As the UEFA Champions League enters its second matchweek, the stage is set for another round of thrilling encounters. Harry Kane, who has yet to win the prestigious tournament, showed his determination on Matchday 1 with a four-goal performance in Bayern Munich’s 9-2 thrashing of Dinamo Zagreb. The England captain is expected to return to English soil when Bayern visits Aston Villa, despite a recent ankle injury.
Kane wasn’t the only forward to impress in the opening matches. Barcelona’s 17-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal became the Champions League’s second-youngest scorer, while Real Madrid’s Endrick, 18, marked his debut with a goal.
Reflecting on Matchday 1, Bayern’s 9-2 victory set a record for goals scored in a single game. Kane’s four goals brought his tally to 53 in just 50 appearances for the German giants. Real Madrid’s Endrick now has the opportunity to become the youngest player to score in his first two appearances as they face Lille. Kylian Mbappe might make a surprise return from injury, but his younger brother Ethan will be sidelined for Lille due to a muscle injury.
Despite Yamal’s historic goal, Barcelona suffered a 2-1 loss to Monaco after Eric Garcia’s early dismissal. Aston Villa marked their return to Europe’s elite competition with a convincing 3-0 win against Young Boys, while Liverpool secured a 3-1 victory at AC Milan. Celtic impressed with a 5-1 win over Slovan Bratislava, but Manchester City and Arsenal were held to goalless draws by Inter Milan and Atalanta respectively.
Looking ahead to this week’s fixtures, Arsenal faces Paris Saint-Germain in a crucial match. The Gunners aim to maintain their unbeaten start despite an injury to captain Martin Odegaard. Their solid defense, which has kept three clean sheets in six Premier League games, will be tested against PSG’s attack. The French champions narrowly beat Girona 1-0 but will be without Ousmane Dembele due to disciplinary issues.
Bayer Leverkusen hosts AC Milan in another intriguing matchup. Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz became the first German to score twice on his Champions League debut, while Milan’s Christian Pulisic seeks to become the first American to score in three consecutive appearances in the competition.
In this second matchweek, Borussia Dortmund welcomes Celtic, who started their campaign with an impressive 5-1 win. However, the Scottish champions face a stern test against Dortmund, who began with a 3-0 victory over Club Bruges.
The clash between Aston Villa and Bayern Munich revives memories of the 1982 European Cup final. Villa manager Unai Emery aims to become the second coach to defeat Bayern with three different teams, following Jose Mourinho’s footsteps.
In this second matchweek, RB Leipzig takes on Juventus in a match that pits Benjamin Sesko’s scoring form against Juventus’ improving attack led by Dusan Vlahovic. Leipzig, unbeaten in the Bundesliga, faces a Juventus side finding their rhythm after a slow start in Serie A.
Fans can catch the action on TNT Sports in the UK (with Arsenal vs PSG on Amazon Prime) and Paramount+ in the US. As the group stage unfolds, these matches will be crucial in shaping the landscape of this season’s Champions League, with teams looking to secure early advantages in their quest for European glory.
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