Real Madrid wins in pain against Stuttgart, Bayern pulverizes Zagreb 9-2 with a quadruple from Kane

Kick-off for this new edition of the Champions League – the first with this new format – with the first day of the group stage. There were four matches for this 9pm batch, with the reigning champion, Real Madrid, making his debut. The Merengues hosted Stuttgart, with the return of Jude Bellingham in the starting eleven in particular, and a trio of Vinicius-Mbappé-Rodrygo lined up at the forefront. And Carlo Ancelotti’s men had trouble getting into the game against the conquering and courageous Germans. Courtois had to intervene several times earlier than expected, with a superb save on a missile from Leweling (3rd), then on several attempts by Millot (12th), while the Frenchman missed a superb opportunity not finding the target at almost point-blank range. Real Madrid were not in their game, and we had to wait until the 25th minute to see Mbappé intervene, with a little burst of brilliance followed by a shot well pushed back by Alexander Nübel. Then, a big scare for the Madrid players on a counterattack led by Undav, who saw his shot hit by Carvajal… and crash against the bar (28th). On the Madrid side, only Rodrygo, at times, managed to pull his weight, while Millot was again thwarted by Courtois (38th).

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The score was level at half-time, with a disappointing Real Madrid… Who would however recover as soon as they returned from the locker room… Having started behind the defence, Rodrygo entered the area and sent a pass of death to Mbappé, who only had to push the ball into the back of the net (1-0, 46th). From then on, it was another match, with a very dominant Real Madrid, multiplying the attacks, and the Bondynois was not far from a double (48th). Unlucky, Vinicius Junior hit the bar after another good ball from Rodrygo (59th). However, Stuttgart proved that they could still be dangerous, with yet another decisive save from Courtois, on a strike from Leweling (60th). And precisely, Deniz Undav equalised, at the far post after a corner, with a header (1-1, 67th). A bucket of cold water on the Bernabéu, and the Merengues were struggling to react. Until Antonio Rüdiger, facing his former club, took advantage of a rather poor exit from Nubel to send the ball into the back of the net, with a nice header from a corner kicked by Modric (2-1, 83rd). Then, after a missed mano a mano by Vinicius in added time, Endrick, who came on in the second half, scored the third with a beautiful long-range strike after a counterattack. The main thing, namely victory, is there for Real Madrid.

To read
Kylian Mbappé’s statement on his first goal in the Champions League with Real Madrid

Prestigious success for Liverpool

But the sexiest match of the evening, on paper at least, pitted AC Milan against Liverpool at the San Siro. A historic clash that smelled of the football of the 90s and 2000s, and which started strong for the Milanese. On a good deflection from Morata, Pulisic put the turbo on and beat Alisson with a good cross shot (1-0, 3rd). But the Reds had arguments to put forward, and Salah hit the bar with a right-footed shot (17th). A warning before the equalizer, since a few minutes later, on a free kick taken by Cody Gakpo, Ibrahima Konaté rose above everyone to send the ball into the back of the net with his head (1-1, 23rd). Dominant, the Liverpuldians offered themselves new hot situations, with a new bar for Momo Salah in particular (30th), then, a beautiful save from Maignan in front of the Egyptian (40th).

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But the inevitable was about to happen, and shortly before the break, Virgil Van Dijk gave his team the lead. The Dutch leader also scored with a header, this time from a corner kicked by Tsimikas (1-2, 41st). The second half started at a similar pace, with the Reds rather dominant, and a physically injured Mike Maignan really disgusted Jota for example (47th). It was finally Szoboszlai who made the break, with a great combination with Gakpo, then a perfect flat foot to beat the Milanese goalkeeper (1-3, 66th). The Lombards tried to react, but lacked ideas, while Arne Slot’s team was rather solid. Little worried, the English therefore took their first three points in this Champions League.

Bayern rolls, Harry Kane feasts on penalty

Finally, Bayern hosted Dinamo Zagreb to kick off their European campaign. Without much surprise, Vincent Kompany’s men took control of the game fairly quickly and easily, with several hot situations and an opening goal from Harry Kane on a penalty (20th). Not satisfied, the Germans were looking to make the break, with a very dangerous Raphaël Guerreiro. And it was precisely the Portuguese who would shake the net, with a missile following a pass from Jamal Musiala (2-0, 34th). If there was still need, Michael Olise wrapped up the match, with a header after a good cross from Joshua Kimmich (3-0, 38th). But the second period would cool the Bavarians, with an aborted comeback from the Croatians. Petković then Ogiwara scored one after the other, reducing the gap to one goal. But Harry Kane would also strike to give his team the lead again, scoring the 4-2 (57th) – he thought he had scored a hat-trick even in the process before seeing his goal disallowed – while it was Olise who scored the 5-2 (61st) after a great team move. The festival was only just beginning… Kane’s hat-trick would thus come from a penalty (6-2, 72nd), then his quadruple, also from a penalty (7-2, 78th). Sané joined in the party at the very end of the game for the 8-2, while Goretzka capped the show with the ninth in added time. A perfect start for Bayern and their star striker.

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