The New Champions League Kicked Off This Week with Big Results and Thrilling Matchups
Come check out the main games from the first round of the 2024/25 Champions League.
Follow us on social networks to stay updated on the latest foreign football news: Instagram, Facebook e X.
Index
1st Round of the Champions League
Bayern 9-2 Dinamo Zagreb
Bayern delivered a historic thrashing in the opening round. With a 9-2 win over Dinamo Zagreb, Bayern became the team to score the most goals in a Champions League match in the new era, which began in the 1992/93 season. Since then, this was the first game, excluding the pre-group stage, where a team scored nine goals. Bayern had done it before, in the 1972/73 European Cup, when they beat Omonia 9-0.
Bayern was unstoppable, and top scorer Harry Kane netted four goals.
Bayern started dominantly, and within 16 minutes had two goals disallowed for offside, first by Musiala and then by Gnabry.
The Bavarians opened the scoring at 19 minutes with Harry Kane converting a penalty, sending the keeper the wrong way.
At 33 minutes, the Germans extended their lead with a stunning goal from Raphaël Guerreiro. Gnabry passed to Musiala in the box, who chested it down for Guerreiro to volley into the top corner.
At 38 minutes, Kimmich crossed, and Olise headed it into the back of the net.
Early in the second half, Dinamo Zagreb showed some fight. They scored in the 3rd minute with Petković and again in the 5th with Ogiwara.
From there, it was all Bayern. At 12 minutes, Kimmich took a shot from outside the box, Nevistić made the save, and Kane pounced on the rebound to score.
At 16 minutes, Musiala found himself one-on-one with the keeper and passed to Olise, who slotted it home. Bayern 5-2 Dinamo Zagreb.
At 28 minutes, Kane scored another penalty, striking it powerfully into the corner.
At 33 minutes, Kane got his fourth goal of the match and third penalty. Again, he sent the keeper the wrong way and converted.
At 40 minutes, Müller won the ball high up the pitch, passed to Sané, who fired it into the corner to extend the lead.
Finally, Goretzka scored a header to complete the incredible 9-2 scoreline.
Photo: Sebastian Widmann/Getty Images
Milan 1-3 Liverpool
Milan took an early lead at San Siro but were overturned and defeated by Liverpool.
After just 3 minutes, Pulisic received the ball from Morata, sprinted from midfield, entered the box, and fired a low shot to open the scoring.
At 17 minutes, Diogo Jota played in Salah, who turned and smashed the ball off the crossbar.
Liverpool equalized at 23 minutes. Arnold swung in a free kick, Maignan misjudged it, and Konaté headed it home.
Liverpool continued to press in the first half, with chances for Diogo Jota, who was one-on-one with Maignan, and Salah, who hit the bar again.
At 41 minutes, Liverpool struck from another set piece. Tsimikas delivered a corner, and Van Dijk rose high to put the Reds ahead.
Liverpool sealed the game in the 22nd minute of the second half. In a quick counter-attack, Gakpo burst into the box and set up Szoboszlai to tap it in.
In stoppage time, Rafael Leão hit the post, but the match ended 3-1 for the visitors.
Photo: AFP/Piero Cruciati
Real Madrid 3-1 Stuttgart
The reigning Champions League winners, Real Madrid, started their campaign with a win, although Stuttgart began the match stronger, creating several chances but being denied by a brilliant Courtois.
Real Madrid took the lead in the first minute of the second half. Rodrygo sped down the right wing and crossed for Mbappé to slot into an empty net.
At 14 minutes, Vinicius Jr. received the ball from Carvajal at the edge of the box, cut onto his left foot, and rattled the crossbar.
Stuttgart equalized at 23 minutes. After a back-post corner, Leweling crossed, and Undav headed it past Courtois.
At 38 minutes, Modrić took a corner, the keeper misjudged it, and Rüdiger headed it in.
In stoppage time, at 50 minutes, Endrick led a counter-attack, with options to pass to Mbappé or Vinicius Jr., but he decided to shoot from distance. Thanks to a mistake by the goalkeeper, he scored Real Madrid’s third.
Photo: Pierre-Philippe Marcou/AFP
Manchester City 0-0 Inter
Manchester City drew with Inter Milan in a high-quality match, despite the goalless outcome.
City dominated the game, recording 22 shots, but couldn’t break through the Italian defense.
Inter also had their chances, with opportunities for Barella and Thuram.
The standout player was Sommer, who made numerous saves throughout the game, providing great stability in goal.
City and Inter start the new Champions League with 1 point each.
Photo: Lee Smith / Reuters
Monaco 2-1 Barcelona
Monaco defeated Barcelona, who played with 10 men from the 10th minute of the first half. Ter Stegen’s error in possession led to Eric García fouling Minamino and being sent off.
Just 6 minutes later, Akliouche cut inside from the right and opened the scoring for Monaco.
At 28 minutes, Lamine Yamal scored his first Champions League goal, becoming the second-youngest scorer in Champions League history at 17 years and 68 days. He trails only teammate Ansu Fati, who scored at 16 years and 40 days. On the right, he cut inside to his left foot and fired into the net from the edge of the box.
At 26 minutes of the second half, Monaco grabbed the winner. Ilenikhena latched onto a through ball, went one-on-one with Ter Stegen, and blasted it into the net.
Barcelona starts the Champions League with a defeat.
Photo: Chris Ricco – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images
Written by Henry Miller.
