Liverpool escape Atletico's trap... Arsenal overcome Napoli
French champions Paris Saint-Germain and Spanish side Barcelona delivered powerful statements with commanding victories over Slovakia’s Slovan Bratislava (6-1) and the Netherlands’ Feyenoord (5-1) respectively on Tuesday, in the opening round of the new unified group stage of the UEFA Champions League.
English runners-up Arsenal secured a valuable away win against hosts Napoli 1-0 in Italy, while Liverpool survived a tricky encounter with visitors Atletico Madrid, overturning a deficit to claim a hard-fought 2-1 victory.
At the Parc des Princes, PSG showed their teeth with a comprehensive 6-1 win over Slovan Bratislava. Hat-trick scorer Ferran Torres, the new Spanish international who scored the winner in the 2026 World Cup final, struck in the 31st, 47th, and 57th minutes. Winger Ousmane Dembélé added a brace in the 17th and 23rd minutes, while fellow Spaniard Fabián Ruiz capped the scoring with a sixth goal in the 88th minute. Gambia’s Suleyman Camara scored Bratislava’s solitary goal in the 59th minute.
PSG bounced back from a sluggish start to their domestic league campaign, which had seen them end their recent domestic run with two draws and a 1-2 home defeat to Monaco on Friday. Under Spanish manager Luis Enrique, who is targeting a third consecutive title in the prestigious continental competition, PSG demonstrated they should not be underestimated. The club has been a standout force in the Champions League in recent seasons, remaining unbeaten in their last 12 European matches (8 wins, 4 draws). This result extended a remarkable streak: no defending champion has lost their opening home match in the European Cup/Champions League since Celtic in 1968.
At the Camp Nou, Barcelona began their campaign with a crushing 5-1 victory over Feyenoord. The Blaugrana’s goals came from a Raphinha brace (3rd and 57th minutes), plus strikes from German international Karim Adeyemi (22nd), Lamine Yamal (77th), and new signing Gabriel Jesus. Jesus scored just two minutes after coming on in his debut for his new club in the 85th minute. Sime Stijn scored Feyenoord’s lone goal in the 82nd minute.
This prolific scoring has become routine for the Catalan side. Despite heavy rain in Catalonia, the two-time defending Spanish champions continued their perfect start to the season, securing their fifth win in five matches and their fourth match in which they scored five goals.
Manager Hansi Flick’s men will face tougher tests on their path to winning the club’s sixth European title, a declared objective for this season, ahead of the final scheduled in Madrid next June. Their next challenges include a clash with Paris Saint-Germain on October 20, followed by English side Manchester City on December 8.
In Italy, Norwegian international midfielder Martin Ødegaard led Arsenal to a precious victory, scoring the only goal of the game against hosts Napoli in the 75th minute. The goal came from a pass by new signing Christos Tzolis, the Greek international who joined from Belgian club Club Brugge. Arsenal imposed their dominance on a timid and inaccurate Napoli side, though they had to wait until the 75th minute to break the deadlock through captain Ødegaard. Arsenal, who achieved a perfect record of eight wins in eight league matches last season, extended their Champions League group stage winning streak to 13 consecutive victories.
At Anfield, Liverpool overturned a deficit to secure a crucial opening-day 2-1 win over visitors Atletico Madrid. Marcus Jørgensen gave Atletico the lead in the 17th minute, but Liverpool responded with two goals: Domínguez Szoboszlai (40th) and Alexis Mac Allister (50th). The match saw the departure of new Liverpool signing and French international winger Bradley Barcola, who limped off in the 60th minute with a calf injury.
For the first time this season, Argentine manager Diego Simeone started his compatriot, international striker Julián Álvarez, after all transfer attempts to move him to Barcelona had hit a wall.
Portuguese side Sporting CP followed Liverpool’s lead, overturning a deficit to defeat Turkish visitors Galatasaray 3-1. Meanwhile, German side VfB Stuttgart defeated Dutch side Vitesse 3-1.
