Bayern Munich, on Wednesday night, beat Manchester United 4-3 in their heavyweight Champions League clash, while Arsenal began their campaign with a big victory over PSV Eindhoven at the Emirates Stadium.
Jude Bellingham, on the other hand, snatched a dramatic late winner for Real Madrid against Union Berlin at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The meeting between German champions Bayern and a struggling United side, a repeat of the 1999 final, was the biggest game of the opening round of matches in this season’s competition and it did not disappoint.
Leroy Sane gave Bayern the lead at the Allianz Arena with a shot that squirmed through the grasp of United goalkeeper, Andre Onana, and Jamal Musiala set up Serge Gnabry to make it 2-0 just after the half-hour mark.
Rasmus Hojlund pulled one back early in the second half with his first United goal, but shortly after Christian Eriksen was penalised for a handball in the box, Harry Kane blasted in the resulting penalty.
Sane hit the post for the hosts before a crazy finish saw Casemiro reduce the deficit again, substitute Mathys Tel score Bayern’s fourth, and Casemiro nod in another at the death to make it 4-3.
Erik ten Hag’s United team have now suffered three consecutive defeats in all competitions and lost four of their last five matches.
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Bayern are already in control of Group A, in which the other game saw Galatasaray come from two goals down to draw 2-2 with FC Copenhagen.
In Madrid, Bellingham popped up from close range to score a 94th-minute winner as record 14-time European champions Real beat tournament debutants Union Berlin 1-0 in Group C.
The England international has started his Madrid career in stunning goalscoring form with six goals in six games for the club across all competitions.
Madrid’s next game is away to Napoli, who won 2-1 against Braga in Portugal with Sikou Niakate’s late own goal giving the Italian team victory.
Also, Arsenal cruised to a 4-0 win over PSV Eindhoven in their first Champions League game since the 2016/17 season.
Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard, and Gabriel Jesus all scored first-half goals in the rain in London and Martin Odegaard wrapped up the win after the break.
Their Group B rivals Sevilla and Lens drew 1-1 in Spain, with Angelo Fulgini’s free-kick earning the French side a draw after Lucas Ocampos headed the hosts in front.
Last season’s beaten finalists Inter Milan needed an 87th-minute Lautaro Martinez equaliser as they came from behind to draw 1-1 at Real Sociedad in Group D.
In the same group, Red Bull Salzburg missed one penalty but scored another in a 2-0 win away to Benfica in Lisbon.
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