The first round of matches of the UEFA Champions League (UCL) in 2025 kicked off on Tuesday, January 21, as clubs battle for a top-eight automatic finish to advance to the knockout stages.
Last season’s Bundesliga surprise package, Stuttgart, traveled away to Bratislava, beating the Slovaks 1-3.
German-born Ghanaian, Jamie Leweling, bagged a brace before Metsoko pulled one back for the hosts, but Fabian Rieder scored in the 87th minute to put the game beyond the reach of Bratislava.
Fan witnessed one of the most high-scoring games in this season’s Champions League as Barcelona left Portugal with a stunning win over Benfica despite Vangelis Pavlidis’ insane hat-trick.
A brace each from Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha helped the Catalans to a 4-5 victory. Eric Garcia leveled the score at 4-4 before Raphinha netted the winning goal in the 90+6 minute.
Atletico Madrid fought back to secure a remarkable Champions League win over Bayer Leverkusen despite playing with 10 men for 65 minutes.
Former Manchester City forward Julian Alvarez scored twice, including a 90th-minute winner, to take Atletico third in the table.
Aston Villa missed the chance to all but secure their place in the Champions League knockouts as they were beaten by Monaco at Stade Louis II, as Wilfried Singo got the game’s only goal in the eighth minute.
Mohamed Salah scored his 50th European goal for Liverpool as the Reds booked their place in the last 16 of the Champions League with victory over 10-man Lille at Anfield.
Atalanta progressed to the play-off round of the Uefa Champions League (UCL) with a thumping 5-0 defeat of Sturm Graz in Bergamo.
Juventus’ hopes of reaching the Champions League last 16 were dealt a blow by a goalless draw away at Club Brugge.
Bologna stunned last year’s Champions League finalists Borussia Dortmund as two goals in as many second-half minutes secured their first win in this season’s competition.
PSV Eindhoven held off a second-half fightback from Red Star Belgrade to gain a vital Champions League win.
