Celtic and Sparta Praha were the biggest winners on the second night of the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League.
Last season’s runners-up Borussia Dortmund picked up maximum points thanks to a late rally, while Paris was pushed even harder by debutants Girona before claiming a last-minute winner.
Bologna, also making their competition bow, opened with a point at home, and there was a goalless draw in the repeat of the 2023 final.
Wednesday night’s UCL action
Playing their first match at this level in 19 years, Sparta took an early lead when Kaan Kairinen stroked in after Salzburg goalkeeper Janis Blaswich had parried Lukáš Haraslín’s drive into the midfielder’s path.
Victor Olatunji made it 2-0 shortly before the interval, collecting Filip Panák’s long ball and firing into the bottom corner. There was little change to the pattern of play after half-time and Qazim Laçi put the seal on a comfortable Sparta victory shortly before the hour mark, sliding Olatunji’s square ball into the net from close range.
After Bologna goalkeeper Łukasz Skorupski saved Georgiy Sudakov’s fourth-minute penalty, an inspired performance from his Shakhtar counterpart ensured the first-ever meeting between these teams finished goalless.
Dmytro Riznyk turned Santiago Castro’s shot behind during first-half added time, then hared off his line shortly after the restart to stop Giovanni Fabbian’s strike at similarly close quarters. The Rossoblù could not turn dominance into a breakthrough, ending their run of scoring in 23 consecutive European home matches.
Celtic landed their biggest win in the Champions League proper against tournament debutants Slovan Bratislava. Liam Scales’ powerful header gave Celtic a half-time lead, before Kyogo Furuhashi’s close-range finish and a penalty converted by the impressive Arne Engels after the restart gave them complete control.
Kevin Wimmer offered hope to the Slovakian champions with a sublime effort of his own, but calm finishes from Daizen Maeda and Adam Idah capped victory for the hosts.
Club Brugge 0-3 Borussia Dortmund
Jamie Gittens’ double and Sehrou Guirassy’s cool spot-kick ensured last season’s runners-up got off to a winning start in Bruges.
Hugo Vetlesen almost gave the hosts an early advantage but hooked his powerful volley against the bar. Club Brugge’s display forced BVB coach Nuri Sahin to make a host of attacking changes in the second half, including the introduction of Guirassy and Gittens.
The England Under-21 international struck twice in 11 minutes late on, the first a deflected effort before a dazzling piece of individual brilliance doubled the lead. Fellow replacement Guirassy added a third with a chipped penalty in added time.
This replay of the 2022/23 final finished in stalemate with neither side able to break the deadlock in Manchester. The first half saw chances at both ends, Erling Haaland shooting narrowly wide for Manchester City and Marcus Thuram heavily involved in Inter’s best opportunities.
After the restart, both teams had near misses from close range, Henrikh Mkhitaryan off target for the visitors and City’s İlkay Gündoğan heading a Joško Gvardiol cross at Yann Sommer.
Though the hosts increased the pressure in the closing stages, the points were shared.
A late Paulo Gazzaniga’s own goal denied Champions League debutants Girona a fine point in Paris. Girona, the 14th Spanish club to play in the competition proper, defended well all night and looked well set to keep last season’s semi-finalists at bay.
Paris winger Ousmane Dembélé failed to get a shot away when clear on goal and also hit the crossbar from the edge of the penalty area. Substitute Randal Kolo Muani also twice put chances wide before Nuno Mendes’ cross-shot went in via goalkeeper Gazzaniga.
