The opening night of the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League group stage delivered the kind of drama, surprises, and fireworks that make Europe's top club competition a global spectacle. Fans across the continent were treated to late winners, debut heroics, and a few records tumbling as Liverpool, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, and Inter Milan all made emphatic statements. Meanwhile, debutant clubs Bodo/Glimt and Pafos showed that new blood can thrive on the big stage, refusing to roll over against more established European names.
At Anfield, Liverpool and Atletico Madrid produced a pulsating five-goal thriller that had supporters on the edge of their seats until the final whistle. The Reds, boasting club-record signing Alexander Isak in their starting lineup for the first time, wasted no time asserting their intent. Within just six minutes, they were two goals up: first, Mohamed Salah's free-kick took a wicked deflection off Andy Robertson to wrong-foot Atletico keeper Jan Oblak, and moments later, Salah doubled the lead after a slick exchange with Ryan Gravenberch. The home crowd could scarcely believe their eyes as Liverpool threatened to run away with it early on.
But Atletico Madrid, under the ever-combative Diego Simeone, are not a side to wilt under pressure. The Spanish outfit gradually found their rhythm, and just before half-time, Marcos Llorente—who famously tormented Liverpool at Anfield five years prior—pounced on a loose ball to halve the deficit. The atmosphere shifted as Atletico clawed their way back into the contest, their resilience on full display.
The second half saw Liverpool squander chances to restore their cushion, none more glaring than when Salah struck the post with only Oblak to beat. Those misses proved costly when, in the dying moments, Llorente struck again. His deflected volley nestled past Alisson Becker, drawing Atletico level and evoking memories of their legendary 2020 triumph at Anfield. "It really is quite remarkable," one commentator noted, as the Spanish midfielder's knack for scoring on Merseyside resurfaced.
Yet, this Liverpool side—now under new manager Arne Slot—has made a habit of late heroics, having already secured four Premier League wins this season with goals inside the last ten minutes. True to form, they found a way once more. Deep into stoppage time, Dominik Szoboszlai whipped in a corner and captain Virgil van Dijk soared above the crowd to power home a header, sending Anfield into raptures. "We found a way again... Glad we got the win," Van Dijk told TNT Sports. "Today I was the lucky one with the winner and we move on." The celebrations were marred only by the dismissal of Simeone, who was shown a red card after a heated confrontation with Liverpool fans following the decisive goal.
Elsewhere, defending champions Paris Saint-Germain showed no signs of a European hangover as they brushed aside Atalanta 4-0 in Paris. The French giants, led by captain Marquinhos, got off to a flying start with a third-minute tap-in. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, a pre-match injury doubt, thrilled the Parc des Princes faithful with a thunderous strike just before the break. Atalanta's hopes of a comeback evaporated when Bradley Barcola's weak penalty was easily saved by Marco Carnesecchi, and PSG pressed their advantage with second-half goals from Nuno Mendes and substitute Goncalo Ramos. "All too easy for the champions, who showed why they are the team to beat," read the verdict from pitchside reporters.
In Munich, Bayern delivered a clinical 3-1 win over Chelsea in a rematch of the 2012 final. The German champions surged ahead thanks to an own goal from Trevoh Chalobah and a typically composed Harry Kane penalty. Chelsea's Cole Palmer offered a glimmer of hope with a superb solo goal, but Kane struck again on the hour mark, capitalizing on a defensive lapse from Malo Gusto to seal the result. The England captain's consistency on the European stage continues to impress: "Kane got a brace against Chelsea on New Year's Day 2015, and has another over 10 years later. His consistency is quite incredible."
Inter Milan, eager to bounce back from last season's heavy final defeat to PSG, enjoyed a perfect start with a 2-0 away win at Ajax. Marcus Thuram was the hero, nodding in two goals from Hakan Calhanoglu corners—one just before the break and another moments after the restart. For new Inter boss Cristian Chivu, it was a triumphant return to Amsterdam and a statement of intent from the Nerazzurri.
The night also belonged to Champions League debutants. Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt, facing Slavia Prague away, looked dead and buried after conceding twice to Youssoupha Mbodji. But Daniel Bassi sparked a comeback, and in the 90th minute Sondre Brunstad Fet unleashed a stunning volley to snatch a 2-2 draw. "The Norwegian new boys left it late but salvaged a draw thanks to Fet's astonishing goal in the last minute of normal time," reported One Football. Bodo/Glimt's fighting spirit earned them a valuable point and plenty of admirers across Europe.
Cypriot club Pafos, founded just eleven years ago, made their own piece of history with a gritty 0-0 draw at Olympiakos. Reduced to ten men after wing-back Bruno was sent off and with veteran centre-half David Luiz limping off injured in the first half, Pafos defended heroically to claim a point on their Champions League bow. Olympiakos struggled to break down the newcomers, who "were exceptional in defence and held out for an impressive point," as noted by match commentators.
The opening night also saw a few records tumble. At Anfield, Rio Ngumoha became the youngest player ever to appear in European competition for Liverpool at just 17 years and 19 days, surpassing the record set by Trey Nyoni the previous season. In another first, Liverpool fielded a starting eleven without a single Englishman for the first time in their 418-match history in major European competition, a testament to the club's global reach and evolving identity.
As the dust settles on a dramatic start to the group stage, the big guns have flexed their muscles, but the underdogs have shown they belong on this stage. With late goals, new heroes, and the promise of more twists to come, the Champions League has once again lived up to its billing. The journey has only just begun, and if tonight is any indication, football fans are in for a wild ride this season.
