Champions League: Arsenal and Liverpool open with wins, PSG and Chelsea shine in high-scoring games
Arsenal beat Napoli and Liverpool came from behind to defeat Atletico Madrid on the opening night of the new Champions League season, while PSG and Barcelona secured commanding victories elsewhere.
Arsenal and Liverpool begin with victories
On the opening matchday of the new Champions League season, England's clubs continued their strong recent form. Arsenal won 1-0 away at Napoli, with captain Martin Odegaard scoring the only goal in the 75th minute. According to the BBC, it was Odegaard's first Champions League goal since March 2025. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said after the game that his side fully deserved the win but lamented missed chances — the BBC reports Arsenal registered 26 shots, their most on record in a single Champions League match since the 2003-04 season.
Liverpool, meanwhile, beat Atletico Madrid 2-1 at home at Anfield. The visitors took the lead in the 17th minute through Marcos Llorente, but Liverpool equalised before half-time via Dominik Szoboszlai. Alexis Mac Allister scored the winner in the second half with a strike from outside the box. The match drew extra attention after Mac Allister had said before the game he was disappointed Liverpool did not offer him a new contract over the summer — the BBC notes his current deal runs until 2028. The win marked Andoni Iraola's first home victory since arriving at Anfield and his first Champions League win as a manager.
Other results from the round
Paris Saint-Germain thrashed Slovan Bratislava 6-1. The Guardian reports Ferran Torres scored a hat-trick on his Champions League debut, becoming the first player to do so since Robert Lewandowski in 2022, while Ousmane Dembele also found the net. Barcelona secured a big win over Feyenoord, with Raphinha scoring twice. Sporting Lisbon came from behind to beat Galatasaray 3-1.
Outside the Champions League, Chelsea won a high-scoring League Cup tie 6-3 against Leeds United, with both Cole Palmer and Danny Welbeck scoring twice for the home side.
Context
Under the Champions League's revised format, clubs play in a single combined league table against opponents determined by the new draw system. Arsenal and Liverpool both maintain unbeaten starts to their European campaigns this season, while Manchester United — the only English club yet to play in this round — were due to host Azerbaijani champions Sabah at Old Trafford.
