Champions League opens with Madrid, City and Dortmund wins as Haaland hits double
The Champions League returned with immediate pressure, goals and heavyweight victories as Real Madrid, Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund all opened the 2026/27 league phase with three points on Tuesday night.
Madrid edged Inter 2-1 at the Bernabéu, Manchester City beat Porto 2-0 in Portugal and Dortmund survived a five-goal battle against Villarreal. Aston Villa, Real Betis and AEK Athens also began with victories as six matches launched the new league-phase campaign.
For City, the opening night belonged to Erling Haaland.
The Norwegian scored both goals after halftime in Porto, first heading in Matheus Nunes’ cross before finishing again in stoppage time after Rayan Aït-Nouri’s delivery.
The double took Haaland to 59 goals in 59 Champions League appearances.
Madrid survive Inter pressure
Real Madrid were forced to work for their 2-1 win over Inter.
Kylian Mbappé opened the scoring in the 14th minute before Federico Valverde doubled the advantage nine minutes later after dispossessing goalkeeper Josep Martínez.
Carlos Augusto pulled one back for Inter, but Madrid held on for maximum points.
Valverde was named UEFA’s Player of the Match, while Thibaut Courtois marked his 100th Champions League appearance with a key role in preserving the lead.
The result gave Madrid exactly what opening night demanded: control of the points, even if Inter forced them to defend the advantage deep into the contest.
Haaland breaks Porto resistance
Porto frustrated City through the first half, with Diogo Costa denying Haaland, Phil Foden and Rayan Cherki.
That resistance ended after the break.
Haaland struck twice to turn City’s growing control into a 2-0 victory and was named Player of the Match.
For City, it was the kind of away result that matters early in the league phase: patient, controlled and eventually ruthless.
Guirassy drives Dortmund through chaos
Borussia Dortmund’s 3-2 win over Villarreal delivered the wildest finish among the major opening-night games.
All five goals came in the second half.
A Renato Veiga own goal put Dortmund ahead before Santiago Mouriño equalised. Serhou Guirassy then scored twice, including a penalty, before Villarreal struck again late.
Dortmund held on.
Guirassy’s performance earned him UEFA’s Player of the Match award.
The victory also extended Dortmund’s strong home record in the competition, with UEFA noting that they have now lost only two of their last 24 Champions League home matches.
Villa and Betis make statements
Aston Villa opened with a 3-2 victory away to Club Brugge, with John McGinn scoring the first goal of the 2026/27 Champions League league phase and later taking the Player of the Match award.
Real Betis also won 3-2 away at Lille in their first Champions League appearance in 21 years, while AEK Athens beat debutants LASK 1-0.
The six opening-night results were:
- AEK Athens 1-0 LASK
- Club Brugge 2-3 Aston Villa
- Borussia Dortmund 3-2 Villarreal
- Porto 0-2 Manchester City
- Lille 2-3 Real Betis
- Real Madrid 2-1 Inter
Opening night sets the tone
One night does not decide the league phase, but it establishes pressure immediately.
Madrid have started with a heavyweight win. City have taken three points away from home with Haaland already scoring. Dortmund survived a difficult contest. Villa and Betis showed they are not entering the competition to observe.
The league phase has only just opened, but several of Europe’s biggest names have already made their first move.
