, with Promise David, Anouar Ait El Hadj, and Kevin Mac Allister scoring for the Belgian side. Qarabag, meanwhile, scored three goals against Benfica, with Leandro Andrade, Camilo Duran, and Oleksiy Kashchuk getting on the scoresheet.
Tottenham Hotspur and Real Madrid Win Opening Matches
Tottenham Hotspur and Real Madrid also won their opening matches. Tottenham secured a 1-0 victory against Villarreal, with the goal being an early own goal from Villarreal goalkeeper Luiz Junior. Real Madrid, despite playing the closing stages with 10 men following Dani Carvajal's red card, managed to win 2-1 against Marseille. Kylian Mbappe scored two penalties for Real Madrid, reaching 50 goals for the club in the process.
New Managers Make Their Debut
In the Champions League round this year, Tottenham Hotspur hired Thomas Frank, who won the Europa League last season. He made his debut with the North London club, leading them to a victory in their opening match.
This exciting start to the Champions League promises more thrilling matches as the competition progresses. Stay tuned for more updates!
