Champions League Round One Review: Manchester United End Drought, Bayern Thrash Opponents, Como Emerge as Dark Horses

Manchester United were the first team that had to be mentioned. Their 4-0 home victory over Qarabag was highly significant for the Red Devils, as it marked their 300th Champions League match in club history. With 162 wins, 70 draws and 68 losses, scoring 549 goals and conceding 299, the record is impressive even among century-old giants. More importantly, the win ended Manchester United's 1,052-day wait for a Champions League victory. After nearly three years of waiting, this win finally released the pressure for the team and its supporters.

The match was one-sided from the start. Cunha opened the scoring in the 27th minute, followed by goals from Bruno Fernandes and Sesko in the 42nd and 45th minutes as United went into halftime 3-0 ahead. Lisandro Martinez added another goal in the 68th minute to complete the 4-0 scoreline. New signing Sesko scored twice and delivered a strong performance, while Bruno Fernandes also scored in this milestone match.

Bayern Munich also impressed with a 5-0 victory over Bodo/Glimt, with the performance being even more convincing than the scoreline. Bayern struggled in the first half, with Kimmich hitting the post and missing several chances. However, the match changed after the break. Musiala opened the scoring in the 47th minute, Kane contributed a goal and an assist, Davies added another, and Olise scored twice late on. The German giants once again showed their quality on the Champions League stage.

Kane continued his consistent Champions League form, and after scoring and assisting, he maintained a strong scoring rate. The concern for Bayern is whether their slow start in the first half could become a problem in key moments. Champions League opponents cannot be underestimated, no matter their level.

The most dramatic match of the night was Lens against Slavia Prague. Konechny was sent off in the second half, seemingly giving Lens an advantage. Sturm scored first, and Sima equalized, making the match appear to be heading toward a normal finish. However, Sturm scored again in the 88th minute, putting Slavia Prague close to victory. In stoppage time, Thauvin and Aguilar scored twice in succession as Lens completed a 3-2 comeback. Such last-minute twists showed the excitement of football.

The biggest dark horse of the night was Como. Their 4-1 win over RB Leipzig not only secured victory but also gave them a winning start in their first-ever Champions League appearance. Baturina scored and assisted, while Douvikas and Diao each added a goal, with Perrone completing the scoring. As one of the four new Champions League teams this season, Como were the only newcomers to win. The other three new teams all lost, making Como's performance stand out.

Leipzig's defeat was disappointing. Against a newly promoted side, they scored only once in the second half and failed to meet expectations. The Bundesliga club is known for attacking football in Europe, but they looked cautious on this occasion. Leipzig still appears to need time to adapt to the Champions League stage.

Fenerbahce drew 1-1 with Roma. Cristante scored for Roma in the first half, while Brown equalized for the Turkish giants in the 48th minute of the second half. The match produced few surprises, with both teams playing cautiously. Fenerbahce, led by Yildiz, lacked a decisive edge in attack, while Roma's defense looked solid.

The 1-1 draw between PSV Eindhoven and Shakhtar Donetsk was also full of drama. Mendoza gave Shakhtar the lead in the 46th minute, but Dest equalized for PSV just two minutes later. Two goals within such a short period highlighted the fast transitions that make Champions League matches exciting. PSV's goal of taking all three points at home was delayed, but their overall performance remained steady.

Looking at the overall picture, the Premier League was the only one among Europe's top five leagues to achieve a perfect record on the night, with all five teams collecting three points. This reflects the league's strong commercial foundation and talent pool. However, after the Champions League league phase format changed, competition will only become tougher, and whether the Premier League advantage can continue remains to be seen.

Paris and Bayern sit first and second in the standings, with both teams winning 5-0. Frankfurt and Inter also impressed, but the team that left the strongest impression was newly promoted Como. Winning 4-1 against Leipzig in their first Champions League appearance was an unexpected start.

Looking back at the group-stage matches over the past three days, several points stand out. First, new side Como delivered a surprising performance and avoided the situation where the other three newcomers all lost in the opening round. Second, Manchester United returned to Champions League winning form after nearly three years. Third, although Bayern won comfortably, their slow first half remains something to watch.

After the Champions League adopted its new league phase format, 36 teams compete together, with each team playing eight matches. The top eight teams advance directly, while teams ranked ninth to 24th enter the playoffs. The format is more compact and leaves less room for mistakes. Tonight's results are only the beginning, and the later schedule will provide the real test.

Overall, this Champions League opening night was highly entertaining. There were milestone celebrations, a dark horse breakthrough, thrilling comebacks, and concerns for strong teams. The beauty of football lies in these unexpected moments. The upcoming matches will continue to provide excitement.