Champions League Opening Wins
Bayern Munich, Manchester United, and Como Secure Impressive Champions League Opening Victories
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Key Points
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Como’s Champions League debut was nearly played 200 kilometres away at Sassuolo’s stadium because the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia needed upgrades to meet UEFA requirements, but the venue ultimately passed the necessary standards.
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Manchester United briefly looked vulnerable before pulling away: Sabah’s Joy-Lance Mickels headed wide from less than five yards while unmarked at the back post. United manager Michael Carrick later brought on Harry Amass and Shea Lacey for their Champions League debuts to preserve energy ahead of the Manchester derby.
3
Bayern’s victory turned after halftime when Bodo/Glimt goalkeeper Nikita Haikin was forced off injured; his replacement, Julian Faye Lund, conceded to Jamal Musiala just 78 seconds into the second half. Harry Kane’s goal extended his scoring run to eight consecutive Champions League appearances, one short of Robert Lewandowski’s Bayern record.
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Bodo/Glimt’s difficult night ended with Odin Bjortuft being sent off in the 87th minute for clipping Michael Olise’s heels outside the penalty area, before Olise completed his brace in stoppage time.
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Tasos Douvikas played a decisive role in Como’s debut beyond scoring: the Greece forward supplied the final pass for Martin Baturina’s 15th-minute opener and then scored Como’s second goal in the 38th minute.
Manchester United, Bayern Munich, and Como all claimed decisive Champions League victories on matchday one. Economic Times reports United thrashed Azerbaijan's Sabah 4-0 at Old Trafford, while The National Herald notes Bayern demolished Bodo/Glimt 5-0. In the night's biggest surprise, Italian newcomer Como stunned RB Leipzig 4-1 in their competition debut.
The wins showcased contrasting paths to dominance. United cruised past overmatched opponents. Bayern's performance peaked after halftime when Bodo/Glimt lost their goalkeeper to injury. Como proved their maiden Champions League appearance was no fluke, outplaying a heavyweight Leipzig side.
United's Comfortable Return Masks Early Scares
Manchester United started their Champions League campaign with a convincing 4-0 result, but Economic Times notes the team briefly looked vulnerable. Sabah's Joy-Lance Mickels headed wide from less than five yards while completely unmarked at the back post—a chance that could have altered the match's tone entirely.
United manager Michael Carrick used the second half to manage workload ahead of the Manchester derby. He brought on Harry Amass and Shea Lacey for their Champions League debuts. Matheus Cunha, Bruno Fernandes, Benjamin Sesko, and Lisandro Martinez scored the four goals in a dominant second-half display.
Bayern's Goalless First Half Explodes After Goalkeeper Injury
Bayern Munich's rout of Bodo/Glimt didn't look inevitable at halftime. The match was scoreless after 45 minutes. Then Bodo's goalkeeper Nikita Haikin suffered an injury and left the field. Replacement Julian Faye Lund conceded to Jamal Musiala just 78 seconds into the second half, and Bayern never looked back.
The German giants scored five times in the second half alone. The National Herald highlights Harry Kane's goal, which extended his scoring streak to eight consecutive Champions League appearances—just one short of Robert Lewandowski's Bayern record. Michael Olise added two goals, while Alphonso Davies also scored. Bodo/Glimt's Odin Bjortuft was sent off in the 87th minute for fouling Olise outside the penalty area.
Como's Stunning Debut Nearly Played in Wrong Stadium
Como pulled off the night's biggest upset by beating RB Leipzig 4-1 in their Champions League debut. Rediff reports the Italian club faced a venue crisis before kickoff—their Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia nearly didn't meet UEFA standards, which would have forced them to play 200 kilometers away at Sassuolo's ground. The stadium ultimately passed inspection.
On the field, Greek forward Tasos Douvikas was decisive in the 4-1 victory. He assisted Martin Baturina's 15th-minute opener before scoring Como's second goal himself in the 38th minute. Assane Diao and Maximo Perrone added two more goals as Como announced themselves as serious European competitors in stunning fashion.
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