UEFA Champions League 2024/25: Key Highlights and Matchday 1 Results

The UEFA Champions League has kicked off with an exciting start to the 2024/25 season, featuring several high-profile matches and impressive performances from top teams.

Matchday 1 Highlights

Liverpool marked their return to the Champions League with a 3-1 victory over AC Milan at the San Siro. Despite going a goal down early, Liverpool battled back with set piece magic to secure the win. Manager Arne Slot celebrated his 46th birthday in style with this first Champions League victory.

Bayern Munich made a stunning start to their campaign, demolishing Dinamo Zagreb 9-2. Harry Kane was the star of the show, scoring four goals and breaking the record for the most goals by an English player in the Champions League, surpassing Wayne Rooney's previous record of 30 goals.

Aston Villa had an impressive debut in the Champions League, defeating Young Boys 3-0 in Switzerland. The match saw Villa dominate, even having two goals ruled out, as they began their European campaign on a high note.

Real Madrid started their title defense with a hard-fought 3-1 win over Stuttgart at home. Late goals from Antonio Ruediger and 18-year-old Endrick, who scored his first Champions League goal, sealed the victory for Madrid.

Notable Performances

Endrick's debut goal for Real Madrid was particularly noteworthy, as he chose to shoot from distance despite having Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbapp as passing options. Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti praised Endrick's courage and confidence.

Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie made history by becoming the first pair of United States internationals to score on the same day in the UEFA Champions League. Pulisic scored for AC Milan, while McKennie scored for Juventus in their 3-1 win over PSV Eindhoven.

New Format and Upcoming Matches

The 2024/25 UEFA Champions League features a new format, with a 36-team field and a revamped league phase. Teams are gearing up for the challenges ahead, with several high-profile matches scheduled in the coming weeks. Manchester City will face Inter Milan and Paris Saint-Germain, while Arsenal will take on Atalanta and Paris Saint-Germain in their group stage fixtures.

Celtic started their Champions League campaign on a positive note, winning their opening match against Slovan Bratislava for the first time. This victory marked a promising start for the Scottish side in the competition.