The official UEFA Champions League matchball is pictured during the MD-1 training session on the eve of the UEFA Champions League final football match between Inter Milan and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in Munich, southern Germany, on May 30, 2025. (Photo by Marco BERTORELLO / AFP)
The UEFA Champions League group stage produced high drama on Tuesday night as Tottenham Hotspur made a winning return, Real Madrid came from behind to edge Olympique de Marseille, Juventus and Borussia Dortmund played out a pulsating 4-4 draw in Turin, and debutants Union Saint-Gilloise stunned PSV Eindhoven.
At the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Thomas Frank’s men were gifted a 1-0 victory over Villarreal after goalkeeper Luiz Junior spilled Lucas Bergvall’s fourth-minute cross into his own net.
The farcical error proved decisive, as Spurs held on despite late pressure from Nicolas Pepe and Juan Foyth.
The win marked a successful Champions League debut for Frank, who replaced Ange Postecoglou in June, and ensured Tottenham began their campaign with three points after a two-year absence from the competition.
In Madrid, Kylian Mbappé scored twice from the penalty spot to hand Real a 2-1 comeback win against Marseille. Timothy Weah had given the French side a shock 22nd-minute lead after pouncing on Mason Greenwood’s assist.
But Geoffrey Kondogbia’s foul on Rodrygo allowed Mbappé to level before half-time. Madrid’s task grew harder when Dani Carvajal was sent off for headbutting goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli, but substitute Facundo Medina’s late handball gifted Mbappé a second chance from the spot. The forward converted to extend Los Blancos’ flawless record against Marseille.
In Turin, Juventus and Borussia Dortmund delivered the night’s most spectacular contest, with all eight goals arriving in the second half. Karim Adeyemi and Felix Nmecha struck for Dortmund, while teenager Kenan Yıldız and Dušan Vlahović responded for the hosts.
Ramy Bensebaini’s penalty looked to have sealed victory for Dortmund, but Juventus fought back in stoppage time. Vlahović netted his second to make it 4-3 before Lloyd Kelly headed home a dramatic 96th-minute equaliser to rescue a point.
The biggest shock came in Eindhoven, where Belgian newcomers Union Saint-Gilloise defeated Dutch champions PSV 3-1 on their Champions League group-stage debut.
Promise David opened the scoring from the spot, Anouar Ait El Hadj doubled the advantage before the break, and Kevin Mac Allister added a third late on to seal a famous victory.
Ruben van Bommel’s strike was no more than a consolation for PSV, who were left stunned by the visitors’ energy and efficiency.
The results leave Tottenham and Madrid top of their groups, Juventus and Dortmund unbeaten but sharing the spoils, while Union SG announced themselves on the European stage with a statement win in the Netherlands.
