By Open Chronicle Sports
9 September 2026
The UEFA Champions League league phase moved through its second night on Wednesday with goals, comebacks and early statements of intent across Europe.
Paris Saint-Germain produced the most emphatic result of the evening, crushing Slovan Bratislava 6–1 at the Parc des Princes, while Barcelona swept Feyenoord aside 5–1. Sporting CP recovered from an early setback to beat Galatasaray 3–1 in Lisbon, Stuttgart were powered by an Ermedin Demirović hat-trick, Liverpool came from behind against Atlético de Madrid and Arsenal left Naples with a valuable 1–0 away victory.
Combined with Tuesday’s six fixtures, 12 of the 18 Matchday 1 games have now been completed, beginning to give the new 36-team league table its first shape.
Barcelona 5–1 Feyenoord — Raphinha Leads a Five-Goal Statement
Barcelona wasted almost no time announcing themselves.
Raphinha struck in the third minute and eventually finished with two goals as Barcelona overwhelmed Feyenoord 5–1. Karim Adeyemi added the second in the 22nd minute before Raphinha struck again, with Lamine Yamal and substitute Gabriel Jesus completing the scoring. Sem Steijn supplied Feyenoord’s consolation late in the game.
The scale of the victory matters in the league-phase format. With goal difference potentially significant in separating clubs in the single 36-team table, Barcelona have immediately given themselves more than just three points.
It was also a performance carrying a wider warning: Barça did not simply win their opening European match; they attacked it with the urgency of a side determined to establish itself among the competition’s leading contenders from the first night.
Final: Barcelona 5–1 Feyenoord
Stuttgart 3–1 Viking — Demirović Scores Three in 12 Minutes
If Barcelona produced the collective attacking performance of the early games, Ermedin Demirović delivered Wednesday’s great individual burst.
The Stuttgart striker scored a remarkable first-half hat-trick in just 12 minutes, striking in the 20th, 26th and 32nd minutes. Viking briefly equalised through Zlatko Tripić in the 22nd minute, but the Norwegian Champions League debutants could not contain Stuttgart’s No. 9.
Deniz Undav supplied the assists for Demirović’s second and third goals as Stuttgart effectively decided the contest before half-time.
It was the ideal return to the Champions League for the German club — and a spectacular personal opening for Demirović.
Final: Stuttgart 3–1 Viking
Liverpool 2–1 Atlético Madrid — Anfield Comeback Gives Iraola a Winning European Start
Liverpool’s opening night demanded considerably more patience.
Atlético de Madrid struck first through Marcos Llorente after 17 minutes, forcing Liverpool to chase the game at Anfield.
The response came through Dominik Szoboszlai, who levelled before half-time, and Alexis Mac Allister completed the turnaround five minutes after the restart with the goal that ultimately secured all three points.
For Liverpool, it represented more than a successful Matchday 1. It was also Andoni Iraola’s first Champions League match as Liverpool coach, and his side demonstrated an ability to recover after Atlético had disrupted the evening with the opening goal.
Liverpool now head into the remainder of their league-phase campaign with three points already secured.
Final: Liverpool 2–1 Atlético de Madrid
PSG 6–1 Slovan Bratislava — The Champions Send the Loudest Warning
The most destructive performance of Wednesday came in Paris.
Paris Saint-Germain began their attempt to win a third consecutive Champions League title by dismantling Slovan Bratislava 6–1.
Ousmane Dembélé struck twice, in the 17th and 23rd minutes, before Ferran Torres took over. The Spanish forward completed a hat-trick with goals in the 31st, 47th and 57th minutes. Fabián Ruiz added the sixth late on, while Suleiman Camara scored Slovan’s consolation.
The result immediately sends PSG to the top end of the provisional league table with a +5 goal difference, the best produced during the opening two nights.
More importantly, the holders looked capable of rediscovering their European rhythm immediately.
For a team defending consecutive continental titles, this was an intimidating opening message.
Final: Paris Saint-Germain 6–1 Slovan Bratislava
Sporting CP 3–1 Galatasaray — Alvalade Roars After the Lions Fight Back
For Portuguese football, the performance of the evening came at the Estádio José Alvalade.
Sporting’s night actually began badly. Galatasaray went ahead after six minutes when the ball deflected off captain Gonçalo Inácio and into the Sporting goal.
But the Portuguese champions grew into the match.
Geny Catamo equalised in the 27th minute after Maxi Araújo’s delivery caused problems inside the Galatasaray area, sending the teams into half-time level.
Then Sporting took control.
Luis Suárez was brought down inside the penalty area early in the second half and converted the resulting spot kick to put the Lions ahead. Rodrigo Zalazar then produced the highlight of the night in Lisbon, driving a superb direct free-kick into the top corner to make it 3–1.
Galatasaray had begun aggressively, but Sporting’s increasingly assured second-half performance changed the balance of the contest completely.
After Porto’s 2–0 defeat to Manchester City on Tuesday, Sporting’s victory also delivered Portugal its first three points of the new Champions League campaign.
Final: Sporting CP 3–1 Galatasaray
Napoli 0–1 Arsenal — Ødegaard Delivers in Naples
Arsenal’s victory was less spectacular but potentially just as important.
The Gunners travelled to Napoli and emerged with a 1–0 win after Martin Ødegaard broke the deadlock in the 75th minute.
Arsenal had created opportunities without finding the breakthrough, but Ødegaard’s strike finally rewarded Mikel Arteta’s side and secured a valuable away victory against one of Italy’s strongest representatives.
In an eight-match league phase where every away point can influence qualification and seeding, winning in Naples is an excellent foundation.
Final: Napoli 0–1 Arsenal
Wednesday’s Champions League Results
| Match | Result |
|---|---|
| Barcelona vs Feyenoord | 5–1 |
| Stuttgart vs Viking | 3–1 |
| Liverpool vs Atlético de Madrid | 2–1 |
| Paris Saint-Germain vs Slovan Bratislava | 6–1 |
| Sporting CP vs Galatasaray | 3–1 |
| Napoli vs Arsenal | 0–1 |
Twelve Games Down — And an Early Hierarchy Begins to Form
Two nights into the competition, the Champions League table remains highly provisional, but some early signals are already visible.
PSG’s 6–1 victory gives the defending champions the strongest goal difference among the teams that have played, while Barcelona’s 5–1 demolition of Feyenoord places the Catalans immediately among the early leaders.
Stuttgart, Sporting and Manchester City have all opened with two-goal winning margins, while Arsenal, Liverpool, Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Aston Villa, Real Betis and AEK Athens have also collected maximum points.
For Sporting, Wednesday represented an especially important beginning. A difficult opening against Galatasaray became an authoritative European victory. For Arsenal, winning in Naples could prove particularly valuable when the final league standings are calculated.
Liverpool showed resilience. Stuttgart discovered a devastating match-winner in Demirović.
Barcelona showed firepower.
And PSG showed everyone that the champions have no intention of surrendering Europe quietly.
Matchday 1 is not finished yet. But after 12 matches, the 2026/27 Champions League is already beginning to tell its stories.