UEFA Champions League: Bayern, Inter, Liverpool, and PSG Start with Wins
The UEFA Champions League 2025/26 season kicked off with an exhilarating Matchday 1, as Bayern München, Inter Milan, Liverpool, and Paris Saint-Germain all secured impressive victories. In a thrilling night of football, Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk scored a dramatic late header to clinch a 3-2 win against Atlético de Madrid, while Bayern, Inter, and PSG enjoyed comfortable starts to their campaigns.
In Liverpool’s encounter at Anfield, the Reds surged to a 2-0 lead, thanks to a deflected free-kick from Mohamed Salah and a stunning individual goal. However, Atlético fought back valiantly with two goals from Marcos Llorente. Just when it seemed the match would end in a draw, van Dijk’s powerful header from a corner sealed the victory for Liverpool.
Meanwhile, Bayern defeated Chelsea 3-1, with Harry Kane shining brightly, netting two goals. The match started with an unfortunate own goal from Chelsea’s Trevor Chalobah, followed by Kane’s penalty conversion after he was fouled by Moisés Caicedo. Although Cole Palmer briefly brought Chelsea back into contention with a brilliant finish, Kane’s second goal ensured Bayern took all three points.
Inter Milan also made their mark, defeating Ajax 2-0 in Amsterdam. Marcus Thuram was the star of the night, scoring both goals and leading Inter to a solid opening win. The Italian side controlled the match well, with their goalkeeper Yann Sommer making crucial saves to maintain the clean sheet.
Paris Saint-Germain showcased their attacking prowess with a dominant 4-0 victory over Atalanta. Marquinhos opened the scoring early, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia added a second before Nuno Mendes and Gonçalo Ramos completed the rout, ensuring a bright start for PSG in their title defense.
In other matches, tournament debutants Bodø/Glimt and Pafos each earned valuable points. Bodø/Glimt fought back to secure a 2-2 draw against Slavia Praha, with substitutes Daniel Bassi and Sondre Brunstad Fet finding the net in a dramatic comeback. Slavia Praha had taken the lead through Youssoupha Mbodji, but Bodø/Glimt’s resilience paid off with two late goals.
Pafos held Olympiacos to a goalless draw, showcasing resilience despite playing with ten men after Bruno received a second caution. The visiting goalkeeper Neofytos Michael was tested only once but made two crucial saves to maintain the clean sheet.
