The new Champions League season kicked off with a bang on Tuesday night, showcasing thrilling matches and historic moments. Bayern Munich set a new record by scoring nine goals in a game, while Real Madrid and Liverpool also secured significant victories.
The Bayern Munich’s Record-Breaking Performance
Bayern Munich made headlines by becoming the first team to score nine goals in a single match in the modern Champions League era. The Bavarian giants overwhelmed Croatian champions Dinamo Zagreb 9-2 at the Allianz Arena. Harry Kane was the standout performer, netting four goals, including three penalties. Michael Olise, making his Champions League debut, scored twice, and Raphael Guerreiro, Leroy Sane, and Leon Goretzka also contributed to the goal fest.
Dinamo Zagreb briefly threatened to make a comeback by scoring twice in quick succession early in the second half. Bruno Petkovic and Takuya Ogiwara were on target, but Bayern responded emphatically, adding six more goals from the 57th minute onward.
“It’s the first time I’ve scored three penalties in a game,” Kane told DAZN. “That doesn’t happen at all, really.”
This extraordinary performance marked the opening night of the revamped Champions League format. The new structure features 36 teams in a single league phase, replacing the previous group stage format. Each team now plays eight matches against different opponents. The top eight teams advance directly to the knockout stage, while those finishing 9th to 24th enter a playoff round. The bottom 12 teams will be eliminated.
Real Madrid’s Hard-Fought Victory
Real Madrid, the reigning champions, had to work hard to secure a 3-1 win over VfB Stuttgart at the Santiago Bernabeu. Kylian Mbappe, making his debut for Real Madrid in the Champions League, scored the opening goal just after halftime. Deniz Undav equalized for Stuttgart, marking their first Champions League appearance since 2010.
Antonio Rudiger restored Real Madrid’s lead with a header seven minutes from time, and Brazilian talent Endrick sealed the win with a stoppage-time goal.
“I know I can do more. Each game I feel better, and now I’m scoring goals,” Mbappe told Movistar. “The Champions League has changed, and it’s important to win quickly to see if we can qualify.”
Liverpool’s Comeback Victory
Liverpool also enjoyed a successful start to their Champions League campaign. The Reds came from behind to defeat AC Milan 3-1 at San Siro. Christian Pulisic gave Milan an early lead, but Ibrahima Konate equalized. Virgil van Dijk then headed Liverpool into the lead before halftime, and Dominik Szoboszlai added the third goal to secure the win.
Aston Villa’s Triumphant Return
Aston Villa made a memorable return to the Champions League with a 3-0 victory over Swiss champions Young Boys. This was Villa’s first match in the modern Champions League era, 41 years after their last appearance in the old European Cup. Youri Tielemans and Jacob Ramsey scored in the first half, and Amadou Onana completed the win late in the game.
Villa manager Unai Emery dedicated the victory to former striker Gary Shaw, a member of their 1982 European Cup-winning side who recently passed away.
Other Key Results
In other matches, Juventus defeated PSV Eindhoven 3-1, with Kenan Yildiz, Weston McKennie, and Nicolas Gonzalez all scoring. Portuguese champions Sporting beat Lille 2-0 at home, thanks to goals from Viktor Gyoekeres and Zeno Debast. Lille’s Angel Gomes was sent off during the match.
The Champions League action continues on Wednesday, including a much-anticipated rematch of the 2023 final between Manchester City and Inter Milan. Stay updated with the latest from IPL365.
