Big Wins Highlight Opening Round of UEFA Champions League
| Tournament stage | 2026–27 UEFA Champions League league phase Matchday 1 |
|---|---|
| Participating clubs | 36 teams across one single league table |
| Largest margin of victory | Paris Saint-Germain 6–0 Slovan Bratislava |
| Notable debut result | Como 4–1 RB Leipzig |
The 2026–27 UEFA Champions League season began with 36 clubs competing across three consecutive days in the opening fixtures of the tournament’s league phase. The initial round was marked by large margins of victory for several prominent clubs alongside a standout result from a European debutant.
Thursday’s matches featured a 5-0 victory for Bayern Munich against Norwegian club Bodo/Glimt at the Allianz Arena. Bayern held a tight lead for the first hour before expanding their advantage through goals from Harry Kane, Jamal Musiala, Alphonso Davies, and a double from Michael Olise. Elsewhere on Thursday, Manchester United secured a 4-0 win against Sabah FK, while Lens staged a late comeback to defeat Slavia Prague 3-2.
Major Scorelines and Late Deciders
Wednesday delivered several high-scoring outcomes across Europe. Paris Saint-Germain recorded the largest victory of the matchday by defeating Slovan Bratislava 6-0. Barcelona earned a 5-1 win over Feyenoord, while Liverpool secured a victory against Atlético Madrid at Anfield.
In London, Arsenal took three points against Napoli with a 1-0 win. The match remained goalless until Martin Ødegaard scored the decisive goal ten minutes before full time.
Villa Triumph and Como Debut Victory
The action opened on Tuesday with wins for Manchester City and Real Madrid. Aston Villa also picked up three points by defeating Club Brugge, led by captain John McGinn, who scored from long range with a curling left-footed strike.
In one of the most notable results of the round, Italian side Como defeated Bundesliga team RB Leipzig 4-1 under manager Cesc Fàbregas. Como was playing in non-league football seven years ago before earning promotion to Serie A in 2024. Their victory over Leipzig featured contributions from a squad that includes young prospect Nico Paz.
Background
The 2026–27 season represents the second year of UEFA’s expanded Champions League format, which replaced the former four-team group stage with a single 36-team league phase. Each club plays set opponents to determine qualification for the knockout rounds.
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