Arsenal FC and Kai Havertz got off to a confident start in the Champions League, but Benfica Lisbon and coach Roger Schmidt suffered a setback.
With national player Havertz in the starting line-up, the English won 4-0 (3-0) against PSV Eindhoven. After over 75 minutes, Benfica lost 0:2 (0:1) against Austria’s soccer champions FC Salzburg. Last year’s finalists Inter Milan managed a 1-1 (0-1) draw at Real Sociedad thanks to a late equalizer. Italy’s champions SSC Napoli won a 2-1 (1-0) win at Portuguese club Sporting Braga.
Arsenal started their first group stage start in seven years as if the Londoners had never left. Bukayo Saka (8th minute), Leandro Trossard (20th) and Gabriel Jesus (38th) made things clear before halftime. Martin Odegaard (70th) increased after the break.
False start for Benfica coach Schmidt
In Lisbon, an exciting, fast-paced game developed from the start. Salzburg’s Karim Konaté put a penalty kick over the goal in the 4th minute. Just nine minutes later, Benfica’s António Silva received a red card after a handball on the goal line, and Roko Šimić scored the next penalty (15′). After the break, Oscar Gloukh (51st) stepped up for the guests and gave Benfica coach Schmidt a false start.
There were long signs of something similar for Inter, who fell behind in San Sebastián in the 4th minute. Brais Mendez scored early for the Basques, but Lautaro Martinez (87th) equalized late on. Naples, on the other hand, prevailed in Braga thanks to a goal from Giovanni di Lorenzo (45th 1) and an own goal from Sikou Niakaté (88th). The ex-Leipziger Bruma (84th) scored to equalize.
Galatasaray Istanbul had previously just avoided a false start in FC Bayern’s group. Thanks to two goals shortly before the end, the Turkish champions scored 2-2 (0-1) against FC Copenhagen. Sacha Boey (86th minute) and Tetê (88th) ensured the hosts won the point. Mohamed Elyounoussi (35th minute) and Diogo Gonçalves (58th) had previously given the Danes the lead. After Elias Jelert was sent off (73′), the Scandinavians began to falter.
