It was a night of drama, goals, and surprises in the UEFA Champions League as giants stumbled, newcomers made history, and Kylian Mbappé once again reminded the football world of his brilliance.
From Madrid to Lisbon, Turin to Bilbao, matchday one delivered a feast of football that left fans breathless.
At the Santiago Bernabéu, Real Madrid were forced to dig deep against a resilient Marseille side. Timothy Weah’s early strike silenced the Spanish crowd, but Kylian Mbappé rose to the occasion, scoring twice to turn the contest on its head.
Even with Dani Carvajal sent off late on, Xabi Alonso’s men held firm to record their 200th Champions League win, a milestone befitting the tournament’s most decorated club.
In Turin, fans were treated to a rollercoaster as Juventus and Borussia Dortmund shared the spoils in a pulsating 4-4 draw. Dortmund looked set for victory after carving open Juve’s defence repeatedly, but Dusan Vlahovic pulled one back in stoppage time before Lloyd Kelly snatched a dramatic equaliser at the death. For neutrals, it was a classic; for both managers, it was a defensive nightmare.
Elsewhere, Arsenal returned to the competition with a statement of intent in Bilbao. The Gunners showed patience before unleashing their bench, as Gabriel Martinelli scored within seconds of coming on, and Leandro Trossard added a composed finish late on.
In a hostile San Mamés, Mikel Arteta’s men showcased their strength in depth, underlining their credentials as contenders this season.
The night’s biggest surprise came in Lisbon, where Qarabağ FK overturned a two-goal deficit to stun Benfica 3-2. The Azerbaijani champions, written off by most, produced a fearless second-half fightback that silenced the Estádio da Luz.
For Benfica, the collapse was a bitter blow in a group where every point could prove decisive, while Qarabağ’s triumph will be remembered as one of their greatest European nights.
Meanwhile in Spain, Tottenham Hotspur edged past Villarreal in a nervy 1-0 win. A first-half own goal proved decisive, but Ange Postecoglou’s side were forced to defend doggedly under intense pressure. The victory may not have been vintage Spurs, yet it handed them an invaluable start to their European campaign
Qarabağ Stun Benfica as Madrid, Juventus, Arsenal Light Up Champions League Night
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