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It was thrilling first matchday in the Europe’s top club tournament, featuring Juventus and Borussia Dortmund splitting eight post-interval scores while Qarabag surprised Benfica in a turnaround.

Stoppage-Time Magic Earn Unbelievable Tie

The Serbian striker and defender Kelly netted in added time to orchestrate a dramatic escape for Juventus, enabling them to claim a 4-4 draw in a game where all eight goals were scored after the break.

Juventus trailed 4-2 when number nine fired in his second of the match in the 94th minute of added time and Kelly capped the fightback two minutes later to secure a share of the result.

Action-Packed Second Half

Post uneventful opening 45, the German outfit found the first score in the 53rd minute post-interval as Karim Adeyemi blasted a precise shot into the bottom corner from just outside the box. Juventus equalized in the 63rd minute through Yildiz, who gathered the pass on the fringe of the area, steadied himself and guided a excellent shot into the net to ignite the Tifosi.

The celebrations were brief, but, as the midfielder restored Dortmund’s advantage almost instantly later with a crisp first-time shot from outside the box.

The action showed no sign of letting up, and at the 68th minute the hosts were level again, number seven sprinting on to a perfectly weighted pass to slot past Gregor Kobel in BVB’s sticks.

The frenzy carried on in the 74th minute, when Yan Couto’s driven shot squirmed between Michele Di Gregorio and a post to restore Dortmund ahead again. Dortmund were granted a spot-kick late on from time, after Kelly was called for handball with Ramy Bensebaini scoring from the 12-yard mark. At the death of stoppage time, the Serbian netted once more from a perfect cross before setting up for the defender, who guided in the equaliser to round off a second half to remember.

Surprise Result for Qarabag

Benfica squandered an early lead to be defeated three-two at home to Qarabag, with the substitute bagging the Azerbaijani club’s decisive goal four minutes from the end.

The Portuguese appeared in charge when Enzo Barrenechea placed them ahead in the sixth minute with a deflected nod from a corner and the striker struck on the turn to extend the lead 10 minutes later. Leandro Andrade blasted a one-time strike past Anatoliy Trubin, though, and the away side almost to tying the game when the midfielder struck the upright and the shot-stopper made an brilliant stop from Jankovic’s rebound attempt.

Qarabag were back on terms three minutes halftime when the forward sprinted on to a incisive assist from the playmaker and drilled a first-time shot into the net but Qarabag were not done yet.

A huge clearance forward from the shot-stopper located the substitute just outside the area and he exchanged a quick pass with the winger before placing a shot past the keeper to silence the home crowd.

Additional Results

• The Belgian champions enjoyed a perfect debut in the tournament opening round by stunning Eindhoven by two goals in a spirited regional match.
• The Gunners won a 2-0 win at Athletic Bilbao.
• Tottenham narrowly past the Spanish outfit 1-0.
• The Spanish giants recovered to overcome the French team two-one.