Real Madrid and Manchester City kick off with wins as Champions League returns
Real Madrid and Manchester City secured victories as the Champions League season commenced with strong performances from star strikers Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland. The tournament continues with high expectations for these clubs to challenge the defending champions, Paris Saint-Germain.
Why it matters
The Champions League remains the premier global club soccer competition, driving significant media and commercial interest in European sports.
There were goals for Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland; and wins for Real Madrid and Manchester City as the Champions League returned Tuesday (September 8, 2026) for a new season.
Mbappe gave record 15-time champion Madrid an early lead en route to 2-1 victory over Inter Milan at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Haaland scored both goals as 2023 winner City beat Porto 2-0.
Madrid and City are expected to be among the main challengers to back-to-back defending champion Paris Saint-Germain this season, and each club will be relying on its star strikers.
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Mbappe's goal after 14 minutes was his 71st in European club soccer's top continental competition and saw him move level with Madrid great Raúl in fifth place on the all-time scorers list. Haaland took his tally to 59 in 59 appearances in the Champions League.
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