A Thursday night Champions League match feels as out‑of‑place as a polar bear on Ibiza – shocking, yet oddly entertaining.
The third night of the matchweek delivered fewer headline fixtures, but goals flowed freely: 23 nets pushed the 18‑game tally to 69, an average of 3.83 per game, and a late‑night health scare added extra drama.
Manchester United finally broke their long European drought, beating debutants Sabah 4‑0. Bayern Munich thrashed Bodo/Glimt, and Como emerged as the surprise favourite.
Lens staged a dramatic comeback to edge Slavia Prague, while Roma and Shakhtar each snagged valuable points away at Fenerbahce and PSV.
Matchday 1 results – 10 September
Fenerbahce 1-1 Roma
PSV Eindhoven 1-1 Shakhtar Donetsk
Bayern Munich 5-0 Bodo/Glimt
Como 4-1 RB Leipzig
Manchester United 4-0 Sabah
Slavia Prague 2-3 Lens
Archie Brown’s expression said it all as the English defender prepared for questions after scoring a sleek equaliser for Fenerbahce against Roma, likely expecting praise for his performance.
Instead the reporter asked about Ismail Kartal’s sudden resignation. Brown stared, baffled by the translation. “What do you mean, he resigned? I didn’t know,” he replied.
He truly was in the dark. Kartal had just become the first Turkish coach to earn a Champions League point for Fenerbahce, and despite a modest result the team showed promise in the second half.
“It was a performance worthy of the Champions League,” Kartal declared in the post‑match press conference, congratulating his squad.
Minutes later he announced his departure. “I decided with my staff to open a new path for Fenerbahce,” he said.
He then declined any further questions.
This was Kartal’s fourth spell, lasting 76 days, during which he guided Fenerbahce back to Europe by beating Lyon in a thrilling play‑off. Yet two league defeats in four games and doubts over style had already raised the pressure.
A sudden resignation after a steady showing wasn’t on anyone’s bingo card, and Brown shared the collective disbelief. For my money, the chaos reveals Fenerbahce’s leadership is unstable.
The drama continued when president Aziz Yıldırım posted an extraordinary statement, blasting journalists and insisting Kartal would stay on.
“He’s one of our own,” Yıldırım claimed, adding that a fan’s bottle had rushed Kartal’s decision. “It’s a disgrace. Let’s uphold Fenerbahce’s values,” he urged.
Did he sway Kartal? “Ismail Kartal doesn’t need to say ‘I’ll stay,’” Yıldırım replied. “I’m his senior. I told him ‘You’ll stay,’ and that’s that.”
Are Como credible dark horses?
If you’re looking for romance in this Champions League season, look to Como. Their tiny stadium frames breathtaking mountains and a famous lake, and the club has risen from Serie D just eight years ago – true minnows with a story.
Money fuels them: in 2019 two Indonesian billionaires bought the club, making them Italy’s wealthiest owners. Cash alone isn’t enough, but strategic moves – like appointing Cesc Fabregas as coach in 2023 – have paid off, guiding Como to a 10th‑place debut and a fourth‑place finish last season.
On Thursday they hosted RB Leipzig at Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia, winning 4‑1. The display highlighted sharp signings – Nico Paz, Assane Diao, Martin Baturina and Tasos Douvikas – and Fabregas’ tactical flair. Legacy fans even received special seats, and captain Lucas Da Cunha, a promotion survivor, led the side.
Can they build on this momentum? Balancing domestic duties with European fixtures will test depth, but dreaming is still on the menu.
Lake it ’til you make it.
Who can stop Harry Kane?
Bayern Munich stole the spotlight, turning a tight first half into a five‑goal onslaught after the break.
Michael Olise opened the floodgate, later adding another, while Alphonso Davies smashed a brilliant drive. Harry Kane also scored, marking his eighth consecutive Champions League appearance with a goal.
Opta notes he joins a quartet – Cristiano Ronaldo (twice), Robert Lewandowski (twice) and Ruud van Nistelrooy – to net in eight or more straight games.
Bayern travel next to Viking Stavanger before a high‑profile clash with Arsenal on October 21.
Can any side halt Kane’s relentless run before the knockout stage?
If Michael Carrick had drafted a wish list before United’s first Champions League outing in nearly three years, it would read: win, score plenty, stay injury‑free, rest key men for the derby, and reward squad players. By night’s end his list was almost entirely checked.
Sabah, Azerbaijan’s champions, offer a charming backstory: a tiny stadium, a club under a decade old, managed by a former Lithuanian quiz show contestant. Yet they proved no threat to Europe’s elite, making the Thursday fixture feel like a low‑key Europa League tie.
United never relaxed. After Matheus Cunha’s well‑crafted opener, they surged, adding two more before halftime. Kobbie Mainoo and Youri Tielemans ran the midfield with relentless energy, while Benjamin Šeško added to his early‑season tally.
The second half was a formality. Mason Mount contributed modestly, while Shea Lacey and Harry Amass made brief appearances. Lisandro Martínez scored a comically timed goal, and the match wrapped up with focus already shifting to City.
It won’t rank among Old Trafford’s classics, but a comfortable win is always appreciated.