5 Things from the Champions League (Matchday 1)

The Champions League is back with the first round of group stage games already completed with more to come. It may be early days but here are the five things from Matchday 1.

• Deja Vu in Naples for Liverpool 

Last season, Liverpool visited Napoli at the San Paolo and were second best, losing the game 1-0. This time, they arrived at Naples as European champions as they started off their title defence with a 2-0 defeat with goals from Dries Mertens and Fernando Llorente on Tuesday. Both Napoli and Liverpool had chances in the game to score but Liverpool lacked the final touch and Napoli was kept out by Adrian, who made a fantastic save to keep the score level. Things went in Napoli's were awarded a penalty when José Callejón was brought down by Andy Robertson. Mertens netted the spot kick despite Adrian getting a hand to it as Napoli got the lead with eight minutes left to play. A rare error from Virgil van Dijk was capitalized by Fernando Llorente who scored the second goal in injury time, giving the Azzuri all three points as Liverpool's troubles on the road continues.

• PSG put three past sorry Real

PSG put up a very comprehensive performance against Real Madrid at the Parc de Princes, beating them 3-0 on Wednesday. The Parisians were without Neymar, Mbappé and Cavani as they were unavailable due to injury and suspension but it didn't show that they missed their star attackers. Ángel Di María put the home in front with the pace of the ball beating Thibaut Courtios by his near post. He then scored again with a brilliant shot that dipped into the right-hand corner. Madrid quickly responded with a goal from Gareth Bale but were ruled out by VAR as Bale handled the ball. Madrid found no answer to PSG struggling to contain them, having no kind of control in midfield and were toothless up front with no shot on target, the first since Opta records began. Thomas Meunier scores PSG's third to compound Madrid's misery as the Ligue 1 champions start their campaign with a bang. 

• Stalemate at the Metropolitano 

Atlético Madrid came from two goals down to salvage a point against Juventus at the Wanda Metropolitano as the goal ended 2-2. It was intriguing to see this new Atléti in action especially facing a common nuisance in Cristiano Ronaldo. Juan Cuadrado gave the Italian side the lead early in the second half with a screamer that hit the top corner, leaving Jan Oblak rooted. Blaise Matuidi doubled Juve's with a good team goal that he capped off. Atlético came into their own in the last twenty minutes when Sfepan Savić netted from a set piece. At the end of the 90 minutes, Atlético equalized from another set piece with Hector Herrera getting the final touch to net it home. Ronaldo almost won the game for Old Lady but was inches wide which was the last action of the game as Juventus were underwhelmed in their game management while Atlético will be the happier of the two teams.

• No goals at Dortmund 

Borussia Dortmund were able to hold off Barcelona at the Westfalonstadion with the game ending 0-0 on Tuesday. Barcelona gave a Champions League debut for 16 year old Ansu Fati, who become the youngest Barcelona to make his debut in the Champions League, with Lionel Messi back to fitness but had to be on the bench. Dortmund had more chances to win the game but Marc-Andre ter Stegen was reliable at the back for Barcelona making four saves including a penalty from Marco Reus which he stopped. Barcelona hardly created chances despite Messi coming on, with their best chance coming from Luis Suárez in the second half which was stopped by Bürki. Not chances came which is rare for both teams as they share the spoils.

• Triple delight for Halånd

It was a big night for Norwegian striker Erling Braut Halånd, who netted a hat-trick in his Champions League debut for Red Bull Salzburg beating Belgian side Genk 6-2 in Salzburg on Tuesday. Halånd, who scored nine goals in one match against Honduras in the FIFA U-20 World Cup this year, netting a first half hat-trick in the 2nd, 34th and 45th minute becoming the eighth player to score a hat-trick in his debut and the first debutant to net a first half hat-trick. He was taken off in the 72nd minute, receiving a standing ovation and took home the match ball with Salzburg producing some great football on matchday one being the only team to net more than four goals.