Manchester United 4-0 Sabah (Matchday One)
Manchester United announced their return to the Champions League in an emphatic fashion by claiming a 4-0 victory over newcomers Sabah at Old Trafford. Their two-season absence gave the occasion additional significance for the three-time European champions, and club legend-turned-manager Michael Carrick could not have asked for a better show to mark it.
They celebrated coming back to big times in style, scoring three times before half-time and adding another after the break. Matheus Cunha opened the scoring in the 27th minute after connecting with Patrick Dorgu's cross. Skipper Bruno Fernandes then got into the act, finding the bottom corner after his midfield pair Youri Tieleman’s pass and his orchestrated move.
In the blink of an eye, the Red Devils were 3-0 up. Bryan Mbeumo brilliantly played through Benjamin Sesko for a one-to-one situation, which the Slovenian did not hesitate to do. He rounded off opposition keeper Stas Pokatilov and slotted it into the empty net. The tie was virtually done, but it had one last bite to put the cherry on top as centre-back Lisandro Martínez tapped in effortlessly from substitute Joshua Zirkzee’s back-heel from a Fernandes free-kick. Four goals and a clean sheet provided the perfect foundation for United to settle themselves into the Champions League train, and they wish it was an early statement of what is to come from the side.
Barcelona 5-1 Feyenoord (Matchday One)
Similarly, Barcelona's quest to finally end their long drought of the Champions League title since they last won it in 2015 began with an incredible scoreline. The Catalan giants kick-started the 2025-26 League Phase by defeating Dutch side Feyenoord 5-1 thanks to the heroics of the man of the moment, Raphinha. The Brazilian has slotted into the number nine role without a hitch after being asked to lead the frontline following the club’s failure to land Julian Alvarez from Atletico Madrid this summer. After striking six times in the first four La Liga games, the former Leeds player showed his efficiency in Europe’s elite club competition by bagging an eye-catching brace. It took just three minutes for him to find the net, and it was a thing of beauty.
Receiving a pass from Lamine Yamal, who was the other star of the show, Raphinha went past one, then floored two defenders with a body feint and slotted past a hapless Tjark Ernest for a thrilling opener. Karim Adeyemi then doubled Barcelona's advantage in the 22nd minute with a jaw-dropping finish, leaving the Catalan side 2-0 ahead at half-time. Although assist-maker Joao Cancelo could not put himself on the scoresheet after striking the post following a counter moments after Hadj Moussa’s shot was saved by Joan Garcia, the one-way traffic meant there was no way to prevent the fury unleashed in the second half. Raphinha’s stunning scoring form continued as he latched onto an excellent through ball from Pedri to slot past Ernest to complete a mesmerising brace.
It was not that Feyenoord were not fighting to stay strong in this storm, as two of their goals failed to evade the pinching offside line so accustomed to under Hansi Flick. On the other hand, they were simply incapable of handling the vicious attack set up by the home side. Then Yamal had to bring more fire to the stage. The teenager, after tormenting the visitors’ defence all evening, scored a stunning free-kick to add a fourth.
Feyenoord’s battle to find something in the game earned them a consolation goal minutes later, but they were hit again by the same source. The World Cup winner, Yamal, grabbed his second assist of the evening by setting up new arrival Gabriel Jesus for his first goal in Barcelona colours and rounding off the scoring.
Bayern Munich 5-0 Bodø/Glimt (Matchday One)
Vincent Kompany’s Bayern Munich were arguably the best side in the Champions League last season but did not end with the trophy in hand. Their journey was snapped by eventual winners PSG at the semifinal stage, but narrowly, which was a little sombre downpour on their otherwise sunny campaign. Hence, the Bavarians went for a statement victory to start the 2026-27 Champions League campaign with the stunner in the League Phase opener.
It came against the surprise package of the previous edition, Bodø/Glimt, who beat giants like Manchester City and Atletico Madrid in a historic run to the last-16 stage. But Bayern were of a different mettle, especially at home, and they once again proved their credentials. Glimt were no match this time.
Credit to the Norwegian side that they halted the scary attacking trident of Luis Diaz, Michael Olise and Harry Kane and took a goalless score at half-time thanks to their goalkeeper Nikita Haikin’s excellence. However, the second half was totally different, and Glimt simply had to accept their fate. Firstly, they were unlucky to lose their star keeper Haikin due to an injury before the restart and then, 78 seconds into the period, conceded with Kane playing in Jamal Musiala to finish. Then the floodgates opened with the England captain, a favourite to win the Ballon d’Or after a historic scoring season, finding the net himself with a thundering header from Olise’s free-kick.
Alphonso Davies’ thunderbolt in the 77th minute took the game further away from the visitors, who then had to witness another piece of art from Olise with his unstoppable curler from 25 yards. Glimt’s difficult day got even worse when Odin Lurås Bjørtuft was sent off for denying Olise an obvious scoring opportunity by clipping in from behind. The Frenchman eventually got his second with another precise finish behind substitute keeper Julian Faye Lund to draw the curtains on a truly five-star show. Bayern showed that they are carrying the fear factor from last season, while for Bodø it showed just how hard it will be to repeat their fairytale in a challenging League Phase than ever.
PSG 6-1 Slovan Bratislava (Matchday One)
Paris Saint-Germain underlined their status as back-to-back defending European champions by producing the biggest attacking display of the opening round. Luis Enrique’s men had an awful start to the 2026-27 season, shockingly failing to win their opening three Ligue 1 games and coming off a hard loss to AS Monaco at home. However, they once again showed why they are still the team to beat for Europe’s biggest club prize after walloping Slovakian champions Slovan Bratislava 6-1 to kick-start their journey, which they hope ends with another trophy in hand.
On the other hand, for the team managed by Manchester City legend Yaya Toure, becoming the first African manager to coach a Champions League match, it was a lesson about the massive quality and challenge this competition possesses, no matter how spirited they have been navigating their way through the playoffs.
Balon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé set the tone with his quick-fire brace inside 23 minutes. It was as simple as it got for him after Nuno Mendes’s strike off the post rebounded to him to begin with. The Frenchman then popped up again six minutes later with another effortless header into the net. However, it was the other former Barcelona man who joined as the summer signing in this window that took centre stage.
After Dembélé’s early storm, he now fed Ferran Torres to add a third for a fantastic lead at half-time, which Slovan, of course, wasn’t catching. The winning goalscorer in the 2026 World Cup wasted little time after the restart to grab his second of the evening with a fantastic curler and then complete a stunning hat-trick just before the hour mark. The Spaniard could not have done it any better, with an explosive start to his career for the French giants. Despite the visitors finding nothing more than a consolation goal, Fabián Ruiz restored their five-goal winning margin right at the end for a spectacular victory.