Arsenal, Real, Tottenham triumph; Juventus-Dortmund 4-4 classic

KATHMANDU: Arsenal, Real Madrid, and Tottenham kicked off their Champions League campaigns with wins on Tuesday, while a dramatic Juventus vs. Borussia Dortmund clash ended in a 4-4 draw.

Unexpectedly, PSV Eindhoven suffered a home defeat against Belgium’s Royal Union SG.

Arsenal Defeat Athletic Club 2-0

In their Champions League opener, Arsenal secured a confident 2-0 away victory over Athletic Club. Gabriel Martinelli came off the bench to score just 36 seconds after entering in the second half, followed by a goal in the 71st minute, assisted by Leandro Trossard. Trossard added a third goal in the 86th minute.

Despite Athletic Club’s efforts on their home ground—their first Champions League campaign since 2014–15—they could not find the net. Arsenal claimed all three points along with a clean sheet, marking a successful start to their campaign.

PSV Eindhoven Fall 1-3 to Royal Union SG

PSV Eindhoven struggled at home against Royal Union SG, losing 1-3. Promis Devid opened the scoring for the visitors from a penalty in the 9th minute, followed by Anwar Ait El Haj’s goal in the 39th minute. Kevin McAllister sealed the victory in the 65th minute, and Ruben Van Bommel scored a consolation goal for PSV in the 90th minute. The result sees Royal Union SG off to a strong start, while PSV faces early pressure in the group stage.

Real Madrid Overcome Marseille 2-1 with Two Kylian Mbappé Penalties

Real Madrid endured a challenging match against Marseille but emerged 2-1 victors, despite being reduced to 10 men. Marseille’s Timothy Weah gave the home side the lead in the 22nd minute, but a penalty converted by Kylian Mbappé equalized six minutes later. A second penalty, again converted by Mbappé in the 81st minute, sealed the win.

Real faced early setbacks, including a hamstring injury to Trent Alexander-Arnold and a red card for Dani Carvajal. Nevertheless, under coach Xabi Alonso, the 15-time European champions started the season strongly, aiming to improve on last season’s disappointing 11th-place finish.

Juventus and Borussia Dortmund Share Eight-Goal Thriller

Juventus and Borussia Dortmund played out a spectacular 4-4 draw. After a goalless first half, Dortmund went 4-2 up by the 86th minute following a penalty. In stoppage time, Juventus staged a remarkable comeback, with Dusan Vlahovic scoring twice—first in the 94th minute and then assisting a headed equalizer by Lloyd Kelly in the 96th minute. This match marked only the second time in Champions League history that eight goals were scored in a single half, echoing Bayern Munich’s 9-2 second-half spree against Dinamo Zagreb last season.

Other Results

• Benfica 2–3 Qarabag

• Tottenham Hotspur 1–0 Villarreal

In London, Tottenham’s luck struck early as an own goal by Villarreal’s goalkeeper Luiz Junior in the fourth minute handed the home side a 1-0 victory. Meanwhile, in Portugal, Qarabag stunned Benfica with a 3-2 win, highlighted by Pedro Bicalho’s decisive performance.

Champions League Results – Sept 16, 2025

• Athletic Club 0–2 Arsenal

• PSV Eindhoven 1–3 Royal Union SG

• Juventus 4–4 Borussia Dortmund

• Real Madrid 2–1 Marseille

• Benfica 2–3 Qarabag

• Tottenham 1–0 Villarreal

The first matchday of the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League has already delivered excitement, surprises, and thrilling football, setting the stage for a highly competitive group stage.