Real Madrid edged Inter Milan 2-1 in a dramatic opening night as Manchester City, Aston Villa, Dortmund and Real Betis also began their European campaigns with victories.
The new UEFA Champions League season has kicked off with an immediate reminder of why Europe’s premier club competition remains football’s ultimate stage. The 2026-27 league phase opened on Tuesday with six matches producing 16 goals, several tight contests and an early statement from some of the tournament favourites.
The headline result came at the Santiago Bernabéu, where Real Madrid defeated Inter Milan 2-1 in a match that was far more competitive than the scoreline suggested. Manchester City also made a winning start, while Aston Villa, Borussia Dortmund and Real Betis claimed important victories on the road to the knockout rounds.
Real Madrid survive Inter’s pressure
Real Madrid began their European campaign with three points, but José Mourinho’s side were made to work for them. Kylian Mbappé opened the scoring in the 14th minute after Inter’s defence was caught in possession. Fede Valverde then doubled Madrid’s advantage nine minutes later, capitalising on a costly mistake from Inter goalkeeper Josep Martínez.
Inter, however, were arguably the better team for long periods. The Italian side enjoyed around 70% possession and created a stream of chances, forcing Thibaut Courtois into a superb performance. Carlos Augusto finally pulled one back for Inter in the 77th minute following a Lautaro Martínez cross. The visitors continued to push for an equaliser, but Courtois produced a crucial late save from Henrikh Mkhitaryan to preserve Madrid’s victory.
For Madrid, the result was encouraging but hardly convincing. Mbappé and Valverde provided the goals, yet the performance exposed defensive vulnerabilities that stronger opponents could punish later in the competition. For Inter, the defeat will be particularly frustrating. They controlled significant portions of the game but were undone by individual errors.
Haaland gives Manchester City a perfect start
Manchester City also began their campaign with a 2-0 victory, defeating Porto in Portugal. After dominating possession and creating numerous opportunities, City finally broke through shortly after half-time when Erling Haaland headed in Enzo Fernández’s cross. The Norwegian striker added his second in stoppage time to complete a comfortable victory for Enzo Maresca’s side. City finished with 20 shots and 10 on target, while Porto failed to register an attempt. It was the kind of controlled European performance that immediately puts City among the teams to watch.
A night of surprises elsewhere
The opening round was not exclusively about Europe’s traditional giants. Aston Villa produced one of the night’s more impressive results, beating Club Brugge 3-2 in Belgium, with Pau Torres providing two assists.
Borussia Dortmund edged Villarreal 3-2 after Serhou Guirassy scored twice late in the match. Real Betis also produced a dramatic comeback, defeating Lille 3-2 in France. Marc Bartra scored twice before Troy Parrott’s late winner completed the turnaround. AEK Athens meanwhile defeated Champions League debutants LASK Linz 1-0 through a Razvan Marin free-kick.
Barcelona, Liverpool and Arsenal enter the picture
The competition continues on Wednesday with another group of heavyweight fixtures. Barcelona vs Feyenoord will be one of the most anticipated games of the evening. Barcelona enter the competition with expectations of challenging for the title, while Feyenoord will attempt to make the most of their opportunity against one of Europe’s giants.
At Anfield, Liverpool face Atlético Madrid in another heavyweight encounter. Liverpool’s intensity at home will be tested by an Atlético side renowned for defensive organisation and tactical discipline. Perhaps the most intriguing tactical battle comes in Naples, where Napoli host Arsenal. Both teams will have ambitions of progressing deep into the competition, making their opening encounter an early test of their European credentials. Elsewhere, defending champions Paris Saint-Germain face Slovan Bratislava, while Sporting CP meet Galatasaray.
The road to the final begins
The Champions League has entered another season under its 36-team league-phase format, meaning every match carries importance in determining who progresses directly, who enters the play-offs and who faces elimination.
After the opening night, Real Madrid have already demonstrated one important characteristic: the ability to survive when the performance is not perfect.
Manchester City, meanwhile, have sent an early warning with a dominant away display. But with Barcelona, Liverpool, Arsenal and PSG still to make their first appearances, the opening picture is far from complete.
The Champions League season has only just begun — and if its first night is any indication, Europe could be heading towards another unpredictable battle for the continent’s biggest prize.