Matchweek 1 of the UEFA Champions League showcased 18 thrilling matches over three days, including a highly anticipated rematch between Manchester City and Inter Milan that ended in a scoreless draw. Other notable results included Real Madrid’s victory over Stuttgart and Barcelona’s disappointing loss to Monaco.
The new Champions League format kicked off with Juventus defeating PSV Eindhoven 3–1, thanks to goals from Kenan Yıldız, Weston McKennie, and Nicolás González. However, the most surprising outcome was Monaco’s stunning 2–1 victory against Barcelona at the Stade Louis II.
As the first week concluded, several top clubs, including Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, and Liverpool, secured three points. In contrast, Manchester City and Arsenal managed only draws against Inter Milan and Atalanta, respectively.
Manchester City
Expectations were high for the clash between Manchester City and Inter Milan, yet the match failed to deliver excitement, ending in a disappointing stalemate. City, the reigning Premier League champions, struggled to capitalize on scoring opportunities, particularly after İlkay Gündoğan’s introduction. Despite Erling Haaland’s prolific scoring record, he was largely contained, finishing the match with just 14 touches and one shot on target.
Inter’s well-organized defense was instrumental in thwarting City’s attack, leaving the English side feeling more frustrated than the Italian team. Adding to City’s woes, Kevin De Bruyne exited the match due to injury, raising concerns ahead of their upcoming match against Arsenal.
Real Madrid
Carlo Ancelotti’s squad began their title defense with a solid 3–1 win against Stuttgart at the Santiago Bernabéu. Kylian Mbappé, Antonio Rüdiger, and Endrick scored for Los Blancos, marking a strong start. Notably, Jude Bellingham and Aurélien Tchouaméni returned from injuries, and Mbappé scored in his UCL debut.
Despite the victory, Real Madrid’s performance was not without flaws; they struggled in the first half, failing to score in five of their last six matches before halftime. Thibaut Courtois’s crucial saves prevented further damage, indicating potential vulnerabilities as tougher opponents loom, including Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund.
Paris Saint-Germain
Paris Saint-Germain narrowly secured a 1–0 victory over Girona, thanks to an own goal by Paulo Gazzaniga in the 90th minute. While PSG walked away with three points, their performance raised concerns, particularly their inability to break down a Girona side that had recently conceded four goals to Barcelona.
PSG registered 26 shots but relied on a goalkeeper error to score. This recurring struggle to find the back of the net in the Champions League, especially against stronger teams like Bayern Munich and Arsenal in the coming months, poses a significant challenge for coach Luis Enrique.
Barcelona
Barcelona faced a tough start under new coach Hansi Flick, suffering a 2–1 defeat to Monaco. An early red card for Eric García left the Catalans at a disadvantage for most of the match. Despite Lamine Yamal’s first-half goal, Barcelona could not secure any points.
This loss marks a setback for the five-time UCL champions, who now aim to rebound against Young Boys, who lost 3–0 to Aston Villa in their opening match. Barcelona will be eager to regroup and capitalize on their next opportunity in the group stage.
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