Champions League: Arsenal make triumphant return, Bayern beat Man United in seven-goal thriller; Madrid, Napoli win
After seven years, Premier League side Arsenal marked their return to the UEFA Champions League with an emphatic 4-0 win over Dutch side PSV Eindhoven at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night.
Arsenal began the Group B match on the front foot as Bukayo Saka put them upfront in the eighth minute. It was a Champions League debut goal for the England international.
In the 20th minute, Leandro Trossard doubled the lead, while Gabriel Jesus made it three-nil before halftime. Gunner’s captain Martin Ødegaard sealed the win for Mikel Arteta’s side with his 70th-minute goal as they secured all three points.
PSV were not far behind Arsenal statistics-wise in the game as they finished the encounter with 41 per cent possession, 12 shots in total compared to 18 shots by Arsenal – only that the former failed to record any of those shots as on target.
In Germany, it was a dramatic end to the Group A match between Bayern Munich and Manchester United at the Allianz Arena – it finished in a 4-3 win for the Bundesliga champions.
Manchester United started the game well, but like the events of previous matches this season, the Red Devils were caught wanting after 20 minutes into the game.
In the 28th minute, Bayern Munich went ahead through Leroy Sane after Andre Onana fumbled the lukewarm shot the German midfielder had latched to him. Subsequently, the hosts doubled the lead four minutes later, thanks to Serge Gnabry.
Four minutes after the break, new signing Rasmus Højlund pulled one back for United – it was the Danish forward’s first goal for the Red Devils and his first Champions League goal.
Harry Kane restored Bayern’s two-goal advantage in the 54th minute from the spot after Christian Eriksen had handled the ball in his own 18-yard box.
However, the last minutes saw an unlikely brace from Casemiro, which limited the damage in Germany and Bayern’s fourth goal by substitute Mathyls Tel.
In the other matches, Champions League’s record-holder Real Madrid (14 titles) secured a narrow 1-0 win over debutants Union Berlin. Free-scoring Jude Bellingham scored the stoppage-time winner for the Los Blancos.
Victor Osimhen was not on the scoresheet but provided an assist as Serie A champions Napoli opened their Champions League campaign with a 2-1 away win over Portuguese side Braga.
The Nigerian forward provided Di Lorenzo with the opener of the Group C fixture just before the halftime break. Bruma equalised for Braga in the 84th minute, but the visitors regained the lead four minutes later from an own goal by Sikou Niakate.
Full results
Real Madrid 1 vs 0 Union Berlin
Arsenal 4 vs 0 PSV Eindhoven
Bayern Munich 4 vs 3 Manchester United
Galatasaray 2 vs 2 FC København
Sevilla 1 vs 1 Lens
Braga 1 vs 2 Napoli
Benfica 0 vs 2 Salzburg
Real Sociedad 1 vs 1 Inter
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