Champions League Returns With Goals, Surprises and a Warning for the Big Names

The Champions League did not need much time to remind football fans why European nights carry their own kind of excitement. Across three matchdays from September 8 to 10, the opening league-phase fixtures delivered big scores, late drama, comeback victories and a debut that turned into one of the week's biggest talking points.

The new campaign began with 36 teams competing in the league phase, and the first round wasted little time producing results that caught attention. Defending champions Paris Saint-Germain made a statement, Barcelona found their rhythm, Bayern Munich continued a remarkable opening-match record, while Como announced themselves on the biggest European stage.

There were no shortage of goals, but the opening round also offered something more interesting: an early glimpse of the teams that could shape the competition and those still searching for answers.

The Champions Started With a Bang

Paris Saint-Germain, chasing a third consecutive Champions League title, opened their campaign with a commanding 6–1 victory over Slovan Bratislava. Ousmane Dembélé scored twice before Ferran Torres took over the spotlight with a hat-trick in his first Champions League outing for the club. Fabián Ruiz completed the scoring as the holders made their intentions clear.

Barcelona were equally convincing, defeating Feyenoord 5–1 at home. Raphinha scored twice, while Karim Adeyemi, Lamine Yamal and Gabriel Jesus also found the net. The result gave Barcelona a strong start, although the long league phase leaves plenty of work ahead.

Bayern Munich delivered another emphatic performance on Thursday, beating Bodø/Glimt 5–0. Jamal Musiala opened the scoring after the break, followed by goals from Harry Kane and Alphonso Davies, before Michael Olise added two more. The victory extended Bayern's extraordinary run of winning their opening Champions League match to 23 consecutive campaigns, according to UEFA.

These results may have arrived early in the season, but they showed how quickly Europe's established clubs can turn possession and attacking quality into a decisive advantage.

Comebacks, Tight Battles and a Historic Debut

Not every team had a comfortable evening.

Liverpool had to fight back from a goal down against Atlético Madrid at Anfield. Marcos Llorente gave the visitors the lead, but Dominik Szoboszlai equalised before half-time and Alexis Mac Allister completed Liverpool's comeback early in the second half.

Arsenal also began with a valuable away victory, beating Napoli 1–0 in Italy through a 75th-minute strike from captain Martin Ødegaard. It was a difficult contest, but the result gave last season's finalists three important points.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid defeated Inter Milan 2–1, and Manchester City beat Porto 2–0, with Erling Haaland scoring both goals.

Then came Como.

The Italian club, making its debut in the Champions League's main competition, defeated RB Leipzig 4–1 in a result that instantly became one of the opening round's standout stories. Martin Baturina and Tasos Douvikas put Como ahead, Assane Diao added a third and Máximo Perrone restored the three-goal advantage after Leipzig had pulled one back.

For a club making its first appearance at this level, the result was more than a positive beginning. It was an introduction.

One Round Down, Seven More to Go

The opening matchday concluded with 18 fixtures, producing 16 victories and two draws. Fenerbahçe drew 1–1 with Roma, while PSV Eindhoven and Shakhtar Donetsk also shared the points.

The league-phase format means teams do not face the same opponents home and away in a traditional group-stage arrangement. Each club has eight league-phase matches against different opponents, with the final standings determining who progresses directly to the round of 16, who enters the knockout play-offs and who exits the competition.

That makes every point valuable, even when a team starts with a convincing win.

A large victory can improve a team's goal difference, but it does not settle qualification. A difficult away fixture, a surprise result or a run of injuries can change the picture quickly across the remaining matchdays.

The next league-phase round is scheduled for October 13 and 14, 2026, giving clubs time to assess their opening performances and prepare for a fresh set of challenges.

 October Brings Bigger Tests

The second matchday includes several fixtures that could provide a clearer picture of the competition.

Manchester City will host Paris Saint-Germain, bringing two major European contenders together. Real Madrid will travel to face Roma, while Barcelona visit Galatasaray. Arsenal host Lille, and Atlético Madrid welcome Manchester United.

Como, after their impressive debut, will travel to face Feyenoord. The match will offer another opportunity to see whether their opening victory was the beginning of a sustained European campaign or simply an exceptional first night.

Elsewhere, Liverpool travel to LASK, Bayern Munich face Viking and Borussia Dortmund meet Bodø/Glimt.

The results from the first round have created an early narrative, but the next fixtures will begin to test how much of that narrative holds up.

The Competition Has Only Just Begun

The opening league-phase matchday offered almost everything football fans could ask for: goals, pressure, comebacks and an unexpected debutant taking centre stage.

PSG and Barcelona demonstrated their attacking strength. Arsenal and Liverpool showed the value of hard-earned victories. Bayern continued a remarkable record, while Como gave the competition one of its most memorable introductions.

But the Champions League is a long journey. A strong opening does not guarantee a place in the knockout rounds, and an early defeat does not necessarily end a club's hopes.

When the competition returns on October 13, the stakes will rise and the margin for error will begin to narrow.

The first whistle has sounded. The real race is still ahead.

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