Europe’s Best Are Back
09/20/2023
By: Jeff Yoder
Barcelona, PSG & Man. City Kick Off the 2023 UEFA Champions League in Top Form
Soccer’s ultimate inter-European clash is officially underway! For those amateur soccer fans who aren’t familiar with the Champions League, it’s a year-long competition among Europe’s best clubs. The 32 squads — determined by placement in last year’s domestic competition — compete in six group-stage matches throughout the fall before a knockout bracket in Spring 2024. Yesterday was the first half of Matchday 1, and there was no shortage of star power. The defending champions, Manchester City, opened the new UCL campaign with a 3-1 win on a brace from Julian Alvarez. Kylian Mbappe struck first for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG),. And Barcelona started hot with a 5-0 drumming of Antwerp thanks to Robert Lewandowski and Joao Felix (2 goals).
Goal by the Goalie! — By day’s end, a goalkeeper’s equalizer was the goal of the day! Lazio’s Ivan Provedel headed in a desperation goal in the 95th minute to save a point against Atletico Madrid. Incredible.
Champions League (Matchday 1)
RB Leipzig def. Young Boys (3-1)
FC Porto def. Shakhtar Donetsk (3-1)
Man. City def. Crvena Zvezda (3-1)
Lazio draw Atletico Madrid (1-1)
The slate features eight more matches this afternoon, then we’ll turn down the highlights (just the notable moments) throughout the rest of the group stage.
Today’s Schedule (Matchday 1)
Real Madrid vs. Union Berlin (12:45 pm ET)
Galatasaray vs. Copenhagen (12:45 pm ET)
Bayern vs. Manchester United (3:00 pm ET)
Arsenal vs. PSV (3:00 pm ET)
Inter vs. Real Sociedad (3:00 pm ET)
Benfica vs. RB Salzburg (3:00 pm ET)
Napoli vs. Braga (3:00 pm ET)
Sevilla vs. Lens (3:00 pm ET)
Champions League Favorites
Man. City (+200), Bayern (+550), Real Madrid (+800), Arsenal (+1000), Barcelona (+1400), Paris Saint-Germain (+1600)
Read More
CBS Sports: WATCH: Lazio Goalkeeper Ivan Provedel Scores Last-Minute Equalizer Against Atletico Madrid
ESPN: Red Star Belgrade Remind Man. City How Tough Defending Champions League Title Will Be
Photo: Christian Liewig-Corbis / Getty Images