With the first round of Champions League group stage matches being played on Tuesday night, a number of major front runners enjoyed their first taste of European action for the 2019/20 season.
Italian Serie A leaders Inter Milan were unexpectedly held to a 1–1 draw at home with underdogs Slavia Praha, while French Ligue 1 side Lyon got the same result when they hosted Russian team Zenit.
In what was a high-profile clash between Premier League side Chelsea and an ever-dangerous Valencia, the Spanish visitors defeat their English hosts by a 1-0 scoreline.
In what was a repeat of last year’s group stage, Italian side Napoli faced off with current Champions League champions Liverpool. Despite Liverpool’s recent run of form, it was Napoli who emerged victorious, satisfying their home crowd with a 2-0 win.
It was a frustrating start for La Liga Champions Barcelona, whose match with Dortmund ended in a goalless draw. Ajax, on the other hand, were instilled with fresh confidence after a shaky qualifying campaign. They defeated Lille with a 3-0 triumph.
With so many big names playing, few would have considered tuning into the match between FC Red Bull Salzburg and Genk. Ironically, this proved to be the most entertaining match on the night, being the eight goal thriller that it was. In the end, Salzburg won 6-2, certainly picking up some new followers in the process.
