MATCHDAY 1

Arsenal opened their Champions League campaign with a gritty 2-0 away victory over Athletic Club at San Mames. The game was tight until the second half, but key substitutions proved decisive.

Gabriel Martinelli came off the bench and scored just 36 seconds after his introduction, ridding a flick from Leandro Trossard to break the deadlock. Later, Trossard doubled the margin after another promising move involving Martinelli.

Despite Athletic's spirited defense and moments of control, Arsenal's bench strength and tactical discipline earned them all three points on the road.

In a shocking turn of events at Lisbon's Estadio da Luz, Qarabag FK overturned a 2-0 deficit to hand Benfica a gut-wrenching 3-2 loss in their Champions League opener.

Early Benfica  controlled the match. Enzo Barrenechea headed home in the 6th minute, and Vangelis Pavlidis doubled the lead just ten minutes later.

Leandro Andrade pulled one back before the half. Camilo Duran leveled soon after the break. Oleksiy Kashchuk delivered the winner in the 86th minute after a slick one-two with Abdellah Zoubir, silencing the home crowd.

At the Santiago Bernabeu, Real Madrid produced a gritty comeback to beat Marseille 2-1, despite being reduced to ten men in the second half.

Marseille struck first in the 22nd minute, when Timothy Weah finished powerfully after Mason Greenwood's steal. Real Madrid responded through Kylian Mbappe, who converted two penalties - one before the half and another late in the game - to turn the tide.

The drama increased when captain Dani Carvajal was shown a red card after a confrontation with Marseille keeper Geronimo Rulli, forcing Madrid to hold out under pressure with ten men in the closing stages.

In their Champions League league phase debut, Bodo/Glimt showed remarkable resilience to rescue a 2-2 draw away against Slavia Praha at the Eden Arena.

Slavia took the lead through Youssoupha Mbodji, who notched a brace with goals in the 23rd and 74th minute. Bodo/Glimt looked down and out - but substitutes Daniel Bassi pulled one back just four minutes after Mbodji's second, and in the 90th minute, Sondre Brunstad Fet smashed in a dramatic equalizer off the underside of the crossbar.

The visitor also had a penalty late in the second half - but could not convert it, adding to the tension in a match that swung wildly between control and chaos. Slavia had more possession and chances, but Bodo/Glimt's spirit and goalkeeper Nikita Halkin kept them in it.

At Anfield, Liverpool came out of the blocks on fire, racing into a 2-0 lead within six minutes thanks to goals from Andy Robertson and Mohamed Salah. Things looked comfortable early on, but Atletico Madrid refused to go quietly. Marcos Llorente pulled one back just before halftime and then struck again in the 81st minute to level the match. Just as it seemed the game was headed for a draw, Virgil van Dijk rose highest from a corner in the 92nd minute to deliver the winner for the Reds. Liverpool's new signing Alexander Isak also made his debut, showing flashes but unable to find the net. Atletico coach Diego Simeone was sent off late in the match following heated moments near the crowd.

Club Brugge opened their Champions League campaign with a commanding 4-1 victory. Nicolo Tresoldi broke the deadlock in the 32nd minute before Raphael Onyedika added a second with a composed finish just minutes later. Captain Hans Vanaken made it 3-0 before halftime with a sharp strike from outside the box, effectively putting the game beyond Monaco's reach. The Belgian side controlled possession, dictated the tempo, and punished every defensive lapse.

In the second half, 19-year-old Mamadou Diakhon added a fourth for Brugge with his first Champions League goal - a moment of pride in a night already rich with highlights. Monaco's late consolation came via Ansu Fati in stoppage time, but it was too little, too late. The result marks a huge statement from Brugge, who demonstrated they are more than capable of competing with Europe's elite. Monaco, meanwhile, will need to regroup quickly if they hope to keep pace in the league, having been thoroughly outplayed in nearly every department. 

Sporting CP delivered an eye-catching performance at Estadio Jose Alvalade, defeating debutants Kairat Almaty 4-1 in their opening match of the Champions League. Despite an early penalty miss - Morten Hjulmand's spot-kick was saved by young keeper Sherhan Kalmurzan - Sporting kept pressing and finally broke through just before halftime with a curling strike from Francisco Trincao.

The second half became one of dominance. Trincao doubled the lead on the counter just after the hour mark, followed by a composed finish from Alisson Santos, and then a fine curled goal from Geovany Queneda. Kairat, though largely on the back foot, pulled one back late through Edmilson's volley, but the damage was already done. The result sends a clear message: Sporting are sharp, dangerous, and serious contenders this season.