Real Madrid began their Champions League campaign with a 2-1 victory over Inter Milan, while Manchester City, Real Betis, Borussia Dortmund, Aston Villa and AEK Athens also claimed wins on a busy night of European action.
Key takeaways
- Thibaut Courtois produced a series of important stops as Inter enjoyed more than 64% possession in Madrid.
- Erling Haaland scored twice after the interval to give City a 2-0 success at Porto.
- Real Betis overturned two deficits to defeat Lille 3-2, with Marc Bartra scoring twice.
- Serhou Guirassy struck twice late on as Dortmund edged Villarreal 3-2.
- Aston Villa beat Club Brugge 3-2 away, while AEK Athens overcame LASK 1-0.
Madrid survive Inter pressure
Real Madrid took advantage of two serious Inter errors to secure a 2-1 home win. Kylian Mbappe and Federico Valverde were on target, while Courtois’ goalkeeping was central to the result at the Santiago Bernabeu.
It was a significant occasion for Jose Mourinho, who came up against his former club at the ground where he led Inter to Champions League glory against Bayern Munich in 2010. Inter, however, came close to ruining the Madrid coach’s return.
The visitors often looked the stronger team and controlled over 64% of the ball. Courtois was forced into repeated saves, ensuring that Madrid held on to a narrow advantage despite sustained pressure from the Italian side.
Madrid opened the scoring after Mbappe pressed Yann Bisseck into surrendering possession. Brahim Diaz collected the ball, advanced and supplied Mbappe, who finished low underneath the Inter goalkeeper.
Courtois soon denied Hakan Calhanoglu with a fierce free kick. Inter then handed Madrid another opportunity when goalkeeper Martinez tried to take the ball past Valverde inside the penalty area. The midfielder stole it and nudged the loose ball into the net.
Jude Bellingham was unable to convert a close-range opportunity before the interval. Inter continued to attack after the restart and reduced the deficit in the 76th minute, Carlos Augusto turning in Lautaro Martinez’s driven cross. Madrid nevertheless resisted until the final whistle.
Valverde played down his own contribution afterwards, saying that Madrid had produced an excellent first half but that he did not merit the player-of-the-match award. He said Courtois deserved the honour for an “extraordinary” display that had effectively saved the team.
City, Betis and Dortmund also prevail
Manchester City dictated proceedings in their 2-0 win at Porto. Enzo Maresca’s team enjoyed more than 70% possession, registered 20 attempts with 10 on target and forced six saves from the home goalkeeper before halftime. Porto did not manage a shot.
The breakthrough arrived two minutes into the second period. Haaland met Enzo Fernandez’s floated delivery and headed into the upper corner. The Norwegian completed his double one minute into added time, steering Rayan Ait-Nouri’s pass into the bottom corner. The result extended Maresca’s winning beginning after three consecutive Premier League victories.
Real Betis recovered from two setbacks to defeat Lille 3-2 in France. Lille went ahead in the 12th minute, but Marc Bartra levelled by meeting a cross from Fornals. Alexsandro put the hosts back in front three minutes later after a corner.
Bartra headed in Isco’s free kick four minutes after the second-half restart. Five minutes later, Troy Parrott completed Betis’ comeback with a low finish at the end of a solo run. Lille’s Ethan Mbappe was then shown a red card after a video review found that he had elbowed Natan.
Dortmund also claimed victory by the same scoreline against Villarreal. Renato Veiga’s attempted clearance ended up in the Spanish side’s goal in the 53rd minute, but Villarreal drew level with a close-range header 13 minutes later.
Guirassy restored Dortmund’s lead in the 80th minute by converting Fabio Silva’s pass. Four minutes afterwards, he scored again from the penalty spot after being fouled, completing a late double and securing the hosts’ 3-2 success.
Villa hold off Brugge as AEK start with win
Aston Villa opened their campaign with a 3-2 away victory over Club Brugge, although Unai Emery’s side had to withstand a strong second-half response. Pau Torres was particularly influential, supplying two assists.
Torres created Villa’s opener in the 11th minute, setting up John McGinn. Club Brugge answered eight minutes later through Hugo Vetlesen.
Villa quickly regained the lead when Emiliano Buendia finished from Joao Gomes’ pass. Nicolas Jackson then extended the advantage just before the break, with Torres providing the final ball once more.
Club Brugge controlled much of the second half and cut the deficit in the 61st minute. Nicolo Tresoldi converted a penalty, but Villa protected their one-goal cushion to take all three points back from Belgium.
AEK Athens also began with a victory, defeating Austrian visitors LASK 1-0 in Greece. Romanian midfielder Razvan Marin supplied the decisive moment in the 21st minute, bending a free kick from the left side outside the box over the goalkeeper and into the top corner.
