Paris Saint-Germain Dominates Atalanta in Champions League Kickoff
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), the reigning champions of the UEFA Champions League, made a resounding start to their title defense by demolishing Atalanta 4-0 at the Parc des Princes. This victory came on the second day of the 2025-26 Champions League activities, which now feature all 36 teams without the group stage.
Key Players and Their Impact
PSG’s triumph was marked by goals from Marquinhos (3′), Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (39′), Nuno Mendes (51′), and Gonçalo Ramos (90+1′). The team’s manager, Luis Enrique, emphasized the significance of this win for his squad’s confidence as they aim to defend their title:
“Winning the first Champions League is always the most challenging. Sometimes, players and fans don’t believe they can win such a trophy. Now they know they can. Of course, it will be difficult, but with our mentality, we hope to improve and have a great season.”
Historical Context and Future Ambitions
PSG joined an elite group of champions who have started their title defense with emphatic victories. In 2006, Barcelona thrashed Levski Sofia 5-0; in 2014, Real Madrid overcame Basilea 5-1; and in 2020, Bayern Munich defeated Atlético Madrid 4-0. PSG’s coach, Luis Enrique, expressed his ambition for the team to leave an even greater mark on Champions League history:
“As European champions, our goal is to win a second Champions League for Paris, given the passionate support from its fans. It will be tough, but we must remain ambitious.”
Other Notable Wins in the First Round
Besides PSG’s impressive display, other heavyweights also secured victories in their Champions League openers:
Liverpool’s Dramatic Comeback
Liverpool faced a dramatic encounter against Atlético Madrid, taking an early 2-0 lead through Andrew Robertson and Mohamed Salah. However, Atlético equalized with two goals from Marcos Llorente. Virgil Van Dijk’s late header secured a 3-2 win for Liverpool at Anfield.
“A game like this shouldn’t have been a late winner. It’s not easy to beat Atlético due to their mentality, but I can think of several moments where we could have scored a third goal and didn’t,” said Liverpool’s manager, Arne Slot.
Bayern Munich’s Rout of Chelsea
Harry Kane shone for Bayern Munich, scoring twice in a 3-1 victory over Chelsea. Trevoh Chalobah’s own goal and a late Cole Palmer strike were not enough for the London side.
Kane leads the Champions League scoring charts since 2023 with 21 goals, ahead of Kylian Mbappé (17) and Raphinha (16).
Inter Milan’s Victory Over Ajax
Inter Milan, the current runners-up in the Champions League, began their title quest with a 2-0 win over Ajax, thanks to a brace from Marcus Thuram. The Italian side aims to end their 15-year title drought.
Upcoming Matches
The first round of the Champions League will conclude on Thursday with intriguing matches, including Barcelona vs. Newcastle and Manchester City hosting Napoli with Kevin De Bruyne in the lineup. Mexican fans will be eagerly anticipating Rodrigo Huescas’s potential debut with Copenhague FC against Bayer Leverkusen.
Key Questions and Answers
- Q: Who won the Champions League opener between PSG and Atalanta? A: PSG thrashed Atalanta 4-0.
- Q: What significant ambitions does Luis Enrique, PSG’s manager, have for the team? A: He aims to leave an even greater mark on Champions League history by defending the title.
- Q: Which other teams secured wins in their Champions League openers? A: Liverpool, Bayern Munich, and Inter Milan all won their opening matches.
- Q: What was the score in Liverpool’s match against Atlético Madrid? A: Liverpool won 3-2 after a late comeback.
- Q: Who is leading the Champions League scoring charts since 2023? A: Harry Kane of Bayern Munich with 21 goals.
