Mbappé Saves Madrid in Nervy Finish
The opening night of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League delivered drama across Europe, with goals, red cards, and surprises setting the tone for the season ahead.
At the Santiago Bernabéu, Real Madrid looked in deep trouble against Marseille. Dani Carvajal, brought on to replace the injured Trent Alexander-Arnold, was shown a straight red, and U.S. international Timothy Weah fired the French side into the lead. But Madrid found a lifeline through Kylian Mbappé, who converted two penalties—the second in the 81st minute—to rescue a 2-1 win. Coach Xabi Alonso will take the points, but he will be urging his team to sharpen their finishing going forward.
Eight-Goal Chaos in Turin
Over in Italy, Juventus and Borussia Dortmund produced a Champions League classic. After a quiet first half, the match exploded into life, with eight goals scored after the interval—tying the record for most goals in a single half of UCL football. In the end, neither side could claim bragging rights as it finished 4-4, but fans were treated to a rollercoaster of attacking football.
Qarabag Stun Benfica, Spurs Edge Villarreal
The shock of the night came in Lisbon, where Qarabag overturned a two-goal deficit to defeat Benfica 3-2, silencing the home crowd and pulling off one of the biggest upsets in recent memory.
Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur showed resilience in Spain, holding firm after taking an early lead to secure a 1-0 victory over Villarreal.
A Night to Remember
From Mbappé’s clutch penalties to Juve and Dortmund’s wild shootout, Matchday 1 showed why the Champions League remains the most unpredictable and electrifying competition in club football.
