Iraola Cheers Liverpool's Comeback Victory Over Atletico Madrid in Champions League
Liverpool Kick Off Champions League with a Comeback Win
Liverpool opened their 2026 Champions League journey with a 2-1 comeback victory against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday, marking a winning European debut for new manager Andoni Iraola. The match at Anfield saw Liverpool overturn an early deficit to secure three points.
Other Top Clubs Also Secure Opening Wins
Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona, and Arsenal all started their campaigns with wins, setting a strong tone for the season. PSG cruised to a 6-1 win over Slovan Bratislava thanks to a hat-trick from Ferran Torres, while Barcelona netted five goals against Feyenoord. Arsenal edged Napoli 1-0 on the road.
PSG Targets Third Straight Title
The reigning champions PSG aim to become just the fourth club to win three consecutive European Cups. Their upcoming fixtures include a trip to Manchester City and hosting Barcelona.
"It is the Champions League, we always face tough opponents, but our initial focus remains Ligue 1 as we haven't started well domestically," said Torres, despite his impressive performance.
Torres Leads PSG Rout Over Slovan Bratislava
PSG wasted no time dismantling Slovan Bratislava at Parc des Princes. Ousmane Dembélé scored twice within 22 minutes before Torres added a quick brace around halftime and completed his hat-trick in the 57th minute with a shot that deflected off his knee.
- Suleiman Camara: Scored a consolation goal for Slovan
- Fabian Ruiz: Sealed the game for PSG by capitalizing on a defensive error
Liverpool's Comeback Against Atletico
After last week's Premier League victory at Ipswich, Liverpool continued their winning run by overturning a first-half deficit against Atletico. The visitors took the lead in the 17th minute when Julian Alvarez, making his first start of the season, set up Marcos Llorente, who chipped the ball over Liverpool’s goalkeeper Alisson.
Llorente has now scored five times in three visits to Anfield, adding to his double last season and a memorable strike during Atletico's 2020 Champions League round of 16 win at this venue.
Liverpool responded swiftly with Dominik Szoboszlai equalizing five minutes before halftime after a backheeled pass from Ronald Araujo. Early in the second half, Alexis Mac Allister fired a left-footed strike from outside the box to put Liverpool ahead, a lead Atletico could not overcome.
"I've loved it. The atmosphere has been incredible and I feel lucky, lucky to experience it," said Andoni Iraola following his first Champions League match as Liverpool's coach.
