As the top football leagues wrap up their first month of the new season, fans have been eagerly awaiting the kickoff of the UEFA Champions League, the premier club football competition. The first week of the tournament lived up to expectations, delivering exciting finishes, emotional comebacks for some clubs, and intense matches between top teams.
We saw goals, yellow and red cards, showing just how competitive the league will be this season. From these 15 games, many teams have shown they’re in the running for the trophy. As the competition continues, more teams might join the race. You can view the full results of the UEFA Champions League round 1 here.
Here are the talking points from the UEFA Champions League’s first round of games
Jude Bellingham Shines for Real Madrid Again
Real Madrid’s €103 million investment in Jude Bellingham this summer now looks like a smart move. The 19-year-old, brought in to boost creativity, has not only contributed in that area but has also become a goal-scorer. He did it against Celte de Vigo and Getafe, and now he’s shown his mettle in the Champions League.
Against Union Berlin, the 14-time champions were expected to win. However, like many times this season, Real Madrid seemed to struggle to score. They had 32 shots on target, but couldn’t find the net. In the dying minutes of the game, Valverde had the ball outside the box, and he went for a shot. The ball bounced off players before reaching Bellingham, who only had to tap it in from a foot away to secure Madrid’s victory.
Atletico Struggles Against Lazio
Since Diego Simeone took over Atletico Madrid in 2011, the club has become one of the toughest to face in Europe. Big teams often find it hard to break down their defense. But when Atletico has to take the lead and attack, they face difficulties. Simeone has tried to make his team more attacking, signing players like Antoine Griezmann, Alvaro Morata, and Joao Felix. Two of these players were in the attack for Atletico’s game against Lazio.
According to stats, Atletico Madrid made more passes and had more possession than the Italian team, but they didn’t use it effectively. Their goals came from deflections that went past the goalkeeper. Another chance hit the post. In the end, their defense couldn’t stop a well-timed run by Provedel, who scored in the last minutes to help Lazio get one point.
PSG Wins Against Dortmund, Newcastle Gets a Point Against AC Milan
Group F, known as the “Group of Death,” includes Paris Saint Germain (PSG), Borussia Dortmund, AC Milan, and Newcastle United. However, the first two games in this group didn’t live up to expectations. The match between PSG and Borussia Dortmund had 31 shots, but only four were on target. One of PSG’s goals came from a penalty. Both teams had chances but couldn’t find the finishing touch.
Meanwhile, another game in the group ended without any goals. AC Milan faced Newcastle United after a 5-1 loss to Inter Milan. Newcastle United had won their previous game against Brentford, ending a three-game streak without a win. AC Milan had more shots on target, but Newcastle United’s goalkeeper and some missed opportunities helped them get a point.
Barcelona Dominates Against Royal Antwerp
La Liga champions Barcelona had a fantastic start to their campaign, beating Royal Antwerp 5-0. Barcelona put on a complete performance, leaving their opponents with very few chances. The statistics tell the story: Barcelona had 22 shots compared to Antwerp’s 3, and 10 shots on target compared to 1. They also completed a remarkable 798 passes compared to Antwerp’s 343. For most of the game, Antwerp struggled to keep up as Barcelona controlled the game with their passing. While Barcelona will face tougher challenges ahead, this strong start will boost the confidence of Xavi’s team.
In the other game in the group, Porto got three points after beating Ukrainian team Shakhtar Donetsk 3-1. This game had some of the most exciting moments of the first week, with three goals in just 15 minutes. Brazilian winger Galeno, who was signed by league rivals Braga last year, was the star, scoring two goals. Mehdi Taremi added the third in the 29th minute.
Bayern Munich and Manchester United Deliver Thrilling Seven-Goal Match
The Allianz Arena witnessed a goal-packed match as Bayern Munich secured a 4-3 victory over Manchester United. It was a game where Bayern Munich would take control before conceding a goal. Erik Ten Hag’s team started strong and could have scored twice. But it was Bayern Munich who took the lead after a mistake by Andre Onana. Leroy Sane took a shot from outside the box, and it somehow slipped through the goalkeeper’s fingers and into the net. Bayern scored another goal before halftime.
However, United fought back with a goal from new signing Rasmus Hojlund. Bayern quickly regained their two-goal lead after winning a penalty with the help of VAR, which Harry Kane converted. United responded with a goal from Casemiro, but conceded again immediately, with Mathys Tel scoring his third goal of the season. Casemiro scored the final goal of the game, but it wasn’t enough for the visitors.
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