Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe celebrates with teammates after converting their second penalty and scoring their second goal during the UEFA Champions League match against Olympique de Marseille. (Photo by Oscar DEL POZO / AFP)
(OSCAR DEL POZO via Getty Images)
The first matchday of the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League was nothing short of exhilarating, captivating fans with thrilling displays of talent and unexpected outcomes. Among the standout moments was Kylian Mbappé’s stellar performance, who scored two decisive goals for Real Madrid in a hard-fought victory against Olympique de Marseille. This promising start sets the stage for an incredibly competitive tournament this season.
In a gripping opening day encounter, Arsenal secured a solid 2-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao, thanks to the impactful substitutions of Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard. Their contributions in the second half highlighted Arsenal’s depth and versatility, showcasing a matured squad aiming to leave its mark on this year’s competition.
Another highlight of the day came from Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, who registered their first-ever Champions League win with a convincing 3-1 victory over PSV Eindhoven. The Belgian champions opened the scoring with a ninth-minute penalty from Promise David. Anouar Ait El Hadj then doubled the lead before halftime, marking a historic moment for the club and igniting excitement among their fans.
Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur also enjoyed a successful start by edging out Villarreal 1-0. The only goal came from a fourth-minute own goal by Villarreal’s goalkeeper Luíz Júnior, which turned out to be the decisive moment in a match that saw Tottenham solidifying their defenses well through the game.
Real Madrid’s match against Marseille, however, was a rollercoaster ride. After enduring a setback with a red card in the 72nd minute, the team showcased their resilience by reclaiming control through two penalties converted by their star, Kylian Mbappé. With these two strikes, Mbappé has now hit an impressive milestone of 50 career goals for Los Blancos, further cementing his reputation in the elite circle of football stalwarts.
On another thrilling note, FK Qarabağ stunned Benfica in a dramatic 3-2 victory. Diving headfirst into the match, Benfica initially took a commanding lead of 2-0 by the 16th minute. However, the Azerbaijani side mounted an impressive comeback, with Leandro Andrade narrowing the gap by halftime and Camilo Durán leveling the scores soon after the second half began. Ultimately, Oleksiy Kashchuk’s dramatic late goal sealed the victory, making it a memorable night for Qarabağ fans.
The match that truly stole the show was the exhilarating draw between Juventus and Borussia Dortmund, ending in a sensational 4-4. The game was defined by a wild second half where all eight goals were scored, including Juventus’s late equalizers from Dušan Vlahović and Lloyd Kelly, who turned what seemed like a certain defeat into a remarkable draw.
Champions League schedule – Matchday 1 results
Arsenal 2, Athletic Club 0
Union St.-Gilloise 3, PSV Eindhoven 1
FK Qarabağ 3, Benfica 2
Borussia Dortmund 4, Juventus 4
Real Madrid 2, Marseille 1
Tottenham 1, Villarreal 0
Follow along with Yahoo Sports below for live updates, scores, highlights and more from Tuesday’s Champions League action: