The 2025/26 UEFA Champions League returned with fireworks on Tuesday, September 16, as fans across Europe witnessed a night filled with goals, red cards, penalties, and historic drama.
From Turin to Madrid to Arsenal’s perfect start, Mbappé’s penalties, and Tottenham’s narrow win. The opening round of fixtures lived up to the billing, defining the season ahead.
Athletic Club 0–2 Arsenal: Super Subs Shine in Bilbao
Arsenal overcame a spirited Athletic Club in Bilbao thanks to substitutes Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard, who combined to devastating effect.
Martinelli scored just 36 seconds after coming on in the 71st minute, latching onto Trossard’s through ball, before turning provider for the Belgian 15 minutes later.
It was a tough contest for the Gunners, with Bilbao’s Alejandro Berenguer causing problems early on.
Arsenal, missing key men Martin Ødegaard, Bukayo Saka, and Kai Havertz, struggled until Mikel Arteta’s double substitution changed the game.
Martinelli’s goal was Arsenal’s fastest-ever substitute goal in the Champions League, scored in under a minute.
Juventus 4–4 Borussia Dortmund: An Eight-Goal Classic
Juventus and Borussia Dortmund played out a 4–4 draw in Turin, in one of the most thrilling and dramatic Champions League openers in history.
Dusan Vlahovic, who Juventus spent the summer trying to offload, emerged as the unlikely hero, scoring twice and providing a last-gasp assist to English defender Lloyd Kelly for the equalizer in the 96th minute.
Dortmund looked to have sealed victory after Ram Bensebaini’s 86th-minute penalty, following Kelly’s handball, put them 4–2 ahead.
However, Vlahovic’s 94th-minute strike and Kelly’s dramatic finish two minutes later rescued a point for Juventus.
The game also saw Karim Adeyemi score and assist, with Felix Nmecha and Yan Couto also on target for Dortmund, while Kenan Yildiz and Vlahovic led Juve’s comeback charge.
This was just the seventh time in UCL history that both teams scored at least four goals in a single match.
Tottenham 1–0 Villarreal: Spurs Grind Out Win on Frank’s Debut
Thomas Frank’s Champions League debut as Tottenham manager ended in victory as Spurs edged Villarreal 1–0 in London.
The only goal came after just four minutes, when Villarreal goalkeeper, Luiz Junior inexplicably fumbled Lucas Bergvall’s cross into his own net.
Spurs’ defending was solid, with Micky van de Ven and Rodrigo Bentancur making crucial interventions, especially in the second half when Villarreal pushed for an equalizer.
The game also drew attention off the pitch, as ex-Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey featured for Villarreal despite facing court in London on Wednesday over rape and sexual assault charges.
Tottenham’s return to the Champions League after two seasons away now sees them unbeaten in 21 European home games.
Real Madrid 2–1 Marseille: Mbappé Delivers from the Spot
Kylian Mbappé scored two penalties to help 10-man Real Madrid secure a comeback win over Marseille at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Madrid were rocked early on when Trent Alexander-Arnold limped off with a hamstring injury in just the 3rd minute, and things got worse when his replacement, Dani Carvajal, was sent off in the 72nd minute after a clash with goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli.
Marseille led through Timothy Weah’s thunderous strike in the 22nd minute after Mason Greenwood dispossessed Arda Güler, but Mbappé equalized six minutes later from the spot after Rodrygo was fouled.
Despite being down to 10 men, Real snatched victory when Facundo Medina handled inside the box, allowing Mbappé to step up once again in the 83rd minute.
Real manager, Xabi Alonso in his first UCL game in charge, leads the Madrid side as they chase a record-extending 16th European crown.
Benfica 1-2 Qarabag: First-Ever Champions League Win for Qarabag
Qarabag FK wrote their name into the history books on a dramatic night in Lisbon, becoming the first Azerbaijani side to win a Champions League main draw match after a remarkable 3-2 comeback victory over Benfica.
Returning to Europe’s premier competition for the first time in eight years, Gurban Gurbanov’s men looked dead and buried after falling 2-0 behind within 16 minutes.
Enzo Barrenechea opened the scoring for Benfica before Vangelis Pavlidis doubled the advantage, leaving the Estadio da Luz expectant of a routine victory.
But Qarabag had other ideas. On 30 minutes, Leandro Andrade pulled one back with a clinical finish to give the visitors hope. Moments later, Kady Borges almost levelled the match, rattling the post with a fierce effort.
Just three minutes into the second half, Qarabag silenced the Portuguese crowd when Marko Jankovic’s defence-splitting pass released Camilo Duran, who slotted home expertly on his Champions League debut to make it 2-2.
The fairytale was completed in the 85th minute when substitute Oleksii Kashchuk turned brilliantly in the box before firing past the helpless Benfica goalkeeper.
At the final whistle, Qarabag players and staff dropped to their knees in tears and celebration, knowing they had achieved a victory that will forever be remembered in Azerbaijani football.
This win is even sweeter given Qarabag’s previous Champions League group-stage appearance ended in disappointment; two draws and four defeats.
PSV Eindhoven 1–3 Union Saint-Gilloise: Belgian Breakthrough
Belgian side, Union Saint-Gilloise stunned PSV Eindhoven with a convincing 3–1 away win, marking one of the biggest results of the night.
Union, playing in only their second-ever Champions League campaign, controlled much of the game and capitalized on PSV’s defensive errors to take three valuable points on the road.
Champions League Day 2 Fixtures
The Champions League drama continues on Wednesday, September 17, with mouth-watering fixtures including:
- Olympiakos FC vs Pafos (
- AjaxInter Milan (
Bayern Munich vs Chelsea (
Paris Saint-Germain vs Atalanta (
