Champions League matchday one came to a thrilling finish on Wednesday (as always you can catch all the action on Paramount+) as a handful of European giants started their campaigns on winning notes.
In one of the earlier matches of the day, Jude Bellingham came to Real Madrid's rescue to secure a 1-0 win in second half stoppage time over Union Berlin. The Spanish team racked up 32 shots against the Champions League newcomers but were awfully wasteful with their chances and landed just seven on target. They almost seemed doomed to earn just a single point from a match they dominated until Bellingham's goal, which has them level on points with Napoli to start Group C play.
While Madrid left their finishing boots at home, Bayern Munich and Manchester United certainly did not. The teams traded seven goals between them at the Allianz Arena in a match eventually won 4-3 by Bayern. The goal scoring got underway in the 28th minute when Andre Onana gifted Leroy Sane a goal and then conceded again just five minutes later. United attempted to mount a comeback, with Rasmus Hojlund scoring his first goal for the club, but it was not enough for Bayern.
They're not done scoring in Munich yet, where Casemiro scores in the fifth minute of stoppage time to make it 4-3. It has been a very chaotic finish at the Allianz Arena, but the fulltime whistle blows and Bayern finally get their win.
Napoli take the lead yet again in the 88th minute, just four minutes after Braga equalized. Niakate will receive credit for the own goal after kicking it into the back of his own net.
United pulled another one back in the 88th minute through Casemiro to make it 3-2, but Tel scores four minutes later to make it 4-2. That should finally secure the victory for Bayern.
Late drama in Portugal, where Braga scored in the 87th minute through Bruma. They're tied with Napoli with only a few minutes on the clock.
Martinez scored from an angle in the 87th minute, finally notching his side's equalizer against Sociedad after going down in the fourth minute. The goal marked just Inter's second shot of the game, while Sociedad notched 14 throughout the game.
Odegaard is on the board in the 70th minute, which gives Arsenal a 4-0 lead. It's his first Champions League goal for the club.
PSV switch on USMNT midfielder Tillman in the 66th minute, allowing him to join his club and country teammate Dest.
You might have noticed I've gone a bit quiet in north London. I'll be honest, my mind is on other matters, not least the team of the week. In my defense it's pretty apparent that Arteta is thinking much the same, having withdrawn Zinchenko and Trossard for Tomiyasu and Nelson. Those are changes clearly made with an eye on preserving their fitness for Sunday's North London derby, particularly the exit of the Ukrainian, who has so struggled for availability in recent years.
There's a lovely moment soon after as Emile Smith Rowe is summoned over to get ready to come on. Even that simple act draws a rapturous reception from the crowd, some of whom are on their feet. He and Vieira replace Jesus and Saka, two more changes made to ensure maximum freshness for the visit of Spurs.
Gloukh scores the Austrian side's second in the 51st minute, making a bad day worse for Benfica. The 19-year-old scored from close range after making a smart run into the box.
The hope was nice while it lasted for United. Four minutes after Hojlund's goal, a handball is called on Eriksen, and his former Tottenham teammate Kane steps up and scores. 3-1 Bayern, 53rd minute.
Just four minutes into the second half, Manchester United are on the board. Rashford combines nicely with Hojlund, who scores his first goal for his new team. Game on in Munich.
The second 45 begins for the last round of games on matchday one.
There's not a single scoreless match to speak of.
The Italian champions have been close all game -- they have eight shots, five on target -- and finally broke the deadlock in the first half of stoppage time through Di Lorenzo. They're almost certainly going into the half with a lead over Braga.
Gabriel Jesus scores Arsenal's third in the 38th minute, and the Gunners are officially running away with things against PSV.
Four minutes after Sane's goal, Gnabry doubles the lead for the German champions. Erik ten Hag's seat just got a lot hotter...
Sane scores on a nice shot in the 28th minute, but all eyes are on Onana after he failed to stop the ball from going in when he absolutely should have. Things continue to go from bad to worse for United this season.
What a start this has been for Arsenal, cruising towards victory on their return to the Champions League. For all the winning early in the season something has felt off for Mikel Arteta's side. It has taken 25 minutes to put your finger on what was missing: Gabriel Jesus. His movement, strength and intelligence are bamboozling PSV and creating so many avenues for his team mates. He's even missing the high value chances. This is Jesus 101. It's brilliant.
Fulgini scores the equalizer for Lens off a freekick in the 24th minute, which marks an impressive moment in the French side's first Champions League game since the 2002-03 season.
Benfica escaped in the first four minutes when Konate missed a penalty, but they appear to be out of luck. The 19-year-old defender Silva committed a handball, got a red card for DOGSO, and conceded a penalty. This time, though, Simic lines up to take it and scores. Salzburg is up 1-0 in the 15th minute.
That Arsenal right, coincidently 'defended' by Sergino Dest, has looked like a real route for danger from the off and it's proving to be exactly that. Bukayo Saka glides away from the USMNT international with too much ease before giving it to Martin Odegaard. His shot is saved and Dest is watching on as Saka pounces on the rebound to open his Champions League account, the Gunners first goal in this competition for 2,388 days.
They nearly have another as a cross comes in from the right but in true Gabriel Jesus fashion he spurns a presentable chance, not getting anywhere near enough on the shot.
Ocampos scores for Sevilla in the ninth minute, giving them an early advantage over Lens.
Four minutes in and the Basque side take the lead over last season's finalists Inter! Bastoni is clumsy and allows Mendez to gain possession, and he quickly puts the ball in the back of the net.
The Austrian side earned a penalty in the third minute after a foul by Benfica goalkeeper Trubin, but Konate skies it!
The final six matches on the schedule have officially kicked off for what will hopefully an entertaining finale to matchday one.
We'll have major updates on Bayern's clash with United, but if that's your match of choice, follow along in our live blog dedicated to that matchup here.
Good evening from the Emirates Stadium where Arsenal are back in the big time for the first time since 2017. That was a dispiriting evening for the home team, defined as much by the anti-Arsene Wenger march beforehand as the 5-1 defeat to Bayern Munich on the pitch. Most would have thought it couldn't get worse for the Gunners, how wrong they were. Six years later though and Mikel Arteta's side arrive with real hope of making an impact on the contest, perhaps even fulfilling their long dream of winning this competition.
The atmosphere here is something to behold, all the tension of the build up lifting in a cry of North London Forever. Even if it isn't your favorite song (I find it to generally be a bit crass and not in any way representative of any north London I know), you can't deny that supporters here have clutched it deep to their hearts.
Sergio Ramos starts his first Champions League game for Sevilla since re-joining his boyhood club over the summer. Here are the starting lineups.
Sevilla: Dmitrovic, Sánchez, Gudelj, Ramos, Pedrosa, Sow, Fernando, Lamela, Rakitic, Ocampos, En-Nesyri
Lens: Samba, Gradit, Danso, Medina, Frankowski, Abdul Samed, Mendy, Machado, Sotoca, Fulgini, Wahi
As expected, Osimhen leads the line for Napoli. Take a look at both teams' lineups below.
Braga: Matheus, Gomez, Fonte, Niakate, Borja, Carvalho, Al-Musrati, Djalo, Horta, Bruma, Ruiz
Napoli: Meret, Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Juan Jesus, Olivera, Anguissa, Lobotka, Zieliński, Politano, Osimhen, Kvaratskhelia
There was plenty of late drama in both matches, with Bellingham scoring Real Madrid's stoppage time winner and Galatasaray scoring twice in the final five minutes of play to pick up meaningful points in matchday one.
Kickoff is rapidly approaching at six other stadiums across Europe.
At long last, Real Madrid have scored. A handful of players are in the box for the hosts, but in the end Bellingham scores his first Champions League goal for Madrid in stoppage time. 32nd shot's the charm, as they say.
