Champions League 2020-21: Matchday 1 review

With the first set of fixtures having played, matchday 1 of the 20/21 edition of the Champions League has driven home the point that football is one of the most unpredictable sports in the world.

Here’s what went down on Tuesday and Wednesday:

Lazio 3-1 Borussia Dortmund 

A match that promised to be a collision of two of the underdogs in the Champions League tilted in the favour of the Italian club in the first half itself. 

Dortmund were down 2-0 at half-time, and their performances at the back have been concerning for quite some time now. Despite having the likes of Sancho, Haaland and Reus leading the attack, the visitors only managed to pull one back in the second half. 

Immobile opened the scoring 6 minutes in, and assisted Jean Akpa for the last goal of the match to make it 3-1. 

Paris Saint-Germain 1-2 Manchester United 

Bruno Fernandes managed to score another penalty for United 23 minutes in to give the visitors the lead. After a Martial own goal levelled things up ten minutes after half time, it took the dying stages of the match for Marcus Rashford to score the winner for United. 

Despite the recent defensive problems that Manchester United have faced, the victory away was a significant step up as they managed to neutralise the menacing front-three of Neymar, Mbappe and former player Di Maria. 

Real Madrid 2-3 Shakhtar Donetsk 

Arguably the most shocking result from matchday 1, the Ukrainian side managed to put 3 past the 13-time Champions League winners in the first half itself. Shakhtar were blindingly fast and precise in their counter-attacks, which gave the Madrid defence some real headaches. 

Modric’s screamer from 25-yards out managed to pull Real back into the competition. Vinicius Jr.’s goal with his very first touch gave Los Blancos hope to equalise at the very least. 

But alas, it was heartbreak for the Madridistas as a Fede Valverde goal in the dying stages of injury time was ruled out for Vinicius obstructing the vision of the goalkeeper. 

Bayern Munich 4-0 Atletico Madrid 

The reigning champions started their European title defence by doing what they do best, scoring goals. 

In a match that promised a heavyweight collision between one of the best attacking and defensive sides in Europe proved to be a one-horse race as the German giants put 4 past the Rojiblancos. 

Kingsley Coman scored two and assisted one, continuing his Champions League heroics from last season. 

Inter 2-2 Borussia Mönchengladbach 

The first half ended level for both teams involved, with neither managing to open the scoring. Shortly after half time, Romelu Lukaku gave Inter the lead from close range. However, it was short-lived as Gladbach pulled one back from the penalty spot shortly after. 

The last minutes of regulation time saw the Germans take the lead and let it go only five minutes later for Lukaku to save the day for Conte’s team again. 

Other Results 

• Zenit 1-2 Club Brugge
• Dynamo Kyiv 0-2 Juventus 
• Chelsea 0-0 Sevilla
• Rennes 1-1 Krasnodar
• Barcelona 5-1 Ferencvaros 
• RB Leipzig 2-0 Istanbul Basaksehir
• RB Salzburg 2-2 Lokomotiv Moscow 
• Manchester City 3-1 Porto
• Olympiakos 1-0 Marseille 
• Ajax 0-1 Liverpool
• Mitjylland 0-4 Atalanta

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