The UEFA Champions League's Matchday 1 in now over after eight games on Wednesday produced a whopping 28 goals. Real Madrid got a huge win at Inter Milan, Liverpool came back against Milan, again, and PSG somehow couldn't beat Club Brugge. And that doesn't even get to the two games that combined to score 16 goals.
Here's what to know about Wednesday's UCL action:
Champions League results
- Real Madrid 1, Inter Milan 0
- Porto 0, Atletico Madrid 0
- PSG 1, Club Brugge 1
- Liverpool 3, Milan 2
- Manchester City 6, RB Leipzig 3
- Ajax 5, Sporting Lisbon 1
- Dortmund 2, Besiktas 1
- Sheriff 2, Shakhtar Donetsk 0
Game of the day
Liverpool 3, Milan 2: What an absolutely wild match and one that showed what this chaotic competition is all about. Bringing back memories of Istanbul, though not nearly as big of a comeback, Liverpool managed to come from 2-1 down at Anfield to top the Italian giants in a bonkers game. First, Liverpool go up on an own goal and just dominate all of the chances, the run of play and pin Milan back. The Reds finished with more than three times as many shots as Milan, but the visitors scored two goals in three minutes late in the first half through Ante Rebic and Brahim Diaz to turn the match on its head.
But Jurgen Klopp's men remained composed in a match where they also had a Mohamed Salah penalty kick saved, but the Egyptian was able to draw things level in the 48th minute before Jordan Henderson did this:
While Liverpool weren't sharp for 90 minutes, they produced some of their most convincing play with the ball in this game, and despite not a lot of additions to the team, they've passed a big test and may just be true contenders once again.
Top performer
Sebastien Haller, Ajax: Here's how you want your first UCL game to go if you are a striker. Sebastien Haller, out of nowhere, grabbed four goals at Sporting Lisbon as the Dutch side won 5-1. He did it in a variety of ways, but he was always in the right spot at the right time to produce the most amazing UCL debut in recent memory.
And West Ham fans are wondering where things went wrong.
Goal of the day
There were 28 goals on the day (with Manchester City scoring six of them), so a lot to choose from, but it's City's Joao Cancelo who gets the nod here in the trashing of RB Leipzig. The Portuguese defender, who is often better going forward than at the back, hit a rocket for City's fifth goal from outside the box. Take a look:
Boy, that was sweetly hit. He's always had the ability to put his laces through it, but that was an impressive combo of power and precision to take what is probably also the best overall goal of both days of Matchday 1.
As for City, you concede three at home and still win comfortably without playing a true striker? What an attacking performance by Pep Guardiola's men. Now if they can just get the defense sorted out.
The most anticipated moment
Messi, Mbappe and Neymar on the pitch together. Let me save you some time. Together, they did next to nothing. In what was an embarrassing performance where they were outplayed as PSG produced seven less shots than Brugge and had an xG of only 1.41.
Mbappe lasted just 51 minutes due to injury, and he still out-shot Neymar who went the 90 minute but failed to even try to score. Their passing was a bit off, the chances were not there against a compact, motivated Brugge defense, and now the questions will start as to whether there is too much talent, or if that trio together just doesn't work. Those are all premature, obviously, but they didn't look remotely comfortable together.
I mean, goodness me, Brugge conceded six to Gent the other day.
Upset of the day
Despite the Brugge result, It just has to be Sheriff. The boys from Moldova, pinned back for much of the match, were able to go on the counter and put this one away for an historic performance that really must give them serious belief that they can move on. Now, with four games against Real Madrid and Inter to come, good luck, but they showed that they have the ability on Wednesday.
The kings still reign supreme
Real Madrid are synonymous with the Champions League, and with late drama and they lived up to both billings. Rodrygo was the latest to make a last-second splash for Los Blancos under the lights on European nights, getting a 89th-minute winner at Inter Milan.
On a great assist from Eduardo Camavinga, Rodrygo got to the near post in space and silenced the home crowd with one moment of precision. Take a look:
Manager Carlo Ancelotti will take it, and it's a confidence-boosting win for a new-look Real Madrid. No more Sergio Ramos, Cristiano Ronaldo is long gone, but Camavinga has made his splash and they look like a team you won't want to mess with, possessing the ability to produce something in a matter of seconds at any point.
What's next?
Matchday 2 action returns later this month, starting on Tuesday, Sept. 28.