The 2026/27 Champions League league phase kicked off across three nights (8–10 September), with all 36 teams playing their opening fixture in the new-look format. Here’s what stood out.
1. PSG and Bayern set an early scoring standard
Paris Saint-Germain announced themselves with a 6-1 demolition of Slovan Bratislava, with Ferran Torres bagging a hat-trick. Not to be outdone, Bayern Munich put five past Bodø/Glimt without reply, with Jamal Musiala, Michael Olise, Harry Kane and Alphonso Davies all getting on the scoresheet. Those two results leave PSG and Bayern tied at the top of the 36-team table on goal difference after round one — a reminder that in this expanded format, goal difference could matter enormously by the time the standings are settled after eight matchdays.
2. Haaland picked up right where he left off
Manchester City eased to a 2-0 win at Porto, and Erling Haaland did the damage himself — one goal after the break, another in stoppage time. That brace took him to 59 goals in 59 Champions League appearances, an absurd strike rate that continues to make him the most feared forward left in the competition.
3. Mourinho’s return and Mbappé’s rise
Real Madrid beat Inter 2-1 in a match with plenty of subplots: José Mourinho’s return to Champions League management (now with Real), and Kylian Mbappé continuing his march up the competition’s all-time scoring charts after opening the scoring off a defensive error. Federico Valverde added a second before Inter pulled one back late through Carlos Augusto, but Madrid held on.
4. Manchester United and Como made statements as they returned to Europe’s top table
United marked their return to the competition after a two-year absence with a comfortable 4-0 win over debutants Sabah at Old Trafford, with goals from Matheus Cunha, Bruno Fernandes, Benjamin Sesko and Lisandro Martínez. Elsewhere, Como — also new to this stage — pulled off one of the bigger shocks of the round, beating a fancied Leipzig side 4-1.
5. Barcelona look like genuine contenders again
If any performance on the opening night served as the loudest statement of intent, it was Barcelona’s. Hansi Flick’s side put five past Feyenoord at a rain-soaked Camp Nou, and the manner of the win was as striking as the scoreline. Raphinha, playing as a makeshift striker and left off the Ballon d’Or shortlist to plenty of external chatter, answered in the best way possible — scoring inside three minutes and adding a second after the break for a brace, taking his tally to eight goals in all competitions already this season. Karim Adeyemi curled in a stunning strike from range for 2-0, Lamine Yamal thumped home a free-kick to make it four, and substitute Gabriel Jesus marked his Barça debut with a header in stoppage time. Feyenoord’s only reply came from a Sem Steijn consolation late on, but they were second-best for almost the entire 90 minutes. It was total control from start to finish — sharp in transition, ruthless in the final third, and menacing even when not directly in possession. On this evidence, Barcelona have to be considered among the sides best placed to go deep into the competition this season.
6. Plenty of thrillers and one big underdog story
Not every big name had it easy. Borussia Dortmund needed two late goals from Serhou Guirassy, including a penalty, to see off Villarreal 3-2, while Real Betis edged a five-goal shootout against Lille. Aston Villa won 3-2 at Club Brugge thanks to an early John McGinn strike. And the standout underdog moment of the night belonged to AEK Athens, who beat fellow debutants LASK 1-0 through a stunning Răzvan Marin free-kick — the Greek side’s first Champions League proper win in 20 years.
The bigger picture
After one round, 16 teams picked up all three points, four matches ended level, and 16 sides left empty-handed. Under the new league-phase format, the top eight after eight matchdays advance directly to the last 16, while teams finishing 9th to 24th head into a knockout play-off round. With Matchday 2 not until 13–14 October, there’s time for the dust to settle — but early pace-setters like PSG and Bayern have already served notice that goal difference could prove decisive when the table is finalized.
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