The new format of the UEFA Champions League promises excitement from start to finish in the league stage that replaced the group stage in force for the last 20 years. After matchday 1, where FC Barcelona fell on its visit to Monaco (2-1), several surprises appear in the first eight places in the general table, which give direct access to the round of 16. For their part, those classified from 9th to 24th will have to play a 'play off' in February to define the other eight qualifiers for the knockout phase.
The table is led by Bayern Munich, with a goal difference of +7 after their historic win against Dinamo Zagreb (9-2). Celtic Glasgow appears in second place, thanks to the 'little hand' that the Scots achieved at home against the weak Slovan Bratislava (5-1). Bayer Leverkusen, who also beat Feyenoord in their debut (0-4), are third, followed by Aston Villa, who also won with authority at the home of Young Boys, Barça's next rival (0-3).
In fifth place, after the first day, is Borussia Dortmund, who also made their debut by beating Belgian Bruges, led by Ferran Jutglà, at home (0-3). Another team that debuted by winning by the same score was Sparta Prague, which appears in sixth place. The qualifying zone is completed, for now, by Liverpool and Juventus, two clubs that started the tournament with 3-1 victories against PSV Eindhoven and AC Milan, respectively.
Barça and Real Madrid, outside the direct classification zone after matchday 1
Further down, in 9th place, Real Madrid appears after their victory at home against Stuttgart (3-1). Behind the whites, already in the playoff zone, are Sporting CP (10), Benfica (11), Atlético de Madrid (12), Stade Brestois (13), Monaco (14) and Paris Saint-Germain (15), all them with 3 points. Then there is the group of six clubs that started the tournament with a tie, such as Arsenal (16), Inter Milan (17), Atalanta (18), Manchester City (19), Bologna (20) and Shakhtar (21).
The area of clubs that would go to the play off is completed by RB Leipzig (22), Barça (23) and Sturm Graz (24), these clubs being the only ones that fell by the slightest difference on the opening day. Out of the classification, for now, are Red Star, Girona, PSV, Milan, Lille, Bruges, Salzburg, Young Boys, Slovan Bratislava, Feyenoord and Dinamo Zagreb. Matchday 2 of the league phase will be played between Tuesday, October 1 and Wednesday, October 2.