PARIS: New format. Same old winners.

The revamped Champions League made its debut on Tuesday with some familiar clubs claiming victories on opening night.

Harry Kane scored four as Bayern Munich became the first team to score nine goals in a game in the modern Champions League; the German club opening their bid for a seventh title — which could be achieved in their home stadium in May — with a 9-2 rout of Dinamo Zagreb.

It was a remarkable way to mark the opening night of the new format of Europe’s elite club competition, with the Champions League now featuring 36 teams all pooled together in one giant league instead of the old group stage.

Every participant now plays eight games against eight different opponents, with the top eight teams at the end of the league phase advancing automatically to the last 16.

Those finishing from ninth to 24th will go through to a play-off round to decide the remaining sides in the last 16, while the bottom 12 will be eliminated.

UEFA, European football’s governing body, introduced the new format to ward off the threat of a breakaway Super League by the biggest clubs, but it also hopes the changes will breathe new life into the competition.

Bayern fans didn’t appear enthusiastic about the new format, holding aloft a gigantic banner that ran the length of one end of the stands reading “Too much of a good thing — back to the roots — undo new CL-format.”

The protest banner was displayed during the playing of the Champions League anthem.

After joining from Paris St Germain, Kylian Mbappe scored for 15-time champions Real Madrid, who needed late goals from Antonio Rudiger and Endrick to beat VfB Stuttgart 3-1.

“I know I can do more, each game I feel better and now I’m scoring goals, and I’m happy here,” new signing Mbappe told broadcaster Movistar. “What we know is that the Champions League has changed and it’s important to win quickly to see if we can qualify quickly or not.”

Six-time champions Liverpool marked their return to Europe’s top table by coming back from a goal down to win 3-1 at seven-time champions AC Milan in a rematch of the 2005 and 2007 finals.

Two-time champions Juventus dispatched PSV Eindhoven 3-1, Aston Villa returned to the competition for the first time in 41 years and won 3-0 at Young Boys in Bern; and Sporting Lisbon beat 10-man Lille 2-0.

KANE’S RECORD

Kane converted three penalties at the Allianz Arena and broke Wayne Rooney’s record for the most Champions League goals by an English player by boosting his tally to 33 — three ahead of Rooney.

“An amazing game, a bit of a crazy game,” Kane told broadcaster DAZN. “It’s the first time I’ve scored three [penalties] in a game. That doesn’t happen at all really.”

Bayern’s best goal might have been their second from Raphael Guerreiro, who crushed in a powerful drive after a chest pass from Jamal Musiala.

Bayern coach Vincent Kompany was not the first choice when he was hired in May but so far his team has won all five of its matches. His team now top the Champions League standings on goal difference.

Bayern had been the last team to score eight in a Champions League match, when they beat Barcelona 8-2 in the quarter-finals in 2020.

Michael Olise scored twice on his Champions League debut, while Leroy Sane and Leon Goretzka were also on target for the home team in Germany.

Croatian champions Dinamo were 3-0 down at the break but scored twice in two minutes just after half-time to give the hosts a scare, with Bruno Petkovic and Takuya Ogiwara on target. But Bayern then scored six times from the 57th minute onwards.

REAL TESTED

There was plenty of excitement around the continent on Tuesday, with reigning champions Real made to work hard before beating Stuttgart at the Santiago Bernabeu.

“This was a typical Madrid match in the Champions League,” Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois said. “We always have difficult games. We sometimes complicate things ourselves, but credit to Stuttgart. They pressed high, they were really offensive and they created chances.”

After a scoreless first half, Mbappe put Real ahead seconds after the break when he redirected a cross from Rodrygo.

However, Deniz Undav equalised midway through the second half for a Stuttgart side appearing in the Champions League for the first time since 2010.

Real nevertheless emerged victorious as Rudiger headed them back in front against his old side seven minutes from time, and Brazilian youngster Endrick sealed it with a solo counterattack in stoppage time.

At 18 years and 58 days, Endrick became Real’s youngest scorer in the Champions League. Raul Gonzalez was 18 years and 113 days old when he scored a hat-trick in a 6-1 win against Ferencvaros in 1995 for the previous record.

BACK IN THE BIG TIME

Under experienced coach Unai Emery, Villa have won three of their four Premier League matches and were in control virtually throughout at Young Boys in their first ever match in the modern Champions League, 41 years after they last appeared in the old European Cup.

Youri Tielemans put Villa ahead with a bouncing shot midway through the first half and Jacob Ramsey doubled the lead 11 minutes later by taking advantage of a loose ball. Amadou Onana sealed it four minutes from time.

Emery has won the Europa League four times with two clubs — three with Sevilla and once with Villarreal. He also coached Villarreal to the Champions League semifinals in 2022 and led Villa to the Conference League semifinals last season.

Emery wanted his team to take three points as a tribute to the club’s former striker Gary Shaw, a member of their European Cup-winning side who died on Monday aged 63 after being injured in a fall.

“Forty-two years [ago] they achieved winning the Champions League. We want to try and follow what that team achieved,” Emery said.

YILDIZ THE YOUNGEST

Kenan Yildiz’s goal for Juventus after 21 minutes was the first of the revamped competition. And what a goal it was.

The Turkey winger dribbled into the left side of the box and curled in a long shot off the far, top corner of the goal frame.

At 19 years and 136 days, Yildiz broke the Juventus record for youngest scorer in the competition that Alessandro Del Piero established when he scored at 20 years and 308 days against Borussia Dortmund in September 1995.

With a goal reminiscent of the way Del Piero used to score, it seemed fitting that Yildiz was wearing the same No. 10 that Del Piero wore for Juventus.

“He was my idol as a child,” Yildiz said. “An incredible evening, goosebumps.”

Weston McKennie and Nicolas Gonzalez also netted in Turin while Ismael Saibari pulled one back for PSV.

LIVERPOOL COMEBACK

Christian Pulisic scored early for Milan at San Siro before Liverpool struck back with headers from both of their centre-backs before the interval: Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk. Dominik Szoboszlai added another for Liverpool.

“I’m very proud to be standing here after 50 appearances, a goal and a win at the San Siro after a difficult start. The way we played after that start was outstanding,” Liverpool captain Van Dijk said.

Impressive Swedish striker Viktor Gyokeres, who had been an Arsenal transfer target, opened the scoring for Sporting with a neat turn and shot into the bottom left corner. It was Gyokeres’ ninth goal in six matches this season.

Lille midfielder Angel Gomes was sent off before the break and Zeno Debast added a long-range piledriver midway through the second half.

Published in Dawn, September 19th, 2024