Champions League 2026-27 Matchday 1: Closing the Opening Round — The Final 12
The first six games already gave us Mourinho's pragmatic Madrid, Haaland's 59-in-59, and two fairytale returns. But Matchday 1 isn't done. The six Wednesday games are in (Barcelona, Liverpool, PSG, Sporting, Stuttgart and Arsenal all took three points). Six Thursday fixtures still to play tonight — Bayern, United, Roma and the rest — and the league phase’s four debutants all feature across them. Here's the closing-round preview, the storylines, and the kits to wear while you watch.
- Wednesday’s six are in. Scores below show final results for the six Wednesday games. Thursday’s six fixtures kick off at 18:45 and 21:00 CEST tonight — those show TBD until full time and will be dropped in as each game finishes.
- The debutants get their moment. Viking (Norway), Como (Italy) and Sabah (Azerbaijan) all make their Champions League bow in this batch — alongside LASK from the opening night.
- The giants arrive. Liverpool, Barcelona, PSG, Bayern and Manchester United all open their campaigns in these 12 games.
Wednesday 9 September — the marquee names arrive
Result: Demirovic hat-trick (19′/25′/31′); Tripic 21′. Stuttgart up early, Viking briefly level, Demirovic restored and extended the lead in 12 first-half minutes.
Result: Raphinha 2′/56′, Karim Adeyemi 21′, Lamine Yamal 76′, Gabriel Jesus 84′; Sem Steijn 81′. Five different scorers for the fourth time in five games.
Result: Marcos Llorente (Julián Álvarez assist) opened for Atlético; Dominik Szoboszlai volleyed the equaliser before the break; Alexis Mac Allister thumped the winner (Isak assist) after the hour mark.
Result: Martin Ødegaard 75′ curler from the edge of the box (Mosquera assist). Arsenal xG 4.31 to Napoli’s 0.21 — a statement away win built on chance quality, not just the scoreline.
Result: Ousmane Dembélé brace, Ferran Torres brace. The holders were three up inside 32 minutes; the fourth came late to make it a statement start to the three-peat chase.
Result: Gonçalo Inácio OG 6′ (after Torreira shot), Geny Catamo 27′ equaliser, Luis Suárez penalty 56′, Rodrigo Zalazar 64′ free-kick worldie. Sporting turned a slow start into a rout.
Thursday 10 September — the round closes
What to watch across the final 12
Liverpool's European reawakening
Slot's side host Atlético in the pick of the round. A win here sets the tone for a serious run.
Conte vs the elite
Beating Arsenal at home would announce Napoli as genuine contenders, not just Serie A'reigning champions.
The three-peat begins
Every dynasty starts with a first win. Slovan at home is the softest possible opener for the holders.
Viking, Como, Sabah
Three clubs live a Champions League dream this week. Their nights are why the league phase matters.
Bodø's giant test
If anyone can spoil a home opener, it's the Norwegians. Watch the Allianz for an early upset alert.
Old Trafford, rebuilt
A winnable home tie against Sabah is the pressure-free start United need to find rhythm.
Kits to watch across the final 12
Every club in this batch that we carry is below — grab the shirt before the anthem plays. Barcelona, Liverpool, PSG, Bayern, Manchester United, Arsenal, Napoli, Feyenoord, Atlético, Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray, PSV, Shakhtar, Slavia Prague, Lens, Leipzig and Bodø/Glimt are all in range. A handful (Viking, Sabah, Slovan Bratislava, Sporting CP, Como, Stuttgart and Roma) aren't in our catalogue yet, so their stories stay in the fixtures above.
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FAQ
When does Champions League Matchday 1 finish in 2026-27?
MD1 runs across three nights — Tuesday 8, Wednesday 9 and Thursday 10 September 2026 — with 18 games in total under the 36-team league-phase format. The final 12 games are on 9-10 September.
Which clubs make their Champions League debut in 2026-27?
Four clubs appear in the league phase for the first time: Norway's Viking, Italy's Como, Azerbaijan's Sabah and Austria's LASK. Viking, Como and Sabah all feature in the final 12 games of MD1.
What are the biggest games left on Matchday 1?
Wednesday: Liverpool vs Atlético, Napoli vs Arsenal, PSG vs Slovan, Barcelona vs Feyenoord, Sporting vs Galatasaray, Stuttgart vs Viking. Thursday: Bayern vs Bodø/Glimt, Man United vs Sabah, Como vs Leipzig, Fenerbahçe vs Roma, PSV vs Shakhtar, Slavia Prague vs Lens.
Are the results in yet for the 9-10 September games?
The six Wednesday games (9 Sep) are in — Barcelona 5-1 Feyenoord, Liverpool 2-1 Atlético, PSG 6-1 Slovan Bratislava, Sporting 3-1 Galatasaray, Stuttgart 3-1 Viking, Napoli 0-1 Arsenal. The six Thursday games kick off at 18:45 and 21:00 CEST on 10 Sep; this recap will be updated with those final scores once each match finishes.
Where can I buy the kits of the MD1 clubs?
At thesoccerkits.com — Fan Edition home shirts for Barcelona, Liverpool, PSG, Bayern, Manchester United, Arsenal, Napoli, Como, Stuttgart and Roma, among others featured above.