Roundup of the opening matchweek of the Group Stage in 2023-24 UEFA Champions League.
Manchester City entered this stage looking to start their title defence on a winning note, whilst Newcastle and Arsenal returned to the competition after varying lengths of absence.
Manchester United meanwhile found themselves up against a fellow European giant in Bayern Munich, as they looked to put domestic struggles aside with a strong start to their European adventures.
Now, here is a full roundup of all the action in the opening matchweek of the 2023-24 UEFA Champions League Group Stage.
Group A
Harry Kane scored and provided an assist as Bayern Munich defeated Manchester United 4-3 in a dramatic seven-goal thriller at Allainz Arena, in which Mathys Tel secured the win for Bayern either side of Casemiro’s late brace for Utd.
Late goals from Sacha Boey and Tete saw Galatasary fight back to hold Copenhagen to a 2-2 draw in Istanbul, after Mohamed Elyounoussi and Diogo Goncalves had put the Danes 2-0 in front in the opening hour.
Group B
Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard both scored and provided assists as Arsenal thrashed PSV Eindhoven 4-0 at the Emirates Stadium, during which Saka created Trossard’s goal before the Belgian teed up Gabriel Jesus whilst Martin Odegaard added a fourth goal in the second half.
Angelo Fulgini cancelled out Lucas Ocampos’ eighth minute opening goal as Lens fought back to draw 1-1 against Sevilla in Seville, Spain.
Group C
Sikou Niakate’s own-goal saw Napoli snatch a 2-1 win at Braga to top Group C after Giovanni Di Lorenzo’s opening goal had been cancelled out by Bruma.
Jude Bellingham’s injury-time winner saw Real Madrid scrape past Union Berlin in a tight contest at Santiago Bernabeu.
Group D
Roko Simic’s 15th minute penalty and Oscar Gloukh’s 51st minute strike saw Red Bull Salzburg defeat Benfica 2-0 in Lisbon to top Group D.
Lautaro Martinez’s late equaliser saw last season’s runners-up, Inter Milan snatch a 1-1 draw against Real Sociedad, who had taken a fourth minute lead through Brais Mendez.
Group E
Calvin Stengs and Alireza Jahanbakhsh struck either side of half time to send Feyenoord top of Group E with a 2-0 home win over Celtic, as the Hoops finished with nine men after Gustaf Lagerbielke and Odin Thiago Holm both saw red during the second half.
Ivan Provedel’s 95th minute equaliser saw Lazio snatch a 1-1 draw at home to Atletico Madrid, after Pablo Barrios had handed the visitors a 29th minute lead.
Group F
Second half goals from Kylian Mbappe and Achraf Hakimi saw PSG scrape past Borussia Dortmund in Paris to top Group F.
Newcastle held AC Milan to a goalless draw at the San Siro, which put them second by virtue of just one booking to Milan’s four bookings.
Group G
Goals from Mohamed Simakan, Xaver Schlager and Benjamin Sesko fired RB Leipzig top of Group G by virtue of away goals, having won 3-1 at Young Boys.
Julian Alvarez’s brace and Rodri’s 73rd minute strike fired reigning champions, Man City to a comeback 3-1 win at home to Red Star Belgrade, after Osman Bukari put the Serbian team into a shock half-time lead.
Group H
Joao Felix produced two goals and an assist as Barcelona smashed Royal Antwerp 5-0 at the Nou Camp, with Robert Lewandowski and Gavi also scoring for the Catalonian club – whilst Jelle Battaille netted a 22nd minute own-goal.
Mehdi Taremi struck a 29th minute winner in a 3-1 win for Porto away to Shakhtar Donetsk, after Wenderson Galeno struck twice to put the Portuguese team in front either side of Kevin Kelsy’s equaliser.
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