Champions League kick‑off: Mbappé and Haaland spark wins for Real Madrid and Manchester City

It was a night of fireworks on the first match‑day of the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League. Across Europe, a string of clubs opened their campaigns with three‑point hauls, and the headlines were inevitably dominated by two familiar names – Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland.

Real Madrid edged past Inter Milan 2‑1 in what turned out to be a tense but entertaining affair. The French ace broke the deadlock in the 14th minute, darting into the box and slipping a low finish past the keeper. Federico Valverde, ever‑reliable, added a second nine minutes later, giving the Spaniards a comfortable cushion. Inter managed a reply through Carlos Augusto, but Madrid held firm to clinch all three points.

Half a continent away, Manchester City took a more straightforward route, beating FC Porto 2‑0. It was Erling Haaland’s night – the Norwegian striker rose highest on a Matheus Nunes cross to head home the opening goal, and later, in the dying seconds of stoppage time, he tucked away a second, sealing the win.

Borussia Dortmund delivered a thriller, outlasting Villarreal 3‑2 in a match where every goal came after the interval. An early own‑goal from Renato Veiga gave the Germans the lead, only for Santiago Mouriño to level for the Spaniards. Then Serhou Guirassy turned the tide with a brace, while a deflected free‑kick from Nicolas Pepe offered Villarreal a glimmer of hope that vanished in the final minutes.

The under‑dogs were not left out. Aston Villa claimed a dramatic 3‑2 away victory over Club Brugge, with John McGinn opening the scoring and a quick reply from Hugo Vetlesen. Emiliano Buendía and Nicolas Jackson then stretched the lead, though Nicolo Tresoldi pulled one back from the spot.

In Athens, AEK Athens secured a tight 1‑0 win against debutants LASK, thanks to a first‑half free‑kick by Razvan Marin that left the visitors chasing shadows. Meanwhile, Real Betis celebrated a comeback win over Lille – 3‑2 after trailing twice. Goals from Marc Bartra (twice) and Troy Parrott turned the tables, ending a 21‑year Champions League drought for the Andalusians.

All told, six clubs left the opening night unbeaten, setting the stage for a season that promises plenty of drama, goals and, if history is any guide, a few more late‑night comebacks.