Key Highlights from Tuesday’s Champions League Matches: Bayern Munich and Endrick Break Records, Americans Stand Out

The Champions League kicked off on Tuesday with an exciting new league-style format featuring 36 teams competing in Europe’s premier club tournament for the first time. Here are the key takeaways from the opening matches.

Bayern Munich Breaks Scoring Records

Bayern Munich has started the Vincent Kompany era with an impressive performance. Following a perfect run in the Bundesliga, Bayern launched their European campaign with a historic 9-2 victory over Dinamo Zagreb at the Allianz Arena. This win marked the first time in Champions League history that a team scored nine goals in a single match, surpassing Bayern’s own achievement in the 1983/84 UEFA Cup when they defeated Anorthosis Famagusta 10-0.

Striker Harry Kane was the standout player, netting four goals, including three penalties. Michael Olise made headlines as well, scoring twice in his Champions League debut—making him the first Frenchman since Thierry Henry in 1997 to do so. The remaining goals came from Raphaël Guerreiro, Leroy Sané, and Leon Goretzka, contributing to a total of 11 goals in the match, the second-highest in Champions League history after Borussia Dortmund’s 8-4 win against Legia Warsaw in 2016.

In the post-match press conference, Kompany addressed his critics and shared his journey, emphasizing the importance of self-belief in the face of adversity. “Do you stop believing in what you can achieve because of what other people say?” he asked, underscoring the importance of perseverance.

Endrick Makes History with Real Madrid

Defending champions Real Madrid also kicked off their campaign successfully, defeating Stuttgart 3-1 with two late goals. Kylian Mbappé opened his Champions League account for Madrid shortly after halftime, but Deniz Undav equalized for Stuttgart. Antonio Rüdiger and 18-year-old Endrick secured the win with their late strikes.

Endrick’s goal was particularly significant, as it made him the youngest goalscorer in Real Madrid’s European history at 18 years and 58 days, surpassing the previous record set by Raúl in 1995. Manager Carlo Ancelotti praised Endrick’s impact, stating, “He has the gift that strikers dream of…something I have never seen.” He highlighted Endrick’s decisiveness and strength, noting the courage it took to score under pressure.

American Players Shine in Champions League

The opening night also showcased a remarkable presence of American players in the Champions League, with two goals scored across six matches. Weston McKennie was instrumental in Juventus’ 3-1 victory over PSV Eindhoven, scoring their second goal. He was part of a historic moment, as five American players were on the field—joining Tim Weah at Juventus, while Malik Tillman, Richard Ledezma, and Ricardo Pepi played for PSV. This marked the first game in Champions League history featuring five U.S. players.

Christian Pulisic also made headlines by scoring the opening goal for AC Milan against Liverpool, although Milan ultimately fell 3-1. Despite the loss, Pulisic’s goal demonstrated the growing influence of American talent in European football.

A Stunning Goal of the Season Contender

One of the most breathtaking moments of the night came from Sporting CP’s Zeno Debast in their match against Lille. After Viktor Gyökeres opened the scoring for Sporting, Debast sealed the deal with a stunning 30-yard strike into the top corner, showcasing his skill and poise. The goal left his teammates in awe and could be a contender for goal of the season, despite it being only the first matchday.

Tuesday’s Results

Here are the results from Tuesday’s Champions League matches:

• Juventus 3-1 PSV Eindhoven
• Young Boys 0-3 Aston Villa
• Bayern Munich 9-2 Dinamo Zagreb
• AC Milan 1-3 Liverpool
• Real Madrid 3-1 VfB Stuttgart
• Sporting CP 2-0 Lille

As the Champions League season unfolds, fans can expect more thrilling moments, historic achievements, and rising stars to emerge on the European stage.