On Thursday, September 10, the first matchday of the Champions League league phase came to a close. Four matches were played in the second time slot, in which Manchester United, Bayern, Como and Lens emerged as confident winners. According to the Ukrainian sports outlet Sport RBC.UA, all four matches ended in favor of the teams considered favorites in their respective ties, yet each of them had its own story in terms of how the game unfolded.

The Red Devils' return: a thrashing of the debutant at Old Trafford

For Manchester United, this match marked a return to Europe's premier club competition after the 2023/24 season, when the team finished in last, fourth, place in the group stage. The Red Devils' opponent was an absolute Champions League debutant — Azerbaijan's Sabah. Although the visitors tried to impose a contest on the hosts, the gap in quality between the players and Sabah's collapse at the end of the first half led to a crushing defeat. The final score was 4:0 (3:0, 1:0). The goals were scored by Cunha (27th minute), Fernandes (42), Šeško (45) and Martínez (68).

Bayern dominated the second half

The Munich giant confirmed its status as favorite in the match against Bodø/Glimt, although the goals had to be waited for until the second half. The second half kicked off with a goal from Musiala (47th minute), after which it was effectively only the Munich men on the pitch: Kane (61), Davies (77) and Olise (83) also found the net — the final score was 4:0 (0:0, 4:0). In terms of shots, Bayern outperformed their opponent 19:2, and a slight advantage in possession also went to the hosts — 57:43.

Como's European debut: a sensation in Milan

The Italians, in their debut match in Europe's premier competition, thrashed RB Leipzig — 4:1 (2:0, 2:1). The standout performer of the first half was Batistuta: he scored himself in the 15th minute and then assisted Duvičkaš 23 minutes later. Early in the second half the teams exchanged quick goals — Leipzig's Maximović (58) replied to Como's third goal by Diaw (54), and Perrone put the final touch on it in the 90th minute.

A thriller in Prague: Lens rescued in stoppage time

Slavia and Lens produced a genuine thriller, the events of which were all packed into the second half. Right at the start of the second half, the hosts' defender Konečný received a red card. Even a man down, Slavia took the lead twice — Šturm recorded a brace (51, 88). The French side, however, saved themselves each time: Sima (73), Tavares (90+1) and Aguilera (90+3), who brought the visitors a 3:2 victory, all found the net.

Matchday context and other results

Earlier in the first matchday, Roma failed to hold on to their lead against Fenerbahçe in Istanbul, while Shakhtar kept their draw against PSV. Thus, the second slot of the Champions League's first matchday was remembered for the favorites' confident wins and the debut sensations of the new entrants to Europe's premier club competition.