UCL 2024-25 matchday one witnessed a lot of surprises and shockers. Let us look at what went down in the first matchday of the UEFA Champions League 2024-25.
The UEFA Champions League season of 2024-25 kicked off this Tuesday. This season saw a new format introduced to the tournament. UEFA made this change following a demand from influential clubs. In the new format, teams would be playing 8 matches in a league phase rather than the former group format. Read more about it here.
Contents
- Juventus Cruise Past PSV
- Real Madrid Triumphs Over VfB Stuttgart
- Bayern Thrashes Dinamo Zagreb
- Arne Slot’s Men Shine in San Siro
- Borussia Dortmund Defeats Club Brugge With Ease
- Goalless Night in Etihad Stadium
- Stalemate in Gewiss Stadium
- Barca Stunned By AS Monaco
- Other Results
Juventus Cruise Past PSV
The new UCL season of 2024-25 kicked off with the Italian giants going against Dutch side PSV Eindhoven in the Allianz Stadium. Turkish striker Kenan Yıldız netted the first goal for the Old Lady from a great shot at the mark of the 21st minute. The lead was doubled within the next six minutes of the match as the American midfielder Weston McKennie put the ball in the back of the net after a good play in the attack.
The hosts netted their third goal as Dušan Vlahović did enough to find Nicolás González who put his name on the scoresheet. The Argentine winger had a goal and an assist in his UCL debut. The away team scored a consolation goal courtesy of a goal by Moroccan international Ismael Saibari.
Real Madrid Triumphs Over VfB Stuttgart
The defending champions of UCL kicked off their season against German side VfB Stuttgart. The deadlock was broken by the Madridista’s new signing Kylian Mbappé within 20 seconds into the second half after a great run by Rodrygo, who crossed it to the French striker, who did not fail to score. Stuttgart came up with the response after Deniz Undav headed in from a deep corner by Jamie Leweling.
The Spanish giants soon took the lead again after a great corner by Luka Modrić which was headed in by German defender Antonio Rüdiger. The Los Blancos star boy Endrick netted the third goal for the hosts.
Bayern Thrashes Dinamo Zagreb
Bayern Munich thrashed Dinamo Zagreb by 9-2 in their opening fixture of the UEFA Champions League 2024-25. English striker Harry Kane scored 4 goals (out of which, 3 were penalties). French international Michael Olise scored a brace, while Raphaël Guerreiro, Leroy Sané, and Leon Goretzka netted one each.
In response, Bruno Petković and Takuya Ogiwara scored a goal each for Dinamo Zagreb. Bayern Munich are now the first team to score 9+ goals in the UCL history. Bayern striker Harry Kane became the first player to score 3 penalties in a single game in the European Cup.
Arne Slot’s Men Shine in San Siro
Liverpool showed a scintillating display against AC Milan in San Siro as they defeated the Italian side by 3 goals to 1. The Rossoneri scored first courtesy of a goal by American forward Christian Pulisic. But the Reds came up with a response with Ibrahima Konaté scoring from a free kick by Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Liverpool soon took the lead after a wonderful corner by Konstantinos Tsimikas was headed in by Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk, just 4 minutes before halftime. The Reds soon scored their third goal as Dominik Szoboszlai scored a volley from Cody Gakpo’s cross.
Borussia Dortmund Defeats Club Brugge With Ease
Last season’s runner-up, Borussia Dortmund started their UCL 2024-25 season facing Belgian giants Club Brugge. It took almost 76 minutes to break the deadlock, but Borussia striker Jamie Bynoe-Gittens. It took only 10 minutes for the English striker to net his brace after he scored from 20 yards. Serhou Guirassy converted from the spot in the very last minute, chipping the ball down the middle.
Goalless Night in Etihad Stadium
The UCL Champions of 2022-23 Manchester City kicked off their UCL season with a stalemate against Italian giants Internazionale. It was time Manchester City failed to score in a Champions League fixture at home since their draw with Sporting CP in March 2022. The match witnessed a total of 35 shots (22 from Man City, and 13 from Inter Milan), but both the team failed to score a goal.
Stalemate in Gewiss Stadium
Gewiss Stadium had to witness one more goalless match in the UCL as both Arsenal and Atalanta failed to break the deadlock. The Italian side came closest to breaking the deadlock, as they were awarded a penalty. David Raya saved the day for the Gunners as he saved Mateo Retegui’s spot-kick and also the rebound.
Barca Stunned By AS Monaco
One of the most surprising scores of the first matchday of UCL 2024-25 was witnessed in Stade Louis II as AS Monaco shocked FC Barcelona by defeating them 2-1. The visitors faced an early blow as defender Eric García was shown a direct for a ruthless challenge on Takumi Minamino. The hosts broke the deadlock as Maghnes Akliouche did enough to put the ball past Ter Stegen.
The visitors soon came up with a response Barcelona starboy Lamine Yamal scored his first UCL goal, becoming the second youngest goal scorer in the UEFA Champions League for the Culers, right behind Ansu Fati in the list. But the home team regained their lead after George Ilenikhena’s finish was good enough for the German goalkeeper to stop.
Other Results
- Young Boys 0:3 Aston Villa
- Sporting CP 2:0 Lillie OSC
- Bologna 0:0 Shakhtar Donetsk
- Sparta Praha 3:0 RB Salzburg
- Paris SG 1:0 Girona
- Celtic 5:1 Slovan Bratislava
- Crvena Zvezda 1:2 SL Benfica
- Feyenoord 0:4 Bayer Leverkusen
- Brest 2:1 SK Sturm Graz
- Atletico Madrid 2:1 RB Leipzig
