The 2026-27 Champions League league phase opened Tuesday night with six matches across Europe, headlined by Kylian Mbappé's early strike lifting Real Madrid past Inter Milan at a rocking Santiago Bernabéu.

Mbappé broke the deadlock in the 14th minute before Federico Valverde added a second, and although Carlos Augusto pulled one back for Inter, Madrid held on for a 2-1 win in front of their own fans to open the defense of their European ambitions.

Haaland brace, Villa's comeback

In Portugal, Erling Haaland scored twice as Manchester City cruised to a 2-0 win at Porto, continuing his dominant early-season form under Pep Guardiola. In Belgium, Unai Emery's Aston Villa produced the night's most dramatic result, coming from behind to beat Club Brugge 3-2 after John McGinn's early goal was canceled out by Hugo Vetlesen. Emi Buendía restored Villa's lead before new signing Nicolas Jackson scored his first goal for the club just before halftime; Brugge pulled one back from the penalty spot in the second half after Aaron Wan-Bissaka was penalized for handball, but Villa held on for their first win of the season after a goalless start in the Premier League.

VILLA'S FIRST-HALF MASTERCLASS ENDED A PAINFUL, GOALLESS START TO THE SEASON

Elsewhere on the opening night, Borussia Dortmund edged Villarreal 3-2 in a five-goal, end-to-end contest, Real Betis won 3-2 away at Lille, and AEK Athens opened their return to the competition's top table with a 1-0 win over LASK. The 2026-27 season continues the expanded 36-team "league phase" format, which replaced the traditional group stage two seasons ago and has every club facing a mix of opponents across a single combined table before a knockout playoff round decides who advances to the round of 16.

Matchday 1 sets an early pace in a Champions League campaign already shaping up as one of the more unpredictable in years, with holders and traditional powers alike put on early notice that three points are no longer a formality against sides they might once have taken for granted. Matchday 2 fixtures are scheduled for the last week of September.