CORNERFLICK
The second night of the opening round of the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League delivered a statement of intent from several of Europe’s leading contenders, with Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona producing emphatic victories while Arsenal and Liverpool came through much tougher tests.
Barcelona enjoyed one of the most convincing wins of the night, sweeping Feyenoord aside 5-1. Raphinha struck twice, while Lamine Yamal contributed a goal and an assist as the Catalans underlined their attacking firepower. Beyond the three points, such a commanding scoreline could prove valuable in the race for a top-eight finish, where goal difference may ultimately play a significant role.
The biggest victory of the evening, however, belonged to Paris Saint-Germain. The defending champions demolished Slovan Bratislava 6-1, with Ferran Torres completing a hat-trick and Ousmane Dembélé scoring twice. It was an emphatic opening statement from PSG and a reminder that they remain among the leading candidates to lift the trophy once again.
At Anfield, Liverpool were forced to dig deep against Atlético Madrid. The Spanish side took the lead through Marcos Llorente, but Dominik Szoboszlai restored parity before Alexis Mac Allister completed the turnaround to secure a 2-1 victory. More than the result itself, Liverpool’s response after falling behind demonstrated their resilience and ability to adapt under pressure.
Arsenal also claimed one of the most valuable wins of the round, beating Napoli 1-0 away from home. Martin Ødegaard scored the decisive goal in the 75th minute as last season’s runners-up began their European campaign with an impressive victory on Italian soil. The performance also highlighted Arsenal’s defensive organisation and growing maturity on the European stage.
Elsewhere, Sporting CP came from behind to defeat Galatasaray 3-1, while Stuttgart recorded an identical victory over Viking, with Ermedin Demirović scoring all three goals for the German side.
The opening results delivered an early warning to the rest of Europe: the Champions League heavyweights have wasted little time finding their stride, and the battle for a place in the top eight is already taking shape.