Champions League nights are back — and wow, did the opening round of games deliver. From Madrid to Anfield, Turin to Lisbon, Europe’s best clubs treated us to a proper rollercoaster. Here’s my take on an electric Matchday 1.
Madrid survive Marseille’s scare
The Bernabéu was buzzing on Tuesday, but things got tense fast when Dani Carvajal saw red. Marseille smelled an upset… until Kylian Mbappé reminded everyone why he’s a superstar. One cool finish, one ice-cold penalty, and Real Madrid escaped with a 2–1 win. Not vintage, but champions often start scrappy.
Juve & Dortmund go goal-crazy
If you love chaos, Juventus vs Dortmund was your game. Eight goals, lead changes galore, and a late flurry that ended 4–4. Vlahović and Lloyd Kelly rescued the Old Lady at the death — though both teams will know they left points out there.
Qarabağ’s magic night
Talk about an upset! Qarabağ travelled to Lisbon, went two down to Benfica, and somehow turned it around to win 3–2. Massive result for the Azeri champs — and a reminder the group stage is never a formality.
English sides shine
Arsenal looked sharp in Bilbao, Martinelli and Trossard grabbing a goal apiece in a tidy 2–0 win. Liverpool, meanwhile, played their usual heart-attack football: 2–0 up vs Atlético, pegged back, then saved by a towering Van Dijk header in stoppage time. Anfield under the lights really is something else.
Stars steal the spotlight
Bayern were steady at home, beating Chelsea 3–1, but the headlines belonged to Erling Haaland — 50 Champions League goals in just 49 games! City’s 2–0 over Napoli felt almost secondary to that stat. And over in Spain, Marcus Rashford made a dream European debut for Barça, bagging a brace in a 3–1 win at Newcastle.
Goals galore elsewhere
FC Barcelona managed to come out with 3 points at St James Park thanks to a header and a stunning strike from Rashford. Eintracht Frankfurt smashed Galatasaray 5–1, Brugge humbled Monaco 4–1, and Leverkusen salvaged a 2–2 draw at Copenhagen thanks to a last-gasp own goal. Even the so-called “smaller” ties had drama.
Week one had everything: red cards, comebacks, records, heartbreak. If this is the tone-setter for the season, buckle up — we’re in for some wild Tuesday and Wednesday nights. Who impressed you the most? Drop your thoughts in the comments!