The opening night of the first league phase of the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League saw Bayern Munich record a win, Aston Villa a long-awaited victory and Real Madrid, Liverpool, Juventus and Sporting CP achieve maximum points.
UEFA.com rounds up Tuesday night’s action after a dramatic start to a new era.
Young Boys 0-3 Aston Villa
Aston Villa’s first European appearance in 41 years ended with a comfortable win in Bern. After Ebrima Colley tested Emiliano Martínez in a brilliant start for the hosts, Youri Tielemans fired the 1981/82 champions ahead from a corner in the 27th minute of the first half.
Jacob Ramsey converted from close range eleven minutes later to double the lead, and Amadou Onana scored the most beautiful goal of all with a superb low shot from distance four minutes from time.
Player of the match: Youri Tielemans (Villa)
Important statistics: Aston Villa are the eleventh English club (excluding qualification) to participate in the UEFA Champions League.
01/10: Barcelona vs Young Boys, 02/10: Aston Villa vs Bayern Munich
Juventus – PSV Eindhoven 3:1
Juventus started the season with a convincing win, which was kicked off by the first goal of the league phase. Kenan Yıldız was the scorer, cutting in from the left in the 21st minute and curling a wonderful shot over the post into the top corner. Weston McKennie scored a second six minutes later after a beautiful turn and run down the right by Nico González.
Dušan Vlahović sent González on in the 52nd minute, who scored the third goal. Ismael Saibari scored the consolation goal for the visitors in injury time.
Player of the match: Kenan Yildizi (Juventus)
Important statistics: At 19 years and 136 days, Kenan Yıldız broke Alessandro Del Piero’s record as Juve’s youngest goalscorer in the Champions League (excluding qualifying).
01/10: PSV Eindhoven vs Sporting CP, 02/10: Leipzig vs Juventus
AC Milan – Liverpool 1:3
Liverpool recovered from a goal behind through Christian Pulišić’s third-minute goal to open their first European season under Arne Slot in style on the Dutchman’s 46th birthday. Milan’s lead lasted 20 minutes, Ibrahima Konaté heading in, before Virgil van Dijk doubled four minutes before half-time.
The Reds also hit the crossbar twice in the first half through Mohamed Salah, and their third goal came midway through the second half when Dominik Szoboszlai took a cross from Cody Gakpo and finished off a clever counterattack.
Player of the match: Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool)
Important statistics: Van Dijk’s goal was his first in the competition since April 2019.
01/10: Bayer Leverkusen against AC Milan, 02/10: Liverpool vs Bologna
Bayern Munich 9:2 GNK Dinamo
Harry Kane scored four goals to become the top English scorer in the Champions League. Bayern became the first team to score nine goals in a single match. Kane, who scored three penalties, now has 33 Champions League goals to his name, surpassing Wayne Rooney’s mark of 30.
Michael Olise scored twice on his Champions League debut, and Raphaël Guerreiro also had one of the best goals. Two goals in as many minutes gave the visitors a brief 3-2 lead, but Bayern then scored six times in 36 minutes of the second half.
Player of the match: Harry Kane (Bayern)
Important statistics: Kane is the 20th player to score four or more goals in a single UEFA Champions League match.
02/10: Aston Villa vs Bayern Munich, GNK Dinamo vs Monaco
Real Madrid – Stuttgart 3:1
Real Madrid started their title defence victoriously thanks to three goals in the second half. Both goalkeepers had their hands full in an exciting but goalless first half before Kylian Mbappé converted a cross from Rodrygo shortly after the break.
Deniz Undav headed the equalizer for Stuttgart, but Real Madrid responded in the 83rd minute with a header from Antonio Rüdiger following a corner from Luka Modrić. Endrick then scored the third goal in injury time to seal the victory.
Player of the match: Thibaut Courtois (Madrid)
Important statistics: At the age of 18 years and 58 days, Endrick became Real Madrid’s youngest ever Champions League goalscorer.
01/10: Stuttgart against Sparta Prague, 02/10: LOSC Lille vs Real Madrid
Sporting CP – Lille 2:0
Viktor Gyökeres and Zeno Debast scored the goals as Sporting started with a ten-man win over Lille, which saw Angel Gomes sent off.
The hosts broke through in the 38th minute when Gyökeres scored for the eighth time in a row. Lille were reduced to ten men two minutes later and Sporting secured maximum points midway through the second half when Debast fired a powerful long-range shot past Lucas Chevalier.
Player of the match: Viktor Gyökeres (Sporting)
Important statistics: At 17 years and 140 days, Geovany Quenda became the youngest Portuguese player to make his debut as a regular in the Champions League.
01/10: PSV Eindhoven vs Sporting CP, 02/10: LOSC Lille vs Real Madrid
