The UEFA Champions League 2024/25 season has kicked off with a bang, delivering thrilling matches and unexpected results. This article provides a comprehensive review of Matchday 1 and a preview of the upcoming Matchday 2 fixtures. We will also delve into the latest news, stats, and facts surrounding the competition.
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Let’s now look back at Matchday 1 results from the UEFA Champions League 2024/25
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UEFA Champions League 2024/25 – Matchday 1 Results
The first matchday of the Champions League 2024/25 season did not disappoint, with several standout performances and surprising outcomes. Here is a detailed look at the results from Matchday 1.
- Juventus 3-1 PSV Eindhoven
- Young Boys 0-3 Aston Villa
- Real Madrid 3-1 VfB Stuttgart
- Bayern Munich 9-2 Dinamo Zagreb
- Sporting Lisbon 2-0 Lille
- AC Milan 1-3 Liverpool
- Bologna 0-0 Shakhtar Donetsk
- Sparta Prague 3-0 Red Bull Salzburg
- Paris St Germain 1-0 Girona
- Club Brugge 0-3 Borussia Dortmund
- Celtic 5-1 Slovan Bratislava
- Manchester City 0-0 Inter Milan
- Red Star Belgrade 1-2 Benfica
- Feyenoord 0-4 Bayer Leverkusen
- Brest 2-1 Sturm Graz
- Atalanta 0-0 Arsenal
- Atletico Madrid 2-1 Red Bull Leipzig
- AS Monaco 2-1 Barcelona
UEFA Champions League 2024/25 – Team Form and Statistics
Understanding the form and statistics of each team can provide valuable insights into their potential performance in the upcoming fixtures. Here is a look at the recent form and key statistics of some of the top teams.
Biggest Win – Bayern Munich 9-2 Dinamo Zagreb
Bayern smashed in nine goals against Zagreb in a one-sided game in Munich. England striker Harry Kane scored four goals, three from the penalty spot, while Michael Olise added two with further strikes from Leroy Sane, Raphael Guerriero and Leon Goretzka. Bruno Petkovic and Takuya Ogiwara scored Zagreb’s two goals in reply as Bayern racked up 29 shots on goal, 19 of which were on target.
Biggest Shock – AS Monaco 2-1 Barcelona
AS Monaco provided the surprise of the round as they inflicted a first defeat of the season on Barcelona in the game at the Stade Louis II. Barcelona were reduced to ten men early on when Eric Garcia was sent off, and fell behind to Maghnes Akliouche’s 16th minute opener. Lamine Yamal levelled just 12 minutes later but late in the game George Ilenikhena scored the winner to hand the Catalans a surprising opening day defeat.
Other Impressive Performances
A number of other teams registered impressive performances on Matchday 1.
- Aston Villa were comfortable 3-0 winners away to Young Boys.
- Liverpool went to Milan and emerged with an impressive 3-1 win at the San Siro.
- Dortmund defeated Club Brugge in Belgium 3-0.
- Inter travelled to Manchester City and came away with a 0-0 draw.
- Celtic thrashed Slovan Bratislava 5-1 at Parkhead.
- Bayer Leverkusen dominated Feyenoord in the Netherlands, winning 4-0.
- Brest won their first-ever Champions League game beating Sturm Graz 2-1.
- Sparta Prague defeated RB Salzburg 3-0.
UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Leading Scorers
This includes only matches from the League stage onwards in the UEFA Champions League 2024/25.
- 4 Goals – Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)
- 2 Goals – Jamie Bynoe-Gittens (Borussia Dortmund), Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen), Michael Olise (Bayern Munich)
Other Key Champions League Stats from Matchday 1
- Matchday 1 Goals – 57
- Total Goals in League Stage – 57
- Most Assists – Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich) – 3
- Most Attempts on Target – Harry Kane (Bayern Munich) – 6
- Most Tackles – Andre (Lille) – 8
- Most Saves – Ivan Nevistic (Dinamo Zagreb) – 10
UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Matchday 1 – Team of Matchday 1
- GK – David Raya (Arsenal)
- DR – Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)
- DL – Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich)
- DC – Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool)
- DC – Alessandro Bastoni (Inter)
- DMC – Oriel Romeu (Girona)
- MC – Koke (Atletico Madrid)
- AMC – Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen)
- AMR – Michael Olise (Bayern Munich)
- AML – Jamie Bynoe-Gittens (Borussia Dortmund)
- AC – Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)
Manager – Vincent Kompany (Bayern Munich)
UEFA Champions League 2024/25 – Current League Table
Qualifying criteria for knockout phase
- Top 8 teams – qualify for the Round of 16 directly.
- Teams ranked 9th to 24th – qualify for the Playoff Round to get into the Round of 16.
- Teams ranked 25th to 26th – eliminated from the competition.
Each team will play eight matches in the league phase. Four at home, four away against a mix of opponents from the four different seed groupings.
UEFA Champions League 2024/25 – Matchday 2 Fixtures
Kick off is 8pm UK Time unless otherwise stated.
Tuesday 1st October
- Red Bull Salzburg v Brest (5.45 pm)
- VfB Stuttgart v Sparta Prague (5.45 pm)
- Borussia Dortmund v Celtic
- PSV Eindhoven v Sporting Lisbon
- Slovan Bratislava v Manchester City
- Barcelona v Young Boys
- Bayer Leverkusen v AC Milan
- Inter Milan v Red Star Belgrade
- Arsenal v Paris St Germain
Wednesday 2nd October
- Shakhtar Donetsk v Atalanta (5.45pm)
- Girona v Feyenoord (5.45pm)
- Benfica v Atletico Madrid
- Liverpool v Bologna
- Red Bull Leipzig v Juventus
- Lille v Real Madrid
- Sturm Graz v Club Brugge
- Aston Villa v Bayern Munich
- Dinamo Zagreb v AS Monaco
Game of the Week
- Aston Villa v Bayern Munich
A repeat of the famous 1982 Final of this competition which Aston Villa won 1-0 courtesy of a classic mishit goal from Peter Withe. Now, as like then, the English side will start this game as the underdogs, especially after Bayern’s 9-2 win over Dinamo Zagreb in their first game in the league stage.
However, Vincent Kompany’s team will find Unai Emery’s Villa a much tougher prospect than the Croatian side. The Villains were easy winners in their opening match too, 3-0 against Young Boys in Switzerland and they certainly have enough quality to cause Bayern real problems defensively.
With Harry Kane a major doubt through an ankle injury for this game, Villa may not have to worry about the England captain. Bayern though will have to concern themselves with Ollie Watkins, who has found his scoring boots again this season.
Prediction: Aston Villa won’t be pushovers here and the Villains could be good for a draw here. (4.20 with bet365 Sport)
Surprise of the Week?
- Red Bull Leipzig to beat Juventus (2.30)
Juventus have had a good start in Serie A and the Champions League, but they face a tough trip to Germany against a Leipzig side that have started the Bundesliga in reasonably good form. The German side are unbeaten in their five league games and they pushed Atletico Madrid very close in their opening game, losing to a last gasp goal at the Wanda Metropolitano.
