Champions League: Impressive Lens, dominant Bayern, remarkable Como

Published on: 09/10/2026 - 23:19Updated on: 09/10/2026 - 23:23

3 min Reading time

If someone had predicted at halftime that this match would end 3-2 with such a wild scenario, we wouldn't have really believed it. Indeed, both Slavia and Lens delivered a disappointing first half, marked by a lack of chances and attacking intent, although determination and direct play were present. To illustrate this: Lens waited until the 30th minute to touch the ball in the opponent's box, with a shot from Abdallah Sima, who missed his attempt on a back pass.

We'll spare you the details, as the excitement truly arrived in the second half, starting with a key moment: the red card for Konecny, who fouled Sima as the last defender (49th minute). At that point, it seemed the Lens players were well on their way. However, they conceded the first goal just two minutes later from a stroke of genius by Sturm, who found the top corner of Risser's goal with a superb left-footed strike.

Disconcerted, Toppmöller's men managed to equalize almost at the start of the last quarter-hour thanks to Sima (73rd minute), who scored his fourth goal in the Champions League. As Lens brought in fresh legs to make a difference, they were caught off guard again by the storm that was Sturm, who netted a brace and thought he had given Slavia their first Champions League victory in 19 years.

Two goals in two minutes

But the Sang et Or were not ready to give up. Captain Thauvin equalized with a header in stoppage time (90+1), and Ruben Aguilar struck the Czechs two minutes later (90+3). An incredible finish and a much-welcomed victory for Lens.

Last year's semi-finalists, Bayern had to give their all to overcome Bodo Glimt. The Norwegian club, which surprised everyone last season by eliminating Inter Milan, troubled the German champions for a long time. Vincent Kompany's men had to wait until the second half to break their opponents down with a goal from Jamal Musiala (47th minute).

This goal opened the floodgates, allowing Harry Kane to take advantage of a lapse in the Norwegian defense to double the lead at the hour mark (61st minute) with a header from a free kick, before Davies (77th) and Olise (83rd and 90+2) added further touches of correction to a match that had been tightly contested in the first half.

One of the curiosities of this Champions League, which Como was discovering for the very first time in its history, was the Italian club that was still in the second division three years ago. They secured a stunning victory in their very first Champions League match, dominating RB Leipzig (4-1). The underdogs, managed by a former Spanish international who played 104 Champions League matches as a player, outclassed the Germans thanks to their attacking trio of Baturina (15th), Douvikas (38th), and Diao (54th).

---

First matchday results

Tuesday, September 8

AEK Athens-Linz ASK 1-0

Club Brugge-Aston Villa 2-3

Lille-Real Betis 2-3

Real Madrid-Inter Milan 2-1

Porto-Manchester City 0-2

Borussia Dortmund-Villarreal 3-2

Wednesday, September 9

Barcelona-Feyenoord Rotterdam 5-1

Stuttgart-Viking Stavanger 3-1

PSG-Slovan Bratislava 6-1

Liverpool-Atlético Madrid 2-1

Napoli-Arsenal 0-1

Sporting Portugal-Galatasaray 3-1

Thursday, September 10

Fenerbahçe-AS Roma 1-1

PSV Eindhoven-Shakhtar Donetsk 1-1

Slavia Prague-Lens 2-3

Bayern Munich-Bodo/Glimt 5-0

Manchester United-Sabah 4-0

Como-RB Leipzig 4-1