The 2026/27 league phase got under way with a flood of goals and a handful of genuine shocks.
Europe’s premier club competition returned between September 8 and 10, and the first round of the league phase delivered drama from the very first evening.
Real Madrid edged Inter Milan 2-1 in the pick of Tuesday’s fixtures, while Aston Villa won a five-goal thriller at Club Brugge, 3-2. Manchester City made a confident start with a 2-0 win away at FC Porto, and Borussia Dortmund saw off Villarreal 3-2.
Goals galore on Wednesday
Paris Saint-Germain were in ruthless form, hammering Slovan Bratislava 6-1, and Barcelona were almost as emphatic in a 5-1 win over Feyenoord. Liverpool edged Atletico Madrid 2-1 at Anfield, and Arsenal claimed a valuable 1-0 victory in Naples.
Como’s statement night
The biggest surprise came on Thursday. Como tore RB Leipzig apart in a 4-1 win, announcing themselves on the European stage in style. Lens also impressed with a 3-2 win in Prague against Slavia.
Elsewhere, Bayern Munich thrashed Bodo/Glimt 5-0, and Manchester United marked their return to the competition with a 4-0 win over Sabah FK.
Key facts
- Matchday 1: September 8-10, 2026
- Biggest wins: PSG 6-1 Slovan Bratislava, Bayern 5-0 Bodo/Glimt, Barcelona 5-1 Feyenoord
- Upset of the round: Como 4-1 RB Leipzig