The final evening of the first week of the Champions League league phase brought some of the biggest names in European football into focus. Attention centered on Bayern Munich and Manchester United, two clubs that took the field with the obligation to start the competition’s new format well.
United return to Europe under pressure for a result
At Old Trafford, Manchester United returned to Europe’s main stage against Sabah FK, the debutant side from Azerbaijan. For the hosts, the objective was clear: victory in the opening match and a strong statement at the start of this campaign.
The pre-match message from the coaching staff was one of maximum focus, even with a less renowned opponent on paper. Sabah reached this stage after a positive qualifying run, making the contest less straightforward than the gap in stature between the two clubs might have suggested.
Bayern enter as favorites, but face a rival that surprised Europe
One of the evening’s most closely watched duels was the one between Bayern Munich and Bodo/Glimt. The Bavarian club entered as clear favorites on paper and with the expectation of taking all three points immediately, whether at home or away, depending on the evening’s schedule.
However, standing opposite was a Norwegian side that last season drew attention as one of the standout surprises on the European stage. For Bayern, a controlled start and a positive result were seen more as an obligation than a luxury.
Como look to write history on their big debut
In Italy, Como played a match of historic weight against RB Leipzig, in the club’s first appearance in the Champions League league phase. The meeting arrived as a direct test between the excitement of a debut and the experience of a team established in European competition.
The team coached by Cesc Fàbregas entered the match aiming to open a new chapter in the club’s history. Leipzig, meanwhile, held the advantage of experience at this level and was seen as the real measure of the Italians’ ambitions.
A packed schedule in the evening’s other matches as well
Other fixtures of interest were also part of the program, including Slavia Praha-Lens. Earlier, the evening had opened with the matches Fenerbahçe-Roma and PSV-Shakhtar, completing a packed agenda in the opening week of the league phase.
The new Champions League format is putting teams under pressure from the very start, with every match carrying immediate weight in the standings. That makes the first week more than a ceremonial opening: it is a direct test of each club’s real ambitions.
With Bayern and United at the center of attention, the evening confirmed that the first week of the Champions League offers not only big names, but also immediate pressure for results.
In a format where mistakes are punished quickly, a positive start remains important capital for every team aiming to go far in the competition.